No hearing his voice.
No getting too close.
But now he’s back.
I open the door and step into the scent of caramelizing onions.
“The guys are back,” I tell Cook as I set the folded towels on the counter.
“Good.” He nods as he stirs the onions. “Go tell Sterling that everything will be ready in thirty.”
I roll my lips together before turning back to the door.
If you say so.
Chapter 59
Sterling
The three guestsin my truck are still talking when I pull to a stop in front of my house.
If I were considerate, I would have dropped them off at the path leading to their cabin. But considering how much energy they’ve had to fucking gab the entire two-hour drive back, they can carry their packs the extra hundred yards.
Plus, I need to shower before I hunt down Courtney.
As soon as I turn off the engine, I unbuckle and throw my door open.
I was a last-minute add to this outing, and normally I’m happy to go off property, but normally I don’t have a curvy little sexpot living on my land.
The guys follow me out, clustering around once they’ve gotten all their shit out of the truck.
“Go grab showers if you want,” I tell the guys. Our site had an outhouse and a well spigot. No plumbing otherwise, and the smell on the drive home was the proof of it. “There will be time to pack up anything else after lunch.” I look at my watch. “Food should be ready in forty-five.”
“Thirty, actually,” a quiet feminine voice says from behind me.
“Aw, hey, Court,” one of the guys facing her says. “Did you miss us?”
I narrow my eyes at him, annoyed he remembers her name from their brief meeting, before I slowly turn around to face my little worker.
Yeah, Court, did you missus?
Her cheeks are pink, and she nods. “How could I not?”
She hasn’t met my gaze yet.
“Showers,” I snap. “You all smell like fish guts.”
They chuckle, as though I’m joking, but disperse.
Leaving me dangerously alone with Courtney.
I keep my eyes on her, and she keeps her eyes on my chest.
But I can’t have that.
I need to see those pretty hazel irises.
Need to see them look at me from under her long lashes.