Bear laughs. “Just keeping shit real.”

  “And awkward,” I whisper.

  Aunt Fran laughs, patting my stomach. “You’ve had it easy far too long, Carmello. The real test of a man is when he has it hard, and we’re about to see what you’re really made of, baby. Fight the good fight.”

  “Have you two dipped into the wine early today?” I ask her.

  She tips her head back and laughs. “I won’t lie. I’ve had two glasses, but you know I never have a filter even when I’m one hundred percent sober.”

  “I like your mouth most of all, baby,” Bear tells her.

  I somehow hold in the vomit that’s about to crawl up my throat. There’s a difference when it comes to talking about sex with my cousins and the elders of the family. I know they’ve had sex or else none of us would be here, but it’s not something I really let myself soak in or put much thought into because it’s just too much. “I think Arlo needs me outside.”

  “Sure, baby,” Aunt Fran says, finally moving toward her husband. “You go get that girl, and don’t let her go without a fight. Dickmatize her.”

  “Dickmatize. Got it,” I say, walking toward the sliding glass doors, thankful that conversation is over.

  I’ve dickmatized more than a few women over the years. None of them I wanted, but they got a taste and wanted more. But how am I going to dickmatize Arlo without having sex?

  Orgasms. Lots of orgasms.

  16

  “You locked that shit down quick,” Pike says as I sit down at the table on the lanai after dinner. “Quicker than I thought possible.”

  Gigi smiles as her gaze moves to Arlo and Lily huddled together, talking on the other side of the patio. “Even a man as experienced as Carmello can pull his head out of his ass eventually.”

  “Thanks,” I mumble sarcastically, turning a beer bottle in my hand, keeping my gaze pinned on the ladies.

  “I’m proud of you. Today was a big step,” she adds. “You’ve never brought anyone here, so that says a lot about how you feel and your intentions.”

  “We’re new, Gigi. I’m not putting a ring on her finger or anything.”

  “Not soon, at least,” Gigi replies.

  “One family dinner doesn’t mean marriage.”

  “No,” she says, shaking her head. “It doesn’t, but it’s a step in the right direction. You’ve never brought any of your other bimbos here, and I know Arlo and she’s absolutely perfect for you.”

  Tamara rolls her eyes. “Have you found your way into Arlo’s pants yet, Mello?”

  “No,” I snap, lifting the beer to my lips, feeling dirty talking about Arlo without her around. “And it’s none of your business.”

  Tamara sits up straighter with a smile on her lips. “Ooh. I like this side of you. You finally sound like your father.”

  I growl, and Tamara laughs along with Mammoth, Pike, and Gigi. Jett is weirdly quiet, busy typing on his phone.

  “Why are you silent?” I ask him from across the table.

  He shrugs. “I don’t know, man. I really like Arlo and…”

  “You think I’m playing a game?”

  He pushes his sunglasses up on his head, finally giving me his eyes. “I think you are. One taste and you’re going to be out the door so fucking fast, you won’t look back. You’re going to really hurt that girl, and she doesn’t deserve your kind of bullshit.”

  “That’s rich. Is the pot calling the kettle black?”

  His lip snarls. “Lily and I had history, and I wasn’t pretending with your cousin, nor were we forced together. I knew once I crossed that bridge, there was no turning back. Our families were too intertwined for me to walk out of her life. I worry Arlo will want to tell you to fuck off but won’t be able to do it.”

  “She’s had no problem so far,” I reassure him.

  “Do you know about her past? About how she was brought up?”

  I nod. “She told me.”

  “Then you know she’s never had a family like this.” He waves his arms around the lanai and toward the house. “This is something someone like her would always dream of having, and now you’ve shown it to her. Are you trying to reel her in, using what you know about her past against her?”

  I touch my hand to my chest, trying to stop myself from reaching across the table to punch him square in the face. “I’m not using anything against her, asshole. She was going to sit at home by herself today. Should I have just left her instead? I swear to God, it doesn’t matter what I do. You guys will question my motives. If I’d left her, you would’ve called me out for being uncaring.” Those words I say to everyone around the table and not just to Jett. “And by bringing her here, I’m being accused of using my secret family weapon to get in the woman’s panties.”

