Sheltered by the Surly Forester (Wolfe Mountain Men #6)

Chapter 3

3

JOSH

I normally get up early, and silently. Growing up with two older brothers, it was one of the few times I could have some peace and quiet to read.

But last night I couldn't fall asleep. Knowing that the most breathtaking, precious woman I've ever met was just on the other side of the wall kept me on edge for hours. As a result, I slept past six for the first time in years.

Slipping out of bed, I dress quickly, idly wondering what time Emie gets up. I want to discover every last thing about her. A professional house guest seems an odd choice, and the fact that she doesn't have a permanent home base makes me uneasy. Shelter is a basic human need.

I can't stand that she's living what sounds to me like an unsafe life. It's not my place, but I'm going to help her anyway, dammit. More importantly, I’m going to spend more time with her to make sense of the incredible feelings that surge through me every time she even looks at me.

Opening my bedroom door silently, I'm about to tiptoe to the kitchen when the tantalizing fragrance of coffee hits me. Clearing my throat so I don't startle Emie, I lean against the kitchen door frame.

"Good morning," she says brightly, turning to me. "Muffins will be done in a few minutes."

"Muffins?"

"Yeah. You had a banana that was a bit too mushy to eat, and not even a handful of walnuts left. I like using stuff up so that nothing’s wasted." She gestures to the table, then goes to fetch me a mug.

"Careful of that cupboard—" I begin, gaping when she opens it easily.

"Oh, the wobbly door?" she laughs. "All fixed. How do you take your coffee?"

Dang. "Uhh…black."

A steaming mug is placed in front of me, and…damn, if this isn't the best coffee I've ever had in my own house. Something catches my eye on the right. My two sad houseplants, both gifts from Mom, are standing in a deep tray of water in front of the east window. I swear, they look happier already.

"You're up early," Emie says with a grin, pulling on thick black oven mitts. "That must mean you've got important things to do today. What do you do, anyway?"

"Well, for a start, I get miffed with young ladies who were supposed to sleep in and rest, and clearly didn't listen." I try to glare at her, but can't stifle my laugh. When was the last time I laughed at this hour of the day?

Emie simply giggles. "New house, the sound of the trees all around. I was too excited to sleep late."

"Well, you're…perky. I'll give you that." Pushing my chair back, my bare feet glide against the hardwood floor that feels strangely pristine. Did this girl mop in the middle of the night?

"Oh right. What do I do." My shoulders sag. I don't want to get into the whole situation about being a Wolfe, how we're set for money but I still need to feel useful. "I guess you'd say I'm the unofficial forester around here."

The muffins smell incredible as she opens the oven door, but I'm frankly more focused on the curve of her shapely ass as she bends over to pull them out. This girl is definitely more delicious than anything she could be baking. And the wholesomeness that surrounds her is, strangely, turning me on even more.

I also can't help noticing that the inside of the oven is much cleaner than it was yesterday.

She sets the pan on the stove. "Forester? So, you work with trees. But not a lumberjack, right?"

I chuckle. "Right. The person who chops and hauls the trees in the forest is a lumberjack. That’s not me. Not an arborist, either – they’re the ones who take care of trees on residential or commercial property. I'm sort of the…long-term planning guy for the forest. I help the loggers and lumberjacks plan what sections to clear. Make sure that the forest is healthy, diverse, and that things are growing well."

Emie slips a dish of…is that whipped butter?...in front of me. I poke it experimentally with a knife when my plated muffin arrives. It's butter spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Damn – this is like having a gourmet chef just appear like a magic fairy or something.

She sits across from me with her own mug and muffin. "Don't cut into that for a few minutes," she warns me. "It'll just fall apart." Her hair is up in a charming messy bun, which bobs back and forth. "What do you think of the cloves in this coffee?"

" That's what it is." I nod. "Couldn't place it. It’s amazing."

Emie's soft smile hits me like a lightning bolt. This girl really is magic. Yeah, she's probably working extra hard to prove to me that it's worth keeping her around for a while. But it's much more than that. Every movement, every flick of her fingertips as she fixes her hair now and then…

I want her.

I've never felt such a deep need before. As if this sexy girl belongs to me. No, that’s not it. That we belong together . That I was put in her path to…keep her safe? Shelter her from every stress, every element?

"What's that look for?" Emie asks, blowing on her coffee while I stare at her luscious lips.

"Just a morning zone out," I mumble. “Hope it doesn't give you the creeps. This coffee is amazing, by the way. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it." Her lovely brown eyes are so soft as she smiles. "You didn't say how long I was allowed to stay here, but I've noticed a whole bunch of things that I could help with."

I peer at her again. "Like cleaning the oven when you were supposed to be sleeping in?"

She waves a hand dismissively. "That was just a quick wipe. You wait until I get it sparkling."

It's not just Emie's determination to work as hard as possible. It's the way she's bulldozing straight through my normally crusty demeanor. She's not afraid of offending me “because I'm a Wolfe”. She just seems to feel compelled to do the right thing.

I want her to stay with me for a while, so that we can really get to know each other. How long will it take before I feel I can reach out and hold the delicate little hand wrapped around her coffee mug? I'm not the best at opening up, plus I'm a complete stranger. We're going to need some time together, so that she relaxes around me.

"I didn't look at any of the paperwork scattered across your dining room table," she says. "I'm always really careful not to peek at anything private. But I couldn't help noticing a couple of maps on top. I'm great at organizing files and papers, if you'd like me to straighten that out for you."

I can practically hear the light bulb go on.

"Paperwork has never been my thing," I confess. "If it's all in front of me, I can make sense of it. But once you start shoving things in folders, it doesn't click in my mind the same way."

Her entire face brightens. "You need a thumbnail system, then! So you can see a preview of everything at once. I can organize that for you." Her smile wobbles. "It might take a while, though."

I've always respected clever people. Emie already has my respect.

She places her palms on the table to get up. My hand lands gently on top of hers. "Emie, if you're worried about overstaying your welcome, please, don't be. I…" I take a slow breath, then decide to be more honest with her than I have with anyone before. "I've always felt there was a wall between me and most other people. There isn’t with you. I'd like you to stay as long as you want."

She blinks in surprise, then smiles sweetly. "I checked your thermostat — you don't have any timers set. You also don't have your pantry organized by usage. How about I stay for several days, until your living space is optimized, then we see what's what?"

"Sounds good. But I insist that you relax today." Although her beautiful eyes roll, she does squeeze my hand back before darting to the kitchen.

By the time I finish my muffin and get back from the shower, my lunch is packed and a traveler mug of coffee is ready for me.

I spend the day trying to put her out of my mind, but every trail I check or photo I take makes me wish that Emie was with me so I could ask for her opinion about it.

She's addictive. She's sexy. I feel lighter around her.

When I get home, the wooden bucket of flowers on the front porch has been watered, and the dead leaves are gone. The windows in the front door are sparkling. When I go inside, the fragrance of herbs and roast vegetables hits me before I can even notice how pristine my entire house looks.

"Oh, good, you're here. Dinner’s in five minutes," she calls out sweetly from the kitchen.

I kick off my boots, then go to lean in the doorway, openly staring at the gorgeous little pixie flitting around the room.

For years, I've wondered if I'd ever find a woman. There aren't many of them up here on the mountain, and many of them are practically family. I feel no romantic connection with the women I went to school with, my friend's cousins, or whatever.

But Emie is a breath of fresh air who appears to throw her entire energy into everything she does. Would she be comfortable here on the mountain?

If I can just get her to relax, maybe I can find out. Sample her energy, like I check the tree bark. Shake the branches to figure out if they're sturdy.

See if there's a chance we could grow together.