Free Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love (Biting Love Short Bites Book 4) by Mary Hughes Page A

enough, though.” He grinned, but it faded. “Why is this job so important to you? Is it the money? Because I could always give you—”
    “No.” I cut him off before he could offer me the single thing more intimate than sex—a loan. “It’s not the money. Or not totally.” I sighed. “It’s complicated.”
    “I’m a good listener.” His gaze on me was searching. “Whenever you’re ready.”
    I wanted to tell him. But we’d shared something close—more lovemaking than sex—and I didn’t want to shatter our fragile truce. Until I knew how he’d handle the fact that I didn’t simply want to be serious, I needed to, I’d play my cards close to my chest.
    Close to my breasts… Remembering how we started out, with my breasts playing peek-a-boo, he’d like that.
    Which led to a nascent idea for a prank.
    “How about this,” I said. “I strip on the bar. Only when I get down to ground zero, I’m wearing pasties here.” I pointed at the ladies.
    His gaze zoomed to my chest; fangtips shot from between his lips. Then his face scrunched in an expression of supreme concentration, or pain, and they disappeared.
    He met my gaze and growled. “I hate that idea. It’s a horrible prank.”
    The rejection sliced. “It has the advantage that it doesn’t hurt anybody.”
    “Except you. Besides, how’s that a prank? You have a gorgeous body.”
    “It’s a prank because…wait. I what? ”
    “Gorgeous.” His eyes, firing, underlined his sincerity. “How about I put mustard in the beer?”
    “Ew. Don’t ruin good beer.” I was still reeling over the idea that Mr. Drool-worthy thought I had a nice body. No, more than nice.
    Gorgeous.
    Inside, something blossomed. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, or embarrass them, or make them ill at ease.”
    He cocked an eyebrow at me. “What part of ‘prank’ eludes you?”
    I shrugged, uncomfortable. I knew too well what a prank was, and why it was funny…at least for the people it wasn’t happening to. The victims, on the other hand, didn’t have quite the same perspective. “Look, I had a mayonnaise donut idea that would’ve worked okay, except for the webcam.”
    “What?”
    “Long story. My point is, whatever prank we decide on, we’ll need a way to video it without anyone getting suspicious of why we’re aiming a camera at them.” I yawned again.
    “You’re exhausted,” he repeated. “Go home, sleep on it. We’ll think better in the morning.”
    “I couldn’t sleep, not with this hanging over me.” I scrubbed my eyes, forgetting I was wearing mascara. Oh great. Now I probably looked like a tired raccoon. “What if we pulled a prank on ourselves? Like that ice bucket thing?”
    “Good idea, but that would disqualify us. Pranks have to be played on an unsuspecting party.”
    “Stupid rules.” I nearly covered my mouth at me dissing rules, but frankly, I was too tired.
    A lively tune popped from behind the bar. “What’s that?”
    “Your phone.” Thor vaulted easily over the bar, grabbed something from underneath, and brought up my purse. “Your brother.”
    “You know Bruno’s ring tone?”
    “I pay attention.” His shrug almost looked embarrassed.
    With a smile, I answered.
    “Hey, Sis,” Bruno’s rough growl of a voice greeted me.
    My brother was a shaggy bear of a man. Mom was always after him to get a trim, but the style fit. He ran the city’s survivalist store, Armageddon Three. You wanted your shoulder-launched, multipurpose, assault weapon freshest, you went to Bruno. But he was also simply a sweet guy—who had a bit of a thing for ladies heels. Don’t ask.
    “I heard you’re entering the April Fools’ Day competition this year. Good for you, getting back in touch with your fun side.”
    “Um, sure.” What could I say? He might have been ex-SEAL and stock military grade weapons, but he was my brother, and he worried about me. “I kind of have to. It’s to advertise the bar.”
    “Hey, that’s a great idea.