Page 113 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

Not wanting to carry a purse around all night, I slide my car keys into my front pocket and my phone into my back one.

It ruins the nice silhouette of my ass in these shorts, but I’m not here to catch dates.

Locking the doors, I keep my sunglasses on as I follow Dad onto the sidewalk.

The sun will set long before we leave, but the thin layer of tinted plastic between me and the world is a must. Even more now than it was at the grad party. Because this time I’m trying to hide myself from Luther.

He sees too much.

“Mmm.” Dad rubs his belly.

The scent of fried fish floats down the street, and even though my stress levels are creeping up with every step, so is my hunger. The ice cream I had at IKEA was hardly a proper lunch.

“Do you pay by the plate or by the person?”

Dad laughs at my question. “How much are you planning on eating?”

I roll my shoulders out. “Just want to make sure we’re getting our money’s worth.”

“Well.” He purses his lips. “I don’t actually know. I’ve never tried getting seconds.”

“Amateur.” I scoff.

We turn at the end of the block, and the scene unfolds before us.

It was a thirty-minute drive here, and it’s exactly as I imagined.

The streets are lined with cars, which is why we had to park a little way down the street, and up ahead is a classic brick fire station.

The giant garage doors are open, and the driveway in front of the station is covered with white party tents, plastic tables, and folding chairs.

The fire trucks are parked in the street, blocking traffic from passing through while also being available in case something flammable dares to ignite during the fish fry or the firefighters need to get out.

Dad waves to a group of people seated at one of the tables, and I follow as he heads toward them.

While he introduces me, I try to keep an eye out for the oversized man who regularly haunts my dreams.

I’m not right for you.

I swallow and tuck my hands into my pockets.

Focus on tonight.

Focus on the now.

You can feel the bad later.

I pull in a slow breath through my nose and plaster a small smile on my face.

About half the chairs are filled, but the line for food originates somewhere inside the building and winds around outside, indicating it will be a full house.

I check the line for a familiar frame but don’t spot him.

But I do spot a DJ booth already playing music with one of those light bars above it, ready to start strobing as soon as it gets a little darker out.

I’ll never get Dad out of here once the dancing starts.

My gaze shifts toward movement on the sidewalk. A family of… six is walking up.

Four kids? Pull out already.

I nudge Dad, wanting to get in line before this herd does.

He looks up but looks past me and lifts his hand. “Over here!”

I look back at the family, wondering if I should’ve recognized them.

But he’s not waving at them.

My heart throbs behind my ribs, and my throat constricts.

It’s him.

Luther.

The family breaks off, heading to the back of the line, while Luther and Jessie head right for us.

Be normal.

Act normal.

This is normal.

I lift my hand, my fingers trembling as I wave.

As I smile.

As I pretend that seeing Luther doesn’t hurt something deep inside my chest.

Jessie waves back. “Hey guys, how’s it going?”

“Good.” My cheeks fucking ache as I lie. “How are you two?”

I pray my glasses are dark enough so no one can tell that I’m only looking at Jessie.

“Hungry.” Jessie hooks her arm in mine and gestures to the guys. “We’re getting in line.”

She starts to pull me away. I let her. And I think I might love her.

“Jeez, hold your horses.” Dad huffs, then says something I can’t hear to Luther.

Jessie talks at me for the first few minutes, filling my silence as we ignore the men behind us. But then Dad asks Jessie something, and she turns around.

The line is slowly shuffling ahead, but I feel conspicuous facing forward while the rest of my group stands facing each other.

Clenching my jaw, I turn around.

And he’s right there.

Was standing directly behind me.

His thick chest is covered in soft gray flannel. And I force myself not to notice that, once again, we practically dressed in matching outfits.

At least with our height difference, I don’t have to look into his eyes. I can stare at his chest. His biceps.

My gaze dips to where his sleeves are rolled up, leaving his tanned forearms bare.

I look away.

I shuffle with the line.

I make sounds of agreement so Dad and Jessie think I’m listening.

And I continue to avoid eye contact with Luther.

Jessie distracts my dad the whole way through the line, and I think she might be my new favorite person.

I didn’t ask her outright when we were at the Inn, but she knows.

And this confirms it.

“We’re up.” Dad shoves at my shoulder, turning me to face the food tables.

And the firefighters.

There are two tables. One serving up the freshly fried fish. The other dishing out French fries.

At the close end of the first table is a stack of trays.

I pick up the top one and hold it out toward the very attractive firefighter behind the first table.

“Evening, miss.” He grins.

“Good evening,” I reply, way too fucking formally. “May I have some fish?”

His grin grows. “You may.” He uses a pair of metal tongs to place three long pieces of the battered and fried fish on my tray. “Thanks for the support.”

“Thanks for the, uh, service.” Oh my god, what is wrong with me? “And the food.”

I nod to my tray, then shift down to the next table.

This firefighter is super friendly, just as attractive, but less my type.

“Hey, hon.” She greets me with a smile.

“Hello.” I lift my tray, then decide I’ve already made it weird, so I might as well continue. “Thank you too, for, um, being brave.”

The woman beams at me.

Dad leans forward, looking around Jessie at me. “Quit holding up the line.”

I pretend I can’t hear him as the woman across the table scoops up fries for me.