Elle raised her hands in surrender, while I’d love to see her kneel on her knees.
“Good.” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat and retracted my hand.
“I’ll go get dressed appropriately, and we can head out,” Noelle said as she brushed past me and went inside.
I couldn’t ignore the damn shiver quivering up my cold, hard bones from how her lips had moved against my skin. Fuck. I had a boner. Again. This wouldn’t be a fucking easy walk in the woods.
FIFTEEN
Lumberjack
Noelle
Iwas trapped with the grump again, lost in the woods when I wanted to be at home, warm under a fleece blanket and watching a classic Christmas movie with a nice hot cup of cocoa. And I couldn’t leave out the fireplace crackling in the background.
Instead, I was withhim.
I followed Jack deeper into the woods and hated everything about letting him be in charge. The forest was behind our houses, and shouldn’t be hard to navigate, but he had insisted. Anything to cut this trip short and be done with this insufferable man. All we needed was a tree to surprise Faith with, and there were plenty around.
“This one is great!” I beamed, shaking the branches, and pine needles fell to the snowy ground. “Faith will love it.”
Jack glanced over his shoulder and frowned. “Yeah. If you want a dead tree by morning.”
Fine. The evergreen had seen better days, but some water would make the tree as good as new.
A weak twig broke off.Shit.Jack was right. This one wouldn’t do.
“Okay... Maybe not that one...” I rambled on and went to a wider tree full of green. “How about this beautiful evergreen?”
I smiled as wide as my mouth would go and posed like the ladies onThe Price is Right,displaying all the prizes. This tree was the winner. I was certain.
Jack turned around, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Have you lost your mind?”
“What?” I glanced up at the tree and back at him. “I like it.”
“That damn thing would never fit through your door. For the love of God, quit posing and get your ass over here.” I went to stand beside Jack, and he pointed at the tree in question. “See?”
Fuck. Jack was right. The evergreen was too voluminous.
“Alright, alright... We’ll find a smaller one.” I glanced around. “How about—”
Jack yanked my arm. “Let’s keep moving.”
I stumbled, but Jack held me up. My wool hat fell over my eyes, and I couldn’t see, but I wormed my way out of his grasp. My gloved hands adjusted the warm fabric on my head, and I got my bearings back.
“Jesus! Do you mind? I don’t need your help,” I mumbled with irritation.
“Fine by me.” Jack huffed and continued to take the lead.
I heaved a loud sigh and followed Jack. His boots dug into the snow and created footprints that I tried to match with each step, but I missed a boot print. Damn Jack and his long, toned legs, walking through the snow with ease while I attempted to keep up.
My gaze somehow landed on his ass, swaying from side to side in tight blue jeans. The bastard could pull off wearing denim in below-zero-degree weather because he gave off heatas if he were a damn furnace that was turned up too high. Jack sizzled hotter than anyone I had ever encountered, and I only knew after the few times we had gotten too close.
I ventured further up his enormous masculine form to those broad shoulders built like a mountain man. The back of his neck had wispy dark hairs on it. Little strands my fingers ached to touch and use to pull him in closer when I knew damn well I shouldn’t, but all I wanted was a big...
I caught Jack glancing back at me. He cracked a smirk and turned back toward our journey ahead.Shit!He saw me gawking at him.Fuck!
I shook my head.
