Harlow’s mouth, skin, and that honeyed sweet spot between her thighs all happen to hold the taste of fresh strawberries. Damn lucky for me since I can’t seem to get enough of my favorite summer fruit.

“Yes,” I pant as I thrust deep inside of her over and over.

“Yes.” She claws her nails down my back and makes it hurt just a little.

“Fuck,” I hiss into her ear before riding back over her. “Low.” I grip her by the wrists and press in hard as my entire body trembles to completion. I’m panting so hard there’s no hope of ever catching my breath, but I’ve never felt so damn good in all my life. I couldn’t care less if I weren’t breathing at all.

I know for a fact she didn’t get there, so I glide down her damp body and bury my mouth over that sweet spot that left me wanting more. I suck, pull, and tug less than a minute before she grips me by the temples and lets me know I’m headed in the right direction.

“Oh, shit.” Her knee bounces over the back of my neck, and I look up and meet with her eyes, a dull smile already morphing on my lips.

“It’s Boobear to you.” A deep laugh thunders in my chest, but I won’t give it. Instead, I take her home, love her with my mouth the way my perverted mind has already done a thousand times since she walked through those doors at The Pelican.

A horrific roar emits from her, followed by the violent bucking of her body, then finally the headlock that assures me we’ve successfully rounded out the bases.

Low hikes up on her elbows and looks down at me with those sexy as hell sleepy eyes. “Oh, Boobear”—she bubbles with a laugh right into my ear—“job well done. I’ll have the power tools on the lawn by morning.”

I chuckle right along with her while pulling her in close to me. “I’m pretty sure the neighbors won’t know what to make of them.”

“You’re right. The Hills have always been a little uptight.” She winces. “And so was I earlier. Forgive me?”

“Only if you forgive me.” I take a playful bite out of her earlobe. “Let’s just call it a draw. Besides, I like you feisty.”

“Good thing, because I like you grumpy.”

I pull back to get a better look at her. “I’m not grumpy. Am I grumpy? Hell, I’m grumpy.”

She tousles my hair and rolls onto me, her sugary sweet tits weigh heavy on my chest. “You’re grumpy as hell, and I love it.” She makes a face. “So, now what? How are we ever going to keep this a secret?”

“We’re no secret. Not to my mother or my brother anyway.”

“Or your ex or my sister. Hey!” She wiggles her hips over my dick, and it starts to rouse lazily. “The only person who doesn’t know we’re a thing is that stark Raven mad bestie of mine.”

“I see what you did there. And I happen to agree with you.” I give her a light tap over the bottom, and her mouth drops open.

“What’s this?” She lands a heated kiss over my lips. “Corporal punishment at its finest? I do approve by the way.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s all you’re getting out of me. I prefer to shower my affection over you in far more creative ways.”

Low slides down and rests her head over my chest. “Thank you.”

“For not administering a spanking?”

“For loving me.” She gives my chest a gentle scratch with the tip of her nails, and it feels like bliss.

“Believe me, I’m the one who should be shouting out a thank you.” I rub her back before pulling the comforter over her. “Thank you for loving me, Low. Thank you for healing me.” Low has healed me, breathed new life into that carcass I’ve been dragging around, and it’s about time she knows it.

“Anytime, Boobear.” She lands a wet kiss to my chest. “You know, I can fall asleep just listening to the beat of your heart.” And she does just that.

I hold her all night long, dropping kisses over her head whenever I wake up from my own slumber. A year ago, I was in hell with the last person I wanted to be involved with. I never thought I’d love again. I never knew what love was until Low came along.

I realize Raven will have a tough time getting over this, but that’s exactly what she’ll have to do.

Get over it.

* * *

The Sloppy Pelican isn’t exactly brimming with bodies at what is traditionally known as the dinner rush. Brody has a couple of bands battling it out tonight, and the customers that are present get a chance to vote.

My phone buzzes, and it’s a text from my favorite baby sister.

I miss you! And I hate that you’ve moved on without my approval. How is the little slut, anyway? Are you still hot and heavy? My God, what if she’s another immature brat?

My heart breaks knowing that Raven feels as if she’s missing out. I don’t see why I need to torment her with my fictional relationship with Evie Slater, so I decide to officially break things off with her—as far as Raven’s concerned anyhow and have a little fun with it in the process.

Yup. You’re right. She’s an immature brat. A real hurricane in the flesh, too. The girl destroys everything she touches. I can’t wait to get her out of my life, but you know me, I’m too nice to do it. I might just let her use me a few more nights before kicking her to the curb. I never did have good radar for women. Until I met Low, I want to add but don’t, but, of course, I can’t.

She wastes no time in texting right back. OH MY GAWD! I’m going to find the skank and kill her!

I can’t help but laugh. Okay, so maybe I had a little too much fun with my baby sister. Not necessary. How about you fix me up with someone nice and sweet? Anyone you know who fits that bill? I’m hoping she’ll say Low, and that might soften the blow when the relationship news finally hits the fan.

