Page 182 of Mountain Boss

I did my best to seem cool and collected over lunch, then busied myself stripping the beds in one of the cabins and starting the laundry.

The group I didn’t have the fish fry with is still here. They live farther away and paid for an extra night so they could leave tomorrow at dawn rather than today after lunch. Which is why three men I don’t know are sitting around the fire with the Lodge employees.

They seem nice enough, but they also have adude brovibe that Idon’t have the energy for. So I’m sticking to my conversation with Simpson and Fisher while catching as many glances of Sterling as I can.

Chapter 137

Sterling

I watchCourtney drain the last of her third beer while nodding at something Simpson says.

When they both stand, I press my own bottle to my lips and tip it back.

The fire is dwindling, and one of the guests has already gone to bed. But I’ve been waiting for Courtney. Because I’ll be damned if I don’t sleep in her bed again tonight.

I should find a way to get her into my house.

Into my much larger bed.

I lower the empty bottle.

Though there is merit to the small bed.

Less space. More contact.

“Good night, everyone.” Courtney lifts her hand in a little wave.

The embers are giving off the faintest light, but even in the dark, Courtney is beyond tempting.

Her bed.

Definitely her bed tonight.

Fisher also gets up, and there’s a round of good-nights as he and Simpson walk off with Courtney between them.

I’m debating how quickly I can get up and follow when one of the two remaining guests gets to his feet.

He’s the quiet one.

Been polite.

Didn’t drink much.

But he’s been watching Courtney.

She’s an attractive woman. The only woman here. So I get it.

But when he gives the group a nod and walks off into the dark, I get to my feet.

Chapter 138

Courtney

“Night,”I say as I let Fisher take my empty bottle.

He and Simpson break off toward the Bunk House, and I continue on the path toward my cabin.

The air is crisp, and I have Sterling’s flannel on under my thickest sweater.

---