Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men, #2)

by S.J. Tilly

I roll my hips. “Wait for me.” He thrusts his hips up below me, shoving deeper. “You wait for me.”

“You okay?”

“I’m great. Are you okay?” His mouth pulls into a smile. “I think that orgasm might’ve shaved a few years off my life, but it was worth it.”

“I think we need a shower.” Luther’s thumbs trace circles on my skin, making me shiver. Causing my muscles to clench, again. “Dammit, woman.”

Luther pats my ass. “You gotta get up first, Baby.” I look down between us. “It’s gonna be messy.”

Luther lifts a big shoulder, then lifts me—his dick sliding free—and shifts his weight like he’s going to seriously tip me onto the floor.

“Your face.” He’s still fucking laughing. I glare at him. “I’m showering without you.” I pull my hand up and slap it, and the mess, against his chest.

“That’s right, Baby. Mark me as yours.” I roll my eyes, refusing to find him cute right now. “Most of that is yours.” He shrugs, unbothered. “Yeah, but it’s your handprint.”

I’m sitting on the foot of the bed—chair already cleaned—wearing a pair of gray sleep pants and a white T-shirt. And Kendra is dressed in gray sweatpants and a white tank top. I smirk at our matching outfits.

“Or do you just want to go to sleep?” I smile at how cute she looks. Kendra drops her hand. “I’m fifty percent hungry. Fifty percent tired.” “How about leftover pizza in bed?”

For the last few days, I’ve spent so much time thinking about Kendra, about what I should do, what’s right, that I forgot how good I feel when I’m around her. I know nothing has changed in our situation. But we’re adults. And as long as we keep what’s between us private until we decide what to do, then we aren’t hurting anyone. With Kendra’s hand in mine, we step out of my bedroom and into the hall.

“Where’re you hiding, Baby?” Luther’s quiet voice has me releasing my breath. “Over here.”

Luther snorts. “No shit. That would’ve—Fuck.” He leans back and shoves his hands into his pants pockets. “Shit, I bent them.” “Bent what?”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Our luck is just… not great,” I say at the same time Luther says, “Cursed.”

“I have a water glass next to the sink in the bathroom. The tap water is good.” “Luther, I’ll be fine,”

“I already tried to see if I could get an Uber out here, but there aren’t any available.”

“You’re not getting into a stranger’s car.” “There aren’t any. ...

“Even if it was. I’ll drive you home. We just have to wait and go e...

“You’re super certain Ashley won’t come in?” “I’m certain.”

“Okay, but fair warning, if you’re gone for more than an hour, there’s a one-hundred-percent chance I’ll be asleep in your bed when you come back.”

“And I’m super certain that I’ll like find...

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.

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. My daughter safe in my house. My woman safe in my arms. And I want to keep this. This feeling. This sense of peace.

“I don’t want to get up either.” I yawn and tighten my hold on her. “But if we don’t go now, then we’re gonna have to lower you from the balcony with tied-together blankets.” “That only works in the movies.”

“But nice of you to offer. After the chair, I figured you’d just toss me over the railing.” I grin. “I’d never. And certainly not after you took directions so well.” I flex my fingers against her side. “Who knew you had it in you.”

I have to toe Ashley’s shoes out of the way before I can step into my boots. And as I bend down to lace them, I can’t stop the ache in my chest. It’s early Friday morning, and I’ll get to see Kendra tomorrow afternoon when she comes over for the party. It’ll be here before I know it.

Standing, I reach out and grip Kendra by the shoulders. She only has one of her sandals on, and she nearly stumbles as I pull her to me, but when I hug her to me, she wraps her arms around my waist. After the party. After the party, we’ll figure our shit out.

I’m stressed because I’ve been sleeping with your best friend behind your back. Today I’m meeting his daughter, who is only six years younger than me, and I have this bone-deep need for her to like me. I’m terrified that she won’t like me and that Luther will call this all off.

