Page 33 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

It’s been one week.

One whole week since I’ve seen my obsession.

One week of jerking off to a photo of her panties.

But that ends today.

Even if it’s just a touch. A fingertip down the back of her arm. I’m not leaving until I’ve touched some part of Kendra.

And if I can steal a kiss… well, a kiss would be ideal.

Joe’s driveway is already full of vehicles.

Mostly pickup trucks. Mostly ones I recognize since we know all the same people.

Joe thought it’d be fun to host a barbeque as a way for his employees and friends to meet Kendra all in one go. And best-friend perks mean I still got an invite, even though Kendra and I have already met.

Finding a spot in the grass, I shift my truck into park and turn off the engine.

My pulse skips as I sit in the quiet truck. And I soak it in.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so… excited about someone, even the guilt isn’t enough to ruin it.

Maybe that makes me a bad friend. I’m actually positive it makes me a terrible friend. But I need to experience more of her.

More of Kendra.

Grabbing the small plant off the passenger seat, I climb out of my truck.

Voices from the backyard float around to where I’m at, but I still head for the front door, taking the shortcut.

I let myself in and find a few people filling up plates of food from the spread on the table.

Recognizing each other, we exchange polite greetings, but I don’t slow my stride as I head for the sliding glass doors at the back of the house.

Joe’s on the deck, standing in front of the grill, waving a pair of tongs around as he tells a story.

Before I open the door, I scan the crowd scattered around the yard.

I just want to see…

I find her in a blink.

In a fucking slutty little sundress.

I shake my head.

She’s too much of a goddamn temptation as it is. But dressed like that…

Kendra is across the yard, standing there with her floral-printed skirt fluttering a couple inches above her knees.

And it’s not that it’s too short. It’s just that I can’t stop my blood from simmering at the sight of that much of her bare skin.

I can’t even get started on the top half of her dress…

I swallow and reach for the door handle.

The straps holding up her dress are so thin I know they aren’t hiding a bra. Meaning her tits are bare under that tight flowery material.

Her large, soft tits.

I want to suck the material into my mouth. I want to make it wet. I want to make her wet. I want to watch the damp cotton cling to her nipples.

A utensil clatters to the floor behind me. And I open the door.

“Rocky!” Joe turns toward the sound of the door opening, then greets me with drunken enthusiasm.

He’s such a lightweight that I’d guess he’s probably only had two beers, but he doesn’t have to drive anywhere, so good for him.

Plus… A drunk Joe is less likely to pay attention to details. Like how close his friend is going to stand to his daughter. So… good for me.

“Hey, man.” I clap him on the back.

“Hey back.” Joe sways. “Your sister come with you?”

I shake my head. “Nah, she’s working the bar today.”

Which is a damn miracle. For me. Because I have yet to tell Jessie that I found my one-night stand girl .

And I certainly haven’t told her my one-night stand girl is Joe’s new live-in offspring.

Joe grins and nods to my hand. “Did you bring me flowers?”

The guy Joe was talking to laughs.

“This is how those rumors get started.” I shake my head. “It’s a succulent, not a flower.” I lift the little plant. “And it’s for Kendra, not you.”

My sister is a plant person, so I know a bit, but I’d never heard of this string of pearls before.

I really just bought it because the little pot the plant was in reminded me of Kendra’s nail polish.

It’s not the same exact color—more blue than the periwinkle Kendra wears.

I looked up the name of it. But the color was close enough to make me pause.

Plus, this is a welcome party, so a gift shouldn’t seem too out of place.

A welcome party because she lives here now.

My gaze lifts past Joe. And I lock eyes with her .

My girl.

“I’ll be back,” I say as I slap Joe on the back again. Then I walk away, not giving him a chance to protest or come with me.

The deck is low, and I descend the short staircase to the lawn in two steps.

Kendra looks away first, moving her attention back to the two guys in front of her—a pair of carpenters from Joe’s shop—but it just gives me more time to take her in.

She’s summer perfection.

The beauty to my beast.

My worn jeans and gray T-shirt are a stark contrast to her girliness.

I shift the plant in my grip.

Act normal. Act like an adult who has control over his body.

I come to a stop at Kendra’s side.

“Rocky.” The carpenters greet me in unison.

I nod my acknowledgment before I dip my chin, looking down at the woman whose shoulder is inches away from my arm. “Kendra.”

The side of her mouth pulls up, the smallest amount. “Luther.”

One of the guys makes a sound of surprise. “Wait, what?”

I glance at him before holding out the plant for Kendra. “Not sure you still deserve this after outing me like that.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Kendra takes the pot out of my hand. “It was an honest mistake.”

I watch her trail a finger down one of the bauble-like strands.

And I feel a ridiculous amount of pride at my color choice when I see her nails are still that pretty purple-y blue.

“Hold up.” The guy holds a hand up. “Is your name really Luther?”

I turn to him, letting my body shift a little closer to Kendra. “It is, but only she gets to call me that.”

The guy still looks confused, but his friend narrows his eyes. I may have played my hand too loudly, but I don’t care. What’ll these guys do? Go tell their boss that his friend was acting too friendly with his daughter? No. They won’t say shit.

“Did you eat already?” I ask the woman, who is still gently touching her new plant.

She lifts her head. “I could snack.”

I gently press my hand to the center of her back. “I’ll go with you.”

My palm is against her bare skin, above the zipper running up the back of her dress, and the connection practically sizzles.

I rub my thumb back, then forth, over her spine, then I drop my hand.

Smiles and hellos are shared as we walk across the yard back to the house.

The party started about an hour ago, but I arrived exactly as planned.

By now, Kendra’s had a chance to meet most everyone. Meaning she should be free to spend some time talking with a friend .