Chapter One
Jackson
Sweat trickled down my back as I lifted the axe one last time, landing a clean cut against the log. It was August, and the summer heat was refusing to let, up even though Fall was right on our heels.
I admired the stockpile of wood I had gathered myself and wiped at the sweat along my brow with the back of my arm. Country living wasn’t easy. We didn’t have cell phones or TV and we most definitely didn’t have the hustle and bustle of the city.
It was mainly quiet except for a passerby every now and then.
Placing my axe under the shaded tree, I grabbed my water jug, twisting the cap off and bringing it to my lips all in one fluid motion. The cool water had just touched the tip of my tongue, when I heard the crunch of feet against gravel. The noise was coming straight towards me and, even though the footfalls couldn’t have belonged to anyone who weighed more than one hundred and twenty pounds, I was alert and ready.
I twisted around, my blood pumping as my eyes landed on the person who was making all the commotion. In all the years that I had lived out here by myself, never had I seen someone as beautiful as the woman that was running directly towards me. Her hair reminded me of the sun, and her eyes burned a hole through me.
“I need your help,” she panted, out of breath. I could see the panic in her eyes, and knew that whatever it was that was going on was serious. Still, I didn’t get into other people’s business, and I most definitely didn’t allow anyone to bring their business to me. I didn’t care for drama.
“No can do, sweetheart. I ain’t in the business of helping anyone,” I drawled, my cock growing harder and harder with every second I continued to stare at her. She was a tiny thing, short, with a little bit of curve to her. She would be perfect bent over my…
“My piece of shit ex-boyfriend left me on the side of the road about a mile down. I just need a ride into town or maybe a phone to use.” Her voice cracked, and with it my hard ass exterior.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but ain’t got no phone, and I don’t plan on making a trip into town any time soon.” I smiled, or at least tried to. The woman continued forward until she was standing underneath the shaded tree, and almost flush with my chest. I could smell her sweet perfume and knew that if I let her stay here with me that I was going to be in for a whole lot more than I bargained.
“Sir…” She batted her long eyelashes. I could see the dark blue swirls in her eyes and wanted to tell her how beautiful they were, but stopped myself, knowing damn well this was the last thing I needed.
“Sorry darlin’.” I scratched at the back of my head, wondering what the hell I was supposed to be do with her and how I was going to get her to leave without having to drag her back out into the woods.
“I won’t take no for an answer. If you don’t have a phone, or a way into town, I could really use a place to stay for a bit.” Oh fuck. My face went blank. She had to be me kidding me. Right? This was a joke? Fate didn’t send no beautiful temptress out here for me. Not unless she would bring trouble with her.
“I don’t want or need any trouble around here. I’m not a nice man. I’m ornery, rough, and most days I don’t even like being around myself,” I started, but could tell from the look on her face there was no telling her no. She really wasn’t going to take no for an answer and, strangely, I admired that about her.
“My ex doesn’t care about me, as evidence by my being here now, so no trouble will follow me. As for you being ornery and rough, well, you don’t seem like either of those things.” She smiled, and I’ll be damned if my entire day didn’t get that much brighter. How could one tiny little woman come jogging down your dirt driveway and make things seem so much better?
“You can stay then, but you’ll be helping. We don’t often have visitors out here, but on the off chance that we do there is a spare room in the house.” I hooked a thumb towards the wooden cabin behind me and her eyes followed the direction of it. It wasn’t much, just a two-story cabin with a working bathroom. I had inherited the place from my grandparents and loved the quietness that country living brought me. That, coupled with the simplicity of it all, made it my dream home.
“I promise I will listen and help where I can. I just can’t go back,” she announced, a bit shaken up at the thought. I was an asshole nearly every day, but I would never send a woman back to a man that didn’t want her to begin with. Plus, the man had to be blind if he didn’t see the beauty that was before him.
“Are you sure no one is going to come looking for you? Police? Boyfriend? Parents?” I questioned further, arching an eyebrow at her. She didn’t seem to care that I was shirtless with sweat dripping down my bare chest. She just looked me straight in the eyes and spoke.
“I have no one. Everyone that’s ever mattered is gone now, so please don’t make me leave when I don’t got no where else to be.” Tears swirled in her eyes and my heart thudded loudly against my rib cage as the sound of rushing blood pounded in my ears.
“I’m Jackson.” I extended my hand and she took it, my large burly hand engulfing hers.
“Lola.” She gave me her name. I had never had a true interaction with a woman before. Hell, I had never even had sex before, yet the way I was feeling between my legs right now, it made me envious of those that had because, regardless of whether or not I wanted Lola to stay, I knew I most definitely wanted to fuck her.
“Did you bring anything with you?” I questioned, my eyes flicking over her body. I didn’t have anything that was going to fit her. I was nearly six foot five, and she had to be close to five foot two.
“No….” She mumbled. “Just what I got on.” Her eyes darted to the grass, nervously. Even if I didn’t want whatever drama she brought with her, I couldn’t just let her go. There were bears, and people far worse than me out here. If something happened to her, it would sit on my conscience and peck away at every shred of my sanity.
“Don’t look at the ground like you’re scared of something. I ain’t going to hurt you. I just wanted to know if you had any other clothing with ya.” For some reason, the thought of someone hurting Lola didn’t sit well with me. It made my blood boil, and my hands itch for something other than the swing of my axe.
“I just… don’t want to be a burden. I know a man like you don’t have clothing for me and I’m okay with that. I just need some time out here away from it all. I promise, when I’m ready, I’ll leave.” That right there broke the camel’s back. I knew before hand that I wasn’t going to let her leave, but her comment just now sealed her fate. She was stuck here with me in my little cabin by the river.
“You ain’t no burden, Lola. Now get on up to the house. I’ll be starting dinner here soon,” I ordered, needing to take a few more swings with the axe to get the thought of her sleazy ex-boyfriend hurting her out of my head.
She scurried up to the house, and I slammed the jug of water down, no longer thirsty anymore. I promised myself then, as I grabbed the axe from the tree and lifted it above my head, that if he ever showed up here, I would do everything in my power to protect Lola. Just because I didn’t know her deep down in the pit of her soul, didn’t mean she deserved to be treated like shit.
The axe came down hard on the flimsy piece of wood, slicing it straight down the middle. I wondered then what I was going to do with such a beautiful woman. I couldn’t keep her, not even if I wanted to, but I couldn’t let her go.
Something about her rubbed me just the right way and enough that it made me want to explore her in more than one way.
Damnit. I squeezed the handle of the axe, my palms digging into the hard wood. I was screwed and I hadn’t even taken my pants off yet. Yeah, I might be a virgin, but I’m sure that’s not how this worked.