Page 152 of Mountain Boss

“I hardly jumped out of nowhere.” Fisher snorts, eyes bouncing between me and Sterling.

My boss shakes his head. “If you’d been watching the road…”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I brush him off and reach for the grocery bag in his hand.

Sterling lifts it out of my reach.

“Seriously?” I drop my shoulders and give him a look.

“Seriously. Go take a look at the river before the sun sets. We’ll get dinner ready.” Sterling uses his chin to gesture toward the gazebo.

I look in that direction. “River?”

And then I spot it.

Beyond the gazebo, the land dips to reveal a wide strip of water.

It’s beautiful.

“But.” I turn back to Sterling. “I got a few things to share.” I reach for the bag again, but he uses his long arms to pass it over to Fisher.

“We might be idiots who forget things,” Sterling says with a straight face, “but I’m sure we can figure it out.”

I throw my hands up. “Fine. I’ll do nothing.”

“You’ll go grab my spare coat out of the back seat of my truck.” Sterling gives me yet another command. “Then you’ll go to the river.”

“I’m okay, I swear.” I can feel Fisher’s intent gaze on us, and I work to soften my tone. “I have two sweaters and, a, um, flannel on. I promise I’m warm.”

Sterling just stares at me.

And keeps staring at me.

My nostrils flare as I take a long inhale. “Fine. I will get your coat.”

“Good…” Sterling says the word like it’s supposed to be followed by another word but cuts himself off.

After a heartbeat, my cheeks start to heat.

He was going to say good girl.

Thankfully he caught himself because that would be a hard thing to pass off as casual in front of Fisher.

Assuming it’s not locked, I hurry over to Sterling’s truck, away from the men.

It’s a four-door pickup, so I try the rear driver’s side first and find a heavy khaki winter coat thrown across the back seat.

I really don’t need it.

I’m not cold.

But with the truck blocking me from everyone’s view, I bring the stiff material up to my nose.

It smells like him.

Biting my lip because I know I’m going to look like the biggest hypocrite, I pull the giant coat on over my layers and zip it up.

The material covers my ass and the sleeves are too long, but the warmth is immediate.

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