Page 94 of Mountain Daddy

Possibly the dumbest.

The owners know me better than they know Joe, so I know they wouldn’t go blab about me bringing Kendra here. But it’s not just Sterling and Courtney here. There are all the employees. And whoever else might be stopping by to buy stuff.

My steps start to slow.

“Black Mountain Lodge,” Kendra mumbles while subconsciously matching my new pace. “Why does that sound familiar?”

“You met the owners during that barbeque.”

She cocks her head, brows furrowing as she tries to remember.

It’s fucking adorable.

I reach up and rest my palm on the back of her neck.

“Kendra?” A male voice stops me from pulling my girl in for a kiss.

We both look up, spotting the man as he cuts through the forest to join us on the path.

“Fisher?” Kendra sounds confused.

And I amend my previous thought.

It would be even more adorable if she didn’t remember Fisher at all.

It’s fine.

Kendra just has a good memory.

I’m not jealous.

She was practically in my lap, kissing me like her life depended on it not too long ago.

“Good to see you again.” Fisher’s smile is wide.

Totally fine.

Then he opens his arms, like he’s going to hug her.

Never mind. This is not fine.

Totallynot fine.

Kendra lifts a foot, like she’s going to step away from me. Like she’s going to hug this other man in front of me.

I tighten my hold on the back of her neck.

She clears her throat like she’s trying to cover a laugh. But she puts her foot back down where it was.

“Nice to see you too.” She holds out her hand.

His eyes lock on to where I’m gripping Kendra as they shake hands.

“You guys here for the bake sale?” he asks as he releases her hand.

“Sure are.” I release my hold on Kendra and step forward, putting myself between him and my girl and grabbing his hand before he can lower it. “Good to see you, kid.”

I pull him in, like men do, and slap my other hand against his back.