Page 158 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

She smiles against my lips.

My girl. My Kendra. My Baby.

She’s mine.

I slide a hand around to the back of her head, my fingers sliding through her hair.

She’s all mine.

Forever.

A throat clears loudly in the hallway.

Kendra’s smile grows.

I pull back just enough to look into her sparkling eyes. “Guess we should tell him.”

She gives me a tiny nod. “Guess we should.”

I keep my hold on her for another heartbeat. “I love you.”

Happiness radiates off my girl. “I love you too.”

I loosen my grip on her and let my hands slide over her shoulders and down her arms before I step back.

Then I take a deep breath and straighten my spine before I turn, keeping my body between Kendra and the door.

There’s a click as I turn the handle, releasing the lock. And I slowly pull the door open.

Joe is standing on the other side of the threshold in boxers and a white T-shirt, hair askew, arms crossed over his chest.

“Here’s the thing—” I start.

He steps forward and punches me in the chest. “That’s for… whatever you’ve done with my daughter.”

“Dad!” Kendra tries to step past me, but I catch her around the waist and shove her back behind me.

Joe punches me again. Landing this hit next to the first. “And that’s for keeping it from me.”

“Dad,” Kendra sighs.

I keep her behind me and rub at my chest with my free hand. “Shit. When’d you learn how to punch?”

“I didn’t.” Joe grimaces and shakes out his hand. “What are you made out of? Fucking rock?”

I make my own face as I press my hand over my pec. “You smashed my nipple.”

Joe drops his hands to his sides. “Good.”

Kendra snickers behind me, and I feel her drop her forehead against my back.

I try not to smile.

Joe points at me. “This isn’t funny.”

My nipple throbs.

I bite my cheek as I shake my head. “It’s not funny.”

“That’s my daughter.”

I nod. “I know.”

“And you didn’t tell me.”

I nod again. “I’m sorry.”

His jaw works. “How long—You know what? Don’t answer that.”

Kendra grips the arm I have against her and slides her hand down until our fingers twine together.

This time, when she moves to stand beside me, I don’t stop her. “I’m sorry, Dad. We didn’t mean to… I didn’t know who he was when…”

“Nope. I don’t want to know.” Joe shakes his head as he lifts his hands and rubs his palms against his eyes. “I really don’t want to fucking know.”

Kendra looks up at me.

And I can feel it in her gaze.

I can feel her love.

I can feel her trust.

And I wonder how I ever doubted it.

I wonder how I didn’t see it.

I squeeze her fingers.

She squeezes mine back.

And because I can’t stop myself, I bend down and press a kiss to her forehead.

Joe lets out a loud, annoyed groan.

I don’t bother apologizing for kissing her.

I know I’ll do it again.

Joe props his hands on his hips, looking back and forth between Kendra and me. “Any other life-altering surprises you’d like to share with me?”

I feel Kendra’s shoulders slump against my arm, and I know she’s thinking about the cancer conversation. “There’s nothing else. I swear. I’m sorry.”

Joe sighs. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t’ve said that. You told me when you could.”

“No, don’t apologize. It’s fair. But…you’re okay? With… us?” Kendra asks hesitantly.

I hate that she’s nervous, but I understand it.

This is a big deal.

Not just because I’ve been friends with Joe. But because we’re a big deal.

There’s no going back, not for either of us, so Joe had better learn how to be okay with it. Because Kendra and I… we’re each other’s person. Until the end of time.

Joe lets out another heavy groan. “There are no two people in this world that I love more than the two of you. And if you can love an ugly man like him…” He jabs his finger into my chest. “Then yeah, I’ll be okay with it.”

Kendra sniffs.

Joe shakes his head. “No crying.”

Kendra lets out a watery laugh, and I let go of her hand so I can wrap my arm around her shoulders and hold her against my side.

Joe turns his gaze on me. “You better mean to marry her. Because if you break my daughter’s heart, I will kill you.”

I grin.

“I’m serious. I will literally fucking kill you.” He jabs me in the chest again, and I flex my pecs, making him jerk his hand away.

I keep grinning. “Oh, I’m going to marry her. And I’m pretty sure you just gave me your blessing.”

Joe lets out another long sigh. “Fine. But no touching each other in front of me.”

“Dad.”

He points his finger back and forth between us. “I mean it. When we’re watching TV, you aren’t sitting on his lap or anything like that. Not in my house.”

“Oh my god, Dad.” Kendra sounds both horrified and amused.

I look down at Kendra. “You can move in with me?—”

“You can move in with him when you’re officially engaged.” Joe talks over me.

Kendra rolls her lips together and nods. “That’s reasonable.”

I nod too. Because I plan to get officially engaged as soon as fucking possible.

Joe steps back out into the hallway, pointing toward the kitchen. “Now get the fuck out of my house. I need to sleep, and you aren’t staying over.” Kendra and I glance at each other, and Joe presses his palms to his eyes again. “Nope. I don’t want to know!”

Feeling happier than… I ever have, I lower my mouth to Kendra’s.

“Night, Baby.” My lips brush against hers. “I’ll come over for breakfast tomorrow.”

Her lips smile against mine.

But before she can reply, Joe grips my shirt and drags me out of her room.

“Love you!” I call out as I let myself get manhandled down the hall.

Kendra peeks her head out of her bedroom. “Love you too.”

Joe shoves me all the way out the front door, and I grin the whole time.