Page 44 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

My cheeks still feel warm from telling Luther I wanted to sit with just him. But as I watch him open what is essentially a two-person camping chair, I can’t stop this feeling of levity.

The frame folds out into two connected chairs. An armrest on either side with built-in cupholders, but there’s no center armrest.

We really are sharing one chair.

Luther gives it a shake, making sure it’s on flat land, then he gestures for me to sit first.

I do, taking the left side so Luther will be on my right when he sits.

It’s a typical camping canvas chair. Not amazing but comfortable enough.

My mug doesn’t fit in the cupholder, but holding the handle, I rest the bottom on the armrest while I set my plate on my lap.

Luther joins me, and the frame gives a creak.

Luther is a big guy. Tall and broad and built. And I’m not a small woman.

Sure, next to Luther, I feel dainty, but I’ve never been light. And I don’t want to be a part of a chair collapse.

Not seeming to care, the large man beside me relaxes into the seat, lifting the leg closest to me and crossing his ankle over his opposite knee.

His thigh is practically resting on top of mine, and I have to adjust my plate so he doesn’t smoosh my things.

I look up at Luther. “You sure this is meant for two adults?”

He nods. “I’ve sat in this with Joe. It’s solid.”

“Sounds romantic.” I wiggle my brows.

Luther snorts. “It wasn’t. The man thought he’d save space on packing by getting this thing.

” He puts his beer bottle into the cupholder on his armrest, then moves his plate over to his right hand, leaving the hand closest to me empty.

“We were checking out a new campsite that was only accessible by four-wheelers, so we had to pack the minimum. But if that moron had told me he was bringing a love seat, I would’ve brought my own damn chair. ”

“So it was just the two of you, in the woods, sitting shoulder to shoulder?” I can’t stop my laugh.

“Pretty much.” Luther shakes his head before lifting a cookie to his mouth and biting off half of it.

My chuckles die as I break off a piece of my cookie and examine it. “We shouldn’t keep doing this.”

There’s a long pause where I think Luther isn’t going to answer. But after another moment, he heaves out a breath. “We probably shouldn’t.”

Staying silent, I break off another piece of cookie, piling it next to the first.

“But there are two problems with that.” Luther’s tone is gentle.

I tip my head to meet his eyes. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He dips his chin. “First, I don’t always do what I should.”

Butterflies flap their wings inside my ribs.

We both know this is a bad idea.

The worst.

But neither of us wants to stop.

And he’s admitting it.

“And the second?” I whisper, thinking about him with his hands on me. Remembering the feel of him inside me. Replaying the words he whispered to me in the dark.

“The second…” He looks down as he shifts.

I look down.

And it takes me a second.

Just a second to see it.

Luther put his brownie on my plate.

I snap my gaze back up to meet his.

“The second problem is…” He lifts a shoulder. “I like you a brownie amount.”