“Me and my big mouth,” mumbled Eron beneath his breath. “And damn it, her rice cakes and cassava sweets are absolutely delicious!” 

No thanks to him insisting that they go and talk with the woman he saw from afar, his boss had relieved him from his work and had insisted that they accompany her back to the sawmill. So, after having several small pastries which he bought from the beautiful, buxom woman, he found himself carrying her other eco-bag since she insisted on carrying her basket. 

And to his alarm, he was now trying to control his lust as he strolled beside her, so very close to just ravishing her as she talked to his new boss. He suddenly was wishing he never came near her… 

How thankful he was that Jack was the one talking to her and not him. 

“I really think that it would be good for all of us, Diwana… I know I’ve mentioned it many times, but, if you had a diner here in the camp, you’ll make a lot more money, and also, you’d avoid having to take long walks back and forth every day. We would have available, hot and fresh food during at least part of the day while you can settle down and rest. And it would be exclusive! I can promise you that, it would be just you if you decide to open your diner here. Please, think about it a little more instead of rejecting it at once?” 

Jack and Eron were now walking with the lady called Diwana. Her natural beauty, without a taint of makeup, and her shy smile were even more captivating than any charm The Charmer could ever show. He even found himself checking on his looks, his clothes, even his stride as they slowly strolled with her, sandwiched between himself and Jack. 

For some reason, he was getting anxious about making the right impression on her, especially now that she was right beside him. 

Come on Eron, do I have to remind you that she is not like the girls you can just buy to spend a night with…. not like the dozens of made-up women in the city who would throw themselves at your feet with just a wink… look at her… YES… look at her shining but sad eyes… her soft, pink, full lips… her perfect smooth golden skin… LOOK ERON! DAMN IT! … And look at yourself now completely losing it with a lady… a REAL LADY… who should have nothing to do with a guy like you. So just keep it together, man, and show her some respect! 

He found himself fighting the unusual uncontrollable lust that this much less complicated lady was not just awakening, but was causing him to explode within. To his shame, it had come to the point where it was now very easy for him to completely lose it. 

Eros zipped up his leather jacket halfway. He had to. His pants were already bulging at the groin just by his looking at the little curve of cleavage that had escaped from her modest, yet pretty dress. The rounded shape of her breasts against her neckline was making his mind go wild, imagining the smallest and more sensitive curvature and folds that her clothed body had for him to touch… to kiss… to lick…. 

And he wanted to do all of that… to all of her. 

His wildest side was starting to show with her proximity, and the temptation to tear the blue, flowery dress to rags and uncover the magnificent treasure that it hid, was getting really, really HARD to control. 

And the worst part? To his dismay, this beautiful curvaceous brunette didn’t seem to be very impressed with the handsome, muscular Charmer! 

He found himself unsure of how to proceed. 

“Jack, I don’t think I can do that right now,” Diwana said after a while, making a very uncomfortable Eron come back to reality. “Even if I had the time, or the money needed to start a new business like that, what would I do with the kids back at home? They need me, and they are definitely my priority.”

Eron could hear the firm decision in the lovely lady’s voice as the three of them slowly walked towards the logging camp. They were now quite near, so he took the chance to finally speak and be noticed… 

“Well, the guys here seem to love you...r food… very much. You would be very successful and you could have a better life for yourself and your children. It will take a lot less effort to do that while you’re doing something that you like and are really good at,” Eron added. 

Diwana’s face grimaced with a pained smile at hearing the words “your children” and it was for good reason, too… 

“Oh, they’re not mine,” she said, just barely above a whisper. “I just house them, you see? They have no parents. I like to take care of them while they find a permanent place. But they tend to take care… of me more. It was all because of the pandemic outbreak last year… when… I lost my own husband… and child.” 

The newcomer’s mouth twisted as he got angry at himself. His first words after they were introduced, too! 

Very well done, Eron! Now, how will you take your foot out of your mouth? 

He tried to recover. “Oh no, I’m… I’m very sorry to hear that. I didn’t know!” 

