Page 151 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

Luther is standing behind the bar, shaking his head.

Dad points at him. “You did too.”

“I’ve never eaten a live minnow in my life.” Luther holds up his hands. “Your mind is slipping, old man. Time for some fucking supplements.”

Dad scrunches up his face. “Huh. Maybe that was someone else.”

Luther looks at me. “How do you put up with him?”

I snort. “Noise-canceling headphones.”

“Hey!” Dad spins his seat toward me. “You said music helps you concentrate.”

I nod seriously. “It does.”

Dad narrows his eyes on me as Doug cackles from his other side.

Luther’s phone rings, and he steps away from our noisy group to answer.

Resting my elbows on the bar, I smile as I listen to Dad and Doug bicker.

When Dad suggested going out for lunch, I suggested coming to the Inn.

I debated telling Luther we were coming, but I knew from his text this morning that he’d be here, and I wanted to surprise him. And I’m so glad we came.

Aside from the group hug, this was exactly the levity I needed.

Buddy is doing good.

Work is going well.

But not having Luther sneak into my bed every night has been… lonely.

We text all day.

And I know he’d be with me if he could get away with it.

But I still miss him.

I might be healthy now. I’ll hopefully be healthy for the rest of my days. But life is short.

And I’m sick of spending time apart from the man I love.

My eyes trail over the man himself.

His back is to us. His shoulder muscles flex under the fabric of his shirt as he takes a deep breath.

I watch him nod. Then he lowers the phone and slides it back into his pocket.

“Everything good?” I ask when he steps back up to the bar.

“It’s fine. I just agreed to dinner with Ashley tonight.” Luther puffs out his cheeks. “And her boyfriend.”

My brows jump.

I wonder if he knows that her boyfriend is… older.

Luther tilts his head, watching me. “What do you know that I don’t?”

I hold my hands up. “Nothing.”

He narrows his eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?”

I laugh. “I’m sure I have no idea.”

Luther crosses his arms, and I can’t stop myself from watching the way his biceps bulge.

“My angel would never lie.” Dad defends me. And I somehow manage not to make a face.

Luther turns his attention to my dad. “Don’t you have a couch to go sleep on?”