Page 31 of Mountain Grump
“What are you doing?” Ethan sounds exasperated.
Well, that makes two of us, buddy.
I cut another flower. “If you’re giving me a ticket, I might as well earn it.” I cut another one.
“Tilda Wright.” He basically sighs my name. And I hate how good it sounds.
It’s been way too long since I’ve gotten laid.
“Ethan Grump.” I take two steps away from him, then crouch down and cut three more at once.
“You need to stop.”
“Why?” I hold his gaze as I cut another one.
He shakes his head, and I notice that he’s not wearing a hat this time. Yesterday he had a baseball hat shading his face and covering his hair, but today… he’s on display.
Shame we don’t admire stick-in-the-mud jerks.
“Because, Bad Girl,” he says slowly, annoyingly, “If you cut too many, the fine will go up.”
Bad girl?
Heat rolls around in my belly. But I refuse to acknowledge it.
I look down at the cluster of flowers in my hand, trying to count them. “What’s the number?”
He huffs, like I’m the one being unreasonable. “I’m not telling you that.”
“Guess I’ll take my chances, then.”
I take a few more steps toward a pretty blue flower I hadn’t noticed before.
“Miss Wright,” Ethan snaps, and I freeze. “Donotcut that flower.”
I look down at the unique bloom. “Is it poisonous?”
“No, but that is the Colorado State Flower, and if you cut that in front of me, you will be in even bigger trouble.”
I am so sick of this man scolding me.
So freaking sick of it.
“Fine.” I step away from the flower and glare at the man staring at me.
Judging me.
The man who called me ridiculous.
He lifts his chin. “What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you want to.” He goads me. “Holding back doesn’t seem like your style, Starlight.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
I don’t know what starlight means, but I’m sure it’s some sort of insult. “Just write the ticket.”
