Mountain Boss: Mountain Men Series Book One
Mountain Boss: Chapter 24

I pause at the open cabin door, the feminine voice inside claiming my attention.

I’ve been looking all over for Courtney, so walking into the guest cabin she’s occupying isn’t spying. It’s work.

I cross the threshold.

“Well, I’m sorry. If someone had done this sooner, it wouldn’t hurt so much.”

Wouldn’t hurt?

What the fuck?

I stride through the cabin, following the sound of her voice to the bathroom at the back.

Who’s with Courtney in here?

“Just a little more,” she coos.

I turn into the small room. “Who are you⁠—”

Courtney lets out a shriek of surprise as something falls from her hand into the toilet’s open tank.

There’s no one with her.

She’s all alone.

So when the toilet water splashes up, it only hits her.

Courtney looks down at her shirt, but I think the expression of horror on her face is for the toilet water dripping off her cheek.

Her gaze slowly lifts to meet mine, her hands held out to the side.

I clear my throat. “I, um.” I clear my throat again, torn between wanting to help and wanting to laugh. “I wanted to let you know that Cook serves lunch for the employees from noon to one in the Food Hall.”

She brings her forearm to her face, using her long sleeve to soak up the droplets. “Is it included in the room and board, or is it extra?”

An uncomfortable emotion slithers across my sternum.

Most of the guys who work for me don’t have much. Some have houses elsewhere that they rent out, but most of them don’t. Either way, they’re all happy to take a free lunch.

So why does it feel different when Courtney asks me if it’s included or extra?

My hand rubs the flannel over my chest before I realize what I’m doing and drop it. “It’s included.”

She uses her other sleeve to wipe her cheek again. “Okay. Thank you for telling me.”

I nod.

I don’t have anything more to tell her, but I’m reluctant to leave.

“Was there something else?” Her voice doesn’t have a bite exactly, but it’s clear she doesn’t want me here.

I start to shake my head, then remember why I barged in here the way I did. “Were you talking to the toilet?”

Courtney eyes me for a moment before she lifts a shoulder.

When I continue to hold her gaze, she answers. “I’m used to being—working alone. It passes the time.”

I make a humming sound, not sure how to take what she just said.

I step back out of the small bathroom.

“Don’t forget about lunch,” I remind her.

Then I leave.