Page 45 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

“Joe still doesn’t know?”

Kendra shakes her head, grinning up at me. “Nope. My mom thought I was here. He thought I was there. Best lie I ever pulled off.”

The expression on her face is… joy. And dammit, I want to kiss her, want to taste her smile.

I lean toward her.

Kendra nudges my side with her elbow, widening her eyes at me. “Behave yourself.”

I halt my movement, but I don’t back away. “Says the girl who secretly spent her eighteenth birthday in Mexico.”

She shushes me. “If you out me for this, I’ll never forgive you.”

Her tone holds zero threat, but I still place my hand over my heart. “Joe won’t learn it from me.”

“Promise?”

“I always keep my promises.”

Kendra hums. “I’m holding you to that.”

I dip my head. “I have my own request.”

She narrows her eyes. “Which is?”

“I want to be there when you tell him about Cabo.”

Kendra snickers.

It’s the cutest sound.

Cutest sound?

I’m seriously losing it over this girl.

But knowing I’m falling doesn’t do anything to lessen my momentum.

Knowing I’m fucked doesn’t slow my drop.

“What are you two laughing about?” Joe stops in front of us, blinking a few times before lifting a hand and pointing his finger. “Hey! You said that chair was dumb.”

Joe isn’t shit faced. He’s what I would call a happy day drunk, even if it’s pushing nighttime.

“The chair was dumb.” I argue. “But it’s fine if I don’t have to share it with your hairy ass.”

“You know that I don’t have—” Joe’s eyes cut to Kendra, and he purses his lips. “Ya know what? I’m not going to respond to that.”

“Yeah. Appreciate that.” Kendra’s expression is amused disgust.

Our desserts are gone. Our drinks are gone. And I believe the last of the guests just left.

“That everyone?” I ask Joe.

“Yeah,” he yawns.

Kendra uncrosses her legs and sits forward in our chair. “Thanks for putting this all together.”

“It was fun, wasn’t it?” Joe yawns again.

While he rubs his eyes, Kendra places her palm on my thigh, then she presses into me as she pushes against my leg to stand.

Her hand leaves me just as Joe drops his. But that second of connection stays seared into my jeans.

“Go to bed. I’ll put the rest of the food away.” Kendra smooths down the front of her dress.

That damn dress.

I stand and collapse the chair. Holding it one-handed, I follow them to the house.

By the time I put the chair in the garage—only glancing at the laundry room a thousand times—I step back into the house and hear Kendra convince Joe to go to bed.

“Fine, fine. Good night.” Joe turns to me. “You remember where the couch stuff is?”

I nod.

Then Joe heads to his room, and it’s just us.

Just me and Kendra.