Page 144 of Mountain Boss

His trimmed, short beard snags my gaze, and by the time I look up to his eyes, they’re already looking down at mine.

He lifts his brows in question.

I lift mine back.

“See something you like?” His voice is just as cocky as the question.

I roll my eyes. “Just noting the gray hairs.”

He narrows his eyes. “Smart-ass.”

A small laugh pops out of me. “Rude.”

The hand on my back slides up my spine and over to my shoulder.

Then Sterling surprises me by pulling me into his side.

I exhale.

“Sterling…”

“Just wait.” He says it kindly. So I wait. Assuming he wants to wait until we’re in the Storage Shed to talk.

But then he turns down the narrow dirt trail leading to my cabin.

We stop at the bottom of the stairs. His arm drops from my shoulders, and we turn to face each other.

I part my lips, but Sterling’s large palm lands over my mouth, trapping my words at the same time his other palm cups the back of my head. Holding me in place. “No.”

“No?” I mumble under his hand.

He shakes his head. “No, I won’t let you ask me to return the food. Or the table or the appliances.” He holds my gaze, and I know he can see my surprise. “We have a long way to go, but I’m starting to understand you, Cookie. And I get it.” He leans in so our eyes are inches apart. “But you didn’t ask me for anything. You don’t owe me anything. And I’m not going to argue over food or fucking heat. And you’re going to sleep in tomorrow, but you’ll be awake and dressed by eleven, when the electrician is coming over to replace the heater. Until then, you’ll leave the space heater on.” He slowly slips his hand away from my mouth. “Tell me you understand.”

“Sterling, I can’t?—”

His palm covers my mouth again. “I told you what to say, Courtney. Don’t argue with me.”

He’s not being mean; his voice is just… serious. And I feel it between my thighs.

I give a small nod.

He lowers his hand again. “Tell me.”

“I understand,” I sigh. “But I don’t agree?—”

He spins me around before plastering his hand back over my mouth.

I feel his breath against my cheek.

His nose ghosts over the shell of my ear. “You always going to fight me, Honey?” A tremble rolls over my skin as he takes a deep inhaleagainst my temple. “I’m more than okay with that.” He presses a soft kiss against my hair. “But not today.”

Then he walks me up the steps and reaches past me with his free hand to open the door.

We’re standing on the threshold, his hand still over my mouth, his hard body pressed against my back.

“Have a cookie, then go to sleep.”

With a gentle push from my boss, I step into the cabin.

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