“I have layers and I’m used to working in the cold.”
I could have argued but had a feeling I wouldn’t win. I extended my hand and accepted the jacket, pushing my arms through the sleeves while he shoved his hands into the pocketsof his hoodie. “The only reason I’m agreeing is because you’re delaying the process.”
He smiled smugly and nodded. “We done or are you still schooling me?”
“Last lesson, but the most important. The feeling.” I turned back to the tree and moved closer.
“The feeling?” He was right behind me, his chest at my back.
“Yep, when the tree is yours and it’s right, you just know. The technical stuff is important but the deciding factor is the feeling.”
“So you’re a tree whisperer now?”
I lifted my chin and looked up at him. His eyes were already on me. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are.” He smiled sexily. “So you’re feeling this one?”
“Yes, it’s perfect. What do you think?”
“I think you want it to be perfect, so it’s perfect.”
“You’re humoring me because you’re ready to go.”
He laughed. “Shit yeah, I am. It’s cold as hell out here and you just took one of my layers.”
“Yougaveme your layer.”
“I did but my mother raised me to be a gentleman. Now can we get this tree down before we both freeze to death?”
“We won’t freeze to death, but yes, we can get the tree down. I’ll get Don…”
He frowned and dropped his chin. “I can cut the tree, Reece.”
My eyes darted past him to the ATV. “Um yeah, but that’s his job. He knows how and you’re not messing up my tree.”
He looked highly amused which made me nervous because this was my tree. The one. “I know how to cut a tree down. It’s not that complicated.”
“Have you done it before?” I rushed out and he laughed.
“Yes, plenty of times. My brother and I used to go with my dad to get ours when we were kids. After a while he decided we could handle it and passed the task down to us. It was kind of our thing. Didn’t take…” He paused and glanced at his watch. “An hour and twenty two minutes but my mother never complained when we brought her tree home. I can cut the tree, Reece.”
I glanced at the tree then Ro before I conceded. “Fine, but if you mess up my tree…”
“I won’t. Relax.”
He walked back to the ATV and I watched him talking to Don who nodded and pointed to the wagon attached. Ro made his way toward it, lifting a pair of gloves and a handheld saw before returning to me. He tucked the saw under one arm, worked the gloves on, and I delivered one last plea.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure you’re going to annoy the shit out of me if I mess up your tree, which is enough motivation not to.”
I grinned. “At least you know.”
“I definitely know.” He tipped his hat, offering me a sexy, cocky smile before he got to work. He turned his back to me and kneeled low enough to position the saw at the base.
It didn’t take long before the tree started to give way then fell over. When it landed onto the snow covered ground, a smile took over my face. “You just earned yourself dinner, cowboy.”
He chuckled, waving Don over to help get the tree corded and carried to the wagon attached to the ATV. Once they had it secured, I climbed back on first, followed by Don and Ro, so we could head back to the lodge.
