Page 87 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

My phone buzzes, and I slide it out of my pocket.

It’s a photo from Papi .

I open the text and immediately close it when an image of my thong fills my screen.

“So…” Ashley’s voice sounds from beside me, and I jump, flattening my phone to my chest. I was so distracted I didn’t notice her moving into Luther’s spot. “I have a question.”

I glance around, my stress immediately back up to peak levels. But the girl who said lucky seems to be the only one paying attention to us.

I turn back to Ashley. “Um, okay.”

She shifts. “Are you and my dad, ya know, together?” She lifts her brows and tilts her head as she says together .

I open my mouth. Close it. Swallow.

I want to shake my head. Deny it. Tell her it’s wild for her to even ask such a thing.

But I can’t seem to do it.

Can’t seem to deny him .

“I…” With no answer to give her, I trail off.

Ashley scoots closer and lowers her voice. “I saw your shoes here.”

My stomach drops, and the cider inside it swirls.

Mayday!

“I didn’t really think anything about it at the time. Figured they were Aunt Jessie’s or something. But I recognized them when you got here. They were your sandals. You were here.”

“I—” I bite my lip.

“Don’t freak out.” She moves even closer, until our knees are touching, both of us turned toward one another. “I want you guys to date.”

She… what?

I don’t understand.

“Why would you want that?” I ask just as quietly.

“So you are?” She squeals, then hunches forward, going back to being quiet. “You’re really dating?”

I puff out my cheeks, then give her the smallest nod.

When she starts to bounce in her seat, I’m the one to lean closer. “It’s new. And my dad doesn’t know.”

She gasps. “This is so scandalous.” I can’t stop my smile at her reactions. Then she mimes zipping her lips. “He won’t hear it from me.”

I appreciate her immediate answer, but I feel bad about adding yet another person to our growing mountain of lies. “It really doesn’t bother you?”

“The twenty-year age gap? No.”

“Twenty-four,” I correct her.

She snorts. “Even better. Now when I tell Dad I have a boyfriend who’s ten years older than me, he can’t say shit.”

When I was twenty-six, I thought I knew everything, but now that age suddenly seems so young.

“Is it serious?” I ask her, feeling instantly protective.

Ashley beams. “Yeah. He’s great. Is it serious with you two?”

I don’t have a good answer for her.

It feels serious. But we haven’t really talked about it. Haven’t talked about a future between us at all.

I lift a shoulder, confirming without saying.

She leans in more, until our noses are inches apart. “Do you love him?”

The question slides over me like molasses.

Do I love him?

The man who brings me food.

The man who cares for and provides for his family.

The man who can make me laugh and swoon and melt all in one night.

Do I love the man who makes me feel desired?

The man who makes me feel loved, even if I don’t dare ask him for the words.

Do I love Luther?

I lift my shoulder again.

“Oh my god.” She squeals as she reaches for my arms. “I can’t believe it!”

“Can’t believe what?” Luther’s deep voice startles us both.

Ashley shrieks.

I jump.

Luther slaps the hand not holding his beer against his chest. “Jesus, Ashley, are you trying to fucking kill me?”

“Are you?” Ashley has both of her hands pressed to her chest. “Don’t sneak up on people.”

Luther huffs. “You’re the one not paying attention. Now move over.”

Thirty minutes and the rest of my cider later, I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin.

I’m a bit tipsy. And all I want to do is cuddle with Luther.

I want to press my face against his neck.

I want to breathe him in.

I want his arms around me.

I want his words in my ear and his dick in my?—

“This is where all the cool kids are hanging out, huh?” Dad stops beside the couch.

“Clearly. So go away,” Luther replies, then finishes his beer.

Dad puts his hands on his hips. “I was going to offer to help clean up, but not with that attitude.”

Luther waves him off. “Not necessary.”

I glance toward the kitchen and the counters that are covered with trays of food.

Luther sees me looking and shakes his head. “I’m not putting you to work.”

I sigh. “If you say so.”

“I say so.” Luther leans forward, sets his bottle on the coffee table, then stands.

Turning, he holds his hands out, one for me and one for Ashley.

It’s the perfect cover. The only way for me to touch him without it seeming out of place.

I place my palm against his, and he bends his arms, his biceps bulging under his sleeves, as he helps us up at the same time.

His fingers flex around mine.

I squeeze his back.

And then we let go.

“Thank you so much for the cards.” Ashley slips past Luther to hug my dad. Then she turns to me. “So great to meet you.” She wraps me in a tight hug and lowers her voice to a barely audible whisper. “I’ll give you time to tell my dad I know.”

“Okay,” I whisper back.

I don’t really know if I want to be the one to tell him, but I guess it’s better than her blindsiding him with it. Like she did to me.

“Congrats again,” I tell Ashley as we break our hug.

“Thanks.” She flicks her hair back with a smirk.

My dad holds his hand out to Luther. “Until next time.”

Luther grunts as he shakes his hand.

And then it’s time for us to say goodbye.

Am I supposed to shake his hand?

Is it weird if we hug? Ashley gave my dad a hug goodbye…

I want to hug Luther. I want it more than anything. But we’ve never hugged in front of my dad before.

“Joe, let me give you a bag of cookies to take home,” Ashley says brightly, walking toward the kitchen. Pulling my dad’s attention with her.

She really is my new favorite human.

Luther’s palm settles on my back.

I think he’s going to keep it there. Walk me to the door.

But then his hand slides around to my side, and he turns me as he tugs me into his body.

My arms go around his waist as his circle my back.

And I inhale, pulling that perfect scent of his into my lungs as I get the hug I was just hoping for.

I feel his mouth press against my hair, and my heart throbs.

Then he’s letting me go.

I drop my arms as I step back, not daring to look at Ashley’s friends as I do.

“I’ll text you later.” Luther’s eyes bore into mine, and I know he wants more too.

I take another step back. “Have a good night.”

Bye, Baby , he mouths silently.

I bite my lip, then turn and walk away.