Page 4 of Five Mountain Daddies

I sit there for a second, not sure what to say. “I’d like that,” I blurt out, feeling stupid andobvious.

He leans toward me. “I bet you would, London,” he says softly. “Maybe I can make you think this town is interestingagain.”

“I bet you’d try,” Isay.

“I think you’re underestimating how really interesting I can be.” His eyes meet mine and I feel a chill run down myspine.

For a second, I think he’s going to kiss me. He’s leaning toward me, eyes locked on mine, staring at me like he wants to rip my clothes off. And honestly, I don’t think I’d mind if he did. Maybe not right here, not fifty feet from my parents’ party, but still. I wouldn’t argue if he pulled me off into the woods, stripped my jeans off my tight ass, and kissed my neck while he fucked me up against atree.

“London!Honey!”

I’m snapped back into reality. My mother’s waving meover.

“Guess you gotta go,” he says tome.

“Yeah, uh, dutycalls.”

I stand up and he watches me. “Nice meeting you,London.”

“You too.” I hesitate a second. “Do you, uh, want my number? You know, for that job offer.” I’m blushing and I feel sostupid.

He just smirks at me. “I’ll find you, don’tworry.”

“Right. Okay.” I turn away and hurry over to my mom, wondering what the hell I was justthinking.

I’ve never, ever offered my number to a random guy like that before, let alone to one like James. Sure, I did it under the guise of a job, but he could see right through that bullshit. I bet he even knows what I was just thinkingabout.

God, I’m so stupid and awkward sometimes. I feel like a kid all over again, with butterflies in my stomach, losing my cool just because a handsome boy is giving meattention.

Except he’s not a cute boy. He’s a handsome man with his own business, and twice my age at least. I know I shouldn’t be thinking about him, but I can’t helpmyself.

I rejoin the party and force myself to smile as my mom parades me around to all the guests. I play along with her, but secretly I’m itching to get back to that man. As soon as I get a chance to escape, I do a lap of the party… but he’sgone.

I’m more than a little disappointed. Still, I keep thinking about what he said. He’s going to find me… and maybe we’ll finish that little moment we started. Maybe this summer isn’t going to be thatbad.

2

James

Ilean back in my chair and look at the guys sitting around thetable.

Ryan meets my gaze, eyebrow quirked. Henry’s looking at his phone, boredom clear on his face, while the twins throw a football back and forth across theroom.

“So, we’re all here,” Ryan promptsme.

I clear my throat. I hesitate for a second. I know I called this meeting, but I’m suddenly having trouble trying to remember what it wasabout.

Truth is, I keep thinking about that girl from the party earlier. I had to leave before she was finished with her parents, but that’s probably for the best. I wanted to do some very impolite things to her, things I shouldn’t be considering, especially not under her father’s roof. I’m easily twice her age, or at least close to it, and yet I have this strange and intense attraction toher.

Long legs, thick, dark hair, pretty green eyes, cute smile, curves that don’t stop. I even like her strange name. I’m honestly just thinking about when I can go find London again and finish that moment we started back there on thebench.

Ryan raises an eyebrow and I sigh. “We should talk about the upcoming shipment,” I say to theguys.

The twins stop throwing the ball and Henry looks up from his phone. “Is there a problem?” heasks.

I shake my head. “Notexactly.”

Ryan looks concerned. “You wouldn’t have brought us all here today if you didn’t have a reason forit.”

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