Page 40 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

It’s so hard to keep a straight face.

I’m not interested in Fisher. Maybe if I hadn’t already met Luther. But even then…

I watch Luther’s jaw clench.

Take in the way his muscles are bunched under his T-shirt.

Picture the way his thick thighs look in those jeans…

No. Even if I hadn’t met Luther until today, he still would’ve stolen all my attention.

My phone vibrates on my lap.

Papi: Make an excuse to go to the house.

Papi: Alone.

Papi: Now.

My heart rate thrums against my bones.

There are so many people here.

My dad is here.

This party is for me.

I can’t disappear.

Not for long.

I uncross my legs and slide forward so I’m sitting on the edge of my chair. “I’m gonna go plug my phone in and grab another drink. Want anything?” I ask Fisher.

I should ask the group as a whole, but I don’t want to take the chance that anyone will try to join me.

Fisher says he’s good, and before he can offer to help, I stand and slip between our chairs, heading toward the house.

My legs feel shaky, and I have to work to keep my breathing under control.

No one stops me. And Dad is sitting down, talking, his back to me, so I make it to the house without interruption.

I slow as I cross the deck, not sure how quickly Luther will be able to follow.

But as I close my hand around the handle, I watch my reflection in the glass. And I see the man approaching.