Page 5 of Mountain Beast

Even if I don’t like his familiarity, he's damn right that I feel like a fucking valkyrie at the moment. A freaking warrior about to fight off another attack from an annoying man.

I am woman. Hear me roar, and all that bullshit.

“It doesn’t really matter to me who visits the rage room. I get paid either fucking way,” he continues, and it takes all of my cool, medical training under pressure to not slap the aggravating smirk off his smug face.

“Right… Well, you’ve gotten your last five bucks from me, buddy.” I slam the car door and turn the key in the ignition.

As comebacks go, it’s not my best—five measly dollars is nothing—but we’ve already established my brain is mush tonight.

“At least I have a story to share when the busybodies start up about that O’Hare boy again.”

His large shadow appears in my rearview mirror, and I snort.

Briggs O’Hare is hardly a boy; he’s a grown-ass man.

And definitely a judgmental jerk.

CHAPTER THREE

BRIGGS

“Ruby, would you mind?” The young woman jumps at the sound of my voice.

At one point, my part-time employee’s penchant for startling at my presence meant she feared me, but since then, I’ve learned that Ruby often loses herself in daydreams.

“Sorry, what?”

“Would you mind covering for Wallis on Saturday?" I repeat the question.

“Oh, sure. That's fine. I can always use the extra hours.”

“How's your mom doing?” Ruby's ailing mother is the reason she needs more work. I pay her fairly when she comes in, but I don’t have enough tasks to take her on full-time.

Wallis and Ruby split part-time duties, so someone is always available in case of an emergency.

Ruby pauses her sorting of this month's invoices and shrugs. “She's doing okay, I guess. As long as she continues her shifts at Fancy's, I figure things aren't too bad yet.”

Nodding, I shut down my computer after updating the schedule and prepare to head out. “That's fair. Let me know when things change, and we'll figure out your paid leave.”

“You don't have to…”

“I’m going to anyway,” I say with a hand up to stop any further rebuttal. “Have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“See ya… and thanks.” Ruby offers a shy smile.

Forcing my mouth into something that probably resembles a grimace rather than a smile, I hurry out the door. Her gratitude makes me itchy.

Especially when I'm just doing my job.

Being a good boss. Keeping my employees happy. Yada, yada, yada.

The itchiness doesn't fade during my drive to the Rocking M Ranch; it only intensifies. Cormac invited me to dinner with his family tonight, which means rather than playing good boss, it's time to switch to being a good friend.

Something I've been failing at lately.

“Because you can't keep your damn mouth shut.”

A few months ago during a guys’ night out, I’d voiced my sour opinion on Davie, and Cormac hadn’t taken it well. Neither had our other best friend, Deacon, nor Cormac’s brother, Connor. Everyone had agreed I was a fucking asshole.