Page 40 of Mountain Boss

Focus.

I catch up to Fisher a moment after he reaches the shoreline.

A long bench sits near the water, and it opens to reveal a dozen or so fishing rods. As our resident fishing guide, this is Fisher’s territory, and he keeps them maintained and organized.

I’ve never had the patience for the sport, but this kid could—and does—do it every day.

But if he deliberately made my Courtney cry, he’ll have a hard fucking time threading lures with broken fingers.

He spots me, straightening from his position, rod in hand.

“Hey.” He fiddles with the reel for a second before looking back up at me. “What’s up?”

That’s the question, isn’t it?

But… what if he doesn’t know about Courtney being upset? If I ask him why she was crying, I could out her over something she was trying to hide.

But I need to know what was said between them.

I need to understand why she was crying.

Isn’t that what you wanted?

I ignore my inner voice.

Yes, I want Courtney out of my employ. But I don’t want her fucking crying.

I can’t take her crying.

“What were you and Court talking about?” My tone is angrier than I intended.

And I didn’t mean to blurt my question out like that. But I’m obviously a fucking mess.

Fisher’s face scrunches. “Huh?”

“I just bumped into her.” I strive to sound casual. “She looked… in a hurry.”

Fisher’s confused expression clears, and he chuckles. “She was probably sick of listening to my life story.”

That’s not it.

There’s more.

“Hmm.” I slide my hands into my pockets. “She didn’t say anything about where she was going?”

Fisher shakes his head. “She’d just asked if it was okay to take that step stool. I told her it was fine. And she asked about payday, but I told her it was at the end of the month, so it’s not like she was hurrying off to get her check.” He snorts at what he must assume was a joke, but I don’t see the humor.

And I don’t say more as I turn away from Fisher.

Was she crying about payday?

That shouldn’t have been a surprise. It’s in the contract.

It should be in the contract.

And even if it wasn’t, monthly pay is perfectly within my rights as a business owner.

If she doesn’t like it, she can leave.

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