Page 151 of Mountain Boss

Sterling steers the Jeep next to the trucks and puts it in park.

I wait for him to turn off the engine and climb out before I follow.

Since I’ve been spending the last few days doing minimal work and sleeping late, I haven’t spent much time with the four guests. But they’ve seemed nice.

They’re all sitting around the square table, unbothered by the cold but wearing thick layers.

I lift my hand in a wave as I make my way to meet Sterling at the back of the Jeep.

They all cheer, saying something about fish, and I find myself smiling by the time Sterling has the back door open.

He slings my backpack—containing my clothes and a small selection of toiletries—over his shoulder and picks up the jug of oil in one hand and the paper bag of groceries I purchased on the way here in the other.

“Where’s your coat?” he asks, looking over my non-coat-wearing body.

“Um.” I shrug a shoulder.

Sterling heaves out a breath. “Do you not own a winter coat?”

“I’ve never needed one.”

“Well, you need one now.”

I nod. “And I’ll buy one soon.” His head gives a curious tilt, and I hold up my finger. “Don’t you dare, Mr. Black.”

“Don’t I dare, what, Miss Kern?”

I resist the urge to glance around, knowing that will make us look guilty. But I still shuffle closer, lowering my voice. “Don’t you dare go out and buy me one. You’ve already done too much. And if you do more, I’ll end up spending my whole paycheck just paying you back.”

Sterling takes a step forward, nearly closing the distance between us. “You will do no such thing, Cookie.” He leans in close enough that I can feel his exhale on my lips. “And if I want to buy you things, I’ll buy you things.”

I curl my hands into fists at my sides.

I don’t know how to deal with this possessiveness.

It’s overwhelming in its intensity.

And confusing in its sincerity.

“You’re so…” I can’t think of the right description.

The side of his delicious mouth pulls up. “I’m so what, Honey?”

I sway toward him.

Honey.

Why do I love thatso much?

“Got the oil?” Fisher asks from mere feet away, and I almost jump out of my boots.

“God dammit.” I press both my hands to my chest. “What is with you people?”

Fisher’s brows raise. “You people?”

My heart is still thundering in my chest, but I wave a hand at the two men. “You people who like to jump out of nowhere.”

Sterling looks completely unbothered. Like he wasn’t startled at all, and he doesn’t care that Fisher walked up on us standing so close.Inappropriatelyclose.

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