Hers(43)

The younger of the two looked her up and down. “Do you really want to help?”

“Um … yes. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to.”

The older woman smacked her daughter on the hand. “Lena, don’t be rude.”

“Mum, there are over fifteen women out there, and Sammy is the only one who means it when she’s offered. I know Jude’s and Kene’s wives are pregnant, and Belinda and Holly offered, but they didn’t really mean it. The rest of the women are badge bunnies and probably are too busy fawning over the men.”

Sammy loved Lena instantly. She reminded her of Sandy, not afraid to speak her mind. “What can I do to help? Do you have another chopping board? And I can do a salad. I’ll cut some lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes.”

“Thank you, Sammy, that would be wonderful. I’m Gretel, and this,” Gretel pointed to the dark haired beauty. “Is Lena, my daughter.” Gretel walked around the kitchen and gathered up ingredients, a knife, bowl, and a chopping board. She placed them on a clear part of the kitchen top. “I think we’ll only need one salad. These boys don’t really eat it, and most of the women won’t eat.”

Sammy walked to her station and started cutting her ingredients. It was quiet in the kitchen for a good five or minutes before Lena sighed.

“Okay, I’m dying to know how you met Brock and how on earth a tiny thing like you isn’t terrified of him. I bet even in the heels you’re wearing you only just come to his massive shoulders. Don’t get me wrong. Brock is gorgeous, but in a dangerous ‘I’ll kill you if you step one foot wrong’ kind of way.”

“Lena.” Gretel gasped at her daughter.

“What? I just asked what you were thinking as well, Mum.”

Sammy laughed, enjoying the mother-daughter banter. “It’s fine, Gretel. I’ll answer. I meet Brock through my friend Susie, and one of my best friends, Sandy, just married Brock’s brother.”

“Oh my God, you’re friends with Sandy? I love her. I think she is awesome. She handles two handsome men.”

“So does Susie. It seems to be a thing with the Bear family.”

Lena’s eyes widened. “No way. You are with two?”

“Lena!” This time Gretel shouted.

Sammy thought it safe to tell because they didn’t seem to mind Sandy’s little family. “Yes. I’m with Brock and Slater, who is Brock’s cousin.”

“Wow. They’re not together, are they?”

Sammy chuckled. “No, not at all. It’s like Sandy’s relationship, except I’m not pregnant, engaged, or married. It’s still new. They have been asking me out for almost a year, but I just got out of a bad relationship and needed time to heal.”

She watched both women, and Sammy could tell Gretel already knew most of what she’d just said, but Lena hadn’t.

“I think I need to find myself someone from the Bear family.”

Sammy giggled, surprisingly enjoying herself.

When the salad was finished she helped make some desserts. As she put caramel on the puffs, Brock’s arms circled her waist.

“Did you forget about me, angel?”

He nipped her neck, and she shivered messing up the puff. She turned and looked up at him. Something looked different. Before he’d been on edge and nagging her to find out things she wanted left alone.

“No. I was just enjoying myself with Gretel and Lena.” She searched his eyes and she could see his bear prancing back and forth, but he didn’t seem frustrated, more like impatient. “Are you okay?”

Brock nodded, leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, lingering a moment. “Yes. You almost done? Our afternoon dinner is ready.”

Sammy grinned. “Yeah, be out soon.” She watched as he strolled out. Sammy couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

She turned back to finish the last couple of puffs to see Lena staring at her. “What did you do to him? Usually he only wears black, and he always has a five o’clock shadow. He just turned into—”

“Yeah, I know.” Sammy didn’t need Lena to finish. She knew how good Brock looked.

“No wonder you were late. He cleans up good,” Gretel whispered. “He’s never come to one of my dinners looking like that. If he would have, I would have made Albert invite him around a lot more.”

“Muummm!” Lena yelled.

“I’m old, not dead, sweetheart.”

Sammy felt her cheeks heat, and she laughed so hard she cried. She really liked Gretel and Lena. “Thank you.”

“What are thanking us for?” Lena asked.