Page 212 of Mountain Boss

Sterling strokes his hand down my back.

And it only makes my heart ache more.

It was just a stupid dream.

“Sleep, Honey.” Sterling’s voice rumbles through me.

I should ask him about his hands.

Ask if that’s why he’s been avoiding me.

Ask why it looks like he got in a fight.

But I’m too tired.

And he’s too comfortable.

When I wake again,the sun is rising and Sterling is gone.

Chapter 158

Courtney

Three days.

Sterling has been gone for three days with one of the groups, without a goodbye.

Without so much as telling me he was going.

I wouldn’t have even known they were coming back today if it wasn’t for Cook.

Yeah, I could have texted Sterling myself. I have his number.

But he has my number too.

And he’s the one who left.

The windows on the front of the Storage Shed let in some of the daylight from outside. Enough for me to see the array of wrenches in the tool chest before me. But seeing them isn’t the problem. I can’t even remember what I came into the Storage Shed for.

I slam the drawer closed.

Tipping my head back, I close my eyes.

This is why I shouldn’t have gotten involved with my boss. It’s affecting everything.

There’s no escape from thoughts of him when I’m living on his property.

The door to the shed opens.

I can’t see around the shelving that takes up the center of the room in front of me, but Cook is the only one still at the Lodge.

“Need me for something?” I call out, knowing it’s too early for lunch.

The door closes, and footsteps sound from the other side of the shelves.

I stay where I am, needing a moment to calm myself before I take my frustration out on Cook.

The footsteps round the corner beside me.

---