Page 121 of Mountain Boss

My hands drop away from his body. “Good night, Sterling.”

His fingers release my braid. “Sweet dreams, Courtney.”

Scooping up the rest of my clothes, I slip my feet into my shower sandals.

I take the few steps off Sterling’s back deck to the ground, and when I’m about to enter the woods, I look back.

Sterling is still there.

Shirtless in the moonlight.

Watching me.

And with a sense of safety I’m not used to, I step into the dark.

Chapter 101

Sterling

Courtney disappears into the woods,and I can’t separate the feelings inside me.

The soft feelings are twisted together with feelings of hesitation. With the feeling that this is temporary.

But I don’t want to be that person.

I don’t want to be the surly man who grows old and dies alone in the woods because he won’t give anyone a chance.

I won’t be that man.

Grabbing Courtney’s towel off the deck, I head back inside.

When I got home earlier, my plan was to go up to my bedroom and stare down at Courtney’s cabin to see if I could tell if she was awake or not.

But then I paused by the back door, the steam from the uncovered hot tub catching my attention.

And like a mirage in the desert, the steam parted and there she was.

My Courtney, sitting in my hot tub.

It was exactly what I’d hoped for when I fucked with the wiring behind the panel.

Even though I’d stopped counting on hope a long time ago.

But I should’ve known better.

Courtney tips everything on its head.

Stepping back into my house, I shut the sliding door behind me, the heated air of my home prickling against my cold skin.

I watched her for too long. Unsure if I should join her or let her be. Until she stood up.

God damn.

When she stood up, I nearly groaned out loud.

My pretty little worker, using my hot tub in nothing but her underwear.

I head toward my stairs before I remember I’m supposed to be making sure the guys stay away from the Laundry Cabin.

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