by Sable Sylvan
Keep reading after this sneak peek, because a special sneak peek of “Spicy Beauty” is coming up next!
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Sable Sylvan
Recipe for a red hot romance: one part bear shifter, one part BBW, a bit of BDSM, and a whole lot of BBQ!
The last thing Abigail 'Abby O' Olivia Quincy needs in her life is drama. After dumping her loser ex, she goes home to Fallowedirt, Texas for winter break to focus on her thesis...but the curvy gal is distracted by polar bear shifter Clove Scoville. The future beta of the Viking bred Scoville Polar Clan of Oslo, Norway is at his brother's Manor to escape something else…but he can’t escape his attraction to his future sister-in-law.
Beauty and the meat...
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a BBW in possession of a healthy appetite must be in want of a BBQ, and the eldest heir to the Quincy sauce company, Alice Quincy, and her kin are no exception. While Alice and her fiancé Herb are busy formulating The Feminine Mesquite's next sauce, Abby is stuck in her study, working on her thesis...while working on ignoring the handsome shifter who, even working quietly the next table over, manages to get her goat. She doesn't have time for drama...but does she have time for true love?
Booty for the beast...
Someone once said that it was a truth universally acknowledged that man in possession of a great fortune must be in want of a wife, but while that was true for Herb Scoville, alpha of the polar clan, his brother Clove thought it was just a line from a fairytale. After all, only princes found a princess at the end of the story, not beasts like Clove...but when he sees the beauty who has haunted his every waking moment in the flesh in his brother's parlor, will he start to reconsider?
Beauty and the feast...
The two can't ignore the attraction they have for each other. After all, it's not like they could ignore it at their older siblings' engagement party. The only thing hotter than the new 'Awesome Sauce' their siblings are brewing is the sexual tension brewing between Abby and Clove. Will a game at the Mesquite Manor barbecue involving handcuffs bring this couple together...or tear them even further apart?
The Feminine Mesquite is a five book series featuring the five curvy Quincy Sisters and the five alpha male polar bear shifters who are the heirs to the Scoville fortune. Can the ten heirs learn to get along, and will they find comfort in each other’s arms...or in each other’s beds? Each book is at least 25,000 words long, comprising a full-length novella. There are no cliffhangers, and every book ends with a guaranteed happily ever after (after all, these are fairy tales). These fairy tale romances feature everything you love from a bear shifter romance. Each book is a standalone, however, there is an overarching story. Don’t fret: if you haven’t read preceding book in the series, a short recap will be included in the first part of each book to get you up to speed...and you’ll want to read all five books because the last book’s epilogue features --, wait, why am I telling you? You’re going to need to read them all and find out for yourself!
Look for all five books in this series on Amazon, all $0.99 or FREE via Kindle Unlimited (KU). “The Cinderella Cook-Off”, “Beauty And The BBQ”, “Spicy Beauty”, “The Matchstick Grill”, and “Little Red Hot Sauce” all have hot sauces and teas for making iced sweet tea that tie into the books, which you can find on www.shopsablesylvan.com .
Abigail hadn’t flown first class before, but she was too anxious about her papers to enjoy the free tiramisu or unlimited mimosas. Her older sister Alice had insisted on paying for the first class flight. After all, Abigail had had the most stressful semester of her college career. The second semester was going to be even worse. The thesis proposal was accepted, but now, Abigail had to actually, y’know…write the dang thesis.
Abigail landed in Dallas and was going to be driven back to Fallowedirt, Texas by her sister, Alice. Alice was running the family’s hot sauce company, ‘The Feminine Mesquite.’ After all, Alice was the eldest sister, and their grandfather, Elijah Quincy, had bequeathed the company to her. Alice was a year older than Abigail, so she’d already graduated and was able to stay home in Fallowedirt, running the company with her fiancé, Herbert Scoville of the Oslo Scoville Polar Clan.
“Where is Herbert today?” asked Abigail as she loaded up the last of her suitcases into the minivan. It was the same minivan that their parents had given to Alice when they moved to Florida, the minivan that they’d had since the sisters were all young children.
“He’s running the shop,” said Alice. “He offered to come, but I thought you might want some private girl time with your big sister.”
Alice and Abigail got in the car and started the drive back to Bright Star County. It was winter in Texas, slightly chilly with a sprinkling of rain, but no snow.
“I can’t believe this semester is over,” said Abigail. “It was a wild ride, I’ll tell you that much.”
“And your proposal was accepted, right?” said Alice. “You weren’t just telling me that to get me off your back, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, it got accepted,” said Abigail. “But now, I have to get it written.”
“Do you think you wanna start over your break?” said Alice. “After all, you got out a full two weeks before your little sisters get out of their colleges. The house shouldn’t be too busy. It’ll be really quiet. Herbert and I are busy with things at the store.”
“Oh yeah? What’s been going on?” asked Abigail.
“Well, we had to get the shop up to code,” said Alice. “We got all new kitchen equipment, too.”
“Are you still individually bottling the sauces?” asked Abigail.
“That’s right, based on grandpa’s recipes,” said Alice. “The Secret Sauce, the jalapeño sauce that nearly won us the cook-off, is flying off the walls, but we’re trying to develop a fire-roasted habanero sauce next.”
