Mountain Boss: Mountain Men Series Book One
Mountain Boss: Chapter 69

Flames crackle between us.

The bright orange causes shadows to dance across Courtney’s features.

I couldn’t sit beside her. Not when we’re all just sitting on logs with no tables to cover our laps.

So I chose the second-best spot, directly across from her, with the fire between us.

I’m on my third mini apple pie, unable to stop myself even after the dinner Cook and Courtney put together.

I’m not usually a sweets guy, but knowing her hands were all over every one of these… they taste better than they should.

And tonight, I’m here to indulge.

Except for alcohol. I’m still on my first beer, nursing it, same as Courtney.

These post-guest campfires are for unwinding, which is usually done by drinking. But I’m unwinding a different way tonight.

And neither of us can be drunk for that.

“Who needs another?” Fisher asks as he gets up and walks toward the cooler.

Most of the guys call out an affirmative.

But I stay silent, keeping my eyes on Courtney.

Like the good girl she is, she flicks her eyes to mine.

I shake my head.

No, Courtney, you may not have another beer.

“Court?” Fisher directs his question at her.

I watch her roll her lips together. Like she’s deciding whether she’s going to listen.

I slide my tongue along my teeth, keeping myself from scolding her aloud.

But she finally shakes her head. “No, thank you.”

Simpson snorts. “You’re always so formal.”

The look that comes over Courtney’s face is so fucking cute that I have to lift my mostly empty beer to cover my smile.

“I am not formal.” She sounds so affronted. “I literally clean toilets every day.”

Simpson shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter what you’re doing. You’re out here saying no, thank you and sir and Mr. Black.”

I feel gazes turn toward me, but I keep mine on Courtney.

“We already talked about that.” She lifts her brows, like she’s reminding him of something.

“Ah yes, our boss never told you his name.” Simpson smirks.

Courtney finally looks at me. “He did not.”

Cook clicks his tongue. “Bad form, Boss.”

I lift a shoulder, holding Courtney’s gaze. “She never asked.”

She lifts a matching shoulder. “Just a part of the new employee hazing, I suppose.”

Some of the guys laugh.

But I don’t.

And neither does she.

Because Courtney still thinks I made her sleep on a bare bunk on purpose.

Simpson laughs. “Nah, there’s no hazing at the Lodge.”

I can see the thoughts turning in her brain, wondering if she should bring up the mattress.

Which makes me wonder why she never said anything to anyone else about it. Because even if she thinks I knew, she couldn’t possibly believe everyone was in on it.

Because they weren’t.

Because there was nothing to be in on.

“Guess those new mattresses made up for it, then.” Courtney chuckles, but I’m the only one in on the joke.

Glen slaps his hands down on his thighs. “Speaking of, I’m gonna go haul my ass to bed.”

While the guys are giving him shit, Courtney silently stands up.

“Aw, not you too,” Simpson whines at her.

“Sorry. It’s been a long day.” She pulls something out of her pocket. “But I’ll see you all in the morning. Hopefully Big Joe keeps acting sweet to me.”

I stand. “Who the fuck is Big Joe?”

I said that louder than intended, drawing everyone’s attention.

Courtney presses her lips together as she widens her eyes at me.

“Maybe you missed the rule about no sleepovers,” I tell her.

It’s the truth. But that’s more because the guys all share a cabin, and having a bedroom guest would cause all sorts of awkward problems. That’s what the Inn down the mountain is for.

But since Courtney has a cabin to herself, there really isn’t a good reason for her to follow the rule.

Nevertheless, the rule stands.

“Yeah, Court, who is Big Joe?” Cook’s tone is antagonistic.

Courtney turns to him. “Why, Cook, you don’t need to ask. You already know him.”

Everyone’s attention is ping-ponging between the three of us. So at least I’m not alone in not knowing Joe.

“You got a boyfriend?” Leon asks.

My jaw aches with how hard that question makes me clench my teeth.

She better fucking not have a boyfriend.

Courtney huffs, “I do not. And it’s certainly not Big Joe. Because he is the oversized coffee maker in the Food Hall.”