Page 84 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

The weather is perfect.

The overhead garage doors are open.

The vehicles are parked in the grass, and the garage is filled with borrowed tables. Two are covered with the food Diego has been prepping all morning, and the rest have tacky gold plastic tablecloths.

Gold has nothing to do with Ashley’s school, but it’s her favorite color, and when we went to the party store yesterday, she insisted.

They match the gold balloons tied to the mailbox and the gold streamers hanging from the rafters.

It’s basically a re-creation of her high school graduation, and it has me feeling all sorts of nostalgia I wasn’t prepared for.

My daughter walks past me, headed for the food, but I snag her arm and pull her in for a hug.

“What is wrong with you?” She laughs as she twists out of my hold.

“I’m just proud of you.” I reach for her head like I’m going to ruffle her hair, and she skips out of reach.

“I appreciate that, but you’ve told me a thousand times already.” She holds her hands out, warding me off, as she walks backward.

“Your point?”

Ashley rolls her eyes as she spins toward the dessert table.

I turn my attention to the driveway.

The party is an open house from noon to four.

It’s one.

Kendra should be here soon.

“Brownie?” Ashley holds one out for me.

I take it, smiling to myself. “Thanks.”

We take bites at the same time.

Then we make matching sounds of appreciation.

As we eat, I look around at the crowd. About a dozen people linger in the driveway and yard, standing or using the scattering of camping chairs. And just as many sit around the tables in the garage.

My sister is one of the people in the garage, and she’s been giving me the side-eye since she got here—when I quietly reminded her to pretend she hasn’t met Kendra before.

Ashley brushes her hands together. “Those are good.”

I shove the rest of my brownie into my mouth. “Yep.”

“You sure you don’t mind if my friends stay? They just texted to say they’re about an hour away.”

Some of Ashley’s college friends surprised her this morning, saying they were driving the few hours here for her party, and I told her they could stay the night.

Going back tonight would be too much driving.

And I suspect if they know they can stay, they’ll partake in the coolers of beer and hard cider.

“As long as they don’t mind sleeping on couches and floors.” I give Ashley a pointed look. “And as long as you’re not trying to sneak a boy into your room.”

“Boy.” Ashley snorts. “And no, hand on the bar top, I’m not interested in any of my friends that way.”

“Good.”

She’s twenty-six. She’s dated. I’ve met a few of her boyfriends. But… not in my house.

Ashley makes a noise of excitement, her attention moving past me. “Oh my god, is that Joe’s daughter? She’s so pretty.”

I force my head to turn slowly. Force my features to stay the same.

But when I see her, my heartbeat falters.

She’s so fucking pretty.

As she walks toward us, Kendra’s pants shift against her thighs with every step.

Her tank top is modest, but it’s clinging to her every curve.

She clearly doesn’t understand that no matter what she wears, she’s always going to look like a goddess of desire.

And her loose hair… My fingers twitch, itching to grip it.

I swallow. “That’s her.”

Kendra’s eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, making it impossible to tell exactly where she’s looking.

It’s a smart play. If no one could see where I was looking, I’d be staring at her tits.

Joe raises his hand. “Happy graduation!”

Ashley waves back, then rushes forward.