“Jake seemed happy today,” Hannah says as I use my hip to bump open the door of our apartment. I stroll in and kick off my heels, immediately stretching my toes out to their widest, unsexiest stretch and padding around in what I call “Hobbit Style.”

“That’s because we’ve decided to not hide our relationship,” I announce cheerfully, walking to the kitchen, rooting around for that bottle of herbal tea I put in the fridge this morning. It always helps before I start my vocal exercises.

“What?” Hannah says, kicking off her shoes. She must have really put some oomph into her left leg, because I turn to watch as her heel lands dangerously close to Mr. Felix, but an instant later, he’s safely under the couch with his tail hanging out under the end. Hannah, however, is staring at me in shock. “What the fuck?” she asks, placing her hands on hips. “You have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.”

I flip the cap on my tea, taking a deep swig and swirling it around my mouth before answering. “What? You had to know that I was still seeing him. After all this time, the number of times I was at the club late, all that.”

Hannah rolls her eyes. “I figured. I just didn’t want to argue with you over it. I hope it doesn’t cause a problem at the office.”

“Whatever happens, happens. It’s not like we’re gonna start screwing on his desk in his office during work hours,” I say, though thinking about it, that would be fucking hot.

“Mmmhmmm,” Hannah says, unconvinced. “I notice you added in ‘during work hours’.”

“Seriously. I just mean we’re not going to deny it if anyone asks. We don’t care who sees us.”

Hannah gives me a look. “I can smell the hormones from here. You‘d better get a grip on them.”

“Look, it’s more than just great sex. I really care about him. He’s the first guy in a long time who’s made me feel this way. He’s more than just a big wallet with a big dick. I give zero fucks that he’s my boss.”

She gives me a neutral look. “You don’t have to convince me. I have your back no matter what. I’m just looking out for—” she says before she suddenly jumps up, looking panicked when her phone buzzes. “Oh, shit! I’ve gotta go.”

I frown, confused. “Huh?”

Hannah doesn't respond, snatching up her purse and jamming her feet into the Nikes she keeps next to the front door. She yanks open the door, and I’m still confused. “Hannah!”

Before I can move, she rushes out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her. “The fuck was wrong with her?” I mutter in puzzlement. The way she looked at her phone and rushed off was bizarre. I look over at Mr. Felix, who’s just starting to emerge from under the couch. “You got any ideas?”

He gives me a look. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Face it, Felix, be glad you’re a cat because bitches be crazy.”

I finish off my tea and rinse out the bottle. I’m just putting it in the rack when there’s a pounding on the door. I wipe my hands off. It must be Hannah. She must have forgotten something.

“What did you forget, your pocket rocket?” I ask, about to grill her on her odd behavior, swinging open the door. It’s not Hannah, and my breath catches in my throat. There, standing in his suit, looking hot as hell with a happy smirk on his face, is Jake.

“What are you doing here?” I rasp. Never mind the fact that I was thinking about dropping by the club to see him so we could roll around a little bit in the back. It’s the first time he’s come to my place unannounced. I guess I should expect more things like this since we’re officially ‘out’, but I just wasn’t expecting it after Hannah’s weirdness.

“I brought this for you,” he says, “Caymus Special Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a very special wine for a very special person.”

I take the bottle from his hand, looking at it. I know the winery. My stepfather has some, and I’m shocked that Jake just dropped a few hundred dollars for a bottle of wine. “Thank you, but what’s the occasion?”

Jake grins silently for a moment, drawing it out. Just when he’s starting to really get me anxious, his handsome face breaks off into a huge grin. He steps in and grabs me in a big hug, swinging me around before setting me down. “That record executive is coming to see your show in two weeks. How’s that for an occasion?”

I gawk, nearly dropping the bottle of wine between my shock and the huge hug. “You’re shitting me!”

Jake shakes his head, stepping inside and closing my front door behind him. “Nope, just came from the club where Nathan told me face to face.”

I manage to set the bottle down, glad that Hannah and I have a table next to our front door, before I let out a squeal of happiness and jump into Jake’s arms, kissing him hungrily. “You amazing, wonderful fucking man! You did this for me!”

Jake kisses me back. His tongue is hot in my mouth as we stumble toward the couch. I can hear Mr. Felix run out. I guess he knows what’s going to happen, but I don’t care. Jake picks me up in his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist.

