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

All tenStanding Chop competitors stood side by side, the heads of their axes positioned on the ground between their parted legs and feet. Upright logs approximately five feet high reached out of the earth in front of them. Their objectives were quite clear by the rules: chop two sections of upright timber off, one foot each; the first axeperson to accomplish these cuts would win the challenge


Jasper Lake sat behind the contenders which looked like a picture-perfect painting: rippling green-blue water, two swans, a wooden raft floating in its icy center, a snow-covered gazebo on the opposite side of the lake.


Chapter 26