Page 124 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

She smiles, and I can feel it in my bones.

It’s not brittle.

Not pained.

It doesn’t look forced.

I exhale, releasing the breath I’ve been holding.

She looks like herself.

The bright yellow of her shirt contrasts with her dark hair, and her green eyes look like they’re sparkling.

She looks healthy. Full of life.

My arms ache to wrap around her.

I want to press my nose to her hair.

I want to hold her.

But I do the next best thing.

I lift my hand and wave back.

Her eyes move to my palm before she lowers hers to her side.

Joe holds a beer out to me.

I reach for it, but he pulls it back. Then he points to the bottle while lifting his brows at Kendra.

She rolls her eyes but crosses to the door leading into the garage.

“I could’ve gotten my own,” I grumble.

If I’d known he was going to make Kendra get it, I would’ve insisted.

Joe waves me off, turning to the grill. “She’ll get one for herself.” He pulls the cling wrap off the tray of raw steaks, then looks out into the yard. “Ha, I was wondering if you’d come out for this.”

I turn to see who Joe is talking to and spot a pretty little fox standing just a few feet from the bottom of the deck stairs, looking up at us.

I’ve seen dozens, probably hundreds of foxes. But never one this close or this still.

“Buddy, this is Rocky. Rocky, this is Buddy.”

The fox lets out a scratchy noise that makes him sound like he’s spent his life smoking a pack a day.

“Hey, Buddy.” I keep my voice quiet.

His head tilts, then he darts into the doghouse Joe already told me about.

The deck door slides open behind me. “Should’ve brought another antler.”

Kendra’s voice is soft but not timid. And I feel myself holding my breath again as I turn to face her.

“He—” I clear my throat. “He liked it?”

She nods and holds a bottle out to me, another for herself in her other hand. “He loves it.”

I take the offered beer and turn my gaze back to the doghouse and the furry muzzle sticking out of the open door. “I’m glad.”

The bottle hisses as I twist the top off. And I watch the nose twitch as I lift my beer and take a pull.

The liquid cools my throat.

“You need any help?” Joe asks Kendra.

I turn back to watch the pair.

Kendra shakes her head. “The brussels sprouts are in the oven. I just need to mix up the glaze.” My nose scrunches, and Kendra notices. “Is there a problem, Luther?”

Luther.

Not Rocky.

A thin layer of my self-hatred peels away from my heart.

“No problem.” I hate brussels sprouts. But I’d rather eat them with every meal for the rest of my life than tell her. “Sounds perfect.”

My name will always sound perfect when she says it.

She narrows her eyes, like she’s seeing through my lies.

So I distract her. “Here.” I hand her my already open bottle.

She takes it in her empty hand, freeing up both of mine.

“You want to trade?” She lifts a brow, looking pointedly down at the beer I’ve already started.

“No, just don’t let go.”

With her still holding the base, I grip the neck of the other bottle to steady it, then use my other hand to twist the top off.

The hiss of the beer is muted by the hiss of the first steak landing on the hot grill.

Joe’s not watching.

He’s reaching for the second steak with his grill tongs.

And Kendra isn’t breaking eye contact.

I let go, slipping the bottle cap into my pocket alongside the first, then hold my hand out.

But the bottle Kendra extends toward me is the newly opened one.

And my fingers miss it by a mile as I watch her lift the other one to her mouth.

She swallows.

And so do I.

Lips still pressed against the smooth glass, Kendra smiles.

I don’t know if she’s fucking with me, flirting with me, or putting a curse on me.

But I find I don’t care.

I’ll take anything over seeing her cry.

I want her happy.

That was the whole point of me calling things off.

I didn’t break my own heart for me. I did it for her.

Because I want her happy.

Jessie’s voice echoes in my thoughts, telling me I deserve to be happy too.

But as I take a sip of what was supposed to be Kendra’s beer, I feel a shimmer of peace settle over me.

Kendra’s happiness will be enough for both of us.