  “Fair enough,” Mammoth says. “We can’t judge what’s in your heart. We’ve all known Arlo for a while, and we’re looking out for her.”

  “What about me?” I ask.

  Mammoth’s forehead crinkles. “What about you?”

  “Who’s going to look out for me?”

  Everyone laughs.

  “I’m being serious.”

  Pike runs his hand down his face. “Brother, you’re like a rock. No one can crack you.”

  “You all claim to know Arlo so well. You don’t think she has the power to destroy me just as much as I have the ability to ruin her?”

  Mammoth leans back and grabs Tamara’s hand. “I get what you’re saying. I do, man. Tamara could’ve wiped me out if she would’ve left me. Everyone thinks we’re made of granite, but we have the ability to crack too. I believe your intentions are true with Arlo, but I’m telling you right now, you yank that girl’s chain for fun, and I’m going to bust your nose, ruining your pretty face forever.”

  I lift my hands, giving him my palms. “I’m not looking for more than she’s willing to give.”

  “Hey.” Arlo’s voice comes from behind me before her hand lands on my shoulder. “Everything okay?”

  I tip my head back, smiling up at her. “Perfect. You two done?”

  “Yep,” Lily answers for her. “Just a quick girl chat.”

  “Nothing important,” Arlo tells me, moving into the chair next to me. “You okay?”

  “Couldn’t be better,” I reply.

  “You want to come over tonight? We’ll light a fire, have a few drinks, and watch the meteor shower,” Lily asks, but she is looking at Arlo when she speaks. “It’s supposed to be amazing.”

  “I should really work tonight.” Arlo glances my way and smiles. “I was supposed to write all afternoon, but—”

  “Are you on a deadline?” Lily asks before Arlo can finish the statement.

  “Sort of, but I’m always on a deadline.”

  “Maybe another night,” Lily replies, but I can hear the disappointment in her voice.

  “We’ll come,” Gigi tells Lily.

  “Us too,” Tamara adds.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Jo says. “Nick bought a telescope.”

  My gaze moves to my cousin, shocked that he’s that into the stars. “You bought a telescope?”

  He gives me the middle finger. “My girl likes stargazing, and whatever she likes, I’m going to make it happen, even if I have to build her a telescope in the backyard like we’re an extension of NASA.”

  “Weirdo,” I mutter.

  “Arlo, you like looking at the stars?”

  She nods. “There’s a beauty in the celestial heavens. A majesty that can’t be recreated.”

  “Then come,” Lily tells her. “You can write tomorrow.”

  Arlo peers over at me, and I know she’s wanting to hear what my plans are. And just like my cousin Nick, I’d do just about anything she wanted, even if it means staring up at the sky all night. “I’ll go if you’re going to be there.”

  “Another night off isn’t going to kill me. I’ll just have to write twice as much tomorrow.”

  “What are you working on now?” Gigi asks.

  “The side project I’ve been talking to you guys about for a while.”

  It really hits me then that they’ve all been friends for some time, and I never knew it. They hid Arlo from me—rightfully so, too.

  “That’s exciting,” Gigi says. “You’re going to do amazing.”

  “What is it?” I ask, feeling stupid for not knowing.

  “I’m writing a book about a teenager trying to survive the foster care system.”

  “Is it nonfiction?” I ask her, reaching out to cover her hand with mine as it lies flat on her chair’s armrest.

  She shakes her head. “It’s fiction, but there’s a sprinkling of my real life in there. Things I haven’t discussed with anyone, but it’s been almost therapeutic getting it all down on paper.”

  “Can I read it?” I ask, squeezing her fingers.

  “Not yet. It’s not ready.”

  “But when it’s ready…”

  “Maybe.” She smiles. “My agent may say it’s trash, and no one may want to buy it. It may never see the light of day.”