“Of course, you didn’t,” Diwana said with a small smile. “How could you know something like that, if I didn’t tell you?” 

“Well, at least you know that I’m not going around talking about your story,” Jack mumbled audibly enough, trying to change the mood. 

“I know you don’t and won’t,” Diwa said, her smile finally back to being cheerful. “You know how bad it will be for you if I find out that you’re doing that?” 

“Huh? Are you going to throw a frying pan at my head like Rapunzel, Miss Diwana?” the lumberyard owner joked. 

“No. I’ll stop coming to sell my food to your camp, and all of you will starve,” she giggled, and her eyes shone even brighter. 

The smile that illuminated her face sent rays of warmth to Eron’s heart. A small pressure on his chest startled him, sending him shocking warning alarms in his head. 

His thoughts: “Hey, what the… Well, I know she’s pretty, and I’m going crazy to take her… out… but this? What is this? What’s happening to me?” 

Her sweet smell surrounded him and danced around his head, drowning his senses and once again taking him to the moon. His already strong libido also increased, which he didn’t think possible considering how turned on he already was. 

"I like her perfume too… flowers…" the newbie said to himself. "Are those roses? And strawberries. Really, what is going on all of a sudden? I was never the flower love type of person."

“Eron, tell her!” Jack said suddenly, snapping the new hire out of his out-of-control feelings. 

“Huh? What? I’m sorry, I just… got lost for a second.” 

Her eyes, mischievous yet innocent, were fixed on him, and he felt a magnetic pull towards her sweet mouth. He focused with all his might on what she was saying, to avoid his thoughts of kissing her. 

“Jack was saying that I can’t do that to a whole camp of hard-working men and then asked you to agree with him. Too bad for him, but I think you’re remembering your girl back in your town, so you missed the chance to defend him,” Diwana said, and giggled some more. 

But this time, the smile didn’t reach her eyes and her voice sounded hollow, even unfamiliar to her. 

Her thoughts: “Well, he’s that handsome, so he has to have someone already, right? That’s why we don’t go after guys like him, Diwana. And girl, please stop looking at his well-defined torso under that tight undershirt… and his muscled biceps…. Ugh, stop it! I think it’s getting too hot in here.” 

Di tried to speed up her steps so they could reach the sawmill sooner, just so they could already reach the other men in the logging company. She sighed in relief as she saw some of her regular customers waved at her. 

“Hello, Diwa!” 

“Hey Diwana! Took you longer to get here today, I’m dying here!” 

“Nice to see you, Dee.” 

The men around started respectfully greeting the lady, who was still walking towards one of the tables nearby, protected by the two well-built males that had been walking beside her, one on each side. 

“Oh no, that’s not true. I travelled the same time as always but was intercepted by these two and I got slowed down by them cause they were so entertaining,” she replied as she started bringing out the goods in her basket to the large wooden tables in front of her. 

The guys that were further away started running towards the table. The smell of her skillfully prepared dishes called out to hungry, rumbling bellies. 

Soon, there was nothing left on the table and in the basket. 

“You see, Diwana! Less than 15 minutes and all your food are gone! Please…” 

“No, Jack, I told you already… Right now, I have three kids at home, and there are no adults in there to protect them, especially now that there are no men living with us. How can I leave them alone the whole day?” 

“Well, it wouldn’t be the whole day… and you can bring them to stay here with you while you’re here. They’re not toddlers anymore, Di. Besides…” Jack paused as his smile grew bigger. “If what you want is a man at home, then I have one ready for you.” 

“I don’t think I’m interested in you that way, dear Jack, I’m sorry,” Diwana laughed, and so did the others around that were within hearing distance. 

“Well, thanks for breaking my heart, lady,” he said, laughing. “But I wasn’t even volunteering. It so happens that there’s someone that’s looking for a room to rent.” 

Eron, upon hearing what Jack said, felt the warning alerts in his mind and body intensify to code red! 

“Aw hell no, it’s been HARD for me since she got here, and it’s only for a few minutes!” he thought in a panic. “And now, if I end up living in her house, what will I end up doing to her?! No no no, Jack… not with HER… not in HER house!”

