When Rivals Love (Bayshore Rivals 3)

Pulling away just enough to look at him, I smirk, “Ready again so soon?”

That grin, it’s the same one he’s always given me, the one that makes my knees weak, and my heart do somersaults in my chest.

“When it comes to you, Harlow, I am willing and ready for anything… anytime.”

And if those aren’t the truest words I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is. There isn’t anything the brothers won’t do for me, and there isn’t anything I won’t do for them, and if we want to make it through this, if we want our happily ever after, we’re going to have to continue down this path.

We’re going to always have to be each other’s support system.

10

The next morning, we all take a seat at the kitchen table. After Sullivan and I caught up on a week of missed sex, we were too exhausted to talk about the whole Tiffany thing, but we can’t put this off any longer.

“Start from the beginning,” Oliver orders, looking at Sullivan.

“Like I already said, it started with me going to Tiffany just to tell her to leave Harlow alone. When I did, she told me that I shouldn’t be worrying about her when there were bigger things going on. Supposedly, there are these guys looking for Harlow. I asked her what the hell she was talking about, and she went on to tell me that there have been these rough-looking guys on campus asking around about Harlow.”

“What kind of guys?” Banks asks.

“Well, that’s what I’ve been trying to find out. Every time I talk to Tiffany, she only reveals a little bit. It’s clear she was enjoying having me around, so she made sure she only gave me a smidge of information each time I saw her. She told me if I wanted any more information, I needed to be nice to her.” Annoyance laces his words, and I can only imagine how hard this must have been for him. I hate Tiffany, hate her so much right now.

“I wasn’t even sure if she was telling the truth or just playing games, but the more I listened to her and talked to others, her friends and a couple of guys around campus, the more I started to believe her.”

“Fuck,” Oliver says under his breath.

“According to Tiffany, these men were showing pictures of you and asking what classes you had, and where you were staying. I was so consumed with finding them that I even talked to campus security, but like I expected, they completely brushed me off. I’m pretty sure they think I’m some crazy, overprotective boyfriend now.” Sullivan sighs, and all over again, I want to crawl into bed with him and forget about our crazy life. But I can’t ignore this, no matter how much I want to. Someone is out there looking for me, and I don’t know why.

“Do you think my dad sent them?”

Sullivan shakes his head, “I don’t know why he would. I mean, he knows where you’re staying, right?”

I nod, “Yeah, you’re right… but who else would be looking for me, and why?”

“I don’t know, but I think we should consider hiring some kind of security again. Just to make sure you are safe in the moments that we aren’t with you.” It’s a shame Milton is in hiding.

Frowning, I say, “I had hoped that we were past this, but it seems like every time things start to get better, something has to happen. I just want to be happy.”

“You can still be happy. We’re all together in this, Harlow. Where you go, we go. If we have to hire a little more protection, then that’s what we do. Like always, your safety is the most important thing to us.” Oliver speaks this time, giving me a dazzling smile that melts my heart.

“I know, but when does this stop, when do we get to be normal people. I’m not anything special, and yet I’ve come closer to dying more than the average person.”

Banks laughs, “Well, I can tell you right now you’re pretty fucking special. As for why people are out to hurt you, no one really knows why people do the things they do. Shelby is just mental, and now that she’s been put away, the biggest risk is gone. Now, we just have to figure out who these guys are and what they want?”

Oliver places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Everything is going to be okay. Nothing is going to happen to you. Not now, not ever.”

Just as I’m starting to calm down, and feel a little better about the shit storm called my life, a knock sounds against the door. The brothers exchange a look before Oliver pushes away from the table. The loss of his touch leaves me cold, and for some unknown reason, this inky dread starts to tug at me. I’m not sure why, but it feels like something bad is about to happen.