Piece of My Heart Ebook

The door opened, and a man appeared in the doorway in a flannel shirt open over a bare chest, low slung jeans, and bare feet.

I struggled to keep my eyes on his face, which sported a few days of scruff lining his jaw.

His gaze scanned me from head to toe as he scowled. "You're not one of my cousins."

I shook my head. "No. I'm not."

"We don't open until Thanksgiving Day. Come back then." He made a move to close the door.

"Your uncle said you'd help me," I cried out before he could shut the door. "Please."

He slowly opened the door, his jaw tight. "My uncle said that?"

"Yeah, I stopped at the white farmhouse." I gestured lamely in the direction of the larger home. "Your uncle—I didn't catch his name—said that you would be able to help me."

He ran a hand through his hair. "What do you want?"

"I was hoping you could donate trees for—"

"You want free trees?" He started to close the door again.

I sighed, irritated now. "It's for the children who have to spend the holidays in the hospital—" When he paused, I continued. "It really lifts their spirits when they can't be home for Christmas." I wasn't sure how else I could appeal to him. "And I can easily go to the other tree farm up the road." I pulled out my phone to search for the name of the other local tree farm. "Monroe Christmas Tree Farm. I'm sure they'll be happy to help."

When he remained stubbornly silent, I spun on my heel, tromping back across the packed snow on the ground to my SUV. I'd just opened the door when he said, "Wait."

I waited a few seconds while he put on boots and came onto the porch with his hands on his hips. "I'll help you on one condition."

I raised a brow, not feeling particularly generous at the moment.

"You have to help me cut down the trees."

My shoulders slumped. "I'm a nurse not a—" I wasn't even sure what to call him. A tree farmer? Lumberjack? Because right now, he was giving off serious lumberjack vibes with the outfit, the bare chest, and his sheer size.

He scowled. "That's the deal. Take it or leave it."

That meant more time in his presence. I wasn't looking forward to it, but I wanted the kids to have trees. I wanted to bring the magic of Christmas to them, and I couldn't let them down. "Fine."

He inclined his head, and I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. "It's a deal then."

"You'll help me transport them to the hospital too?" I asked, knowing I was pushing him, but I didn't own a truck or know anyone who did.

He nodded. "We deliver."

I almost said Hopefully, without a grumpy attitude, but I'd gotten what I wanted, even if I could have used a little less Scrooge. "Thank you."

I opened the door again, eager to get out of there and away from this guy's attitude problem. I thought this would be an easy ask, that anyone would want to help sick kids, but clearly I was wrong.

"Don't you need my number so we can set up a time to get the trees?" This time, his tone was more amused than irritated.

Flustered, I pulled out my phone, unlocking it and scrolling to Add Contact.

He approached, not having bothered to put on a coat or gloves. He was seemingly unaffected by the cold. Either he was used to it, or his grumpiness kept his body warm. I was going with the latter option.

He plucked my phone out of my hands. "I'll put my number in. Text me so that I have yours."

His tone set me on edge. "Has anyone ever told you that you're bossy?"

His gaze met mine over my phone, and he smirked. "Actually, yes."

My entire body flushed with heat. Was he insinuating that he was bossy in bed?

He handed my phone to me.

"What's your name?"

"Tate Calloway. You?"

"Skylar Barton," I said as I typed out a quick message.

Skylar: Merry Christmas, Scrooge.

When his phone buzzed, he glanced at the screen. "Are you one of those people who loves Christmas?"

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