Then Grizzly came. He was in my class but was three times my size and kicked their asses. He helped me to my feet and he changed my life from that moment on. He and his parents took me in, cared for me, fed me, clothed me, and he protected me until I could protect myself.
So yeah, my hesitance to blurt out that I want to date his daughter is hard because while I know she’s worth the risk, it doesn’t mean I don’t realize what I’d be risking.
“Harlow, you want to go get ready?” Grizzly asks her.
“Why?” She takes a seat at the kitchen table and cocks her head which has her messy bun shift to the left. “If he doesn’t like me at my worst, then why the hell does he deserve me at my best?”
He won’t be liking her anyway. He won’t be getting near her.
“Talk some sense into her while I’m gone, would you?” Grizzly asks, setting down his coffee cup.
Bane snorts and Alto throws a protective arm around Harlow’s shoulders so it looks innocent enough. “You know once she’s set her mind to something, she’s stubborn as a mule.”
“Don’t know who she got that from,” Grizzly grumbles.
“Really?” I ask him, not bothering to hide my humor. “You don’t? Not even a little?”
“Fuck off.” Grizzly gives me the middle finger as he walks out of the kitchen and to the front door.
When he’s out of sight, I dive for Harlow, wrapping an arm around her waist and slanting my mouth against hers. Before she can push me away, I’m guiding her to Alto, who swoops in for a quick, passionate kiss. When he’s done, he pushes her against Bane, who takes her mouth in an aggressive, owning kiss.
All this happens in less than thirty seconds—a good kiss is always longer than that but we don’t have that kind of time.
Harlow is flushed and her lips are wet. There is a second of vulnerability and I use it to my advantage.
“You’re ours, Harlow. Don’t think for one fucking second he’ll be able to give you what we can. He’s only one man and you know you’ll need all three of us just to keep you sated,” I dare to say, but she’s so damn stubborn and strong-willed, she’ll never admit to needing the three of us.
She tilts her chin up and straightens her spine, the moment of vulnerability gone. “I choose what I need. Not you.”
Harlow pushes by us and I snag her by the wrist. “Sweetness, you’ve already chosen.” I let her go when I hear the heavy steps of boots again.
“At least I won’t be a dirty little secret,” she whispers, a knife digging into my chest. Harlow takes a seat at the kitchen table and sips her coffee, frowning at it.
“What’s wrong, sugarplum?” Grizzly asks.
“Nothing. My coffee is cold.”
“That’s okay.” A voice I’ve never heard before enters the kitchen and he steps around Grizzly.
This guy is as tall as Grizzly, but leaner. He’s wearing his MC’s cut and the patch says Vice President. Under it is his name.
Grim.
Well, that’s just fucking awesome.
“Grim. This is my daughter, Harlow. And this asshole is Alto, my VP. Colt is the Road Captain and Bane is my Sergeant at Arms.”
He shakes all of our hands, grinning. “Hey, how are you doing?” Grim’s handshake is firm, too firm, and I grip it just as hard.
“Good. Travel okay?” I bite out, trying to sound as welcoming as possible.
“It was great.” He turns to Harlow, who’s taking her mug out of the microwave. “Why don’t you put that down, Harlow? I’d love to take you out for coffee, get to know you more.”
Grizzly grins and it rubs me the wrong way.
“You waste no time, do you?”
Alto slams his elbow against my side and Grizzly squints his eyes at me.