NO. Stay away from anyone who might remotely know me. Sorry about your broken heart, big bro. I love you so much it hurts.

I stare at her text a good long while until I’m hurting, too. I’m not sure why I can’t bring myself to tell her how I feel about Harlow. But deep down, it’s because I’d rather do it in person. Low is special. We’re special. If Raven hears it from me firsthand, I know she’ll more than approve.

Love you, too, little sis. I hit Send and head over to where Low and Brody are listening to the band scream it out.

Axel shakes his head at the lead singer of the Daft Exchange. “We’re not the Black Bear. I don’t think this is a good idea at all.”

Low sucks in a breath, and I can tell she’s getting ready to tell him where to go. “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. We are the Black Bear—but better. I bet you every person in this place tonight has visited that college bar crawling with coeds, and I bet you every person in this place was wishing there was someplace just like the Black Bear—sans the drunk sorority girls and wasted frat brats. And that’s where you come in, my friend.” She slaps her hand down over his shoulder as the two of them nod their heads in time to the rhythm. “You save the masses from ever having to inadvertently sit through another sorority-frat mixer again. In fact, the night before I showed up here pretending to be your ex, I went to the Black Bear myself in hopes of finding a good time, and the only thing I found was a petri dish of shiny new sexually transmitted diseases cooking away.”

I blink over at her, and she winks back.

“Imagine my surprise when I showed up at The Sloppy Pelican, the new, swanky, rustic, atmosphere to die for, hot spot in Hollow Brook, only to have a real man greet me at the door.”

A dull laugh pumps through me. “I did do that, didn’t I?”

“You sure as hellfire did.” She swims over to the beat of the song, and her arms find a home around my waist.

Axel looks to the side as if he were playing back the conversation. “How did you know she was my ex?”

Low’s pretty pink lips fall open, and she gives a panicked look from me to him. “You know, I’d better make sure Brody is hitting those recipes I gave him just right.” She takes off for the kitchen. Tonight’s the night the staff is going to try out the new menu offerings that Low built up from scratch. I’ve already sampled each and every one as Low and I worked side by side in the kitchen all week—when we were taking breaks from working side by side in the bedroom.

Axel steps in next to me, that look of worry on his forehead lets me know this is bugging the crap out him. “Did you tell her Lex was my ex?”

“Lex the ex? Has a ring to it.” I can’t help but chuckle. “Nope, wasn’t me,” I say, looking up at the band as the girls near the front get worked up in a frenzy.

Ax steps in my line of vision. His eyes are set on mine with that serious as shit look on his face that can only mean one thing. He’s still into her.

“Then how did she know? Are they friends?”

“Not that I know of. I haven’t heard Low mention her. Dude.” I pinch my eyes shut a moment. Axel and his inability to carry out a commitment with a girl has always made me wonder what makes him tick. “Is this girl the reason that no other chick can stick? Have you been holding a torch for this Lex person this entire time?”

“What?” He takes a deep breath as he rocks back on his heels. “No. It’s not like that. We dated in college—undergraduate before I met you. It’s ancient history. It’s just—” He shakes his head because he can’t find the right words.

“You realize she’s coming back in a week.”

He snaps his head my way, that look of morbid surprise right back on his face again. “A week, huh?”

“Yes, next Friday—the thirteenth.” I happen to remember the date because when we set the appointment up with Food Crack Nation it struck me that maybe rebooting what amounts to my life’s work on that particular day might not be the best idea. But the date was immovable. The next available opening was a month from now, and The Sloppy Pelican needs a vital financial infusion far faster than that.

Ax is slow to say a word. He gives a nod to the band as if considering it. “I’ll be here.”

“Since she’s your ex, maybe you should call her up first—mend a few bridges.” The thought of some vindictive ex holding my financial future in her hands doesn’t sit well with me.

“No can do.” Axel is quick to dismiss it. He slaps his hand over my shoulder as we make our way back to the kitchen, and he doesn’t bother bringing up his ex anymore.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I head over to Low and wrap my arms around her as the staff gathers in the kitchen for the first official sampling.

“What will be fine?” She blinks up at me. “I know you’re not talking about the new and improved menu because that will be great.”

“Your menu is great. It’s his ex.” I nod over to him, and he glowers my way for even whispering about it.

“Oh, hon”—Low giggles under her breath—“that won’t be fine for a good long while.” It sounds as if maybe Low does know something I don’t.

The food sampling gets underway as the employees moan with approval as soon as they take a bite out of each and every dish. Low has put her mark on this place, just like she put her mark on my heart.

Low might have her secrets regarding Axel’s ex, but unfortunately, I’ve got a few of my own. Not sure why I haven’t told her yet. I guess everything will come out in due time. I just hope by then it won’t be too late.