Page 5 of Her Christmas Lumberjack

Crap, why did I have to go along with the journalist thing?

“Nolan,” a voice calls, sparing me from answering. I turn around to see a young man dressed as an elf hurrying toward us. “I need help shifting this fir. It’s a real giant.”

Declan is using the distraction as an excuse to pull Margot away toward the backroom, and I’m relieved to see her melting against him with a giggle, her attention diverted. As soon as I get out of here, I need to google local papers. If I’m going to lie, then I might as well make it convincing.

“Can’t Oscar get it?” Nolan asks, frowning at the elf.

“He’s busy hauling the spruce trees.”

I seize the opportunity. “I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks for your time, Mr. Thorne.”

“Nolan,” he says, his voice like a peal of thunder. “Call me Nolan.”

His intense gaze sucks the breath from my lungs, and the bustle of the barn melts away as those piercing blue eyes root me to the spot. I have to tip my head back to look at him, but I can’t stop staring. He’s so unlike any man I’ve ever seen before. Giant, rugged, a little bit wild. Despite everything, I feel a rush of warmth between my legs, my nipples hardening beneath my sweater.

Crap, I need to get out of here.

I don’t think I can last much longer beneath that piercing blue gaze.

“I’ll be right there,” Nolan says, talking to his employee but still looking at me. The elf nods and hurries back outside.

“Thanks again—” I say.

“How about we finish this up tomorrow?”

I blink at him. “Uh…sure.”

My stomach twists at the thought of having to keep up the charade for another day. If I had it my way, I’d get in my car and go straight back to Denver. I’d try to forget the way my heart pounds when Nolan looks at me. I’d try to forget I ever camehere in the first place, and let him get on with running the farm in peace.

But I can’t.

Liz is relying on me. One word from my boss could make or break my entire career, and everything I’ve ever worked for depends on impressing her. As much as I hate the idea of taking this place away from Nolan and giving it to Samuel, this isn’t about who’s a nicer person. If Liz’s client has a legal claim on this land, it’s my job to help her build a case to prove it.

But Liz never told you to lie about your identity,I remind myself.That’s all on you.

It’s unethical.

Immoral.

But it’s too late to take it back now.

Swallowing hard, I step away from Nolan. “I’ll come back tomorrow, then.”

“Not to the farm,” he says. “Come to my cabin. I’ll tell you whatever you need to know.” He tells me his address and adds, “It’s in the forest, just behind the farm.”

I write the address in my notebook, my hand trembling slightly. “I’ll be there. How does three o’clock sound?”

“Sounds good.”

The thought of being alone with Nolan in his cabin fills me with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, but I force myself to smile politely, hiding the emotions battling inside me.

“See you tomorrow,” I say.

“See you soon, Aurora.”

My name sounds heavenly in his gravelly voice, the three syllables making me melt.

Okay, now it’s definitely time to go.

---