Eron started moving his head from side to side, his eyebrows knitting while his mouth twisted without him realizing it. He was trying to call Jack’s attention by making small movements with his hands without all the rest of the camp noticing… 

But the only one who saw him was Diwana. 

Yeah, this is not your day, Eron Camden. 

Diwana's thoughts: “Oh, so he’s the one looking for a room… but why is he acting that way? He doesn’t want to stay at my house? But he hasn’t even seen the place and yet… Oh well, better for me, then. Had he insisted on living there, it would have been very hard for me… Shoot, I can’t… God knows what I’d end up doing with him there. No, that can’t happen… Especially if he’s so intent on avoiding it… maybe even... avoiding me...”

The gentle woman’s deep, dark eyes turned sad once more. 

“Oh Jack, are you being serious now?” she asked as she looked around, finding a few uncomfortable looks from the other loggers, which they tried to fake as indifference. 

“Of course, I am! City boy here is literally camping out in the woods right now. I promised that I’d ask around if there was a room for rent, and you were my first thought. That’s why I texted you a while back about it. Look, he’s ok, doesn’t bite or anything,” Jack said with a smirk, placing a heavy muscular arm over Eron’s shoulders then slapping his hand on the awkward man’s other upper arm. 

“Well, if Mr. ‘City boy’ wants to rent a room in my house, he’ll need to keep an eye over his shoulders. You know what I mean, Jack,” Diwana stated, no longer as cheery as before. 

“Maybe he doesn’t mind that, Diwana, there are… wolves… out there, you know.” 

“Not only out there, Jack…” 

Eron's brows knitted together as his skilled analytical mind ran at sixty miles an hour: “Wait, that doesn’t sound good. I saw how some guys were looking at her, and it seemed that she’s not very interested in them… I wonder who’s the ‘wolf’ that’s bothering my Blue Riding Hood.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but, if you really have some space, and have considered renting it, I would be very interested, if you agree. Please think about it,” Eron said with a warm, sincere smile. 

Diwana was now surprised. Even a little confused… 

Her own analytical thoughts were churning: “What is this now? So, he suddenly changed his mind? Well, I still think that you’re safer in the forest with the wolves, considering what might happen when you stay with me, Mr. Eye Candy of the Year.”

She replied once she recovered, “I already gave you fair warning. I hope you understand that it’s not as easy, especially with you being new to our town. You might have some problems in the village if you rent a room in my boarding house.” 

“I don’t care much about easy, Miss. But would you mind telling me, why is that the case?” 

Silence… which left Eron’s question hanging in the air. 

“Well, I think that’s all for today. Thank you all for buying my food,” Dee said a little louder, and with a big smile full of sincere gratitude, she stood up from the table. “I’ll see you again tomorrow!” 

And with that, she picked up her basket and a few other items she used to bring her dishes and pastries safely to the site. Diwa then started her walk back home. 

He wanted to go after her, but he forced himself to stay standing where he was, his boss’ arm still around his shoulders.

She wanted to go back and apologize to him, but she kept on walking, forcing herself not to look back and take one last look at him. 

+++

From the other side of the lumberyard, a certain individual with squinting large brown eyes was looking at the trio as they entered the camp. It's obvious from his look that he was not at all happy with what he's seeing. This man may not be as tall or muscular as the other lumberjacks surrounding him, but everyone could see that he was the one who stood out from the group.

And no, he wasn't that good-looking, but he did have an intense presence that wasn't exactly the pleasant kind. And he did maximize on that more than his other characteristics.  

"Hey, looks like someone is sniffing around your 'territory’, man," said one of the taller workers beside him.

"Yeah, and he's a looker, too. You gonna let him muscle his way to your girl, dude?" another bearded one warned.

"No way! Diwana is too good for any of them damn pretty boy players," their leader retorted, as he started to touch himself without unzipping, not caring if his lewd actions were seen by his underlings. "Besides, nobody in their right mind should ever get in between her and me. So, he better watch out if he knows what's good for him."