Page 49 of Mountain Grump

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I was planning to just stroll down the street. But I don’t know the town well, and even though it seems safe, I don’t love the idea of leaving my laundry unattended. But since the treadmills in the gym are lined up facing that building’s wall of windows, I’ll be able to literally watch my dryer while I walk.

I reach up and tug on the bill of my hat.

I thought it looked cute with my oversized T-shirt and bike shorts. And there’s the bonus of it looking like it belongs to a man—since it does—meaning that maybe it will make me look like I belong to a man.

In a hot way.

In aplease don’t approach meway.

I take a deep breath, then stride toward the door.

This feels a hundred times more stressful than going to the grocery store that first time.

But I can do hard things.

The door swings open, and I step out onto the sidewalk.

I’m going to go to the gym.

Chapter 28

Ethan

I clenchmy jaw as I do another bicep curl.

What is with this girl?

I do another rep.

Is she ignoring me, or does she really not see me?

I do another.

Does she have any idea how tempting she looks?

I set the weights down.

I’m facing the back wall of the gym, where all the free weights are lined up. But the wall is covered in mirrors. So even with my back to Tilda, I can still watch her.

And I can watch the fucking creeps who are also busy watching my girl.

I pick up a heavier set of weights.

Okay, she might not bemy girl. But she’s more mine than theirs. Solidified by the fact that she’s wearingmyfucking hat.

When I first spotted her, it was the first thing I noticed. Because it made her look likemine.

I sit on the reclined bench and start doing shoulder presses.

Sweat drips down my forehead. More has my shirt sticking to my back. But I don’t slow down.

Neither does my heart rate.

I’m sure I look like the biggest perv of all, the way I’m staring. But I can’t help myself.

Tilda is walking. Not running. Not jogging. Just walking.

But her ass is swaying with each step.

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