Page 2 of Tempted By the Lumberjack

Luckily, Blossom was rescued by Chance, and they finally realized their true feelings for each other. While I push away a man who continues to pursue me, no matter how many times I turn him down.

With a quick nod, he shuts the truck door, then makes his way to the driver's side and opens the door. "Here. I picked up breakfast." He slides into the seat, closing the door with a click.He reaches for the plate on the dashboard, holding an Asiago cheese bagel from the local bakery, cut in half and slathered in cream cheese, and offers it to me to choose which half I want.

I pick the fluffy top half, knowing that if I try to pick the flat bottom, he will shake his head and switch pieces. "Thanks." I bite into the delicious piece of heaven with a moan, feeling a glob of cream cheese stickingto my lips.

Innocently, I stick out my tongue, wiping the wayward cream off my lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch his gaze follow the trail of my tongue—the heat in his eyes looks hot enough to set the whole town on fire.

It's a dangerous game, teasing him like this, but my pathetic little heart is going to take whatever scraps it can with Wyatt.

Clearing his throat, he picks up his half of the bagel and motions to the two large fountain glasses of Pepsi sitting in the center of the council like usual. Soft drinks are my weakness—or at least Pepsi. It's something my parents always frowned upon. With all its sugar, it's not good for my weight.

Artie always makes little comments about that one guilty pleasure I can't seem to break—nor do I want to. But Wyatt indulges me in that guilty pleasure, even joining in each morning. Never once complaining about the sugar content.

We finish our breakfast in comfortable silence, reminding me again of how perfect Wyatt is. He drives through our quaint little town as if we are a normal couple, instead of whatever our relationship is.

Wyatt pulls in front of the flower shop, leaving the truck running and not bothering to park in his usual stall. He strolls around the front of the truck, leaving me feeling confused. This isn't how our day goes. He always parks the truck and spends the whole day with me in the flower shop. He's become so much of a fixture that some of the townspeople think he's an employee. It doesn't help that I've put him to work.

I try to push the panic aside as Wyatt opens the truck door. "I have a few things I need to take care of today. I'll pick you up after work for movie night." He leans in, placing a kiss on my forehead, which causes the panic to intensify inside me. A kiss on my forehead isn't how I pictured our first kiss.

He's given up on me—I've waited too long to tell him how I feel about him. I knew I should have left town weeks ago when I still had my heart intact. "Sure." I smile weakly as he steps back, takes my hand, and helps me out of his truck. "I'll see you later." I dash to the flower shop before I break down in tears.

Get it together, Sienna—this life isn't real. You knew it would end someday.

two

Sienna

"Where's your shadow today?"Blossom glances from the vase of flowers she's arranging, her boyfriend Chance by her side. "I didn't think he would let you go anywhere without him by your side."

"He had something better to do today." I shrug, not wanting Blossom and Chance to see my disappointment. Besides, it's not as if he can continue spending every day with me.

I know he's a lumberjack, but in the last eight weeks that I've known him, he's never left my side during the day. He can't work the night shift, or he'd never sleep. A horrible thought hits me.

What if he lost his job because he was with me instead of working? What if he's been spending all his savings on me?

It's time for me to go back to reality. I can't ruin Wyatt's life, too. Hopefully, it's not too late for him to get his job back once I leave town.

My burner phone rings, causing me to jump. I slow down my breathing before excusing myself to the back room to answer the call, knowing it's my sister Selena, since she's the only one who has the number.

"Hey, Selena. What's up?"

"Things are getting bad with Mom and Dad. They're furious you haven't returned yet." The urgency in Selena's voice helps me make up my mind. If I return to my former life, I'm going to have one amazing night with Wyatt tonight. "It's gotten so bad—they're considering having me take your place as Artie's fiancée."

"You know I'd never let that happen. I'll return home on Monday."

Home.

The word feels like ash in my mouth. The Senator's mansion has never felt like home. It's more like a museum. Selena and I were never allowed to play anywhere other than in our bedrooms. Running through the halls was strictly forbidden.

"No, you don't have to. I ran away. I'm staying in a cabin not far from the town where you're living. I was thinking that once this all blows over, we can live together in our own bachelorette apartment, just as we always talked about.

Selena is my Irish twin—only eleven months separate us. At twenty-two, she graduated from college last spring with a degree in communication. She has been working as an online influencer to the disappointment of our parents. My accounting degree seems like a waste, considering that most political wives don't work outside the home unless they run their own charities.

"Did anyone follow you?" The thought of our parents or Artie ruining my little piece of heaven shakes me to my core.

"You insult me. You should know me better than that by now." She lets out a disgruntled snort.

Selena and I are nothing alike. She's outgoing, pushing the boundaries with our parents. Living close enough to the edge to cause them stress, but far enough inside our world to know her place. But that has never stopped her from orchestrating some of the best escapes from the boring parties we had to attend with our parents over the years.

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