STRIPTEASED (Roommate Reverse Harem Romance)

“I should get back downstairs, too. I left Maddie at the book signing station. Thanks for doing this tonight, Ronnie.”

She waved a hand airily. “It’s been fun. The view’s pretty nice, too.”

I laughed. “Don’t let Tonio hear you say that about the twins.”

“I meant the big guy,” she said. “I’ve always been a sucker for the strong, silent type.”

Me too, I thought as I moved away. Except apparently, I didn’t have just one type—I had four.

Once I returned, I sent Maddie off on a break. Only a few people were trickling in now, but most bought a book. A few even wanted selfies with me. The photos they took with their phones wouldn’t turn out anywhere near as well as the ones Knox took, but it was still fun.

Then a tall, dark, and handsome cover model walked up and set a drink on the table.

“Is that…?”

“Yep,” Tonio said. “A strawberry berryoska.”

Astonished, I took it from him. It was the very drink he’d made for me the first day we met. “But they’re only serving beer, white wine, and soft drinks.

“I have my ways.”

“Can you sit down with me for a few minutes before you go back to your adoring fans?”

“Of course, querida.”

As I shared my drink with him, I looked around. “This place really is great. You could do a lot with this space. Maybe if you talk to the owner, he’d let you rent it?”

Tonio shook his head. “I asked when I rented it for tonight. He’s set on selling.”

It was just so frustrating. I’d been able to make my dream come true with the help of my friends, but Tonio hadn’t been given that opportunity. “Couldn’t you tell him about your plans? Maybe if he really liked you, he’d…” The expression on Tonio’s face made me trail off.

“And tell him what, Emma? That my dream is to open something? Manage something? That’s not really going to sway anyone.” He looked so glum that I reached over and took his hand in mine. He squeezed it, and then spoke to me in a low voice. “I kind of feel like you did our first night together in Austin’s room. You didn’t want to choose—you wanted us all. That’s how I feel. I don’t want to have to choose one type of business and ignore others I’m interested in, too.”

I cupped my other hand under his so that his hand was engulfed in mine. “I’m sorry you have to choose just one thing. I would be heartbroken if I had to do that.”

Though he still looked troubled, he gave me a reassuring look. “You won’t ever have to, trust me.”

Maddie came back a few minutes after Tonio left, this time with a woman in her mid-twenties in tow. “Emma, this is my sister, Gina.”

I stood and offered my hand, but Gina was a hugger, just like Maddie. “I already read half your book on my eReader,” Gina said, “and I just love it. Does living with those hot guys inspire you?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” I said, already liking Maddie’s sister. Both women had the same cheerful outlook. “Any news about your wedding plans?”

“No,” Maddie said, but Gina had a different answer.

“Yes, actually. I’m going to finally meet his parents. We’re going to fly out there—all of us—for a long weekend at the end of January. Our families will get to know each other and we’ll have an engagement party.”

“That’s great,” I said sincerely. “Sounds like a fun trip.”

Gina grinned. “I’m not sure anyone ever describes a trip to the in-laws as fun, but I have to admit, I’m dying to know what they’re like. Doug’s so normal, I doubt there are any deep, dark secrets.”

“Will the wedding be here or out west?”

“Here, I hope. I’d love to hire that beefcake of a photographer upstairs. He really seems to know his stuff.”

“He does,” Maddie said. “He put together the cover of Emma’s book.”

“And do those twins come to private bachelorette parties? I think I’d give a kidney for them to attend mine.”

Maddie giggled. “That might be a bit extreme.”

Gina sighed. “I just hope we can have it around here. It seems like everything we need is here.”

A wave of sadness washed over me again. I had everything I needed here, as well. But I wouldn’t be able to say the same in a couple of days.

As amazing as it was signing books, I was a bit relieved when everyone else left and it was just the five of us.

We were sprawled around the table where a half dozen books were still stacked. My guys looked exhausted, but I was pretty sure that like me, it was more of a mental tiredness than physical.

I was thrilled about my book being out, but it felt like everything else was falling apart. I didn’t want the twins to leave. I didn’t want Tonio to feel his dreams were going nowhere. The only one who seemed okay at the moment was Knox. But that wasn’t really true, either. He was such a kind, thoughtful man. Surely there was something else he could do besides throw people out of a strip club.