Page 20 of My Lumberjack Valentine

I don’t know why Rosalie left this note.

I don’t know what changed

But I know one thing—there’s no way I’m letting her go that easy.

The thought strengthens me, and I grab my keys, racing out to my truck. I start the engine, gripping the wheel like a vise as I barrel toward Peak Sweets.

Toward Rosalie.

I need to see her. I need to understand why she left that note, and I’ll tear this whole town apart until I find her. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make her mine—for real this time.

For real and forever.

11

ROSALIE

I sitbehind the counter at Peak Sweets, fiddling miserably with a screwed up chocolate bar wrapper. Usually, chocolate makes everything better, but not today. I feel drained and empty, and I can’t bring myself to flip the sign on the door to open. I don’t think I can face anyone right now, especially not on Valentine’s Day. Watching happy customers buy chocolates for their loved ones is more than I can bear after the morning I’ve had.

And I only have myself to blame.

I feel like such an idiot for letting myself fall so fast. I’ve been single all my life, too interested in running the candy store to let anybody in. Then the one time I let my guard down and give my heart to somebody, it’s a man I’m fake dating—a grumpy lumberjack who doesn’t believe in love.

Why didn’t I listen to him?

I should have believed him, instead of secretly hoping I could change his mind. Now I’ve made a gigantic mess of everything. I’m still going to lose Peak Sweets and my apartment; Boone can’t claim his inheritance—we’re back to square one, in the same position as before we met. But this time, it’s worse. Now it’s not just my life that’s in tatters—it’s my heart. The pain in mychest is unbearable. It’s like my insides are being squeezed by an iron fist, making it hard to breathe.

Screw it, I’m not opening the store.

I grab a couple of chocolate bars, ready to head up to my apartment and spend Valentine’s Day wallowing in bed. But just as I’m about to turn off the lights and go upstairs, the door bursts open, and Boone strides inside, his blue eyes burning with urgency.

Oh, God.

Seeing him is like a punch to the gut. I feel like I’m back in his cabin, overhearing his phone call again.

Not real.

Just some girl.

I’ve been replaying those words non-stop in my mind, and as I meet Boone’s gaze, it feels like my heart will break all over again. Part of me knew he’d come. Even if our fake relationship meant nothing to him, he’s bound to be pissed off that I’ve jeopardized his chances of claiming the inheritance. And deep down, despite my wounded pride, I know I should see this through to the end. Leaving the ring and running away this morning was rash—I was thinking with my heart, not my head. We’re so close. Lloyd is almost convinced, and if I can bury my broken heart for a little while, just until Boone gets his money…well then, at least I’ll get to keep my candy store.

At least there can still be one good thing to come out of this.

“Rosalie—” he begins, staring down at me.

“I know what you’re going to say.”

He frowns, swallowing hard. “You do?”

I nod, turning around, keeping my back to him. I don’t want him to see the tears welling in my eyes. “You’re going to say I’m making a mistake, and you’re right. It was stupid to take off like that. I…I’ll show your grandpa the ring and then we can finally end this. If he thinks we’re engaged, then hopefully thatwill be enough. You’ll get your money and then we’ll call the engagement off, just like we planned.”

There’s silence for a moment.

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

I take a deep breath and, with a burst of courage, I turn around to face him, meeting his gaze. “What were you going to say, then?”

Boone takes a step toward me, closing the space between us. “Why did you leave, Rosalie? Why did you write that note?”

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