Page 1 of Bad Boy Lumberjack

Chapter 1

Allison

The scenery outside the window changes from big city to big houses and then, as we start to climb upwards, the winding road has nothing but beautiful trees looming upwards on either side. The further away from home we get, the more my excitement starts to bubble over. And dread. It’s a work weekend retreat. I wouldn’t voluntarily choose to spend my weekend with my co-workers, but at least this is something new and different.

I lead a boring life. Work, bills, Netflix, sleep. The most exciting thing that has happened to me in the past year was when the coffee place accidently gave me chocolate and a double shot in my coffee. I used to have such big dreams of what my life would be. Married, kids, weekend adventures. Laughter and love. But that’s not real life. Real life is overdue bills, office politics and answering phones all day to customer complaints.

“Just look at all those trees and dirt.” Pinkie Preston is in front of me on the bus. Pinkie and her friends are in PR. They always dress in the best clothes, talk about the parties they have been to and the boys they have slept with. “I can’t believe we have to give up a weekend for this.”

“At least we got to buy new clothes. I got the cutest little shorts and t-shirt sets.”

Pinkie, Paula and Pixie start discussing outfits as my dread and fear starts to outweigh my excitement. It seems that in ouroffice, to work in PR you have to be blonde, skinny and have a name that starts with P. They are all higher up and more important than me. I’m customer service, the lowest of the low, the grunt of the company. I do the most work and get paid the least.

But it’s the talk of clothes that has me worried. We are headed to an outdoor adventure camp. We were told to pack old clothes we can get dirty. Others might look cute in shorts but I hate people seeing my chubby, fat legs. I’m fat all over but my legs are by far my worst feature. And the thought of rope courses and team building has me wanting to go home and hide under my bed covers. I’m not adventurous. I’m not out-doorsy. And I’ve never looked cute in anything, that’s why I prefer to hide myself.

“I just hope we meet a sexy Lumberjack out here in the woods.” Paula’s change of topic grabs my attention.

“Oh yes! A guy all sweaty and sexy from chopping wood and swinging through the trees.” Pixie joins in.

“You don’t want a Lumberjack. If he has got a body you want to climb on like a jungle gym and a hard chest you want to bite into, what you're looking for is a LumberSnack!”

The girls break into fits of giggles. I turn and stare into my reflection in the glass as my different emotions churn over in my stomach. Excitement for something new and different. Concern about making a fool of myself. And jealousy. I don’t like the PR girls but I am jealous of them. They always seem to be having fun and laughing and loving life. They’re like the popular girls in high school who just seem to be blessed with good looks, friends and an understanding of how the world works. And once again, I’m on the outside wondering where I went wrong to be so alone in this world.

I spend a long time looking out the window, thinking about my life. I was never the popular girl in high school. I had a few friends but I was quiet, shy in big groups, I studied hard and made my parents proud. I thought everything would change in college but it was just the same. And now I work for a Tech start-up full of interesting and inventive people but I’m still just little Allison, working hard and keeping to myself.

This weekend is about stepping outside our comfort zone, getting to know ourselves and how we can all work better together. What if I took this time to try and change?

I look at Pinkie and her friends, still giggling about Lumberjacks. What if I took this opportunity to get fitter? When we get home I can join a gym. I could maybe find some money for the hair salon and change my look.

This weekend is a chance to prove myself. Not just to my co-workers but also to me. Surely life can’t just be this? Working, bills, sleep, repeat. Surely there has to be something more to life? I just have to be brave. Try and not hide away from everybody like I always do. But maybe this work trip could be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Stepping off the bus is a breath of fresh air. Literally. In the last thirty minutes the girls had set about spraying perfume and hairspray till it was hard to breath. But as I look around the space, taking in the trees towering above us, the open area between cute little wooden cabins, pathways leading off into the forest, I feel a rush of excitement. With buses and cars unloading, it feels like the first day of summer camp. I take in a deep breath of fresh, mountain air. There is a slight breeze that brushes against my skin. Anything can happen here. Everything could change from this point on.

“Urgh, well this certainly isn’t Club Med.” Paula knocks past me as though I don’t even exist.

“But just look at that view.”

I look around to see what view Pixie is talking about but see nothing but trees and cabins.

“Alright girls. Target acquired.”

Pinkie is looking directly at one of the camp staff. They seem to be everywhere directing traffic and welcoming people off the buses. But this guy is standing off from the crowd. Just watching.

I can understand what got the girls attention. He is tall, muscular, and extremely good looking. Sharp jawline, skin kissed skin. But there is something intense about the way he is standing there watching, fingers looped into his jean pockets.

“Oh look, even Allison can’t take her eyes off him. How cute. But girl, you’re being too obvious about it.”

I ignore Pixie and the girls. There is something strangely familiar about the guy that I can’t place. That is, until he starts walking towards me and I catch a glint of green in his eyes. A slow, sexy smile. Images of him in a leather jacket on a motorbike.

Holy shit, it’s Sawyer Shaw. The bad boy of high school. My secret teenage crush. And he is looking straight at me and coming this way!

Chapter 2

Sawyer

I didn’t learn much in school, but there are a few things I know for sure.

Number one I love my motorbike. The freedom it gives me, to go anywhere at any time. The thrill of the road and the roar of my engine

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