Page 9 of Defended by the Lumberjack (Moonshine Ridge Lumberjacks #2)

Eleven Months Later

July

Let Perry take over.

Stay off your feet.

I'll pick you up after work.

M y husband's texts buzz in quick succession, making me smile but also making me roll my eyes.

I'm fine. I'm taking breaks. I love you.

Levi and I got married in April; after the busy ski season, before the Mother’s Day brunch and dinner that packed every table we could set up in the dining room without running afoul of the local fire chief's approval.

Despite promising Eddy and Pepper that I didn't expect to get pregnant in the first full year of my employment as Savor's official house chef, I noticed some changes a few weeks ago that had me booking an appointment with Doc Jones for a test.

That was just before Halloween and the doctor estimated I was already ten weeks along.

Levi's new job doesn't keep him away from home for the long stretches that he used to be gone, but he was still away several days at a time over the summer logging season.

He'd come home smelling like fresh cut pine, muscles jacked from helping the field crews getting the cut timber loaded and down to the local saw mill, and with his cock so hard and ready for me after being apart for days that my clothes would just melt right off.

Apparently, the last remaining bits of birth control in my system also melted off, and now I'm going into the busy season and my second trimester at the same time; with an overprotective hubby whose job doesn't keep him busy enough in the winter to keep him too busy to fuss over me through my shifts in the kitchen.

Of course, I wouldn't change a thing.

Eddy and Pepper were excited to hear I'd be needing maternity leave sooner than expected, but it probably helps that I shouldn't need to turn the kitchen over to Perry until after the busy season ends.

My phone buzzes in my smock pocket with one more text.

Love you too. Both of you.

Levi might be protective, but he also respects my dream. After all, he did put himself on the line to defend it. So he knows exactly when to send his last "I love you" text that I'll be able to check before starting the hectic dinner shifts.

Of course, I usually have a few more texts waiting for me when I get my breaks. Not always ones I can check in front of other people.

My team is already at their stations, prepping without needing oversight. Even Patrick has found his place and has stepped up to being one my best assistants.

"Beef is on the menu, folks!" I remind the staff.

We got a delivery from the UnU down in Slow Valley this morning, the freezers are full of good steak that will make the residents of Moonshine Ridge happy while it holds out.

"Let's cook."

I feel my pocket buzz and smile, knowing my husband is thinking of me and that I'll find out exactly what he's thinking when I can read my messages again.

And then I'll give him my response when we're home in bed later tonight.