Mountain Lumberjack Read online

  Table of Contents

  Lilian

  Logan

  Hot New Neighbor

  Also by Sienna Chance

  About the Author

  Mountain Lumberjack

  Sienna Chance

  Copyright © Lovy Books Ltd, 2017

  Sienna Chance has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  Lovy Books Ltd

  20-22 Wenlock Road

  London N1 7GU

  Contents

  1. Lilian

  2. Logan

  3. Lilian

  4. Logan

  5. Lilian

  6. Logan

  7. Lilian

  8. Logan

  9. Lilian

  10. Logan

  11. Lilian

  12. Logan

  13. Lilian

  14. Logan

  15. Lilian

  16. Logan

  17. Lilian

  18. Logan

  19. Lilian

  Hot New Neighbor

  Also by Sienna Chance

  About the Author

  1

  Lilian

  I stared out the window of the plane, tapping my fingers on the small table in front of me. The pilot had said he didn’t allow electronics on the private jet my company had rented to get us all to the resort. I had a ton of work to do and could have used the time on the flight to get it done, but instead I was forced to listen to my colleagues talk about what they were going to do when we landed, all of the people they were going to see, other lawyers who came from all over the country to the exclusive convention at the ski resort in Colorado. I’d never been before—I was a new associate at the firm and had previously worked alone. I wasn’t looking forward to the trip at all but I’d been forced into it by my boss, and I needed to get in good with him if I wanted to rise in the firm’s ranks.

  “How are you doing, Lilian?” Michael asked, leaning into me. I tried not to grimace when I smelled the alcohol on his breath, sour and potent.

  “I’m fine,” I said. I chewed on my lip, looking away from him. Every time I met Michael’s eye, I felt uncomfortable. He was a slimy person, and he always looked at me like a piece of meat. I’d known from the beginning that he’d been attracted to me but when I’d taken the job, I hadn’t known just how aggressive he would be. I did my best to ignore him, only being polite to him, but if he picked up on the signals that I wasn’t interested, it didn’t deter him from hitting on me in the slightest.

  “That’s good,” he said in that silky voice of his, the one he thought was appealing but always made my skin crawl. “Are you excited about the retreat?”

  “Sure,” I told him.

  He chuckled dryly. “I hope you loosen up a little, Lily,” he said.

  I glared at him. I hated being called Lily more than anything, but no matter how many times I corrected him, he insisted on using it anyway. I’d given up after the third or fourth time, but hearing that name in his voice made my skin crawl.

  “I’d love to see you let your hair down.”

  I didn’t answer, just stared at him blankly. He didn’t get the hint or the message, but leaned even closer to me in his seat, even when I tried to shrink away.

  “I might just hunt you down at the convention and make you have a drink with me,” he said. “See if I can’t get you to show your wild side.”

  “I don’t drink,” I said, though I would have killed for a glass of wine.

  It was then that the pilot announced we were landing, distracting Michael, who turned to the rest of our colleagues and started talking to them excitedly, some boring history about the airport where they were landing. That was another thing about Michael—not only was he disgusting, he was unbelievably boring, somebody I couldn’t listen to for more than five minutes without zoning out.

  The airport we landed at was small but luxurious, and we waited there in the cold until the shuttle came to take us to the resort. I climbed on, quickly taking a seat next to Marilyn so Michael couldn’t sit beside me. She smiled at me warmly and I felt myself relax a little bit. I was glad Marilyn had come on this trip—she was the only person at the firm who I’d warmed to. She often protected me from Michael, which I was always grateful for. She’d been the object of his attention for a long time before I came along, so she knew exactly how creepy he could be.

  When we got to the street heading to the resort, I looked up at it in awe. It was a massive building, built of logs, with a warm orange light glowing from every window. We piled off the shuttle and went inside. I looked around, taking in the cozy log cabin vibe. It felt warm and comfortable, like home. I’d grown up in this area and had always enjoyed being in the mountains, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until I’d actually seen the snow.

  “Everybody gather around me,” Michael said. I stood at the back of the crowd, always trying to avoid being close to him in any way. Still, he somehow always found a way to get close to me, and I found myself standing right by his side as he spoke.

  “I have your room assignments and your keys. There are only a few rules here. Don’t trash the place, don’t smoke inside, and don’t make too much noise. Otherwise, go crazy.”

  Some people laughed, grinning and looking excited. I didn’t feel the same way—I hated parties, always noisy, always too much going on at once. I had never been much of a people person, usually preferring to stay indoors reading instead of playing with the other kids in the neighborhood.

  Michael started passing out the keys, and when it was my turn, he was sure to brush his fingers against my hand as he handed it to me. He gave me a wolfish grin and held up his key.

