CHAPTER 6
Jack
Three days later
I still don’t know how in the hell she talked me into it. She’s smart. She got me when my head was still spinning from the mind-blowing orgasm she gave me.
I had agreed to let her be with me in the forest in the morning, where she could observe me leading and working with my team. After lunch she’d go through our paperwork by herself. None of us guys enjoyed sitting behind a desk anyways, and I knew she was studying accounting at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, so maybe she could work some magic and help us save a few bucks. We needed every dollar we could get right now.
And more importantly I needed her. I always thought of myself as a happy man, and I was, but I never really realized how much more happy I could be with her in my life. I mean, I had thought about it, and subconsciously experienced it through those thoughts, but actually experiencing it in the flesh was a different thing.
But one thing I definitely didn’t need, or want to experience, was my guys taking one look at her this morning. Cutting down timber requires a lot of squatting, twisting, turning, and just about every other position you could put the human body in. And the only one who was going to be looking at her incredible body was me.
I didn’t want to tell the guys outright that we were together. It’s not that I didn’t trust in our relationship, definitely not that, it’s just that I didn’t want any complaining or accusations of favoritism at the camp. Those thoughts are like a virus that can destroy morale and take the team down with it.
It was only the first day, but I felt like morale was up already. The other five guys were pretty new to me, and each other, so that probably added in to the excitement for everyone. Just the enjoyment of meeting new people and forging a bond out here in nature through hard, honest work.
But that honesty was quickly questioned before eight o’clock.
“What are you doing?” I yelled, as I returned from a quick break watering a tree.
The other men just raised their hands, palms up.
“She said she had it boss.”
“She’s not to work the machinery!”
The chainsaw was buzzing and she was in a crouch, cutting that V into the tree like a true professional. It was too dangerous to interrupt her. I had to let her finish off this one, and then I was going to give her a piece of my mind.
As much as I was angry, I was equally proud. She handled it swiftly, a perfect cut, and that sucker fell right where it should have.
I ran over to her making the choke motion, alerting her to shut down the saw.
“What in the hell are you doing?”
“I stepped in while you were gone.”
“I was gone for one minute…to take a leak! One minute and you’re already breaking the rules!”
“I told you I can do it.”
“When was the last time you cut down a tree?”
“Before I left for college.”
“Before you left for college! That’s at least three years ago. And I know your dad was there making sure everything was okay. We’ve got six other people out here, you can’t risk our lives, or yours. You’re just supposed to be observing this week!”
“I’m sorry,” she said. I knew she was disappointed in herself, and in me, but I had to chew her out, and the other guys had to see it. Rules are rules. It’s what keeps us safe, and alive.
“Tyler, you’re up,” I said, handing the reins over to my lead man.
I grabbed Diane by the arm and not so gently marched her back to the campsite.
It took us a solid five minutes. When we got there I pinned her against a tree and grabbed her with both hands.
“You know how much you scared me!”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“It’s called lumberjacking, not lumberjilling. You could have gotten yourself hurt out there.”
She lowered her head. I reached in and took her face in my hand, raising her gaze to meet mine.
“What would have happened if something happened to you? What would I do then, huh?”
“Hire somebody else?”
“Hire somebody else! This isn’t about the job. This is about us. It’s always been about us. I’m not going to see you get hurt. It’s not going to happen. I told you there’s no going back and I mean it. You’re mine now, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect you and keep you safe. You understand me?”
She nodded her head. I could see her anger was subsiding a little.
I was angry, and worse now I was hornier than a ten-peckered owl.
I kissed my woman hard, square on the mouth. I pulled away and looked at her again before diving into her neck. I could taste a light coat of salt from the sweat she had worked up cutting down that tree. Damn, watching her operate that saw was hotter than hell, no denying it. I liked the way she worked with her hands, and my only plan right now was to put my hands all over her.
I ran my hand up her shirt and underneath her sports bra. Good choice for work, and a better choice for my wandering grasp. I grabbed a handful of her breast as I pressed her back harder against the tree. She reached down with both hands and unbuckled my pants, grasping like a fiend for my cock.
