Page 151 of Mountain Daddy

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Joe lowers himself into the seat and lifts his coffee to his mouth, then pauses like he remembers it’s hot.

“Rocky.” He sets his coffee down. “Are you trying to seduce my daughter?”

I blink.

If he’d used any other word, I probably would have given myself away. Butseduce?

I shake my head with a snort. “Seduce? What century is it? Are you ill?”

His shoulders slump, and he heaves out this breath. “Sorry, I… It just looked like—” Joe drags a hand down his face.

And I swallow down more guilt. “Long day?” I ask to change the topic.

Joe drops his hand and lifts his coffee again.

Then he tells me about a mess-up on an order at his shop.

He tells me because I’m his friend and because he took my response as a no.

But I was shaking my headat him, not in answer to his question.

If he asked me the right question. If he looked me in the eye and asked me if I’d slept with his daughter.

I’d tell him.

I’d admit to everything.

I’d tell him I was falling for her.

Tell him I’ve already fallen.

If he was anyone other than her father, I’d talk to him.

I’d ask him what to do.

I’d ask him if it was worth risking my friendship for the possibility of something good.

I’d ask him if he thought I was enough.

If offering myself in exchange for a future with a family was enough.

But he didn’t ask the right question.

So I don’t tell him anything.

Chapter 90

Kendra

I washmy hands twice before using the restroom, then I wash them again after.

The baby was cute enough, but that rattle thing was somehow both slimyandcrusty. And if he tosses it in my path again, I will step around it and keep walking.

I pause at the door, not yet able to step out just yet.

When I was trapped in Luther’s bedroom that night Ashley came home early, he said our luck was cursed.

And I think it must be.

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