Page 187 of Mountain Daddy
“Hungry.” Jessie hooks her arm in mine and gestures to the guys. “We’re getting in line.”
She starts to pull me away. I let her. And I think I might love her.
“Jeez, hold your horses.” Dad huffs, then says something I can’t hear to Luther.
Jessie talks at me for the first few minutes, filling my silence as we ignore the men behind us. But then Dad asks Jessie something, and she turns around.
The line is slowly shuffling ahead, but I feel conspicuous facing forward while the rest of my group stands facing each other.
Clenching my jaw, I turn around.
And he’s right there.
Was standing directly behind me.
His thick chest is covered in soft gray flannel. And I force myself not to notice that, once again, we practically dressed in matching outfits.
At least with our height difference, I don’t have to look into his eyes. I can stare at his chest. His biceps.
My gaze dips to where his sleeves are rolled up, leaving his tanned forearms bare.
I look away.
I shuffle with the line.
I make sounds of agreement so Dad and Jessie think I’m listening.
And I continue to avoid eye contact with Luther.
Jessie distracts my dad the whole way through the line, and I think she might be my new favorite person.
I didn’t ask her outright when we were at the Inn, but she knows.
And this confirms it.
“We’re up.” Dad shoves at my shoulder, turning me to face the food tables.
And the firefighters.
There are two tables. One serving up the freshly fried fish. The other dishing out French fries.
At the close end of the first table is a stack of trays.
I pick up the top one and hold it out toward the very attractive firefighter behind the first table.
“Evening, miss.” He grins.
“Good evening,” I reply, way too fucking formally. “May I have some fish?”
His grin grows. “You may.” He uses a pair of metal tongs to place three long pieces of the battered and fried fish on my tray. “Thanks for the support.”
“Thanks for the, uh, service.”Oh my god, what is wrong with me?“And the food.”
I nod to my tray, then shift down to the next table.
This firefighter is super friendly, just as attractive, but less my type.
“Hey, hon.” She greets me with a smile.
