Page 177 of Mountain Boss

“Did you go to college?” I’m curious now that we’re talking about it.

He shakes his head. “No. School wasn’t my thing either. And living out here, there were always guide positions open.”

“Guides like the guys here?”

Sterling nods and reaches for another cookie. “Pretty much. I’d already been working for some of the tour companies during the summer. Hunting, fishing, camping, whatever they wanted. And when I was done with high school, I was able to start full time. It’s what appealed to me most.”

“I was wondering… why don’t you offer hunting trips?” I’ve wanted to ask since I started.

“Liability. Too many idiots who think they’re a good shot. And too many hotheads who get pissed if they don’t shoot something. If people want to catch their own food, they can doa fishing trip.”

“Makes sense,” I agree, grateful the Lodge isn’t overrun with rifles on a regular basis.

“Did you move back in with your mom after school?” Sterling shifts back to the previous topic.

“No.” I snort, trying to picture it. “Even if she hadn’t taken off, I’d never move back into that sardine can.”

Chapter 133

Sterling

My teeth are touchingthe cookie, but I don’t bite down.

Taken off?

Her mom took off?

“I found a studio apartment that rented month to month and moved there after graduation. I was still working the jobs I had in college, but when I found the listing for my last job, I jumped on it. I wasn’t exactly qualified, but I’d had to fix a lot of shit in that RV, so I knew enough.” She keeps talking, but I’m still stuck on her momtaking off. “I think I was there for like eight years? But then the building got purchased, and I lost my job.”

I blink at her. “You were there for nearly a decade, and the new owners just fired you?”

What the fuck?

“Yeah. Said they wouldusetheir own people. Which meant I lost my jobandthat I had to start paying rent. Which, I’ll add, was much more expensive than it was when I first moved in.” Courtney lifts a shoulder, like that didn’t devastate her life.

“That’s shit.”

“Kinda was. But then I found this gig.” She smiles at me. Fucking smiles.

And I see it all so clearly now.

Courtney losing her job through circumstances out of her hands.

Her housing situation flipping on her. Costing her more than she could afford.

Her finding the job at the Lodge, packing up her life, and driving across the country to start over.

Courtney finding me.

Me telling her I wouldn’t hire her.

The way she must’ve felt…

Fuck.

The way she must’ve felt when I told her no. When she had nothing to return to.

I put the cookie back in the bag.

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