Page 72 of Mountain Boss

My smile falters a little.

A group chat for all the employees.

Except me.

“Okay, thanks,” I say instead of asking to be included in the text.

I don’t even have their phone numbers.

Three minutes later,I approach the open back of the truck with Fisher and Glen. Cook, Simpson and Leon converge from other directions.

Everyone accounted for.

A large tarp is spread out on the ground off to the side, and as we stand there, Sterling appears from the other side of the truck with a mattress on his back.

As we all watch, Sterling tilts his shoulders and drops the mattress onto the tarp with a thud.

“Start with your own beds.” Sterling stands straight and addresses our group. “Grab a new mattress and bring it to your bunk.” He points at the open truck, and I notice the driver standing inside. He’s leaning against a stack of mattresses, his mouth pulled up into a smirk and his eyes on me. I blush, again, and quickly look back to my boss. “Then bring your old mattress here.” He points at the tarp. “Team up so you’re not throwing your backs out. When the Bunk House is done, move on to the guest cabins. This shouldn’t take too long.”

“What’s the occasion?” Cook asks as we all just stand there, dumbfounded.

Sterling lifts a brow. “You don’t want a new mattress?”

Cook holds up his hands. “No questions. Got it.”

As everyone shuffles toward the truck, I turn to Fisher. “Will you help me carry one to my cabin?”

“Yeah—” Fisher starts to nod.

“Yours is done,” Sterling snaps out as he walks in front of us.

I turn my head to follow his direction. “Mine is done?”

But, of course, he doesn’t answer. He just reaches into the truck, drags a whole-ass mattress out, swings it onto his back, and stomps off.

“Boss seems to be in a mood.” Fisher shakes his head.

I bite my lip instead of replying as we step up to the back of the truck.

Why would Sterling do mine?

I tip my head back and look up at the truck full of mattresses.

Maybe he wanted to see if I put all my clothes back on my bed?

Jokes on him, though, because if I’d known he was going into my cabin today, I would’ve put all my dirty clothes through the wash so he could fold them.

It’s arguablyincrediblyinappropriate that he did that once already, but he did a really nice job.

Shame about the pile of dirty laundry on my floor.

Chapter 52

Sterling

I usethe weight on my back to force my body to focus.

I don’t know why Courtney looked so surprised that I did her cabin for her.

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