Page 21 of Her Mountain Rescuer

Will I ever have the right words?Hey, Dad. So, I’m in love with your best friend who was practically an uncle to me growing up. I know he’s twenty-four years older than me and our relationship is probably wrong, but I love him and he loves me, so hopefully that’s enough for you to not murder both of us?

Yeah. Needs work, I know.

Beau is doing a better job of holding it together than I am. He seems relaxed as he chats with Kaylee and other guests. He’s calm. Completely unaffected. I wish I had his level of cool.

But when our eyes accidentally meet a few moments later, I can see the tension there. He shoots me the tiniest smile, and I know he’s trying to reassure me that everything will be fine.

I want to believe him.

Eight

Beau

Music plays at low volume through my living room as I open a bottle of red wine. I set it on the kitchen island beside two empty wine glasses and a huge bouquet of pink roses I bought on my way home from work today.

Hailey’s been mine for two weeks now, and I plan on celebrating with my girl. I also plan on talking to her about how we’re going to tell her dad, because as fun as sneaking around is, it’s also getting a bit old. I want to walk down the street holding her hand. I want the world to know she’s mine. I want to put a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly. I want her mail to come to my house, addressed to Mrs. Hailey Cameron.

We have to tell him. We almost got busted at that dinner party because we were so fucking horny for each other that we couldn’t stop staring, couldn’t stop lusting until the tension was so thick that I had to drag her upstairs and get my mouth on her.

My doorbell rings, and I make my way to the front hall, anticipation humming through me. I expect to see Hailey, hereyes bright and her cheeks flushed, ready to celebrate our two-week anniversary.

Instead, I find Logan.

Fuck.

His jaw is tense, his fists curled. His eyes are ice cold, with no trace of his usual warmth.

“We need to talk,” he says, his gaze boring into me, hard and unyielding.

I sigh and open the door wider, stepping aside. “Figured this was coming.”

The door closes behind him, and it’s as though the atmosphere in my house has shifted. Like pressure dropping before a storm. There’s so much tension hanging in the air between us that I can almost see it.

Logan steps in, his eyes sweeping over the open living room and kitchen area. His shoulders tense when he spies the two wine glasses, the roses. His gaze lands on a satiny white scrunchie sitting on the kitchen counter, and his expression darkens.

“Have a seat,” I offer, gesturing toward the living room.

Logan doesn’t move, his stance rigid. “I’ll stand.”

I nod, leaning against the kitchen island, my arms crossed over my chest. I’m aiming for casual, but in reality, I’m tense as fuck, muscles coiled. I’m expecting a punch any second now.

Logan’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, neither of us speaks. But then a muscle in his jaw ticks, and he huffs out a breath. “What’s going on with you and Hailey?”

“You want me to lie?”

He glances away, that muscle in his jaw jumping again. “I want you to say I’m imagining it.”

I wait until our eyes meet again. “You’re not.”

Logan starts pacing, his fists clenched, his shoulders bunched. “I trusted you, Beau. You’re like a brother to me.”

I stand steady, keeping my voice low and controlled despite the roiling in my gut. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. But it did, and I won’t apologize for it.”

He stops pacing, turning to face me, his eyes hard. Unflinching. “You won’t apologize? She’s my daughter, Beau. She’s twenty-fucking-two! You’re forty-six. What the hell are you thinking?”

I raise my eyebrows. “If you’re going to lecture me on age gap relationships, I’ll remind you that your wife is a year younger than your daughter.”

Logan scoffs, turning away from me. “We’re not talking about me. I didn’t know Kaylee from birth the way you have with Hailey. You’re supposed to be my friend. You’re practically family.” He shoves a hand through his hair, and I can see his control slipping. “You’ve known Hailey since she was a kid. I trusted you. And you’re…you’re fucking her behind my back.”

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