Page 99 of Mountain Daddy

I know Luther and I aren’t technically doing anything wrong, but we aren’t being honest either.

Though truthfully, there’s nothing to tell.

My dad doesn’t want to know that we’re sleeping together. And even though this feels like more than that… unless it turns into a forever thing, then there’s no point in telling Dad.

What he doesn’t know won’t gross him out.

I keep following Courtney, and once I pay attention again, I realize we’re circling around behind the house.

Okay, back door, makes sense.

Except Courtney walks past the back deck.

And I’m too distracted with the sudden sight of a lake hidden back here that I don’t notice the vehicle until Courtney pats the seat beside her. “Hop in.”

I climb into the passenger side of the golf cart on steroids. It’s not a four-wheeler because we’re sitting side by side, but this thing is definitely meant for tougher terrain than a golf course.

Courtney turns it on, and I take in the scenery as we drive along the lakeshore. Then she turns onto a path, taking us deeper into the forest.

The engine isn’t super loud, but it’s loud enough that we don’t talk.

I should probably ask where we’re going since I assumed the house back there was the house we were headed to. But I’m along for the ride now. Courtney doesn’t feel like the serial killer type. And if she turns out to be… Luther will avenge me.

A minute later, the trees open up and we’re at the back of a different house.

This one is huge. And beautiful.

“We just finished building it last summer,” Courtney tells me as she slows, circling us up around the side of the house. “It’s all on the same property as the Lodge, but with the way the main road turns, the driveways are pretty far apart from each other. So this is the easiest way to go back and forth.”

“Handy.”

Courtney comes to a stop in front of one of the garage doors and turns off the engine. “Here we are.”

I follow her out of the vehicle and up the front steps.

She stops. “You’re not allergic to dogs, are you?”

I smile. “No. Why?”

She smiles back. “I have a few.”

She has six.

Chapter 58

Luther

“Rocky?”

I lift my head at the sound of Joe’s voice and plaster on my best surprised expression. “Hey.”

“Fancy seeing you here.” He drops onto the bench across from me.

I hold up the last bite of my ham and cheese pastry. “Couldn’t resist the opportunity.” I know Joe likes coming here too. But today was supposed to be safe because he was supposed to be busy. “Don’t you have meetings today?”

He nods, dragging my paper bag across the table so he can peek inside. “Had two this morning, and I’m heading back after this for another with my stain supplier.”

“Fun.” This acting casual shit is harder than I thought it would be. Because no, none of this is fun. Joe said he had meetings all day, and I believed him.