  “Right next door to you,” he said.

  I couldn’t help but grimace. I walked away from him without saying anything and got on the elevator, making my way upstairs to the fourth floor. I was grateful when I opened the door to my room and went inside, immediately greeted by the pleasant smell of lavender. The room wasn’t very big, but it was comfortable, and I put my bags down and sat on the bed. I put my head in my hands, taking a deep breath. I didn’t feel prepared for this convention at all, but I was determined to get through it and make it a productive time.

  I lay in the big soft bed until it was time for dinner, then got up and got dressed. I wore a turtleneck and jeans, trying my hardest not to show any skin to give Michael any ideas. I went downstairs, following the signs for the banquet room. The room was full of people sitting at large round tables, everybody dressed up for a gala. I didn’t care, but went inside anyway, taking a seat with my colleagues. Marilyn raised her eyebrows at what I was wearing but didn’t say anything, instead shooting an annoyed look at Michael. She knew exactly why I’d dressed that way, and I only hoped it worked throughout the night.

  I was quiet at dinner, and though I was tempted to go upstairs and skip the gathering afterward, I knew I should go. Part of the reason I’d come on this trip was to network and show that I worked well with other people. I hoped that Michael would take notice of the way I worked and spread the news to the other partners at the firm.

  I went into the ballroom, following a throng of people.
I searched desperately for Marilyn but she was lost in the crowd, so I made my way over to the bar. I peeked over my shoulder and noticed Michael was engaged in a conversation with somebody else. I ordered a glass of wine and downed it, then set it down and walked away. I spent my time watching people, trying to make note of those I might want to talk to later. Some people I recognized from various cases I’d studied in law school, and I knew they were the people I wanted to start with. They were the people who I could learn the most from, something I was desperate to do in order to move up in my career.

  “Hi, Lily,” came a voice behind me. I felt a shudder run through me and turned around to see Michael. He was looking at me with half-lidded eyes that were full of lust and I could tell he was drunk. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, my standard answer. I never wanted him to think that I’d like to carry on a conversation. I was always polite to Michael, but I did my best not to encourage him at all. I was friendly, but not too friendly, and was careful to never let him believe I might actually be attracted to him.

  “Have you been drinking?” he asked. He took my hand, holding it tight. “You look beautiful. The turtleneck, wow.”

  I wrinkled my nose in disgust but he didn’t seem to notice, oblivious as usual.

  “I need to run to the restroom,” I said, tugging my arm from his firm grasp. I hurried away, but instead of going to the restroom, I slipped outside the double-doors and out onto the patio. It was massive, all wood, with grills set up and a fire pit in the middle that was burning bright. The cold air felt good on my skin after the wine, and I looked out over the mountains, trying to relax. I always felt wound up after talking to Michael, especially when he gave me that look.

  2

  Logan

  I stood up, wiping the dirt from my knees and looking over my work. I hadn’t meant to work late tonight but I’d found a foundation issue in our latest project and felt compelled to fix it before I left. I pulled my gloves off, shoving them in my pocket as I made my way into the building. I stopped when I saw a woman standing out on the patio by herself. She was shivering, and the look on her pretty face was one of frustration and anger. I couldn’t help but just look at her for a moment. She was tall and slender, with pale blonde hair that was pulled into a stern bun at the top of her head. I couldn’t tell what color her eyes were, but I could tell her features were soft and lush, her body slim and supple even under the clothes she was wearing.

  I almost went to her, to ask her what was wrong, when I saw a man come out of the building and walk toward her.

  “Lily,” he said. “There you are.”

  I saw her grit her teeth, a look of annoyance passing over her face before she turned around.

  “I came out for some fresh air,” she said, her voice tense.

  “It was getting a little hot in there,” the man agreed, then leaned in close to her, sniffing her. “But I think it could get it even hotter out here.”

  Lily took a step back from the man. I could see the disgust even in her profile.

  “Sorry, Michael,” she said. “I just need a minute alone. Is that okay?”

  The man put his arm around her waist, pulling her body against his. She didn’t struggle, but froze.

  “Don’t you want somebody to talk to? You can talk to me,” the man said. I couldn’t take it then. I walked over to them, grinning at Lily.

  “Lily,” I said to her, holding my arms out and pulling her in for a hug, away from the other man. I put my arms on her shoulders and looked at her face. “God, it’s been so long. It’s so good to see you. How have you been?”

  “Good,” she said, staring up at me, her mouth open. She seemed to collect herself, and her face broke into a radiant smile. “I can’t believe you’re here. How long has it been now? Five or six years?”

  “Around that long,” I said, then looked over at the man. “I’m so sorry. You guys were talking. I didn’t mean to interrupt but Lily and I, we used to be close.”

