Page 143 of Mountain Daddy
I jump.
Luther slaps the hand not holding his beer against his chest. “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.”
Thirty minutesand the rest of my cider later, I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin.
I’m a bit tipsy. And all I want to do is cuddle with Luther.
I want to press my face against his neck.
I want to breathe him in.
I want his arms around me.
I want his words in my ear and his dick in my?—
“This is where all the cool kids are hanging out, huh?” Dad stops beside the couch.
“Clearly. So go away,” Luther replies, then finishes his beer.
Dad puts his hands on his hips. “I was going to offer to help clean up, but not with that attitude.”
Luther waves him off. “Not necessary.”
I glance toward the kitchen and the counters that are covered with trays of food.
Luther sees me looking and shakes his head. “I’m not putting you to work.”
I sigh. “If you say so.”
“I say so.” Luther leans forward, sets his bottle on the coffee table, then stands.
Turning, he holds his hands out, one for me and one for Ashley.
It’s the perfect cover. The only way for me to touch him without it seeming out of place.
I place my palm against his, and he bends his arms, his biceps bulging under his sleeves, as he helps us up at the same time.
His fingers flex around mine.
I squeeze his back.
And then we let go.
“Thank you so much for the cards.” Ashley slips past Luther to hug my dad. Then she turns to me. “So great to meet you.” She wraps me in a tight hug and lowers her voice to a barely audible whisper. “I’ll give you time to tell my dad I know.”
“Okay,” I whisper back.
I don’t really know if I want to be the one to tell him, but I guess it’s better than her blindsiding him with it. Like she did to me.
“Congrats again,” I tell Ashley as we break our hug.
“Thanks.” She flicks her hair back with a smirk.
My dad holds his hand out to Luther. “Until next time.”