I grabbed her by the waist with both hands, pressing my body into her tighter and tighter, before sliding my hand down her pants, palming her pussy. I brought my hand back up and slid it underneath her panties. She was drenched and my fingers slid in with ease, right where they belonged.
She stroked me, increasing the speed and friction, as I curled my fingers inside her as I moved in and out.
Her mouth shot open and her head shot forward just as her walls gripped my fingers and her body shook uncontrollably. Her orgasm sent me straight into mine as I shot a massive load to my side, covering the grass in my cum.
I kissed her hard on the mouth, and she grabbed me by the face.
“I have to get back to the men,” I said, breathing hard.
“I’ll take a look at the books,” she said, panting as she stumbled away, zigzagging back to the truck where I had left the company records.
CHAPTER 7
Diane
H oo hoo,” came from my mouth as my hands circled my lips trying to improve my owl impersonation. I heard some rustling over in the bushes and slid out of my sleeping bag. The air was crisp and cool, but we’d all decided to forgo tents tonight, preferring to sleep under the stars. And what stars there were.
I never really realized how severe light pollution was in the bigger cities. I had missed the stars at college, but now they were back…boy were they ever. I began walking about ten yards, before I saw him. He fell in step right next to me, right where he belonged. He reached out with his hand and I happily placed mine in his. His hand was so much bigger and stronger, and I could certainly feel that, but what I also felt was his tenderness. He may have been a bearded beast with the men he worked with, but with me he was a gentle giant.
A giant I quickly snuggled into a minute later when we reached the campfire.
“How was your first day?”
“Well, I learned not to pick up a chainsaw again this week,” I giggled. “Then again, I think you made me want to break the rules.”
“That was a pretty hot one by the tree.”
“Pretty hot? Are you kidding me? I thought we were going to have to call Smokey Bear to put out that forest fire.”
He smiled. It was something I hadn’t seen much of, but was seeing more and more as each day passed. He looked more relaxed and comfortable since we’d met, and definitely more comfortable than he had been after I witnessed him…uh hmm…taking care of business down in the river. But I had news that was going to make him even more relaxed.
“So I took a look at the books,” I said.
“Anything interesting in there?”
“Well, the records are very basic, which is great.”
“You don’t like my accounting skills?”
“You definitely have sk
ills, no question, but I see some ways I can add value right away.”
“Add value? Is that business lingo? You’re already adding more value than you know.”
I wrapped him up in a big hug. “I’m serious. I know some things we can do right away that will put a lot more money in your pocket at the end of the year.”
“I don’t want to break any rules. This business was built thanks to this country, and I want to give back to the country that’s been so good to my family for two centuries.”
“No rule breaking.”
“That’s good.”
“Very good. Right now, Big Timber has a very, very basic system, which was great. It was easy to understand, thorough, and very transparent.”
“I smell a but in there somewhere.”
“You want to smell my butt? You really are a dog,” I joked.
“You mean a savage beast,” he said.
“All of the above, but seriously…there are a lot of write-offs that were designed for small businesses like yours. They’re there for a reason. The lawmakers know it’s tough to run a small business so they’ve passed a lot of legislation over the years to help small business owners out. The better you do, the more people you hire, and the more tax dollars they collect in the end that way. It’s better for everyone.”
“Makes sense.”
“It does make sense3,” I said. I paused, looking up at him. “Jack, the next thing I’m going to tell you may not make any sense, but I have to tell you. I think we’re missing a huge opportunity.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Try not to laugh, but are you familiar with…wooden bow ties?”
“Wooden what?”
I giggled uncontrollably.
“You’re gonna wake the boys.”
“Sorry,” I said, trying to get myself under control. “Okay…wooden bow ties.”
“What in the heck is a wooden bow tie?”
“It’s actually just like what it sounds.”
“A bow tie made out of wood?”
“Yeah,” I said, trying my hardest not to bust out laughing at his puzzled facial expression.
“Why would anyone want that?”
“My thoughts exactly! But the thing is they do…a lot. And not only that, they pay a lot of money for them.”
“You’re joking me?”
“If you would have asked me before I would have wished I was, but now it’s the complete opposite. I couldn’t be happier that this market exists.”
“You want to make wooden bow ties?”
