Page 61 of Mountain Grump

---

“Why?”

I swear I can hear him sigh through the door. “I have something for you.”

My eyebrows raise. “Really?”

“Really.”

“What is it?”

“Tilda?”

“Yeah?”

“Open the door.”

I bite my lip.

Do I really know this man well enough to let him into my house?

“Please.”

If he’s going to ask nicely…

I run my fingers back through my mostly dry hair, pushing it out of my face, then I turn around and open the door.

Chapter 42

Ethan

The door opens,and I step forward.

I open my mouth to ask why Tilda was hiding, because I could tell she was standing against the door, but then she comes into focus, and I can no longer remember my question.

The sun is setting on the other side of the house, and the glow coming through the window outlines the woman before me.

She’s…

My eyes lower.

Christ.

She’s hardly wearing anything.

I went home. Showered. Thought of her. Resisted touching myself. Put on jeans and a ratty flannel.

And she…

She’s wearing nothing but a see-through shirt.

I’m here to check on her.

I’m here to be a decent human. To check on Jack’s Matty, like I said I would.

I flex my jaw.

I’m not here to fuck her.

“Why were you using the laundromat?”

---