  “That’s harsh. I can’t imagine putting myself out there and getting rejected after all that hard work.”

  Arlo gives me a sad smile. “It’s part of the business. You have to be willing to be turned down a lot, or else you’ll never make it in this industry.”

  “Carmello’s never dealt with much rejection in his life,” Tamara teases.

  “And what rejection have you dealt with, Tam? You were the female version of me.”

  She laughs. “I was, wasn’t I?”

  I nod. “You weren’t an angel, waiting around for your dream man to fall into your lap. How did you meet Mammoth anyway?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

  “I don’t think I ever heard this story,” Arlo says, and I know Tamara can’t skate over the details since Arlo’s asking instead of me.

  “I was at the compound where he lived,” Tamara says.

  Mammoth grunts. “That asshole.”

  “Which asshole?” Arlo asks, looking back and forth between Mammoth and Tamara.

  “I showed up at the biker compound looking for someone else, but he was a total dick and pretended to not want me around.”

  “He was a fool, but thank God, or else maybe you’d be with him and not me.”

  Tamara scrunches her nose. “I wouldn’t have waited around for him while he was inside.”

  “Inside?” Arlo asks, her eyebrows drawn down.

  “He went to prison for a while.”

  Arlo’s eyes widen as soon as those words are out of Tamara’s mouth. “Holy shit,” she whispers.

  Tamara nods. “Anyway, I showed up, he ignored me, told me to turn my ass around and leave, but Morris, who’s a dreamy guy in that scary kind of way, took me in and put Mammoth on me.”

  “No one hit on her, but I was told to babysit her for the night to make sure nothing happened to her. Because there were a lot of horny bastards around, and when her fine piece of ass walked in the door looking all cute, they all noticed. I was supposed to take her home the next day.”

  “You thought I looked cute?” Tamara asks him.

  “Babe, told you that a million times. I knew I was going to get in your pants if you’d let me. No way I was walking away from you without getting a taste.”

  “Dude, that’s my cousin,” Nick tells Mammoth.

  “She’s my wife,” he shoots back.

  “There’s always too much information sharing with this family,” I add.

  Arlo smiles, moving her elbow to the table and her chin to her palm. “Tell me more.”

  “Anyway, we kissed a little the first night.”

  “Wait, I thought you were going home the next day?” Arlo asks, confused.

  “The compound went on lockdown.” Tamara shrugs like it’s no big deal, but it was a very big deal. “And we used our time wisely, keeping ourselves busy in other ways.”

  Mammoth gives his wife a wink, smiling at her like she’s the most beautiful thing in the world. My cousin is beautiful, but she’s feisty as fuck. She truly was the female version of me…wild and free.

  “You have such an interesting story,” Arlo tells Tamara. “You’ve never told me everything, but I knew you met at the compound.”

  “There’s so much more I can tell you,” Tamara offers and leans forward. “But we’ll wait for the next book club.”

  “Wait.” I lift a hand, scooting forward in my seat, keeping my hand on Arlo’s. “Are you all doing book club now? I thought Lily was the only reader.”

  Gigi laughs. “Babe, we mostly drink and gossip, but we do read some spicy books too.”

  “How spicy?” I ask.

  “Freakishly hot. You’d turn fifty shades of red if you read some of the shit they read,” Jett tells me.

  Lily’s head snaps to the side to face her husband. “You read the books?” Her mouth hangs open as she stares at him.

  He nods. “Sometimes I pick them up and read a few pages. It’s enough to get an idea.”

  “You can’t tell much from a few pages.”

  Jett tilts his head, giving her a look. “I can tell a fuck of a lot from a few pages, baby. The shit you ladies read makes all of us look like choirboys.”

  Lily giggles. “It’s fiction, sweetie. If you start acting like the men in the books, I’ll—”

  “What’ll you do?” he challenges her, holding her gaze.

  Arlo giggles softly. “You two are so cute together. You all are. I’m so happy Carmello took pity on me and invited me over today,” she says, smiling at me, making my chest ache in a funny way.

