Page 16 of Liberated By the Logger

Theorizing she’ll take issue with me going shirtless, I dig through one of my drawers to find a top—something nice and snug to show off my chest. A soft navy t-shirt a size too small will do the trick.

Dressed, I turn to face her. The way she eyeballs me with a suspicious narrow gaze, you’d think she knew what I’m up to. She can’t be mad if my outfit is enticing. We agreed to me being dressed—not me hiding the goods.

Alright. It’s time to smooth things over. Introductions seem like a good way to break the ice.

“You got a name, darlin’?”

“You first,” she counters tersely, folding her slender arms across her chest in a defiant little gesture I find adorable on her.

Fine. I’ll go first. “My name’s Ambrose O’Mara. Those closest to me call me Brose. You may call me what you want.”

“Asshole it is then,” she mutters under her breath.

My shoulders shake with silent laughter. This woman is a trip. I can admit my actions have been asshole worthy, as were hers. We’re two peas in a pod.

“I’ve been called worse.” I give her a broad smile, letting her know I take no offense. “Your turn. What’s your name?”

She pointedly lifts her chin in my direction. “Aspen Fair.”

Aspen. Her name suits her, especially with eyes as green as hers. However, the irony isn’t lost on me.

“Perfect name for a tree hugger,” I say sarcastically.

She scoffs, getting to her feet. “Don’t call me that. I’m a forest scientist, or at least I will be once I complete my doctoral from CSU this coming spring.”

Ha! She’s making this too easy. “You being a forest scientist is automatic grounds for being a tree hugger. You didn’t need to go chain yourself to one to earn the title.”

“ARGH! I didn’t chain myself to anything. My idiot boyfriend—” She halts her rant, holding up a finger. “Correction: my idiot ex-boyfriend. He tricked me into it.”

Aspen explains her morning excursion with the yurt squatting tree hugger I cut free prior to her, how she was prepared for a day out with her partner but not a hike in the mountains, how he fooled her into standing under the tree before wrapping a chain around her, and leaving her to scream after him with the oncoming storm on the horizon.

My molars could pulverize rocks into powder with how hard I’m grinding them. Aspen threw a lot of info at me to process. The term “boyfriend” has me seeing red, but learning he’s now an ex calms me for a second until learning the twat’s actions could have killed her.

If I ever come across her ex again… I cock my neck to the side, cracking it under the pressure.

“Anyway, I’m not the brainless idiot you accuse me of being,” Aspen says, finishing her story. “Just naïve in thinking my partner cared for me.”

The way her bottom lip trembles a moment before she catches herself weighs heavily on my chest.

Damn, I really am an asshole for assuming the worst about her and kicking her while she’s already down. I couldn’t imagine my partner—the person you should trust the most—not giving a shit about my wellbeing and putting me in harm’s way. Not only did she lose a relationship, but it nearly cost her life.

Had I not been there…. I shudder.

Nobody deserves to be abandoned the way he did her. And I don’t want to add to her pain.

“You’re right. I was wrong to assume anything about your situation. The only thing you’re guilty of is picking a shitty boyfriend.”

Aspen glowers at me before turning her head away.

Okay, maybe I need to work on my delivery more—I was a tad too harsh. Guess I’m still an asshole. But I want to be her asshole.

Wanting her attention back on me, I cross the distance between us.

Alerted by my nearness, Aspen’s head swivels back to me. Her brows pull together like she’s trying to figure out what my motive is for being in front of her.

Holding her stare, I tell her how it is. “If you were my woman, there’s no way in hell I’d put your life in danger. You’re too precious to risk for any environmental cause. Your ex is a pathetic partner and you deserve better. I’m glad he’s your ex.”

Surprised by my bluntness, Aspen gasps. She quickly collects herself, straightening her shoulders. “What Gary did sucked. However, he isn’t a bad person—not really. He doesn’t always think things through, especially when he’s high. He loves nature, and everything else comes second.”