Page 79 of Axe-Rated Lumberjack

“And I do have a home in Minneapolis. My family’s there, and I enjoy the city. I wouldn’t want you to think I’d suddenly stopped caring about any of that.”

“I wouldn’t. You were telling me about half a dozen places you wanted to show me, remember? I still want to see them.”

“Even the museums?”

“Sure. Although if one of them has an exhibit about enchanted forestry, I’m going to have a few questions.”

She laughed.

“I’ll be certain to look for one.”

“I’ve got evenings when we can talk, and I can arrange time off to visit you. You said your work lets you travel sometimes, so maybe you can come here when you’re between deadlines. We won’t be able to see each other every weekend, but I don’t mind making plans and putting some effort into them.”

“Neither do I.” Peyton brushed her thumb over my knuckles. “I think we could manage that very well, actually. And I’d like to have something to look forward to when I go back.”

“You will. I’m not asking you to turn your whole life upside down after four days. I just don’t want this weekend to be the end of us.”

Her smile softened.

“I don’t want that either.”

I raised her hand and kissed it.

“Then how about we keep seeing each other? Properly. You and me, figuring things out as we go.”

“I’d like that very much.”

She moved around the table and settled beside me, close enough that I could put my arm around her.

For a while, we stayed there without speaking.

I liked having her against me again, but I was especially glad she’d been willing to tell me exactly why I’d hurt her. I needed to remember that conversation the next time something went wrong.

Eventually, she tipped her head back to look at me.

“You know, I did have a rather different plan for this morning.”

“So did I. It involved breakfast, for one thing.”

“I noticed. I’ve just eaten half a sandwich because I was too upset to cook anything.”

I glanced at the plate.

“I managed one of Stormi’s scones. They’re as good as she promised.”

Peyton looked at me with sudden interest.

“You ate a scone without me?”

“Only one. I left you the other.”

“How considerate. I suppose you’re expecting praise for demonstrating restraint.”

“I was hoping you might let me make the coffee when we go back.”

Her smile grew.

“I think that could be arranged.”