Page 108 of Mountain Boss

I know I’ll let this play out until she’s ready to move on.

But I don’t know if I’m supposed to wait a few days before approaching her again.

She looked a little crestfallen at lunch when I agreed to come out tonight. But she also hadn’t acted any differently toward me.

Not that I expected her to save me a seat and bat her lashes at me over the picnic table. But I also didn’t expect to walk in and see her acting all buddy-buddy with Fisher.

It only took one minute of hindsight to accept that wasn’t on her. That’s on my youngest employee. I just can’t tell if he’s being normal friendly or flirty friendly, and it’s testing the boundaries of my sanity.

A part of me can admit it’s jealous over how easily Fisher can talk to her. And how easily she seems to respond. Whereas I, a grown-ass man—who comes in his pants while fingering the girl he likes—can’t seem to ever find the right words for Courtney.

In one of my weaker moments today, I googledHow long should you wait after sleeping with someone to do it again?

The answers were inconclusive.

I also didn’t know how to deal with the emotions that swept over me when she referred to the Lodge ashome. But there isn’t a good Google search for that.

A hand pulls out the stool on my other side, and Cook sets his beer on the bar before boosting himself up onto the high seat.

Cook picks his beer back up and tips it toward the bar owner. “Evening, Rocky.”

Rocky does the same. “Cook. You don’t know anything about this gloomy aura Sterling is giving off, do ya?”

Cook hums. “Not exactly a phrase I’d use, but I bet I know the source.”

Rocky swivels his stool to face Cook. “Work or woman related?”

I take another drink of beer.

“Why, what an interesting question.” Cook swivels to face Rocky.

Stuck in the middle, pretending I’m not here, I down half my glass.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Rocky exaggerates his words.

“Because… the answer is both.” I can hear the smile in Cook’s voice.

“No one likes a snitch,” I grumble at Cook, but he ignores me.

“Damn, Sterling.” Rocky shakes his head. “You finally sleep with a guest?”

I almost sayI wish. Because Devil knows it would be easier if it was a here-then-gone guest. But I don’t say that. Because from the firstmoment I saw her, Courtney has ensnared me. And if she was a guest I only had a few days with before she disappeared, she would’ve haunted my thoughts. Possibly forever.

So complicated or not, this is better.

“Not a guest.” Cook answers for me. Then looks around, making sure none of the guys are close, before he leans into my space and lowers his voice. “An employee.”

“This that female employee I got wind of?” Rocky glances at me as he asks.

I roll my eyes.

“That’s the one.” Cook snickers, like I have any other employees I’d be sexually interested in. “Came over from North Carolina, I think.”

I lean back since he’s practically pressed up against me. “Can you quit acting like you know everything?”

Cook straightens. “You’re right. I’ve just caught you spying on her from the woods and feeling her up under the lunch tables. But what do I know?”

“You’re a prick.” I mean it, but there’s no heat to my tone.

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