Page 226 of Mountain Boss

Do you really want to hear her say she doesn’t want to be near you?

Do you really want to hear you aren’t enough?

Do you really want to relive that? With her?

I need to hear it.

I need to hear it in order to move on.

“Why?” She lifts her hands and drops them. “Because that’s when my contract is up. Because you never really meant to hire me. Because…” Her chest is rising and falling in time with my own. “Because I’ve never had a fuck buddy, and I’m not good at it, Sterling.” She shakes her head. “I’m just not good at it.”

She…

I shift an inch closer, ignoring the comment about her contract.

“We’re not fuck buddies, Courtney.”

“Okay.” She still won’t meet my gaze as she lifts her shoulders. “Like I said, I’ve never had one.”

I reach out and gently grip her chin. “Eyes up here.”

Finally, she lifts her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“That I couldn’t do casual.” At her side, I see her pressing her fingertips together.

My heart drums inside my rib cage.

It’s right there.

The thing I think she’s trying to say is right fucking there.

“Why can’t you do casual with me, Courtney?”

She drops her gaze to my mouth before lifting it again. “I’ve never done it before.”

I slowly shake my head. “Tell me the real reason.”

Chapter 170

Courtney

I swallow.

Why is he making this so hard?

Why can’t he just accept it and move on?

This right here is why I can’t keep it casual with Sterling.

Because the thought of himmoving on… The idea of seeing him walking into his house with another woman… It makes me sick.

I force myself to keep my eyes focused on his, even as I take a step back, breaking his hold on me. “I can’t do casual because I don’t feel casual about you, Sterling. Alright? I can’t keep doing this and feeling like… like a secret. I thought I could. But I can’t.”

Sterling keeps staring me straight in the eyes. “Is that all?”

I just told him I have feelings for him, and that’s his reply?

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