Page 89 of Mountain Boss

Most of the guys call out an affirmative.

But I stay silent, keeping my eyes on Courtney.

Like the good girl she is, she flicks her eyes to mine.

I shake my head.

No, Courtney, you may not have another beer.

“Court?” Fisher directs his question at her.

I watch her roll her lips together. Like she’s deciding whether she’s going to listen.

I slide my tongue along my teeth, keeping myself from scolding her aloud.

But she finally shakes her head. “No, thank you.”

Simpson snorts. “You’re always so formal.”

The look that comes over Courtney’s face is so fucking cute that I have to lift my mostly empty beer to cover my smile.

“I am not formal.” She sounds so affronted. “I literally clean toilets every day.”

Simpson shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter what you’re doing. You’re out here sayingno, thank youandsirandMr. Black.”

I feel gazes turn toward me, but I keep mine on Courtney.

“We already talked about that.” She lifts her brows, like she’s reminding him of something.

“Ah yes, our boss never told you his name.” Simpson smirks.

Courtney finally looks at me. “He did not.”

Cook clicks his tongue. “Bad form, Boss.”

I lift a shoulder, holding Courtney’s gaze. “She never asked.”

She lifts a matching shoulder. “Just a part of the new employee hazing, I suppose.”

Some of the guys laugh.

But I don’t.

And neither does she.

Because Courtney still thinks I made her sleep on a bare bunk on purpose.

Simpson laughs. “Nah, there’s no hazing at the Lodge.”

I can see the thoughts turning in her brain, wondering if she should bring up the mattress.

Which makes me wonder why she never said anything to anyone elseabout it. Because even if she thinks I knew, she couldn’t possibly believe everyone was in on it.

Because they weren’t.

Because there was nothing to be in on.

“Guess those new mattresses made up for it, then.” Courtney chuckles, but I’m the only one in on the joke.

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