Page 237 of Mountain Grump

And third, I think Ethan was telling the truth.

I think he was telling the truth about his cousin that one time too.

I think, if pushed to it, Ethan could feed a man to the mountain lions and feel completely at peace with the idea.

And that, combined with the time he ran my whole family off, reminds me that I owe him the biggest blow job ever.

Chapter 128

Ethan

I check my watch again.

Tilda messaged me earlier asking if she could bring me lunch.

Of course, I said yes. And she said she was on her way.

And now I need to find a way to track her location, because the fact that she should’ve parked four minutes ago has me spiraling over all the things that could’ve happened to her between her house and here.

“Fuck it.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket and call her.

It rings twice, then I see her.

I’m behind the ticket counter in the Visitor Center, standing at the opening that separates the office from the public space. And I have a view straight across the center to the front doors.

She’s on the other side of the glass door, walking toward me in a white sundress. And she looks like a goddamn wet dream with her legs and tits on display.

The phone rings again, reminding me that I’m calling her.

Tilda stops, reaches into the floral tote bag she’s carrying, and pulls her phone out.

She smiles as she answers. “Hey, Ranger.”

“Hey, Starlight.”

She glances back toward the parking lot. “Did you move?”

“Nope.”

She looks at the door. “Are you in the building?”

“Yep.”

“So… Why are you calling me?” She takes a step forward.

“You were late.”

She pushes the door open. “I’m right on time.”

I hear her in stereo through the phone and through the space between us.

We lower our phones, and Tilda doesn’t break stride as she crosses the room to me, grinning.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the tall countertop as I wait.

Tilda’s eyes bounce around the space, taking in the displays of merchandise, looking at the walled-off office area all while she smiles at me.