Read Online More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) by Christine DePetrillo - Free Book Online

life.
    Oh, how I’ve missed this sound.
    The purr of the chainsaw, the vibration it sent up his arms, the woodchips flying as he hacked into the sides of the mammoth stump made him feel alive again. He inhaled the rich pine scent, filled his lungs with it, and in a short time the basic shape of one bear appeared.   
     He shut off the chainsaw to switch it out for a smaller one when movement behind Ian caught his attention. A woman—who looked very much like Sage—was walking toward the workshop.
    Orion had convinced himself either Sage Stannard had been a medicine-induced hallucination in the hospital or once she’d seen he was going to heal, she’d cut herself off from feeling responsible for him. Hell, she’d done more than enough by getting him to the hospital and visiting him. Twice. She had even stood up to Adriana, which gave credence to the notion she was a hallucination after all.
    But this woman walking toward him now in a flowing, but short, pink-and-purple skirt and a pink tank top with lace gracing the tops of some impressive breasts sure looked real to him. When Ian saw her and jumped off his stool to run to her, Orion knew she wasn’t any figment of his imagination. His imagination wasn’t nearly that good.
    “SAGE,” Ian’s voice boomed.
    Sage set down a basket she’d been carrying and plucked the ear plugs from Ian’s ears. Orion did the same with his own ear plugs and set them and his safety glasses down on his work bench. He leaned against the bench as he watched Sage interact with Ian.
    “Hiya, handsome,” she said.
    Ian shifted his weight from one foot to the other in his excitement. “Did you make cookies for me, Sage? Did you?” He pointed to the basket.
    Sage bent offering a bonus view down her tank top that made Orion’s knees buckle. He gripped the work bench to keep from dropping to the ground.
    “I did. As promised.” She picked up the basket and removed a red-and-white checkered linen.
    Ian inhaled deeply then said, “Sixty-nine cookies. Three are missing.”
    “Wow. That’s right. How did you know three were missing?”
    “I know. I know, Sage.” He took the basket from her and ran to the workshop. “Look, Orion. Sixty-nine cookies. Three are missing.”
    Sage followed Ian. “My sister, my mother, and I each ate one. Quality control. I don’t give out what I don’t sample first. How did he know right away three were missing?”
    “Part of his charm,” Orion said. “He used to be able to tell how many fish he and his buddies caught in their nets before they even got dumped.”
    “I was a fisherman, Sage.” Ian stood taller for a moment, then he turned to Orion. “Can I eat some cookies?”
    “Sure. Go inside the house and ask Wendie if she wants some too.”
    “Wendie likes to eat cookies with me,” Ian said to Sage.
    “Who wouldn’t like to eat cookies with you?” She smiled and Ian studied his shoes in a display of bashfulness that made Orion laugh. “Enjoy them.”
    “Thank you, Sage.” He set the basket down and awkwardly—maybe a little roughly—threw his arms around her.
    Not a bad idea, Dad. Not a bad idea.
    Orion was a little jealous his father could get away with impulsive behavior like that. He wanted nothing more than to do the same, but a large portion of his brain was working overtime to keep him in the socially-appropriate zone.
    Ian scooted up to the house leaving Sage and Orion alone in the workshop. Very alone. Quietly alone.
    Say something, idiot .
    But his mind couldn’t form any words while his eyes glued themselves to Sage’s outstanding legs.
    “Smells wonderful in here,” she said. “I love the scent of fresh pine.”
    “Me too.” Brilliant. God, he was so bad at this.
    “So, I’ve officially moved into Cressen’s place.” She brushed sawdust off another stool and sat.
    “Guess I’ll have to start calling it Stannard’s place now,” Orion said. Okay, that was clever.
    “Guess so. Had the moving guys take out the