This winter finds Kemp Trumble in a pickle along Lake Erie as he attempts to seek out some quiet time to finish writing his next best-selling thriller. Not only does he think the lumberjack next door is loud and annoying, but he also believes the stud alluring, a heavy distraction, and sexy.<br><br>Kemp purposely tries to keep his distance from Jack Manwood, knowing they rub each other the wrong way. To no avail, Kemp seems to constantly run into Jack. No matter how much Kemp steers clear of the hot neighbor, Jack is always around, here and there, everywhere.<br><br>Unpredictably, these two different men, one from the back woods and one from the city, find common ground: drinks at Timbers, manly hugs, and the annual Lumberjack Competition, which they both attend. But are Kemp and Jack's similarities strong enough to escalate their friendly relationship into boyfriendhood? Or will they remain separated by miles of lumber and broken hearts?

Lumberjack

I wouldn’t see him for the next few days.


The lumberjack next door rested, silent. His annoying and random chopping had stopped, and I settled inside the cottage’s quiet and spent a marathon of writing at my laptop. Two thousand words turned into twelve thousand words. Lickety-split. The stillness and serenity around me caused a creative flare to burst from my fingertips and imagination. A day passed like that. Two days. Three days. Simple quiet. Aloneness in my writing world. No irritants from next door. Pure bliss.


Chapter 4