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

Some muscular baldy walked through the front doors of the gym. He carried a Nike bag at his side. I swear his neck looked just as thick as his biceps and thighs. Silo excused himself from me and waited on the jock, obviously interested in getting to know him better. In the meantime, I decided to leave the place. Before doing so, I studied the surrounding beefsters for Jack Manwood. Not on the cycles. Not on the treadmills. Not on the floor lifting free weights. Nowhere in sight. Maybe he was in the changing rooms, showering or dressing. Who knew?


What I imagined while standing there next to the beefster at the welcoming counter; actions that didn’t happen:


Chapter 11