number and we load up on five pies, no thanks to some last-minute indecisiveness.
We climb into the truck and laugh all the way home at our culinary haul. Harper and I unload the groceries in less than three trips. She lines the pies up along the island while I set out our edible treasures for us to inspect.
“Where do we start?” I ask as I step back beside her.
“How about we throw a pizza into the oven, and while that’s cooking, we enjoy some caviar and sparkling water?”
A smile twitches on my lips. Harper Shelton has a body that looks like it was designed by Ferrari and a mind that perfectly meshes with my own. If I didn’t know better, I’d say fate just threw me the ideal woman.
“Sounds like the perfect start to the perfect evening.” We put away the rest of the groceries and I pull out a couple of champagne flutes Trixie gave me.
“I’ll grab the cheese and crackers—the caviar, of course.”
“I’ve got the fake bubbly.” I hold up the green bottle and glasses as we head over to the sofa. I flip on the TV, not really paying attention to where it lands, and both Harper and I sit so close our legs are touching.
“You do this often?” She hands me the caviar, and I pop it open before pouring us each a glass full of sparkling goodness.
“Only on days that end in Y.” I touch my glass to hers, and the sound of the crystal chiming makes Fish look up from his slumber.
“You wish.” She hands me a cracker, and we both dip into the tiny reserve of sturgeon eggs. “On three.” Her lips part, revealing that glossy pink tongue of hers, and my mouth waters on cue. “Three.”
We pop the crackers into our mouths at once, and I savor the feel of the caviar detonating onto my tongue.
“I love it when it pops like that,” I grunt with approval. “So, where’d you grow up? You a Bel Terra girl?” If she is, I haven’t seen her around.
“Nope. Hollow Meadows.” She wrinkles her nose as if she disapproved of her upright, uptight upbringing. “Boarding school whole nine years. I’m still close to my sister and brother, though. Harley will be at Briggs next year, and Henry’s finished his graduate work. He’s not exactly able to join the workforce, so he’s working on a book—a joke book.” Her cheeks darken as if embarrassed for him. “He’s a great guy. You’d like him. He loves pie.”
“Sounds like we’d get along. So, your mother’s the artist, huh? You mentioned she had her work in a gallery?”
“She couldn’t get in one, so she did the only sensible thing a socialite can do—she bought one.” She shovels in another cracker with a healthy mountain of caviar, and her eyes roll to the ceiling.
My boxers start to knock against my jeans. If Harper keeps having food orgasms, I might be moved to excuse myself to catch a little relief.
She clears her throat before taking a quick sip. “I bet all the cheerleaders are sure glad you’re single. Are they knocking down the door yet?”
“No. They all think I’m in a relationship with you, remember?” I give a sly wink before downing my drink.
“So—at the supermarket you mentioned something about your mom.” Her brows flex with worry. Harper grows quiet and shrugs her shoulders as if she couldn’t get the rest of the question out.
“Oh yeah, it’s fine. I can talk about it. Trix and I were just kids when it happened. We didn’t really understand what was going on. All I knew was that Saturdays were spent at Mom’s new home, a correctional facility a couple hours from where we lived. She essentially took the fall for something my father did with his company. It wasn’t anything either of them could help, but when she got out, they were pretty much done. It was tough, but we powered through it. She remarried last summer to Lawson’s dad.”
“Oh!” Her eyes brighten the color of springtime, and I get caught in their spell a moment. “So that’s the connection, yes.” She flicks off her shoes and brings her feet underneath her. And there she is—spread eagle in those tiny little shorts, and my gaze darts south without meaning to.
“My eyes are up here, honey.” She blinks up at me as I meet with their gaze.
“Sorry.” That I got caught.
“That you got caught.”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, we share a laugh.
“So