Page 13 of Lumberjack John
"That sounds great. I have a handful of jellies toward the back." John tried not to notice her toned legs as he walked past—proof she was wearing his shirt andonlyhis shirt. But he couldn't resist taking a peek. His overactive libido immediately kicked in with thoughts of her legs wrapped around his waist as they moved together.
Damn, this woman wasdangerous. "I'll be right back."
Spurred by the smells filling the cabin and the thought of spending the day with Frankie, John showered in record time. Something drove him to be around her and enjoy the limited time they had together. After all, time was the one luxury they did not have.
Five minutes later, he was seated at the dining table with a cup of coffee and a smile on his face as she set a steaming plate in front of him.
"I'm a little excited about this, I can't lie. It's been a while since I've had the luxury of cooking." She grinned as she sat down. "So, what's the first thing on our agenda today?"
John was already in the process of taking a bite and moaned around the combination of egg, sausage, and cheese. It was spectacular. "What spice did you use in this?" he asked, distracted by the intense flavor. "It's familiar, but I can't place it."
Her lips quirked to one side in an adorable lopsided grin and he fought the urge to lean across the table and sample them. He knew instinctively that her mouth would be better than anything he'd ever tasted. She'd be orgasmic. "It's smoked paprika. I was actually surprised you had it."
John blinked, feeling like he'd come out of a haze, still fixated on her kissable lips. What had they been talking about? Spices? He tilted his head, trying to remember the last time he'd bought spices, especially anything other than salt and pepper. "I have smoked paprika? I've never heard of it."
She giggled as she took a bite. "Maybe it's been in there for a while. Luckily, most spices stay good for a long time."
"I guess so." He loaded up a piece of toast with the egg mixture and took a substantial bite. "Damn, this is good," he muttered around the food, chewing several times before he swallowed. He wiped his mouth with the napkin and threw her a teasing grin. "Sorry about that. I forgot my manners for a moment. You seem to inspire the caveman in me."
"Ha!Idid that?" She smirked—so very sexy paired with her sparkling eyes. "I quite doubt that."
"That's fair. It's easy to forget manners when I'm usually just entertaining Angus." John chuckled and sat back after a moment, his stomach warm and full. "Clothes."
Frankie's brows shot up. "I beg your pardon?"
"The first thing on our agenda today is getting your clothes at the inn and anything else you might need for hiking through the woods in this weather. Then I'll show you the areas where I’ve concentrated my efforts for the last few years. Once you've seen the terrain, we can discuss methodology and anything else you have in mind."
"That sounds wonderful!" she exclaimed, her gorgeous hazel green eyes twinkling. Her face suddenly fell. "Oh, I almost forgot. I need to take care of my rental car."
John grunted. "It's already done. Sorry, I didn't mention it. Stanley called while I was outside to let me know they found it and towed it back to town. There's a mechanic working on it now, and they've already called the rental company. You shouldn't have to do a thing." His eyes zeroed in as her lower lip dropped, then watched in amusement as several emotions played out over her face.
"I… I…" She shook her head, her brow beetling. "I don't know what to say. I anticipated a horrible administrative mess with the rental company and you've already handled it for me."
"A thank you should suffice," he offered, trying not to laugh at her expression.
She sighed, and he enjoyed watching the tension dissolve from her face and shoulders. "Thank you." Her gaze shifted ever so slightly before she added, "Lumberjack John."
He arched an eyebrow at her sass but said nothing as he sipped his coffee. She must be feeling better after a good night's sleep.
"I can't wait to hear how you got that nickname." She planted her elbows on the table and cradled her chin in her hands, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Another surge of desire shot through him and his teeth clenched with the effort to fend it off. He took a deep breath before replying, meeting her mischievous gaze with one of his own.
"You won't get it out of me that easily," he teased, keeping his tone light. "You'll have to work for it."
"I'm not afraid of a challenge." She lifted her chin. "You'll learn that about me soon enough."
He could only hope.
***
"Oh, thank goodness!" Maysie fluttered around them like a mother hen. "You made it back. We were so worried when you didn't return for dinner, and then the storm just kept getting worse." She planted a maternal hand on John's arm. "But I knew if anyone could find you, it would be this guy."
Frankie yanked Maysie into a hug, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you for making the call. John found me just in time. I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't shown up when he did."
"It was nothing, dear. Don’t think about it," Maysie assured her with an affectionate squeeze. She held Frankie's arms out as if inspecting her. "You look none the worse for wear. Would you like some tea? I picked up some of that English Breakfast tea just for you. I read it’s very popular in England. I thought you might like it."
"Can we get it to go, Maysie?" John interjected. "I'm taking Frankie out on a hike once we get her clothes."
