Page 99 of Sunshine
My eyes widen. On the counter is a stack of books, all with the same cover, a hot, bare-chested man with a motorcycle between his thick thighs and the words,The Biker Next Door, by Tess Harlow writing as Tessa Callen.
“It’s officially on the New York Times Bestsellers list too.” Paige squeals as she picks one of the pretty books up and holds it to face me.
“Already?”
“Preorders were through the roof.”
Case scoffs. “Looks nothing like me.” He takes the book and looks closer. “That’s Lady though.” His eyes fly to Paige’s and then Mack’s, an uncharacteristic scowl on his face.
“Just a replica buddy, a replica and some photoshop,” Mack says, his face also uncharacteristically grinning.
I laugh, a little dumbfounded and tug my biker closer to me.
“Your publisher wants you back, by the way.” Paige gets a knife from the drawer and my eyes land on a cake tucked in the middle of the stack of books. It’s one of those picture cakes, and on it is the cover ofThe Biker Next Door.
“They dropped me the second they got the third book. You’re kidding.”
“I know. And nope, no kidding here. But, of course, since you passed all this stuff onto me so you could concentrate on just writing and your family,” she pauses to ruffle Reece’s curls, “I told them to stuff their offer. Because you’re back on top, baby!”
“Right where she belongs,” Case says and then in a whisper adds, “except in the bedroom.”
I whisper, “Or in the kitchen, the laundry room, the beach, the trailer, the porch?—”
He kisses me, stopping my words.
“Okay, okay, you two. Let’s cut this cake so you can be alone to celebrate. We’ve got a date to watch Disney while eating pizza, caramel corn and cheese puffs at my place.”
“Yeah, Daddy, let Tessie cut her cake. I’m famished.”
“Could you eat a horse?”
“No, she’s so hungry she could eat an elephant.”
“I’m peckish.”
“Is your tummy rumbling like thunder?”
“Are you starvin’ like Marvin?”
Mack groans. “Just cut the cake.” He scoops Reece up and tickles her. I watch, as she twists and giggles in his powerful arms, wondering how come I never noticed how much he and I have in common. He’s demanding, used to getting his way, fights for what he wants, and is more than a tad bit grumpy, but he loves hard and is as loyal as they come. And isn’t that all that matters?
I look at Case. Hm. Maybe Mack broke him in for me because he’s been a saint to put up with all my shenanigans.
“I love you, Case Callen.”
“And I love you, Tessa Harlow.”
“And I love you both,” Reece says, still out of breath.
Later, when we’re finally alone, Case flips me over his shoulder again. This time I can both feel and see the rise as we ascend the stairs.
“Showing me the laundry room?” I query cheekily.
“Yeah, the new washer has an amazing spin cycle.” He scoffs.
Setting me on my feet, he spins me around.
“Oh.”
