Page 88 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

Me: You did not have to give Ashley money.

I shake my head just thinking about it.

After what I put Kendra through today…

Meeting Ashley. The surprise of Jessie being my sister—which was a stupid but honest mistake. I’ve been so caught up in Kendra I forgot all about that little detail.

But I’ll thank the gods for the lady at poker night who gave my mom a cold. If I’d added her to today’s lineup, Kendra would’ve run for the hills.

But instead, she gave my kid money.

My phone vibrates.

Baby Doll: I remember being a broke college student.

I lean back in my chair, the worn leather molding to my shoulders.

Me: I paid for her school. She doesn’t have a single loan.

Baby Doll: That’s really sweet of you.

Me: Thanks, Baby. But I wasn’t fishing for compliments.

Me: Let me properly thank you for your generosity by taking you out for coffee this week. Wednesday?

Baby Doll: In public? Is that a good idea?

She’s not wrong to worry. But I need to feel like I’m doing something to actually woo her.

I need one normal interaction where we don’t have to hide and we don’t have to pretend.

Me: There’s a coffee shop called BeanBag about fifty minutes from here. I think you’d like it.

Baby Doll: I’ll meet you there.

Setting my phone down, I pull her thong out of my pocket and run the material between my fingers.