  “You’re welcome back anytime, Arlo,” Lily tells her. “It’s not a one-time deal. Once you’re in, you’re in. Even after Carmello, you’re welcome for dinner.”

  “After me?” I growl. “Who says there’s an after me?”

  Every single person turns their eyes toward me, looking at me like I’ve gone off the deep end.

  “Well, a month sneaks up on you quick,” Lily adds, fishing for details, probably knowing them all already.

  “Don’t play games,” I tell Lily. “You know, don’t you?”

  “Know what?” Gigi asks her, elbowing Lily in the ribs.

  “Mello made it official with Arlo last night after he left the bar.”

  Gigi’s mouth falls open, and there’s an audible gasp from the others at the table.

  “The player is off the market?” Tamara asks me. “I mean, I assumed, but I didn’t know you made it official, official.”

  Arlo squeezes my fingers this time. “We’re exclusive, but we’re going to take things slow,” she tells them.

  “Remember what I told you,” Mammoth says, pointing a finger at me.

  I give him the middle finger.

  “Then you have to come over tonight to celebrate,” Lily says to Arlo, setting it up so there is no way Arlo can turn her down.

  I know it and so does Arlo, but being sweet, she doesn’t call Lily out on her bullshit. “We’ll be there,” she answers for the two of us, something no one has ever done before.

  And I’m oddly okay with it. Suddenly, I’m no longer a me, but a we.

  17

  “Do you want to come in?” Arlo asks when I walk her to her front door, always trying to be a gentleman with her.

  I’d never been into chivalry. I was taught by my parents to have manners, but ninety-nine percent of the chicks I’d been with didn’t give two fucks about any of that as long as they got off.

  But that isn’t Arlo. She wants to be courted, and chivalry is important to her—that much I gathered by listening to her speak to my cousins tonight while we watched the stars.

  I rub the back of my neck, trying to find a reason to say no, but I got nothing. “I really shouldn’t,” I lie, not wanting the evening to end.

  Arlo peers down at her feet and frowns so quick, I almost miss it. “Are you sure?”

  Fuck.

  I know I shouldn’t go in. We’ve already spent more time together in the last few days than I’ve spent with any other woman in my life besides those I am related to. Arlo is becoming an addiction I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to break.

  “You can stay over,” she offers.

  “You want me to stay over?” I repeat, making sure my mind didn’t process something other than what she said.

  Oh yeah. Someone’s getting some action, and that someone is me. I may not slide into home base, but staying over leads to something, and I’m down with whatever small piece of her she is willing to give.

  She looks up, and those green eyes get me every time. “Well, yeah… I mean, you don’t have to, but—”

  I lean forward, my gaze dipping to her mouth. “No. I want to. I want to very much, sugar.”

  “Then come in,” she says, her tongue peeking out as she speaks. “It’s been a great day, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it to be over.”

  My brain should answer, but my dick does instead. “I’ll stay,” I tell her, reaching out and grabbing her hip to guide her inside. “But I’m leaving early because I have to work.”

  “I have to work tomorrow too, remember?”

  I close the door behind me, kicking off my boots like I’ve done it a hundred times before. “No getting pissy with me tomorrow when I’m out of here before daylight. ’Kay?”

  The last thing I need is a repeat of her attitude because I wasn’t there when she woke up.

  She blinks, gawking at me as we stand in the foyer. “Why so early?”

  I smirk, brushing aside a few strands of hair that have fallen over her eyes. “I have to hit the gym, go home and shower, and then head to Inked. I didn’t get this body by lying in bed all day.”

  She swallows, her eyes still trained on mine. “You’re dedicated.”

  “I’m very dedicated when something is important to me.”

  She places a hand on my chest, a small smile on her lips. “Your dedication is paying off.”

  I’ve got her. I knew I had her the moment I took my shirt off at Inked and she didn’t want me to put it back on. She may not be like the other women I’ve been with, but she knows a good thing when she sees it. And my body…is a very good thing.