Page 159 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

The Inn practically glows red as the sunset paints it with color.

And I smile.

I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.

Ever since Luther stormed through the house a week ago, declaring his love for me.

Dad sighs from the driver’s seat.

I should’ve known he’d be cool about it. And he really has been. But in typical Dad fashion, he’s teased me every day since about being in love .

I’m still glad we waited to tell him.

To be fair, we hadn’t exactly decided to tell him when we did. It was all a bit more dramatic than what I’d originally envisioned. But it was actually pretty perfect.

How can anyone argue with love?

Now, if we’d told him sooner, and if he’d been aware of the breakup and the heartache… that would’ve been a nightmare. And I can only imagine how much he would’ve complained about his make-believe heart issues.

“You can quit with all the smiling. You’ll see Luther in just a freaking moment,” Dad grumbles as he parks the truck.

I smile even wider as I undo my seat belt and slide out of the passenger seat.

I feel giddy.

Luther’s been out of town the last two days, and that’s two days too long.

I smooth down the skirt of my dress.

It’s the same one I wore to the welcome party. The dress I wore when we snuck off to the laundry room. And now that our luck is no longer cursed, I’m hoping to go home with Luther tonight so he can have his way with me in it all over again.

I’m rounding the front of the truck, hurrying toward the front door, when Luther steps out of the bar.

My smile widens. “Luther.”

“Hey, Baby.”

Dad groans.

Luther gestures to the door behind him. “Head inside. We’ll be there in a moment.”

Dad mutters something, making a point to bump his shoulder against Luther’s as he passes.

Luther doesn’t react; he just keeps walking. To me.

“What do we need a moment for?” I flutter my lashes up at my man.

“This.”

With one hand, he grips my hip, while the other palms the side of my neck as he lowers his mouth to mine.

I melt into him.

Melt into his kiss.

Soak in the taste of him.

“Love you,” he whispers against my lips.

“Love you,” I whisper back.

He presses another kiss to my mouth, then he steps back, holding his hand out to me.

I place my palm in his, excited to have dinner together.

But he doesn’t lead me to the bar.

“Where are we going?” I ask as we circle around the building.

“I want to show you something.”

His hand is warm against mine.

And I hold on tight as he leads me down the little alley between the back of the bar and the motel.

We stop in front of room two. The room where it all began.

Butterflies swirl in my stomach as Luther pulls a keycard out of his pocket with his other hand.

I want to ask him what we’re doing.

But I think I know.

And when he opens the door.

When I smell the flowers.

When I see the glow of twinkling lights.

I know.

When I follow him inside.

When I see piles of pretty blue pots overflowing with blossoms.

I know.

When he stops at the foot of the bed.

When I see the tray of brownies on the bedspread.

I know.

Luther’s hand slips free of mine, and he picks up a small wooden box from the center of the tray.

I press my hands to my mouth when he faces me.

And a tear rolls down my cheek when he lowers to one knee.

But when he opens the box.

When I see the pretty blue enamel band and the large square diamond…

I know.

I know this man is it for me.

“Kendra.” Luther’s eyes shine up into mine.

“My girl. My everything. I didn’t know there was something missing in my life.

I had no idea. Not until I met you.” He pulls the ring out of the box, holding it gently between his fingers.

“You took my heart that night. Right here. You took it, and I don’t want it back.

I just want you. All of you. Forever.” He holds his other hand out for me.

My fingers tremble as I rest my left hand in his.

He lifts the ring, holding it at the tip of my finger. “Be my wife. Be my forever. Be mine. And I’ll be yours.”

Tears drip from my lashes. “Promise?”

“Yeah, Baby. I promise.” His voice is thick.

“Then, yes.” I slide my hand forward, the ring cool against my skin. “I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine.”

Luther slides the ring the rest of the way down my finger.

I step closer. And the ring glints as I raise my hands to the sides of his neck, holding us both steady as I lower my lips to his.

He wraps his arms around my waist.

And when he kisses me back.

When he holds me like he’ll never let me go.

I know.