Page 94 of Bossy Mountain Daddies
"Table four needs drinks," Vanna says, nodding toward a group of hikers who've just sat down. "Two drafts, a whiskey neat, and a gin and tonic."
"On it," I reply, falling back into the rhythm as if I never left.
As the night progresses, I find myself gravitating toward the men whenever possible. A touch on Ford's arm as I pass him at the bar. A smile exchanged with Buck through the kitchen window. A brush of fingers with Griff as he hands me a tray of drinks.
Each small connection reaffirms that this is real, that I'm really here, that they've welcomed me back. The joy bubbles inside me, threatening to overflow.
During a brief lull, Buck emerges from the kitchen and pulls me into a quiet corner. "After closing," he murmurs, his eyes dark with meaning. "All of us."
I think of the cabin in the mountains, of the four of us together. "Yes," I breathe, excitement immediately causing butterflies in my stomach.
His smile is wolfish. "Good."
I watch him walk back to the kitchen, his broad shoulders moving confidently through the crowd. Across the bar, Ford catches my eye and winks, as if he knows exactly what Buck and I just discussed. Griff, handling the register, looks up and gives me a small, private smile that makes my insides flutter even more.
I pick up a tray of empty glasses, unable to stop grinning. For the first time in longer than I can remember, everything feels right. I'm where I belong, with the people I belong with, doing exactly what I want to be doing. Whatever comes next—Daniel's social media posts, small-town gossip, uncertain futures—we'll face it together.
And that makes all the difference.
Chapter 28
Skye
Ican’t stop thinking about the promise of what's to come later. The memory of what we've shared before. The heat of what we all clearly want again.
"Table six needs another round," I tell Griff, leaning closer than necessary across the bar.
His fingers trail along my wrist as he takes the empty glasses. "You holding up okay?" he asks, looking me deeply in the eyes.
"I'm good," I say, and I mean it. Better than good. I feel alive, every nerve ending awake and singing. "Just... distracted."
The corner of his mouth quirks up. "That makes two of us."
Across the room, Buck emerges from the kitchen, his eyes finding me immediately. The heat in his gaze makes my stomach flip. When I deliver drinks to a nearby table, he brushes past me, his hand skating across the small of my back. It's the briefest touch, but it leaves a trail of fire on my skin.
Ford appears at my side as I'm clearing empties from a recently vacated table. "I can't stop thinking about later on tonight," he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. "About all of us together."
"Me too," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
For the next hour, we all circle each other like planets in orbit, never straying too far, the gravity between us undeniable. Every stolen touch, every meaningful glance, every "accidental" brush of bodies as we pass in the narrow space behind the bar—it all builds, until I'm practically vibrating with need.
It's just past ten when Griff checks his watch. "We're closing early tonight, folks," he announces to the half-full bar. "Last call."
A few groans rise from the crowd, but most people just finish their drinks and pay their tabs without complaint. Vanna, wiping down a table nearby, raises an eyebrow at me.
"Early night, huh?" she asks, her tone innocent but her eyes knowing.
"Apparently," I reply, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
She glances between me and the guys, who are moving with unusual efficiency to clear the bar. A slow smile spreads across her face. "I can finish up here," she offers. "You four go... rest."
The word choice makes me snort. "Rest. Right."
"You know what I mean." She bumps her hip against mine. "Go. Have fun." She pauses, her expression softening. "I'm glad you're back, Skye. They need you."
The simple statement catches me off guard, and I have to swallow past the sudden lump in my throat. "Thanks, Vanna."
Vanna shoos all of us toward the door. "Go on, get out of here. I've got this."
