More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“You sure this is meant for two adults?”
“I’ve sat in this with Joe. It’s solid.” “Sounds romantic.”
“It wasn’t. The man thought he’d save space on packing by g...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“So it was just the two of you, in the woods, sitting shoulder to shoulder?” I can’t stop my laugh. “Pretty much.” Luther shakes his head before lifting a cookie to his mouth and biting off half of it. My chuckles die as I break off a piece of my cookie and examine it. “We shouldn’t keep doing this.”
“We probably shouldn’t.”
“But there are two problems with that.”
“Yeah?” “Yeah.”
“First, I don’t always do wha...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“And the second?”
“The second problem is…” He lifts a shoulder. “I like you a brownie amount.”
“Behave yourself.” I halt my movement, but I don’t back away. “Says the girl who secretly spent her eighteenth birthday in Mexico.” She shushes me. “If you out me for this, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Joe won’t learn it from me.” “Promise?” “I always keep my promises.”
“I’m holding you to that.” I dip my head. “I have my own request.”
“Which is?” “I want to be there when you tell ...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“The chair was dumb.” I argue. “But it’s fine if I don’t have to share it with your hairy ass.” “You know that I don’t have—” Joe’s eyes cut to Kendra, and he purses his lips. “Ya know what? I’m not going to respond to that.” “Yeah. Appreciate that.”
It’s the need to touch. I have to touch Luther. And I’m not a toucher. I don’t mind hugs. Handshakes are fine. But I’ve never been a cuddler. The thought of leaning against someone never appealed to me. But Luther… All I want to do is curl up on the couch with him. Sit with him. Be with him.
My heart rate jumps. But not from fear. From expectation. Luther reaches out, his hand cupping the side of my neck. “This is good night, Kendra.” Holding me still, using his thumb under my chin to keep my head tilted back, Luther kisses me. His lips press against mine.
“I don’t want to stop,” I whisper in the dark. His breaths come out heavy, his body affected just as much as mine is. “I know, Baby.” We both want more. “Go to bed.”
My heart
Blankets rustle. “Luther?” “Yeah, Baby.”
“Keep your ice fingers in one spot.” Kendra snickers. I hold her tighter. “Thanks for keeping me company today.”
This girl. She makes me feel needed in a way I’ve never experienced. But what’s even better than feeling needed is feeling wanted. And she makes me feel that too.
“I do. Today was really fun.” “It was.”
“Planning to go where? The party?” I rub my thumb against her arm. “Back to the Inn.”
“When?” I whisper. “That morning. With the pancakes.”
Like these last couple weeks might turn out to be a dream. That I’ll wake
up, and I’ll never find the Kendra Baby I met in the bar. But she’s here. Curled against me. Once again ready to fall asleep in my arms. Once again rocking my world. Even if her dad hadn’t turned out to be my best friend, she still would’ve come back to me. I allow my anxiety to unravel its hold on me.
“We’d have found each other,” I tell her. Meaning it. Her breathing is getting slower. “What if it ends badly?” My throat feels tight as I swallow. “It won’t.” “Promise?”
“I promise, Baby Doll.” I press my lips to her hair. “Go to sleep.”
Me: What are the black parts? Papi: Bananas. Me: Oh dear. Papi: Guess I’ll need you to teach me. In person. Papi: Soon.
Papi: How’s your day going, Baby?
Me: It’s pretty good. Low-key. You? Papi: Good day. Just got a little better.
Me: Do you go to the Inn every night? Papi: You better not be going tonight.
Me: Why not? I mean, I know we’re keeping this thing between us on the down-low. But still. Papi: Because I’m not there. Papi: And if I miss a chance to see you, I’m going to be pissed. Papi: And if anyone hits on you, you need to tell me. I’ll ban them.
My heart
Me: Don’t worry, Daddy. I’m not coming without you. I slap a hand over my mouth. I can’t believe I sent that. Papi: Dammit, Doll. I’m in public.
Me: Sorry. Papi: You’re not sorry. Me: I’m not sorry. Papi: So… you’re not going to the Inn?
Me: Not if you’re not there. Dad is out with someone tonight, so I was wondering if you were working or…? Papi: Who’s he out with? Me: Don’t know. Some friend. Papi: Of course that asshole would finally leave the house when I’m out of town.
Me: Oh? Go somewhere fun?
Papi: Denver. Ashley’s college graduation ceremony starts in a few minutes, and afterward, we’re going out to dinner. So I got a hotel for the night.
Papi: You home? My pulse skips. Me: Yes. Papi: I’ll be there in ten.
Maybe after lunch, before Joe comes home, we can watch TV. Kendra can sit at one end of the couch, and I can lie across the couch with my head pillowed in her lap.
Glancing over, I see Kendra fighting a smile. She thinks this is funny. I really need to figure out a punishment for her.
Me: Thanks again for lunch today. It was a nice surprise.
Papi: Your dad sucks.
Mounted to the wall behind him is a beautiful piece of wood, with a bark-covered live edge along the top. It’s stunning. And it looks like a headboard. Which means he’s sitting in bed. Shirtless. With fucking glasses on. I can’t with this man.
My heart
“Did you hang up on me?” “Yes,” I tell him. “Because I can’t with you.”
“I’m literally just sitting here.” “Exactly.” “I can’t see you. Turn a light on.” “No.”
“Baby, I might be down to my tighty-whities, but if you deny me this, I will get in my truck, dri...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“Break in?” I have a lot to learn about Luther Rockford, but I can’t picture him busting a window on his bestie’s house. He lifts his chin. “Fine...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
“There’s my pretty girl.” His words are a purr, and they settle over my skin like a fuzzy blanket.
His shoulders are broad and rounded with muscle. His mostly white beard and graying hair do nothing to diminish his appeal. And his chest hair… Also graying, in the absolute best way.