“Really?” asked Abigail. “That sounds awesome!”
“Well…so far, it’s not a success,” admitted Alice. “Grandpa’s recipes…well, it turns out that the secret sauce was the only one that he taught us to make. That’s why I can make it blindfolded with a hand tied behind my back. But, the other sauces, well, he didn’t exactly provide great instructions on how to make the sauces. There are instructions like, ‘add a splash of vinegar,’ but what the heck is a splash? What is a ‘handful’ of habaneros? We’ve been spending long hours in the kitchen trying to figure this all out.”
“Didn’t Herb’s grandpa say he made the recipes up in the first place?” asked Abigail. “Why doesn’t Herb ask him for help?”
“Have you met Herb? He’s not about to let his grandpa know he needs any help, no frikkin’ way,” said Alice. “It gives us a challenge, which is nice. But, it means we’re at the store a lot, which means we’ll be leaving you at home, alone…unless you wanna come over and study at the store?”
“Trust me, I can take care of myself,” promised Abigail. “I don’t need babysitting.”
“Good,” said Alice. “Because if you want, you can invite your boyfriend over. You and Jason got back together, right?”
“Yeah…but we broke up again,” said Abigail. “It’s always like this. He breaks up with me to ‘find himself’ for winter break…and for spring break…and for summer break. Then he comes crawling back once he catches a glimpse of my curves from across the quad. This time, I dumped him, right before fall break. I’m not about to let h
im mess with my thesis. Remember I got that B in French because he dumped me when I was about to take the final?”
“So you’re single again?” asked Alice. “I hope you don’t get too lonely over the next two weeks. None of the Scovilles are coming over break. They have to work at their grandpa’s companies this winter because they promised to do that before, well, Herb and I became a thing.”
“So we Quincy Sisters do all the work?” asked Abigail.
“We keep all the money, remember?” asked Alice. “Herb promised that. He’s just getting the CEO experience to prove to his dad and grandpa that he can run the Scoville companies when they retire. You know how shifter men are, don’t you?”
“Not really,” admitted Abigail.
“Well, when the Scovilles come help us over spring and summer breaks, you’ll learn,” said Alice. “Now, you didn’t eat on that plane, did you?”
“First class had good food, but small portions,” said Abigail.
“Then we’re making a pit stop before we go home,” said Alice. “Burgers and sweet tea it is. Welcome back home, babydoll!”
* * *
When the pair pulled into the long driveway to Mesquite Manor, Abigail noticed a shiny pickup truck was already parked near the entrance.
“Did Herb get a pickup?” asked Abigail.
“You better believe it,” said Alice. “But don’t worry…I made him buy American.”
“Good,” said Abigail. “Don’t mess with America.”
Abigail opened the trunk, but before she could get her luggage out, Herb was at her side.
“Hey, let me grab that,” said Herbert, grabbing the two heaviest bags.
Abigail looked over Herb. Where the heck were the designer suits, slim cut, and European? He was wearing a white shirt, stained with red and green and brown streaks that must be from sauce. His jeans were typical Texas dad jeans, and he was wearing a pair of worn sneakers.
“Thanks,” said Abigail, grabbing the last bag, a light duffle, and following Herb to her room. Alice opened the doors for them along the way.
“Now, you let us know if there is anything we can do to make you more at home,” said Herb. “Remember, this is your home, too. If you want any changes made, you let us know, and we’ll make them happen.”
“Wow, Alice, you taught him well,” said Abigail, looking to her sister. “He’s got that Southern hospitality and charm down pat. You’re not half bad, Herb. I promise I’ll let you know if I need anything at all.”
Herb and Alice started to leave, but Abigail called out to them.
“Hey!” said Abigail, and they turned. “Sorry, real fast…what’s the deal with the shared room?”
“It’s yours to do what you like with,” said Herbert. “The other brothers are back in Norway for the winter, so you don’t have to share the room this month. Clove might have some ideas about what to do with the room, but, well, I don’t see him around, do you?”
“Got it, thanks!” said Abigail, before closing the door.
She leaned back against the door. Clove. Why did Herbert have to say his name? She knew it wasn’t his fault she was feeling this way, her stomach churning. After all, he didn’t know what had gone on between Abby and his brother. It didn’t stop Abby’s belly from twisting. Clove.
She looked around the room. It looked just like she remembered. During fall break, she and her sisters had seen their new rooms for the first time. Every room matched the personality and tastes of its owner. They had all gone back to the old house and raided it, taking their favorite things back to their new rooms. Abigail’s favorite feature of her room was still the large bay of bookcases against one wall, next to a large bay window reading nook. The book case had been filled with Abigail’s favorite books by Alice, who even put them back in the right order. Could Alice be any more perfect? Of course, Abigail had brought books with her from college, to use for her thesis. Unfortunately, not everything was available as an eBook.
Abby started to put her books back when she noticed something in the window. Was that another car coming down the drive?
Abby looked out the window.
