Lumberjack in Love (4 page)

She stilled beneath his touch, then let out a slow breath.

“What makes you think I’m looking for a real man? Maybe I’ve sworn off men for a while. Since I found out what enormous weasels they can be.” Hurt flashed in her eyes for a second before her chin tipped up defiantly.

“I don’t think you have any idea what a real man can do for you, Miss Jordan. That asswipe in Boston wouldn’t last two seconds in Vermont. He’d go running home to Mama after the first major snow storm of the season. Guys like that aren’t worth your time.”

Ami shot him a surprised look and her eyes lingered on his mouth. Christ, Marcus was already hard as a piece of granite.

He cleared his throat, but his voice still came out gravelly and strained. “Vermont boys don’t fool around. What you see is what you get. And when we see what we want—” He stared at her pretty lips, lush and full and inviting. “We take it.”

Ami’s mouth fell open, a stunned expression on her face. “Jesus. You’re a cocky bastard.”

He just smiled and waited. He rubbed his fingers over her jaw one more time. She licked her lips, staring at him.

“Um, okay. I guess I could go for a beer.”

He stood up and grabbed her hand. He couldn’t help but notice she was wearing the impractical, fantasy-inducing boots.

He was gonna get a tip with that twenty.

Lumberjack In Love

Ami nursed her beer at the bar and smiled, thinking about how anxious Marcus had been to head out on their “date.” He had groaned when she reminded him they had to stay for cake, ice-cream, and Natalie tearing into her presents. An hour later, they’d left her niece happily accessorizing her new doll. Marcus’s gift to Natalie was beautiful‌—‌a hand-carved walnut Humpback whale, her niece’s favorite animal. Ami couldn’t believe how Marcus had captured the majestic quality of the whale and given it a sense of elegance and movement. Mr. Lumberjack was obviously gifted with his hands.

She sneaked a look at his hands, currently holding a frosty beer stein, and sighed. And shivered. Just a bit. Memories of his rough fingers stroking her face came flooding back. Her face flamed and she stared at the tabletop, embarrassed that such a simple touch aroused her. Sex with Dorky Dan had rated one step up from board meetings and several steps down from American Idol. She wondered what he was doing with Miss Slutt-a-chusetts. Maybe her twenty-something replacement was faking an orgasm this very second.

“What’s so funny?” Marcus asked. “Looks like you’re thinking about something good.”

Ami coughed. “Nothing. Really. So, what’s your story, mountain man. Have you always lived in a shack in the woods? You were you raised by wolves? How is it possible that you drink Bill and Bob’s coffee every day without flinging your body off a bridge?” She smiled.

He answered with his own wicked grin, and Ami’s panties caught on fire.

“First, that’s not a shack. It’s a two-story log cabin built with hand-hewn Vermont pine. Second, I’ve never seen any wolves in the woods. And third, I don’t mind Bill and Bob’s coffee.” He quirked a brow. “You get used to it. Bill and Bob’s is more about the company, less about the quality of the brew.”

She nodded. “Oh, I know all about you Vermonters and your general stores. Bonding with the other mountain men. Forging strong community ties. Recycling together for a greener earth.”

Marcus laughed. “Has anyone ever told you your sarcasm is adorable? I find it very…” He sat back in his chair and cocked his head to the side. “Stimulating.”

Oh, holy hellfire! He is totally hitting on me. Bad, right?
It didn’t feel bad. In fact, truth be told, she liked flirting with Marcus Anderson. She was sort of hoping she might get lucky tonight. She liked the feel of his hands on her. She liked the way he looked in his jeans. And she was dying to know what that beard felt like. It looked like something furry she wanted to pet.
Hopefully he’ll pet my furry…

“Earth to Ami. You’re zoning out.” He leaned forward and shot her a concerned look. “If you want to go home—”

“No!” Ami said a little too forcefully. “I mean, no, I’m enjoying this over-priced Vermont beer.” She darted her gaze to the side, feeling suddenly shy. “And, um, enjoying your company, too. Thanks for inviting me out tonight. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while for me, too,” Marcus said. “I think I’ve been spending too much time with Henry. I’m getting used to snorting as a primary form of communication.”

“What? No wild mountain women around to keep you company?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer. Ridiculous, but a twinge of jealousy pecked at her as she imagined him with another woman.

He shook his head. “Believe it or not, most women find the prospect of life in the ‘boonies’ less than tempting.”

Ami blushed.
Oh, geez! I hope I didn’t offend him!
“Touché. Uh, sorry you heard that whole tirade.”

Marcus chuckled. “It’s okay. My ex-girlfriend agreed. She couldn’t wait to get out of Vermont and into a sophisticated city environment. Beantown or bust.”

“Really?” What kind of woman would leave this man? He had an incredible presence. Strong, capable, sexy. She had to admit the thought of being trapped with him in that cabin appealed to her. A lot. In fact, she was about to chuck her I-don’t-do-one-night-stands policy right out the window.

Marcus let out a long sigh. “Really. I personally can’t believe anyone would choose pollution, noise and over-crowded urban conditions over the tranquility of the Green Mountains, but that’s just me. Different strokes for different folks.” He paused and took a long sip of his beer. “What do you think about this town?”

She hesitated. “Well, to be honest I miss Starbucks. And I hate mud season. My boots are a mess.” She shuffled closer to him and whispered, “Don’t tell my sister, but I like the fact that people are nice here. They don’t try to run you off the road and they say hello. If you try that in Boston, you’ll get a snarl and probably a rude gesture. But I have to maintain my city slicker status, so keep that secret, okay? I’ll never live it down if Rachel finds out.”