“No, you did this all yourself,” he says as his hand cups my ass and squeezes. His fingers slide lower, and I can feel the tip of his middle finger sliding lower and lower. “You have the talent and the heart. I only gave you the canvas to paint your masterpiece on.”

“You’re a poet yourself,” I smirk, gasping when his finger comes to rest on the edge of my pussy. “Mmm . . . and your canvas is my body.”

“My Angel,” Jake growls, sitting down on the couch, letting me straddle his lap. I can feel the bulge of his cock pressing into me through his suit pants, and I can’t take it anymore.

“I fucking want you,” I snarl, yanking his tie down and ripping his shirt open. “Now!”

I’m torn between trying to get his pants open and the hungry, passionate kisses we’re exchanging, but my body is burning, needing him. I don’t know where the fuck Hannah went, but right now, I don’t care if she walks in while I’m impaled on Jake’s cock!

“Come on,” I growl in frustration, fumbling with his belt buckle. “Get them the fuck off!”

Jake chuckles, grabbing my wrists before I rip his pants open. “Damn, you’re acting even more cock hungry than the night we first met.”

I growl demonically, staring into his eyes. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Your Angel’s gone. Just a cock hungry devilslut is left.”

“Bring it the fuck on!” Jake moans into my lips, his hands getting his belt open and his pants undone. I can see it in his eyes. Tonight, I’m going to get exactly what I want, when I want it, and oh, my God, what I need is—

Bang! The front door to the apartment flies open just as I wrap my fingers around Jake’s cock through his boxers, about to pull it out.

“Good lord, I ain't seen something like that since Johnny came back from Vietnam and we got to get down and busy for the first time in a year,” a familiar voice says. I jerk my head up to see my grandmother, Ivy Jo, smirking. “You could club a baby seal with that thing!”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the chest. I can hear Mindy’s unmistakable voice calling out, “Grandma, cover your eyes!”

Jake jumps off the couch and pulls his pants up. I rise to my feet in shock, my eyes going wide with recognition at the women in front of me and the barking dog at their feet.

“Mama?” I whisper in horror. “What are you doing here?”

* * *

“Layla and Rita couldn't be here,” Mom says, sitting on the couch and gesturing at me, “but they send their regards.”

I nod, still half numb. I'm not thrilled that my cousin and aunt didn’t come, especially Aunt Rita, but I’ll live. If I can live through my grandmother seeing me about to yank my boyfriend’s boxers off, Rita not being here is small potatoes.

I'm just glad to see Brianna, Mom, Mindy, and Grandma all in the same place. All four women are seated on the couch wearing pleasant expressions with the exception of grandma, who is scowling murderously at Bertha, my mom’s dog. She takes her everywhere, it seems. “That’s okay, I’m sure I’ll see them,” I begin to say when furious barking and yowling interrupts me. “Shit.”

“Why the hell did we bring that furball with us, Mary Jo?” Grandma complains to my mom while Bertha chases Mr. Felix around the room. Hannah is doing her best to separate the two, but she’s giving Bertha looks that says she agrees. “We didn’t even bring the grandbabies out of the hotel room, but you bring the dog.” She rises to her feet, brandishing her wooden cane as a weapon. “I swear, I’m gonna crucify that ball of fur!”

“I’ve already told you a million times,” Mom says pleadingly. “Leah needed her sleep and the sitter didn’t want Bertha to disturb her and Rafe.”

“That’s why you should have left her at home!” Grandma growls. Instantly, her expression changes like someone flipped a switch. “Bah gawd, that cat’s beautiful. What’s his name? Reminds me of my precious Esmeralda.”

“Mr. Felix,” Hannah supplies before I can answer. She suspiciously had come back with my family and is now standing off to the side watching us, having given up trying to chase Felix and Bertha around. Felix has had enough of the canine, and he turns on her, giving her one good swipe before he jumps on top of his play tower. Grandma is entertained, at least. “Go on, Mr. Felix, box that hoe!”

“Grandma” I say with a gasp, shocked by her words. “Where’d you learn to talk like that?”

Grandma doesn’t turn her head away from the soon to emerge Animal Planet smackdown, but she at least gives me an answer. “I’m on Instagram.”

