Page 82 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

“I’m calling it a night.” I stand from the couch with a groan.

Ashley shoves her hand into the bowl of popcorn on her lap. “’Kay. You want me to help with anything tomorrow?”

I roll out my shoulders. “You can come with me to the grocery store. Diego gave me a list of what I need to buy.”

She perks up. “Diego is cooking?”

I nod.

“What’s he making?”

“Come with me to the store and find out.” I pick up our dirty plates and head to the kitchen. The pan from the nachos we made is still sitting on the stovetop, but I ignore it, leaving it for tomorrow.

Ashley turns to look at me over the back of the couch. “You don’t want to go shopping early, do you?”

I huff. “As though you’d be awake.” I have to give her crap because it’s what I do, but I’m happy to take the opening. “I have to run out for a bit in the morning, so I might be gone when you get up, but we can go around noon and grab lunch while we’re out.”

“Sounds good. Night, Dad.” She turns back around to face the TV and the rest of the treehouse-building episode we were watching.

“Night.” With Ashley’s back to me, I snag two packets of Pop-Tarts out of the pantry, along with a bag of peanut butter–filled pretzels.

I don’t know if Kendra is still awake, but the thought of her being hungry has me reaching for a pair of granola bars.

Keeping my body angled so Ashley won’t see my pile of treats, I call back over my shoulder. “Don’t stay up too late.”

Her Yeah, yeah follows me as I climb the stairs.

What a fucking night.

The lights are off in the bedroom when I push my doors open. And I’m careful to be quiet as I close them behind me.

I consider locking them, but I’m still just as certain that it would take an actual house fire for Ashley to come in here. I’ll risk her finding me asleep next to a woman rather than locking her out during an emergency.

Shaking the idea of a fucking fire out of my head, I carry my stash of food into the bathroom and leave it on the counter.

I quickly get ready for bed, brushing my teeth and ditching my clothes so I’m left in a pair of boxer briefs.

The drapes are still open, so the moonlight illuminates my way to the bed—and the sleeping woman under the covers.

I take a moment, standing there.

Kendra’s curled up on her side, hugging one of my pillows, with the blankets pulled up to her nose.

If it were any brighter in here, I’d take a photo. Saving this memory forever.

Instead, I climb into bed.

Carefully, I pull the pillow free from Kendra’s grip and slide my body into the space.

She makes a humming sound in her sleep as I drag her against my chest.

I press a kiss to the top of her head, shushing her.

And it feels so right.

It all feels so fucking right, having both my girls under my roof.

My daughter safe in my house.

My woman safe in my arms.

And I want to keep this.

This feeling.

This sense of peace.

I want to keep it so fucking bad that it breaks my heart.

“Wake up, Baby.” I gently shake Kendra’s shoulder.

She grumbles something but doesn’t move.

“I don’t want to get up either.” I yawn and tighten my hold on her. “But if we don’t go now, then we’re gonna have to lower you from the balcony with tied-together blankets.”

“That only works in the movies.” Kendra tips her head back and cracks an eye open to look at me. “But nice of you to offer. After the chair, I figured you’d just toss me over the railing.”

I grin. “I’d never. And certainly not after you took directions so well.” I flex my fingers against her side. “Who knew you had it in you.”

The hand on my chest shifts, and she tugs on my chest hair.

“Watch it.” I slap my hand down, trapping hers with a tsk. “It’s too early for punishments.”

She huffs.

The alarm on my phone that I snoozed a few minutes ago starts up again.

Groaning, I release her hand and reach over to turn it off.

“What time is it?” Kendra rolls onto her back beside me.

“Little after five.”

“Five?” She says it like it’s the most absurd thing she’s ever heard.

“Uh-huh.”

She groans but starts to sit up. “At least I can go back to sleep when I get home.”

I think about crawling into bed with her at her place… then I remember it’s Joe’s place . And we don’t know what time he’s coming back.

Defeated, we both get up.

With minimal talking, we head into the bathroom and brush our teeth together, finally utilizing my double vanity.

I pull on jeans and a flannel while Kendra stays in her sweatpants. Then we exit my room.

We’re both silent as we walk down the hall. And even though I’m sure she’s sound asleep, I still keep my eyes on Ashley’s closed bedroom door.

The stairs are quiet under our feet, and we make it to the mudroom without incident.

I have to toe Ashley’s shoes out of the way before I can step into my boots. And as I bend down to lace them, I can’t stop the ache in my chest.

It’s early Friday morning, and I’ll get to see Kendra tomorrow afternoon when she comes over for the party. It’ll be here before I know it.

But when she’s here, I won’t get to touch her.

I can’t.

And we can’t have another laundry room moment.

We really can’t.

But…

Standing, I reach out and grip Kendra by the shoulders.

She only has one of her sandals on, and she nearly stumbles as I pull her to me, but when I hug her to me, she wraps her arms around my waist.

After the party.

After the party, we’ll figure our shit out.