“And if Ashley doesn’t like you, we’ll fight them.” A laugh pops out of me. “Them?” He nods. “Yeah. Father versus daughter.” “Versus?” I laugh again. “Yep. I’ll take Ashley, you get Luther.”

Cackling

“You’re such a chickenshit.” “Have you seen the man? He eats workouts for breakfast.” Dad reaches for his door handle. “I ain’t fightin’ him.”

Ashley makes a noise of excitement, her attention moving past me. “Oh my god, is that Joe’s daughter? She’s so pretty.”

I glance down, wondering if I stepped in something. But I don’t… My heart stops. My sandals. The same sandals I was wearing the other night when I was here. When I left them by the door.

Omfg

“I’m so excited you’re here. Joe’s always talking about you.” Ahead of us, Dad grins over his shoulder. “I didn’t even pay her to say that.”

That idea of strangling is suddenly even more likely, but then I watch as he twists the top off for me. Oh. “Thank you,” I say as I take the open bottle from him. “Mine too.” Dad pushes his beer across the table toward Luther. “Open your own.” Luther shakes his head. “The caps hurt my hands,”

Dead

Finally free from attention, I slump into my seat. Which is when I spot Luther’s plate. And the fact it’s heaping with nothing but brownies.

He’s nice, but I don’t remember his name. I think Luther and I have done a good job of acting casual around each other, but I can feel the possessiveness radiating off Luther, and letting another man close to me might make him unreasonable.

“Thanks, Baby.” My heart stops. He just called me Baby. In front of his daughter. “Goats.” Luther coughs the word while he pats his chest, like he swallowed something wrong. “You can hire them to eat your lawn.” I cannot with this man. It’s the worst recovery in the history of recoveries.

Dead

Pretending none of this is happening, I open my can of cider and bring it to my lips as I lift my gaze. Ashley is on the other side of Luther, so I can’t see her expression, but one of the girls on the couch across from ours is smirking at me. When we lock eyes, she mouths, Lucky.

Kendra must’ve snuck up and left it here when the party was still outside. Setting my beer on my nightstand, I pick up the thong and hang it off one finger as I take a photo for my Brat. Then I slide the panties into my pocket.

“I have a question.” I glance around, my stress immediately back up to peak levels. But the girl who said lucky seems to be the only one paying attention to us. I turn back to Ashley. “Um, okay.” She shifts. “Are you and my dad, ya know, together?”

“I didn’t really think anything about it at the time. Figured they were Aunt Jessie’s or something. But I recognized them when you got here. They were your sandals. You were here.” “I—” I bite my lip. “Don’t freak out.”

“I want you guys to date.”

“Why would you want that?” I ask just as quietly. “So you are?” She squeals, then hunches forward, going back to being quiet. “You’re really dating?”

“It’s new. And my dad doesn’t know.” She gasps. “This is so scandalous.” I can’t stop my smile at her reactions. Then she mimes zipping her lips. “He won’t hear it from me.”

“It really doesn’t bother you?”

“Do you love him?” The question slides over me like molasses. Do I love him? The man who brings me food. The man who cares for and provides for his family. The man who can make me laugh and swoon and melt all in one night. Do I love the man who makes me feel desired? The man who makes me feel loved, even if I don’t dare ask him for the words. Do I love Luther? I lift my shoulder again.

“Jesus, Ashley, are you trying to fucking kill me?” “Are you?” Ashley has both of her hands pressed to her chest. “Don’t sneak up on people.” Luther huffs. “You’re the one not paying attention. Now move over.”

Luther sees me looking and shakes his head. “I’m not putting you to work.” I sigh. “If you say so.” “I say so.”

I want to hug Luther. I want it more than anything. But we’ve never hugged in front of my dad before.

“I’ll text you later.” Luther’s eyes bore into mine, and I know he wants more too. I take another step back. “Have a good night.” Bye, Baby, he mouths silently.