Page 63 of Mountain Boss

Chapter 45

Sterling

“Fucking hell.”I clench my jaw and change direction.

I managed to avoid Courtney all of yesterday and was hoping to do the same again today. But this girl…

I stalk up behind her.

She has a ladder propped up against the front of one of the guest cabins, and she’s reaching up with a rag to clear the spiderwebs and dust off the light bulb above the door.

It’s a task off the list I gave her.Clean outdoor light fixtures.But the bottom of the ladder is on the top landing of the stairs and only a foot away from the top step.

If she falls…

My insides twist at the thought.

If she fell…

If I witnessed her fall…

I lengthen my steps.

She removes one foot from the rung so she can stretch up even farther.

I see a wobble.

In one stride, I’m up the three steps.

She lets out a sound of worry as she puts her foot back in place.Then she lets out a cry of surprise when I wrap my arms around her waist.

She’s partway up the ladder, and with our height difference, that puts her ass at my chest.

I haul her against me, pulling her feet off the rung.

“What…?” She turns her head to see who’s touching her. “Sterling?”

I squeeze her tighter.

It’s the first time I’ve heard my name on her lips.

And fuck me, it’s affecting my pulse just as much as her ass is.

“What are you doing?” Her voice is breathy, and I can picture her saying those exact words as I peel her clothes off.

“Saving you from yourself.” I try and fail to not sound angry.

Her legs move, and without looking, I know she’s trying to get her feet back on the rungs.

I take a step back.

She lets out a squeak of fear, pulling the top of the ladder close to her body and away from the wall.

“Let go,” I snap.

Her braids swing as she looks to the ladder in her hands, then back over her shoulder. “I’ll fall.”

“No, you won’t.” I slide one of my arms farther up her body until my forearm is just touching the underside of her tits. “Let. Go.”

---