Page 20 of Lumberjack Bride
Six
Leo
Hazel Smith.
I could call her a lot of things right now. Many of which wouldn’t be nice to say in polite company, though that hasn’t really stopped me before.
Hazel’s not perfect. She’s idealistic and naïve. A bit too sweet at times but never for her own good. What she lacks in strength she more than makes up for with wit and perseverance. Just when I think about giving up, she’s there to show me that determination to keep going. She’s always been there for me. I’m not about to abandon her when she needs me the most.
Honestly, the only thing I want to call her is my wife.
I glance around the lawn, feeling more than one pair of eyes on me. Cars fly by on the street behind me, reflecting orange light from the sun setting on the horizon. Neighbors in nearby houses peek out their windows to see what’s going on. Dogs bark at the police sirens off in the distance.
Spokane, Washington. No wonder Hazel agreed to move in with me on Whitefish Lake. It’s peaceful there. Quiet with fresh air and wildlife. This city doesn’t hold a candle to the world she’s threatening to leave behind.
She’ll change her mind.
Any time now.
Hopefully, before I start to get really, really annoyed with this place.
Some curtains move in the window by the front door. Hazel made of point of closing every single one of them after bolting back inside like some kind of bank robber but the only thing she’s holding hostage in there is our future together.
And I’m the negotiator.
She’s not leaving that house. I’m not leaving this lawn.
Not until she talks to me.
I chuckle. So, this is what that feels like.
I remember staring at her from my cabin, annoyed but so utterly intrigued. Here was this girl, an absolute stranger. All she wanted was for me to take five minutes out of my life and listen to her. I didn’t. I refused until I absolutely couldn’t anymore. She wore me down. I’ll do the same.
The front door swings open, drawing my eyes up. Hazel steps out with wide eyes and a stiff jaw.
“You don’t have it in you, you know,” she says.
I smirk. “Don’t have what?”
“The patience. You’re going to give up a lot faster than I did.”
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “No doubt.” She gestures up. “It’s almost ninety degrees. You have no water, no food—”
“I have a cell phone and money,” I say. “I can order water and food.”
“Oh, so you’re going to cheat?” She shakes her head. “Not surprising considering your history with chess.”
“Okay, fine. No water, no food. But I am confident that you won’t let me starve.”
Hazel scoffs. “Wanna bet?”
“Yes. If I make it longer than you did, then you have to marry me.”
Her eyes roll back.
“Come on, Haze.” I grin. “You scared?”