Page 2 of Defended by the Lumberjack (Moonshine Ridge Lumberjacks #2)

Chapter Two

July

" C hef!" Perry holds up a plate for me to see before dumping it on the dishwashing station.

He doesn't need to say a word, I already know.

"They left." He says it like it's supposed to comfort me but all it does is make anxiety twist in my gut.

One of the tables tonight just refused to be satisfied with anything that came out of my kitchen. The sent back nearly everything. Overcooked, undercooked, watery, bland, spicy... nothing me and my team did was right.

I should be glad they finally left, but it just means not having another chance to make them happy.

"Did the Murdock's go too?"

Perry nods, and my mood sinks further.

It's been a busy night even in spite of the problem guests.

I barely had a chance to step out of the kitchen, but I did take a second to find Levi among the diners.

Part of the Murdock company party. I spotted him at one of the tables during the dessert course, talking casually with a couple sitting beside him but looking uncomfortable in the tie and dress shirt.

My heart does a problematic little flip flop at the memory of the big man that I met too briefly in the silent corridor earlier.

I'd needed a moment to clear my head and get through the chaotic night.

Levi was an unexpected calming presence. His voice was warm and caring and when he wrapped my hand in his, I've never felt safer with anyone in my life.

I'd hoped that maybe he'd one of the people left lingering in the banquet room or milling around the bar after the kitchen closed, but when I get a chance to peel off my smock and leave my kitchen in the capable hands of the clean-up crew I'm disappointed that I can't find him.

"Waiting on a boyfriend?"

The deep voice catches me off guard, making me startle even as a thrill runs through me at its sound.

Turning around to find the source, I see Levi standing a few feet behind me. One hand shoved in the pocket of his suit pants, the tie he had on earlier is missing now, two of the buttons of his navy, silk dress shirt undone at his throat to reveal a curl of dark chest hair.

His suit jacket is slung over his arm as he shifts awkwardly on his feet like he's nervous about my answer.

"No boyfriend." My pulse quickens in time with how fast I saw the words.

Levi takes a step closer, emerging from the spot by the windows where I found him earlier like he's been waiting on me.

My heart squeezes with hope that that's true.

"Husband?" His eyes travel to my left hand, a quiver of uncertainty in his voice despite the absence of a ring.

I shake my head quickly. "No husband either."

Levi's next step is more confident, bringing him right up in front of me.

Close enough that I can smell the masculine scents of sandalwood, leather and spice that make up his cologne, a hint of alcohol that he might have been drinking or might have gotten spilled during the evening, and the lingering scents of the dinner that I cooked for him.

Cooking for people is my passion, one I chose to make my profession, but the thought that this man was enjoying a meal I prepared, hits me in the same primal way that responds to his nearness as I look up to meet his intense gaze.

"Girlfriend?" His lips quirk under the thick beard.

"Nope."

"Thank fuck."

Levi

M y lips have hers hostage before she has a chance to say another word.

Not that July fights my kiss.

Totally the opposite, in fact. The curvy bundle in my arms reaches around me, pulling herself closer while the lips I've been preoccupied with all night work against mine in a way that has a half feral sound working its way out of my throat.

If she'd said she was in a relationship with anyone-- anyone-- I was ready to fight them for her.

My arms snake around July's body, the suit jacket sliding to the floor when I set my hands on her wide hips, July's hands slip between our bodies. Despite the close press, she runs them up my chest and I feel her fingers in my beard before she loops her arms behind my neck.

My dick's choking behind my fly for air. No. Not air. The fucker's at full mast and pulsing with need to get inside July. Her eager little gasps between our connected lips at every touch of my hands moving along her curves not doing a damn bit of good to talk sense into my dick or my brain.

"Baby, you keep wiggling against me like that and I'll be taking you up against those windows."

July nuzzles into my beard while I whisper at her hoarsely. Full tits brush against my chest while she moves into the rigid line of my cock where it hits her lower belly and every movement has me closer to the limits of my self-control.

"Might as well, I'm probably already getting fired, right?"

Her eyes are a warm, light brown, like dried pine needles, and there's a challenge in them when she angles a smirk up toward me that has me wondering how serious she really is.

"Come home with me tonight, Levi. I don't want you to leave yet.

" July takes her body away from mine and catches my hand in hers.

I'm so gone, I almost forget to grab my jacket off the floor as I eagerly let her lead me to a door marked "staff only" and up two flights of stairs to what looks like it was originally built to be a fancy suite in the resort's old lodgings.

I willingly let July lead me into her private space, a small apartment that has been renovated from the original room.

"It's been a shitty night," she tells me like she's making a confession as she drops smock and hat aside. "You're the only good thing that happened all day, Levi. I-- "

Her delicate throat works in a hard swallow and the confidence in her eyes falters, taking her gaze off me as she slips off her shoes and begins pulling pins out of her hair.

"I don't really have much experience...with..." She pulls her full lower lip between her teeth and knits her brows together, looking back up at me through long lashes.

Her eyes travel down my body, landing on the fly of my pants where my hard-on tents the damn things behind the zipper.

"...men," she finishes her sentence quietly as she works the last pin out of her hair, letting dusty-blonde locks fall loose in crimped curls that hang past her shoulders.

"But I've never met anyone that made me feel like you do and I don't know how much longer I'm going to get to stay on the ridge. So, if you like what you see...?"

My mouth goes dry as July undoes a drawstring at her waist and lets her loose pants hit the floor around her ankles.

Fuck yeah, I like what I see.

I'm more than happy to stay here and give this girl whatever she needs for the night, but before that happens, we need to get one thing clear between us.

This isn't just tonight.