Marcus leaned forward until they were almost touching foreheads. Ami’s heart raced as she caught a whiff of his musky scent and felt the heat of his body. She was having naughty fantasies that involved licking his neck. Criminy.

“I promise your secret’s safe with me.” He glanced at her lips, and then back up to her eyes. “You know, I never gave you a proper tour of my cabin. The history of its construction is actually pretty fascinating.”

He stretched under the table and rubbed his jean-covered legs against hers. Then pushed his legs together so that she was trapped by those big strong thighs. “Wanna go to my place and I’ll give you a tour of a frontier-style log cabin?”

Marcus was staring at her with a single-minded intensity. There was no doubt what was on his mind, and normally modest, not-that-far-from-prudish Ami had a moment of indecision. Could she really do this? Spend the night with a total stranger? Sure, he seemed like a nice guy. Her sister and brother-in-law liked him a lot and trusted him. And he could carve a mean whale. Still, she didn’t know much about him. His taste in coffee products was certainly suspect.

A large hot hand stroked her thigh under the table. Slowly. Lightly. Up and down. Rubbing, inciting. His fingers started at her knee, then slid up her jeans until his thumb rubbed a circle at the top of her leg. Then back down again.

“Oh.” Ami blinked her eyes several times and tried to concentrate on her decision. But all of the blood in her body was now residing in her right thigh. And a couple of other spots. She wasn’t sure there was any left in the cranial region.

“I would love to see your log—” She giggled. “Um, your log cabin.”

Marcus continued his assault on her leg, nodding once. Those electric blue eyes seemed mesmerized by her lips, and finally he stopped. He squeezed the sensitive spot at the top of her thigh, and then pulled out his wallet, grabbed a bunch of cash, and flung it onto the table.

“Let’s go, Flatlander. Time to see my log.” He shot her a wicked smile.

Ami waited for him to say cabin, but he didn’t.

Uh oh.

Marcus made it home in record time. He couldn’t wait to get busy with the hot little flatlander. She was a tantalizing mix of contradictions. Sexy and sophisticated on one hand. Sweet and eager to please on the other.

Marcus had one goal in mind for tonight. He wanted her screaming his name, shouting so loud the echo would be heard all over the goddamned mountain top. He wasn’t about to analyze this weird fixation and attraction. He was just going to act on it.

He parked his truck in front of the cabin, then sneaked a glance at his date. Jesus H. Christ, she looked incredible. Good enough to eat. Sexy bedroom eyes, silky tousled hair, lips full and juicy and ready to suck.

And she was looking at him without a bit of hesitation. She unsnapped her seatbelt and gave him a saucy grin.

“So, do I get to see your log now or what?”

He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Hot, carnal, intense. No fucking foreplay. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back full force. She whimpered and then started rubbing her cheek over his face.

“Holy craptastic, your beard feels good.” She pressed small kisses along his jaw. “You smell good, you feel good, you good good—”

Marcus groaned. He pulled back and looked into her dazed expression. “Tell me you’re not drunk. Please, dear God in heaven, tell me you’re okay and making a rational, sober decision to be here right now.”

She stopped and raised a brow. “I’m no light weight, mountain man. It’ll take more than a couple of frou-frou Vermont micro-brews to get me trashed.” She leaned forward and bit his lower lip. “If you stop, I’m gonna kill you. With your own axe.”

Marcus let out a huge breath of relief and laughed. “God bless you, sweetheart.” He unbuckled his safety belt, flew out of his seat, then ran around to the passenger side and plucked her out of the truck. He hefted her up in his arms and smiled. “You good good, too.”

Ami giggled and nestled her head against his chest. “Onward, Jeeves. I have a log tour awaiting me.”

Within fourteen seconds Marcus had her in his bedroom, bouncing on the mattress. Henry had trotted after them and now sat patiently next to the bed.

“Not tonight, Hen. I got company.”

Ami peered over the edge of the bed. Henry fell to his side and arched his back.

“Not tonight, bud. Later. Out.” Marcus tried to usher the dog out of the bedroom but he wouldn’t budge.

Ami smirked. “I’ll bet a Lab would already be out the door. You know, they’re very easy to train. How did you end up with an English Bulldog anyway, mountain manly?” She reached over to pet Henry’s exposed tummy. Her ass was in the air. Her round, sexy, perfectly shaped ass in skin-tight jeans.

“Huh?”

Ami glanced at him. She wriggled her butt. “Hello! Earth to Marcus. Where’d you get your dog?” She wriggled again and Marcus started panting. “See something you like?”

He stomped over to the dog and lifted him in his arms. Henry licked the side of his face. “Dog. Found me. Someone dumped him on the side of the road.” He shifted Henry under his arm like a football. “Yes, I see something I like. Your ass. Don’t move.”

He jogged to the hallway, dropped Henry next to a blanket and a pile of rubber kitty toys and patted him on the head. “Good boy.” Then he hustled back into the bedroom, kicked the door shut, and approached Miss Jordan.

“I didn’t move.”

“I can see that.” He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor.

Ami’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my goodness, you are a nice, hairy lumberjack aren’t you?”

Marcus smiled. He undid the top button of his blue jeans and pushed them over his hips.

Ami’s breath caught. “Oh my goodness. You wear boxer briefs. That’s…that’s…nice.”

He kicked off his boots, socks, jeans, and finally yanked down his briefs. An erection with a compass pointing straight to Flatlander Territory popped out to say hello.

Ami rose to her knees on the bed. “Holy Mother. You…are…freaking…fantastic.” She beckoned him with her finger and he responded instantly. As soon as he reached the bed, her hand curled around his erection and he wobbled. Her touch electrified him.