Page 38 of Mountain Daddy

---

“What’s for lunch?” I fold my arms like it’s a negotiation.

Dad mimics my position. “Hot dogs and mac and cheese.”

“Powder or sauce?”

He scoffs. “Saucy sauce, obviously.”

I drop my arms. “You have a deal.”

Then I snicker. Because really? Hot dogs and mac and cheese?

“What’s so funny? It’s your favorite meal.”

I’m about to argueYeah, when I was five,but it actually sounds amazing.

“Nothing funny.” I step forward and brace for boxes to fall as I open the rear door.

Chapter 16

Luther

Jessie’s elbowbumps against mine as she makes a drink unnecessarily close to me. For the third time tonight.

I finally turn to her. “What?”

She lifts her brows. “Nothing. Right, Diego?”

I look over my shoulder, finding our cook leaning against the wall next to the kitchen door.

He holds his hands up. “We don’t got any questions, boss. None about that pretty girl you were cozied up with.”

Jessie nods. “Definitely no questions about how you two disappeared at the same time.”

“Or how your truck was still here when we closed down…” Diego shakes his head. “No questions.”

I release a long sigh. “When you’re not being dumb, you two are smart. I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Jessie hands the drink to a guy across the bar, then crosses her arms. “We get the basics. But we want to know details.”

I make a face at her. “Ew.”

Diego snickers.

“Not like that. Come on, that’s gross.” Jessie pulls the towel from her apron and tries to snap me with it, but I jump out of range.

“You started it,” I say, super maturely.

There’s a pause, then Jessie throws her hands up. “Well?”

“Well, what?” I throw my own hands up, mirroring her position.

“Well, did you get her number? Is she still here? Are you going to see her again?” My sister pesters me.

“She was real pretty.” Diego helpfully reminds me.

I glare at him.

He mimes zipping his lips.

---