The Lumberjack (Game of Chance, #4)

by Susan Stoker

“Yeah. I want you to cook dinner for me. I want to sit here on this couch and watch TV with you. Laugh. Find out if you’re as good a kisser as I suspect you probably are, and hopefully, in time, make love.”

“If you don’t want that . . . I understand,” she said haltingly. JJ realized he hadn’t responded to her declaration. “I want that. I want you,” he rushed to say. “You have no idea how much. But I will not take advantage of you, April. I’m not your ex. I won’t push you into anything before your memory returns.” “But what if it doesn’t?” “It will,” JJ said without hesitation for what seemed like the hundredth time. “How can you be so sure?” “Because you’re the strongest woman I know. And the most stubborn. There’s no way you’ll let your brain keep your past from you.”

“I love you.” JJ swore his heart stopped beating at hearing those words. “I’m not saying it to pressure you into anything. But life is short. I’ve learned that the hard way, and I didn’t want to go one more day without telling you. Nothing has to change, I just—” JJ rolled once more. He took her head in his hands and stared down at her. “You’re wrong. Everything’s changed.” She bit her lip as she stared at him. “Because I love you too. You’re braver than I’ll ever be for saying it first.” “Whatever,” she whispered, but he saw tears form in her eyes. “And as I said, this changes everything. I warned you before that if we did this, I’d become even more protective and overbearing. And now it’s a done deal. Knowing you love me? I’ve never wished for anything more in my life than to hear those words. I’m gonna swaddle you in Bubble Wrap and keep you in an orgasm haze, right here in my bed, so nothing can hurt you ever again.”