“Which reminds me,” Mindy says wryly, keeping her voice low enough that Grandma can’t hear. “I need to take her phone from her. She’s been putting up pictures she has no idea that she’s putting on there. I’m scared she’s gonna end up with a picture of her bags. And not the grocery store kind either.” Dressed in shorts and a floral shirt, Mindy looks like she’s ready to step onto a plane for summer vacation in Hawaii, but most of all, she looks happy.

“Get ‘em, Mr. Felix!” Grandma crows, cheering them on with her cane in her hand. “WORLDSTAR! WORLDSTAR!”

“Worldstar? What the hell?” I ask.

Mindy facepalms. “Oh, God, yes. She’s on YouTube watching those damn videos, too.”

“Damn, she’s like a ninja with that cane,” Jake remarks with a chuckle, and I have to give him an apologetic sorry, my family is crazy look. He gives me a small shake of his head, and I feel myself relax just a fraction. After what they walked in on, maybe we needed this to ease the tension.

“Mama, sit down!” Mom pleads. “You’re embarrassing Roxy in front of her friends!”

“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” Hannah says with a laugh. “This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks. And it explains so much about Roxy.”

Mr. Felix lets loose a yowl that comes from the depths of his saber-toothed ancestors, and Bertha whines a little, backing up. “Hannah, please get him! I don’t want to have Bertha going to the vet.”

Muttering under her breath, Hannah walks over and grabs Mr. Felix and disappears down the hall. I hear the door shut, and Hannah comes back out, minus Felix.

Now that the commotion has died down, Grandma’s eyes fall on Jake. “So who’s this handsome young man?”

“Ladies, this is Jake Stone,” I say, blushing but still proud. “My boyfriend.” It feels good to be able to call him that. Glancing at Jake, I can see he feels the same way. “Jake, this is my mom, Mary Jo, my sister, Mindy, her best friend, Brianna, and my Grandmother, Ivy Jo.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Jake says. Getting up, he crosses over and shakes hands with each of them, giving Grandma one of his heart-melting smiles. “I see where Roxy gets both her sassiness and her beauty from. Did she get her voice from you too?”

“My daughters sure know how to pick ‘em,” Mom says proudly as Grandma giggles, of all things. “Handsome and a bit of roguish charm too.”

“So Jake, what do you do?” Brianna asks. Like Mindy, she’s added some weight, but it looks good on her also. I’ve only met her a few times, but she and my sister are practically inseparable these days.

“I’m the Regional President at Franklin Consolidated,” Jake says. “The corporation I work for absorbed it.”

“He’s Roxy’s boss,” Hannah adds.

“Hannah!” I protest, but Hannah gives me a look that says suck it up, buttercup. She’s right.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, honey,” Grandma says. “Getting down with the boss has been going on since . . . well, long before my time. And I went to school with Abe Lincoln.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Please forgive her,” I plead to Jake. “She probably hasn’t taken her meds yet.”

“I heard that,” Grandma growls.

We all pretend we don’t notice Grandma as each of the women takes turns asking Jake questions. They ask him what his favorite color is, his favorite food, even what movies he likes to watch. I start to feel warm sitting next to him, and I’m not even the one in the hot seat.

To Jake’s credit, he’s the consummate gentleman, answering each question with patience and a pleasant smile on his face.

Mindy is in midst of a particularly tricky question when Hannah interrupts. “Uh, excuse me. I don’t mean to be rude, but Jake, would you like to give these ladies’ husbands a tour of the Club? Gavin, Oliver, and John are waiting at the Pancake House just down the street from Jasmine,” says Hannah innocently. “They said they were hungry.”

I look at her suspiciously, remembering how she ran out. “You were in on this!”

Hannah manages to look guilty but doesn't say anything.

Jake chuckles. “I’ll be fine. I’ll meet up with them and let you guys play catch-up.”

I cross my arms and scowl. I know what this is. They're gonna interrogate Jake.

“Don’t let them intimidate you,” I tell him in his ear. “Gavin’s huge, but he’s actually a nice guy.”

“Are you kidding?” he says with a smirk. “I was born in the jungle. I can handle myself. It was nice meeting you ladies. I’m sure I’ll see you again?”

“You sure will,” Mindy says. “We’ve got nowhere to go, and if we do, I’m going to be back.”

When he’s gone, I place my hands on my hips and scowl at everyone.

“Now, which one of you is going to tell me just what the hell you were thinking, surprising me like this?”