I slam the axe down so hard it gets embedded deeply into the stump and the pieces I split fly off into the snow around the patio.

“Too much mustard on that one.” Tiernan loads the wheelbarrow with the firewood.

Yanking the axe free, I sigh. “Bells wants to leave.”

“Leave? Like leave, leave?” He scoops up several pieces and dumps them into the wheelbarrow. “Why?”

“She got a job offer.” I swing and split another. “For a band in Korea.”

“K-Pop? That’s so hot right now.”

“You know about K-Pop?” I line up another hunk of wood and go to work on it.

“Who doesn’t?” He stands and dusts off his hands. “Sounds like a dream job for her. She’s the manager, right?”

“Yeah.” I wince as I swing again, this time almost splitting the stump in the process.

“Ease up, big guy.” Tiernan gathers the rest of the wood. “You’re going to break the axe.”

“I can’t let her go.”

“At least yours wants to leave. I can’t get away from Daphne. She’s probably in the woods right now, hiding behind a tree and recording this conversation.” He glances around.

“You don’t fool me, Tiernan.” I give up on the firewood and turn to him. “You don’t want her to go, either.”

He clears his throat. “We’re talking about you. Not me. Look, if you want her to stay, tell her.”

I scratch my chin. “She’s headstrong and determined. Everything she has, she’s worked hard for. I don’t know if I can ask her to change all that for me.” I want to. Fuck, I even wondered if I could knock her up to keep her here, but I couldn’t do that to her. I’m a bad man, sure. But I’m not evil, especially not when it comes to Bells. Big decisions like that should be made together, though I must admit the thought of having kids with Bells excites me far too much. So much so that I want to bring it up with her. But I won’t. That’s the perfect way to spook her.

“She can be headstrong and determined here. She’s still got Aurora to manage, and these days, there isn’t much that can’t be done on Zoom, you know? She can live her life and travel when she needs to, but that doesn’t mean she can’t make her home here with you.”

He’s right. This whole time since I heard about the job offer, I’ve been thinking about it as a binary choice. Either she stays and turns it down or leaves and turns me down. But what if she can have both? Maybe things aren’t as black and white as I thought.

I look at Tiernan with a newfound respect. “You’re right.”

He grins. “God, I love to hear that phrase.” He gestures toward the lodge. “Let’s go see what Aurora’s cooking up in the—”

A shrill scream cuts through the chilly air. Without another thought, I yank the axe free from the stump, and Tiernan and I both run into the lodge. He breaks to the left toward Daphne’s room, and I head straight to Bells.

When I open the door, I stop in my tracks, blink, and then lose my shit.

10

Bells

“It’s okay!” I jump up from the bed to block my new little pet. I only screamed because Leonard had surprised me more than anything when he jumped through the window. I dropped my phone and gotten scared. I’d seen him sitting outside trying to look in when I was emailing back and forth with Mark, but I didn’t think he’d come in.

Mark’s been persistent. So much so that his last message said he’s flying out for South Korea soon and his plan was to stop here before he left. He said I could make the decision to either sign the contract and get on the plane or stay once he got here. I think he could feel my hesitation, so he’s pushing harder. It looks as though he already has plans to push me right onto the plane.

Leonard didn't look angry, his big eyes staring into the room curiously. I pulled the window open because I had a few choice words for him for causing our accident. I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, but the only thing that came from my lips was baby talk. I’d reached my hand out the window, wanting to touch him but unsure if he would let me.

He sniffed me for one second before he nuzzled his head against my hand wanting a pet. I obliged and began rubbing him. His white fur was even softer than I thought it was going to be. Then the next thing I knew, he was jumping through the window and into the bedroom. I let out a scream. He only purred loudly and jumped onto the bed, getting snow everywhere and making himself at home.

“It’s not okay.” Barrow takes a step forward and reaches out to grab one of my hands that I have outstretched in front of me in a stop motion. Leonard jumps off the bed to come to my side. He rubs himself against my leg while letting out a low growl. I reach down and pat the top of his head to try to calm him.

“Be nice, Leonard,” I order him, and he stops growling.

“Be nice?” Barrow repeats.

“That goes for you, too.” I point my finger at Barrow. He runs a hand down his face in frustration.

“What the hell is going on?” A low male voice outside the room has Barrow turning.

“Is that a giant cat?” Aurora asks.

“What the hell. Is that Leonard?”

People start popping up in the doorway asking questions. Barrow turns around and shuts the door in everyone’s face, telling them he’s got it handled.

“That was rude.” I let out a small laugh.

“You’re not dressed,” he points out. That magical mouth of his is set in a firm line. I look down at myself, realizing I’m only in his shirt. That only makes me smile more. That normally would have been something I would’ve noticed. But I’ve been a little distracted with Leonard.

I’m not shy about a lot of things, but I am about my body. After Barrow spent a few hours showing me how much he enjoyed every inch of it with his mouth, I found myself feeling less insecure around him. He makes me feel sexy. His compliments and the fact that he always seems to be so turned on when he’s with me has made me more comfortable in my own skin. So much so that I hadn't tried to hide because of what I had on when everyone popped up in the doorway. It hadn’t even been a thought in my head to cover myself.

“I like my outfit,” I tease him, trying to get him to relax. Leonard rubs himself on my bare leg, causing me to giggle.

“Stop rubbing on her.” He glares at Leonard, which only makes it seem as though he’s jealous. That only makes me laugh harder.

“Are you jealous of sweet little Leonard?”

“Sweet? He’s trying to mark you with his scent.” Barrow glares at Leonard. I bend down and kiss him on top of the head. He stretches, then lumbers out of the room.

“I think it’s your scent that’s all over me.”

He grabs for me, easily lifting me into his arms. I love how dainty he makes me feel. I’d also be a liar if I didn’t admit how much I love when he digs his fingers into me when he grabs me. It makes me love my curves.

“How about I wash it off you and put it back on?”

I answer him with my mouth, kissing him. I feel him moving, but his kiss never falters as he turns on the shower before sitting me down on the counter in the bathroom. He pulls his shirt up over his head, tossing it away. I do the same, wanting to be bold. I get the reaction I want. His eyes turn hungry, and I can see how badly he wants me.