“Check it out…I ran the math. I calculated how much you’re making per board foot, minus all the transportation costs and other expenses. That’s a tough business model to sustain looking forward. I mean, sure, with some changes to your bookkeeping, totally legal of course, I can make that work and we can save Big Timber.”
“That’s great!”
“Shhh,” I said. This time it was me who had to keep the volume of our late night rendezvous in check.
“Right,” he said. “But you’re sure?”
“Totally sure.”
“Let’s do it then,” he said, as I felt him squeeze me tight.
“Can’t…breathe…” I joked.
“Sorry, it’s just, well, you know. I really appreciate what you’ve discovered…and so quickly too.”
“You’re more than welcome, but Jack…wooden bow ties. I’m telling you.”
He turned his head a little, staring deeper into my eyes. He let out a light exhale that sounded like a ‘hmm.’
“You know what?”
“What’s that?” I said.
“I’m glad you didn’t give up when I told you I don’t hire women.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you’re the best thing that ever happened to this business. And to me.”
CHAPTER 8
Diane
One week later
J ack! Come here. Quick!”
“What happened? Are you okay?”
“Oh my gosh…am I okay? My muscular mountain man, we are more than okay. Look.”
He leaned in over my shoulder looking at the computer screen.
“Those are our orders?”
“Yes! The website just went up less than thirty minutes ago, and we already have thirty-seven orders.”
“We’re selling more than one per minute.”
“I know, can you believe it?”
He put his arms on my shoulder and kissed me on the cheek. “I can believe it, because when I’m with you everything is possible.”
“Awww. You’re so sweet,” I said turning my head in time to get a kiss on the lips.
He stood up straight just staring at the screen. A beeping sound came from the speakers.
“Thirty-eight,” I said.
“Wow, you really did it. You turned the business around.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet, but BigTimberBowTies.com might have been the right path to choose.”
“Wow, that sentence was loaded with puns,” he said.
I laughed.
“But it was also loaded with lessons.”
“How so?”
“Just a reminder that we can never sit back, or else we might find ourselves in a similar position in the future.”
“That’s business.”
“True, and maybe I was looking back too much and not forward enough. But now I’m on the right path, because that path includes you.”
“Thank you, Mister Wood.”
“What’s with the formalities?”
“If there’s any path to be on in this life, I definitely want a stick to guide me…but why have just a stick when I can have the whole wood.”
“Wow, you are crushing it with these puns.”
“Aren’t I?”
“And speaking of paths, I’ve got a new path it’s time to travel down.”
“Oh?”
He reached into his back pocket and handed me en envelope. I was so excited I wanted to rip open the letter, but I knew I had to open it carefully as this would be something to cherish for a lifetime.
“Oh my gosh! Really? Tonight?”
“Bags are packed. Truck’s packed. Ready?”
“We’re leaving now?”
“Right now.”
“But I’m not—”
He raised his finger to my lips, silencing me.
“You look amazing. If I forgot anything we’ll pick it up once we get there.”
“But what about all the orders?”
“That’s why we have to go now. We’re going to be busy beavers when we get back.”
I jumped up from my chair. He held out his arm, as an old school gentleman would, and escorted me outside.
“Watch after the place while we’re gone, Huck,” he said to his beautiful German Shepherd.
“Will he be okay?”
“Are you kidding me? He’ll be in high heaven. Sometimes he disappears for two weeks and comes back fatter than when he left…but I left a couple self-feeding dog food bowls and a few huge buckets of water out just in case.”
“So we’re off? Just like that.”
“Just like that,” he said.
“Napa Valley, here we come!”
CHAPTER 9
Diane
T his place is incredible,” I said.
“You’re incredible.”
I reached out my arm and he took my hand in his as we sat in matching lounge chairs staring out at the sunset over the vineyard.
“I think we should call a cab,” he said.
“Don’t you want to enjoy the sunset first?” I was surprised he was in a hurry to walk away from this perfect moment.
He pulled out his old Nokia brick mobile phone and typed something on the keypad. “Wow, they’re really quick up here. Says it will be here right away.”
“That’s a surprise,” I said, slightly disappointed.
“Well look at that,” he said. “It’s already here.” He reached over
next to his chair and pulled out a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and two wine glasses.”
Lumberjacked: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 14) Page 3