Page 96 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

She blinked up at me, brows drawn as if she was expecting the sky to fall. “Okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

Tension cracked through her then, disbelief and relief warring on her face. “You’re not mad?”

“Why the hell would I be mad?” I cupped her cheek gently. “You’re scared. You’ve been dealing with this alone. That’s what I’m upset about. You should’ve told me sooner.”

“I didn’t know how. I still don’t.”

“You don’t have to know. We’ll figure it out.”

Her eyes welled again, lips parting. It seemed as if she wanted to believe me, but couldn’t quite trust it.

“I need to keep it quiet for now,” she said. “Please. Just between us.”

I nodded, not even hesitating. “Your call. Whatever you need. But Garrett and Asher…”

“Give me time. I need to wrap my own head around it first. I need to decide what I’m going to do.”

Her shoulders eased. A breath left her chest, almost a sob, and then her lips brushed mine, almost a question, one she didn’t dare say out loud. And damn, I answered it with everything I had.

I kissed her back, slow and steady, my hand coming up to cradle the side of her face, thumb brushing just beneath her eye where the cold had turned her skin pink.

Her lips trembled against mine, uncertain and aching, and it undid me.

She clutched at my shirt as if it was the only thing keeping her tethered to the ground, her fingers fisting in the fabric with a desperation that split something wide open in my chest.

I tasted salt on her lips. Her tears were trying to let me know that she was scared and had been alone for far too long.

Well, I wasn’t going to let her go.

Not now.

Not ever.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Riley

Lucy hadthat look in her eye.

The one that saidthis isn’t just a date, it’s a thing.The kind ofthingthat made her cheeks glow and her voice go all breathless when she tried to act casual.

She was wearing one of my sweaters, the soft oatmeal one that hung off one shoulder, and she’d braided her hair with these tiny, gold rings woven in.

She lookedbeautiful.

“Nate’s picking me up in ten,” she said, hovering in front of the mirror like she might change her mind about the braid, the sweater, the entire outfit.

“You look amazing,” I told her honestly. “Stop fussing.”

Her eyes met mine in the glass. “You sure? You’re okay with me going?”

“Lucy.” I laughed under my breath. “Go make questionable life choices with that gorgeous fireman. I’m all for it.”

“And you don’t need me?”

“I think I can cope for one night.”

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