Surrounded by Woods by Mandy Harbin Read Free Book Online Page B

each one was used for. They even gave a few demonstrations on how the trees were planted and cut with the heavy equipment. Mikaela asked all kinds of questions and genuinely seemed interested in what she was learning. She talked to everyone equally, including Josh. Toby even cracked a few lumberjack jokes, and Josh thought Mikaela found them funnier than they were. Maybe he’d just heard them all before. But hearing her laugh was like listening to a musical masterpiece. He’d felt the urge to keep saying funny things just to hear her laugh again.
    “Is that a paw print?” Mikaela asked, squatting down to examine the dirt road they were on.
    The guys knelt down beside her and stared. Every one of them knew exactly what it was. They just didn’t know which one of them put it there.
    “Looks like it,” Thomas said.
    “What do you think it’s from?”
    “Looks like a cat to me,” Toby said, chuckling.
    Mikaela stood while Josh glared at Toby. What was he thinking acting like that?
    “Cat? Seems awfully big for a little kitty cat.” She smiled at Toby, probably wanting him to elaborate.
    “I didn’t mean that kind of cat.” Toby smiled back at her, and Josh wanted to growl at him. Toby was flirting!
    “Well, what did you mean?”
    What, now Mikaela was flirting with Toby? Oh, this had to stop. “He meant mountain lions,” Josh clarified.
    Mikaela looked at Josh, eyebrows raised. “You mean cougars.”
    “Yeah, same thing.” He shrugged.
    “I thought they were west of here. Have you actually seen them on this property?” She seemed a little scared by that idea.
    “Yeah, we’ve all seen them. It’s okay, though, they won’t hurt you.”
    “H-how many have you actually seen. At once, I mean?” she asked, stepping closer to Josh as if seeking protection. He really liked that.
    “Um, I don’t know. Four. Five. I guess.” Josh couldn’t help reaching out and stroking her arm to comfort her. He liked that her instinct was to draw nearer to him, but he didn’t like the fact that she was scared.
    “I thought cougars, mountain lions, whatever… I thought they were solitary animals. Only seeking out other cats when mating. Why would there be a group of them running around?”
    She was way too observant and asking way too many questions. Josh didn’t want to encourage her, so he tried his best to bring the subject to a close. “Don’t know. Guess you’ll have to ask them why.” He smiled and started for one of the ATVs. His brothers followed.  
    Once Mikaela left, Josh and his brothers got to work, but his mind just wasn’t on his tasks. He kept picturing Mikaela in her tight jeans and formfitting sweater. When she’d bent over, he watched how her jeans hugged around her firm, round ass. When she’d reached for a limb while studying a tree, he watched how her sweater crawled up, exposing her soft, light skin. Throughout the day and up until dinner, he kept his thoughts on her. As soon as he showered, he practically ran to the dining room just so he could see her that much sooner. He knew getting there faster wouldn’t make her get there any quicker, but he just couldn’t think logically.
    After getting his scotch, Josh continued to think about the beautiful redhead staying here. After days and days of avoiding her and then fighting with her last night, today had been wonderful. She was so relaxed and eager to learn about his business that he felt a sense of pride. That wasn’t uncommon, for he loved his work, but since Mikaela arrived, Josh’s emotions had been all over the place. No matter how much he fought his feelings for her, and no matter how much he’d continue to do so, he couldn’t deny the fact that he felt connected to her, and with each passing moment, that bond grew stronger.
    When she walked into the room, his eyes lit up, betraying him. He didn’t want to continue acting distant, but he didn’t want to show how much he really liked her. He wouldn’t even allow himself to