Page 129 of Mountain Daddy

His look softens. “And I’m super certain that I’ll like finding you there.”

Chapter 81

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.”

HerYeah, yeahfollows 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.