Page 14 of Defended By the Lumberjack
"I know you like being outside, but I figure you're gonna want a job that gets you home more often now. Am I right?"
The job I work now keeps me out in the camps for weeks at a time. The boss is right, I like being in the field, but now I've got July to come home to-- damn straight I'm going to want to come home.
"Comes with a good salary too," Clinton's saying to no one in particular as he fishes in his pocket for keys. "Good enough to support a family if you need to."
Clinton doesn't say goodbye or bother waiting around for me to respond. He just heads down the steps and out to the truck that flashes its lights when he hits the button in his hand.
"What happened? Is everything okay?" July joins me, sliding under my arm like she's been doing it her whole life.
I'm still reeling. Still feeling wound up from finding my woman cornered by that jerk, still working through the nerves from worrying about her job and my own. Still processing Clinton's words, suggesting I just got a promotion and a raise instead of getting canned.
"Yeah, baby, everything out here's good-- what about you? What'd your boss say?"
All things considered, and from what I know of the people who own this ski resort, I'd be shocked if July caught any shit for what went down today. But her job was already on a trial basis before this, so it's always possible that the Joneses aren't down for the drama.
"Eddy wanted me to know they were on my side," she tells me, snuggling into my side either for comfort or for warmth-- I'll give her both. "Just, you know, had to hear both sides for the record and all."
"He say anything about your job? Clinton coming up here had to be good for you, right?"
"It's official!" July looks up at me, her pretty hazel eyes all lit up while she bounces on her feet. "I'm the head chef of Savor! Permanently."
The sweet little thing under my arm beams with pride, everything else from the hectic day left behind in her excitement.
"The chef needs to get back to her kitchen, doesn't she?"
The drama has eaten well into the dinner shift. As much as I want to haul her over my shoulder and back to my cabin, these are the concessions I'll have to make for supporting my woman's dreams.
July finds my hands, her fingers curling around mine as she stands toe to toe in front of me now and gives me a sly grin.
"Perry and Jordan have it covered tonight. I've already missed so much of the shift, I'd just throw off their routine if I came back now."
"Get in the truck baby girl, I've got plans for you tonight."
Chapter Eight
July
After the day I've had, I don't hesitate, not even long enough to grab my toothbrush. Whatever I need, I know Levi will take care of me.
Right now, what I need is Levi.
Levi's truck winds down the main mountain highway and turns off on a spur road just a few miles downhill from the resort. After a few bumpy turns over the snow-packed road, a cabin comes into sight.
"This is your house?"
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the beautiful, two story, modern structure with the gorgeous rough wood siding and the stone porch that sits in a clearing that appears to have been carved out of the forest just for the house.
"All mine," Levi says proudly, pulling the truck into an attached garage and closing the automatic door behind us once we're parked.
"And yours, too, July." He adds, as he leads me inside the house. "I hope I made myself clear last night? Because when I said forever, I meant forever with all the wedding bells and toy whistles that comes with it."
A thrill dances through my heart at being reminded that this man really sees a future together. My feet start toward the kitchen but Levi's got other plans.
"Oh no you don't." He laughs, hauling me off my feet into a bridal carry and turning us toward the wide, wooden staircase that takes up an entire wall of the living room. "You can explore the kitchen later-- after I've had my way with you."
Levi's heavy steps pause mid-stairs so he can kiss me, slow and deep.
When our mouths finally part, my breath is ragged and the kitchen is the furthest thing from my mind.