There was a European car, glossy and waxed, coming down the drive. It was blaring heavy metal music in another language. It had to be one of Herb’s friends, but why would they come all the way to frikkin’ Fallowedirt to make a social visit? Abby shook her head. There was no telling with shifters. They were odd folk, and the Scovilles the oddest among them, in her expert opinion.
Abby went back to unpacking her suitcase. Alice had taken the gals shopping so that they would have changes of clothes at home, so they didn’t need to pack a suitcase each time they came home (the math worked out in favor of Alice’s plan), and Abby had picked a selection of nice looking but practical clothes. Many still hadn’t been worn. It made Abby more aware of how grimy she felt from traveling, so Abby went to take a quick shower.
Each of the bedrooms had a small private bathroom, well, ‘small’ by Scoville standards. To be fair, the Scovilles were all tall, muscular shifters, so they needed bigger bathrooms. For Abby, the bathroom was just the right size, bigger than the bathroom the gals had shared upstairs at the last house. Alice had taken them to some fancy stores to get things like French milled soaps and French terry towels (a lot of French stuff, the French knew how to set up a bathroom), and the staff had washed the towels that Abby had used last time. There were stacks of fresh white towels for her face and for bathing, which were heated through some miracle of engineering.
Abby took her bath and got changed into a pair of soft opaque leggings, a large, soft short-sleeved tunic top that was gray and heathered, and a chunky, warm oatmeal-colored hoodie, cable knit. As she slipped on her shearling slippers, there came a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said Abby.
“Abby, you won’t believe who just arrived,” said Alice, opening the door.
“Well, it’s nearly the twenty-fourth, so…Santa?” asked Abby.
“No, it’s Clove. You know, Herb’s brother?” said Alice. “Come down and say hi!”
Clove. There was no frikkin’ way that Alice had just said that name. Abby pinched herself, but unfortunately, she didn’t wake up from a dream.
“I thought that none of the brothers were coming for winter break,” said Abby.
“That’s what makes this so special,” said Alice. “Come on down. We’re going to have tea.”
“Tea?” asked Abby. “Really? You know this is Texas, not the Lakes District, right?”
“Haha, real funny,” said Alice. “And you’re reading your Wordsworth, I see. Well, come on down and have a little bite. We have those jammy cookies you like.”
“Fine, fine,” said Abby. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve still got a lot of unpacking to do.”
* * *
“What do you mean she is here?” asked Clove angrily. “Why didn’t you tell me she’d be here?”
“Well, until five minutes ago, I had no clue that you would be here,” said Herb. “I didn’t think it worth mentioning…but if I had known you’d be so upset, well, I would’ve said something, naturally.”
“There’s a hotel in town, right?” asked Clove.
“Yes, but…” said Herb.
“There’s always a ‘but,’ isn’t there?” asked Clove with a sigh, rolling his eyes.
“But, the Fallowedirt Hotel is under construction,” said Herb. “They get the most business during summer and fall, so winter is the time of year when they’d perform constructions. It’s truly quite fascinating.”
“Fascinating? Do you hear yourself? What happened to the brother I had that was always on the hunt?” asked Clove.
“He caught what he was hunting,” said Herb with a smile.
Clove shook his brother by the arms. Clove was strong, but Herb was sturdy as a rock and didn’t budge.
“What’s wrong with you? A year ago, you would’ve had me on the ground for a comment like that,” said Clove. “We’d have been in
our shifts by now.”
“A lot can change in a year,” said Herb. “Or in half a year, as the case may be. Anyway, you won’t be staying elsewhere. I won’t hear of it. You did come to visit me, didn’t you?”
“Not exactly,” admitted Clove. “My thesis is due at the end of the next semester.”
“Naturally,” said Herb.
“Well, I can’t concentrate at uni because there are too many people around, too much going on. In Oslo, well, you’ve lived at the Scoville Mansion. You know there’s never a dull moment, and I’d be expected to make…appearances,” said Clove, tactfully.
“So you decided to come here to get away from everything happening in Europe, to focus on your studies,” said Herb. “And I suppose Grandpa Morten is okay with this?”
“If he wasn’t, would I be here?” asked Clove. “And who do you think paid for the private plane…or the car out front?”
“Let me guess, he bought it and you’re going to be leaving behind a designer car when you fly back to the UK?” asked Herb. “Some things never change.”
“You’re not mad I’m here to work on the papers?” asked Clove.
“Not at all,” said Herb. “Listen. Your studies come first. You’re doing the responsible thing, coming here to study. Don’t worry about working this winter break. You need to graduate, and with flying colors. You’re a Scoville. Grandpa won’t be pleased if you missed out on working for his company and then got anything less than summa cum laude. You just let us know if you need anything. Unpack after we have tea. Sit and rest a while. I know the drive from Dallas is a mess.”
“Alice has really changed you,” said Clove. “No offense, obviously. You’re just…you’re really different, you know that?”
“Yeah, isn’t it great?” teased Herb. “You’re going to have a wonderful break, get your papers done, and finish up strong. You’re a Scoville. Now, let’s get something in that stomach of yours. I could hear it growling over that stuff you call ‘music.’”
“Whether you like it or not, heavy metal is the music of our people,” said Clove. This banter they had made things feel a little more normal.