  “It’s fine,” Michael said, his voice sharp and cold. He looked down his nose at me, a look I was used to from the folks who came to the retreat. “But if you would excuse us—”

  “Actually, if you don’t mind, Michael, I’d like to talk to…”

  “Logan,” I said, reaching out to shake Michael’s hand. “My name is Logan Mitchells.”

  “Michael Banks,” he said, then looked over at Lily. “I’ll see you inside, Lily.”

  “Okay,” she said, staring after him as he left. Once he was inside, she turned to me, a look of relief on her beautiful face.

  “Thank you,” she said gratefully, and the look in her eye made an unfamiliar warmth spread through me. “I can’t even begin to thank you enough.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said, looking after the man with distaste. “Who was that guy?”

  “My boss,” she said in a miserable voice.

  “Asshole,” I said.

  She met my eye, grinning at me, and I drank in the look for a long moment. She was so beautiful, her hair almost as white as the snow around us. I wondered if it was as soft as it looked.

  “He is that,” she said. She gave me a shy look then. “Um, are you here for the convention?”

  “No, ma’am,” I said. “I work here. I’m a construction guy.”

  “Oh,” she said. The look on her face was one of interest rather than dismissal, something that intrigued me. I’d had my fair share of women at the retreat who were interested before they found out what I did, then would turn up their noses as soon as they saw the callouses on my hands and the dirt on my clothing. At this moment, I was relatively clean, but there had been times I’d walked around looking like I’d just rolled around in a mud puddle, something that was definitely not attractive to the high-class women who stayed here.

  “You’re here for the convention?” I said. “So you’re a lawyer?”

  “I am,” she said. “I wasn’t really interested in coming, but the boss made me.”

  “For obvious reasons,” I said, frowning. “Has he grabbed you like that before?”

  “Yeah,” she said, looking down at the snow on the ground. “He has. But it’s just something I have to deal with for now until I move up at the firm.”

  I found myself putting my finger underneath her chin, tilting her face to look at mine. It wasn’t something I’d planned to do, but I found myself captivated by her gaze, the soft blue of her eyes.

  “You don’t have to deal with it,” I said firmly.

  She stared at me, her eyes wandering over my face. “Thank you again for helping me,” she said softly. “I really didn’t know how I was going to get away from him.”

  “Anytime,” I said. She was shivering, but as I started to take my coat off, she put up her hand to stop me.

  “I’d better go inside and join the party,” she said with a look of regret.

  “Or you could stay outside and talk to me,” I said.

  She smiled at me again. “I don’t think it’ll do me much good to network with a handyman,” she said.

  “You’re probably right,” I told her, holding her eye. “I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer to you.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly, her eyes going wide. “I just meant—”

  “I know what you meant,” I said, grinning at her. I didn’t take it personally. “I’ll see you around, Lily.”

  “See you,” she said, but lingered for a moment before she disappeared inside. I kept my eyes on her until she got lost in the crowd, then went inside and up to my suite. I got angry just thinking about the man and wished there was something I could do about it. It was none of my business, I knew, but I hated men who took advantage of women under their power. Those kinds of men were the lowest of creeps, and I vowed to myself that I would keep an eye out for Lily while she was on the property and try to protect her from Michael.

  The next morning, I got up and started work. I’d been doing construction for the past week, hav
ing cleared out most of the trees the week before. There was still some work to do in that area, but I liked to alternate jobs week to week in order to keep things from getting mundane. I was working at the new building where the spa part of the retreat was to be located when I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Michael, the man I’d had to save Lily from the night before. I stood up, trying my best not to give him a disgusted look. I didn’t want to get too involved and offend him by telling him off directly, but it was hard to hold my tongue while looking into his face.

  “Can I help you, sir?” I asked.

  “How do you know Lily?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Where do you know Lily from?” he asked impatiently.

  I stared at him, dumbfounded, anger coiling in my stomach. “I really don’t—”

  “It’s a simple question,” the man said, annoyance all over his features. I found myself speaking before I even thought about the words.

  “We were together a few years back,” I told him. He lifted his eyebrows at me, and then he looked me over for the first time.

  “Are you broken up now?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “We never officially ended things, but I haven’t spoken to her in a few years.”

  “Oh,” he said, his nose in the air again. He was looking at me smugly, but his eyes were anxious. I could tell that jealousy was welling up within him and it gave me some satisfaction. Plus, I thought that maybe if he thought I was interested in Lily, he might leave her alone. I was a big man, over six and a half feet tall and as broad as a regular doorway. Most men didn’t try to compete with me for anything. This man, though, was standing tall in front of me, though he was half a foot shorter and I probably outweighed him by a hundred pounds.