Mountain Boss: Mountain Men Series Book One
Mountain Boss: Chapter 41

I press my back against the door after closing it behind me.

Maybe you heard him wrong.

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be… mean.

Maybe Mr. My Heart is a Black Hole wasn’t hugged enough as a child.

I close my eyes.

The words of men will not define me.

The opinion of others will not destroy me.

I open my eyes.

I have a job to do.

And I will not let this man defeat me.

I wipe my fingers below my eyes.

It’s exhaustion.

That’s why I’m letting him hurt my feelings.

Just exhaustion.

Pushing off the door, I feel the breeze from the open window and halt.

After setting my drink and cookie down, I reach over the little table, pull the curtain aside, and shut the window.

“We got this, right, girl?” I say to Spike as I straighten her bow.

Somewhere in one of the boxes under my bunk is her wardrobe. And since it’s October, I suppose it’s time for her little witch’s hat.

“We’ll switch clothes this weekend, alright? Give us something to do,” I tell her, even though we both know it will take all of five minutes.

She silently agrees with the plan, and I wonder if cacti years are the opposite of dog years since—in theory—they live so long.

I hurry into the bathroom and let my head hang while I’m on the toilet.

Then I face the music while washing my hands and look at the mirror.

Through pure willpower, I was able to keep most of my tears at bay, but my eyes still look glassy and red.

I hold my fingers under the cold running water before pressing them to my eyelids.

Then I straighten my shoulders and head back outside.

I stare at the empty Jeep.

Everything is gone.

“How…?”

Movement catches my eye, and I turn as Sterling emerges from the woods and cuts across the driveway to his front steps.

He couldn’t have done this all by himself in the few minutes I was gone.

Blowing out a breath, I close the doors on my Jeep and turn toward the Food Hall.

Clearly Cook and whoever else walked up must have helped, meaning I owe them a thank-you.