Page 90 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

“You ran into each other here?” Joe’s eyes are bouncing between us. And I’m surprised he could even hear my words over the sound of my heart trying to thud out of my chest.

I really need to get my affairs in order because I give it a fifty-fifty chance I survive the year.

“Yup.” I pick up my coffee. “Small world.” Feigning a casualness I do not feel, I take a sip of my drink, then nod at the table next to ours. “Grab a chair.”

I slide the bags of coffee beans across the table so they won’t be in Joe’s way.

Joe looks at Kendra.

She smiles brightly and pats the top of her backpack. “I brought my laptop to do work, but maybe my boss will give me the rest of the day off.”

My heart aches.

I hate this.

Hate lying to my friend.

Hate making Kendra lie to him.

Hate involving my sister in the lies.

Guilt fills my throat, making it hard to speak.

I force myself to swallow.

We can’t keep doing this.

“Alright,” Joe says slowly. “I’m going to order. Need anything else?”

I shake my head, same as Kendra.

Joe’s kindness makes me feel even worse.

When he turns away, I meet Kendra’s gaze.

And I hate the look shining in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

I’m sorry I thought this was a safe location.

I’m sorry for the stress and guilt.

I’m sorry for making you feel anything other than joy when we’re together.

“It’s not your fault.” She rolls her lips together and glances toward the counter where Joe is ordering his drink. “I just… I’ll be right back.”

Kendra pushes her chair away from the table and stands.

I want to say something. Tell her we’ll figure it out.

But I can feel the turmoil rolling off her, so I don’t push the topic. I just nod.

Joe’s still busy ordering, so I watch Kendra.

I watch her walk behind her dad.

Watch her pass a pair of women sitting next to a pair of strollers.

Watch a small toy fly out into her path.

Watch Kendra stop and pick it up.

Watch her smile as she says something to the moms.

Watch her hand the toy back to a tiny hand sticking out of the stroller.

I watch my girl interact with a future I can’t give her.

That guilt runs down my throat, filling my stomach.

I—

Joe steps into my view, and I realize I was staring after Kendra.

With his eyes on me, he grips a neighboring chair and drags it noisily to our table.

I take another drink of my coffee, giving me something to do other than speak.

Joe lowers himself into the seat and lifts his coffee to his mouth, then pauses like he remembers it’s hot.

“Rocky.” He sets his coffee down. “Are you trying to seduce my daughter?”

I blink.

If he’d used any other word, I probably would have given myself away. But seduce ?

I shake my head with a snort. “Seduce? What century is it? Are you ill?”

His shoulders slump, and he heaves out this breath. “Sorry, I… It just looked like—” Joe drags a hand down his face.

And I swallow down more guilt. “Long day?” I ask to change the topic.

Joe drops his hand and lifts his coffee again.

Then he tells me about a mess-up on an order at his shop.

He tells me because I’m his friend and because he took my response as a no.

But I was shaking my head at him , not in answer to his question.

If he asked me the right question. If he looked me in the eye and asked me if I’d slept with his daughter.

I’d tell him.

I’d admit to everything.

I’d tell him I was falling for her.

Tell him I’ve already fallen.

If he was anyone other than her father, I’d talk to him.

I’d ask him what to do.

I’d ask him if it was worth risking my friendship for the possibility of something good.

I’d ask him if he thought I was enough.

If offering myself in exchange for a future with a family was enough.

But he didn’t ask the right question.

So I don’t tell him anything.