I looked down at my outfit and frowned. “I don’t know if I’m exactly dressed for a party.”
“I’ve got it covered. Elizabeth will be here shortly with an array of clothes for you. You two are similar in size. You’re a little taller than she is, but I think it’ll work.”
I nodded and sat Mason down. I watched Carolyn offer him a piece of bacon which he greedily snatched. “Manners, Mason.”
He grunted and inhaled the bacon before holding out his paws for more. Carolyn held the second piece closer to her and he inched over. He took the second piece slower and let her stroked him behind the ears.
“He’s an adorable cub. I’d love to see a little boy soon, though. I’ve got so many toys that won’t work for a little bear, but would work amazingly well for a little boy.”
Mason gestured for more bacon and then slowly nuzzled his head against her legs. Carolyn was a goner. Her eyes flooded and she wiped away a tear, trying to hide it by giving him more food.
I snagged a piece of sausage and shoved it in my mouth. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten. I’d been so focused on keeping Mason safe that I hadn’t taken care of myself.
Carolyn saw me and slid a plate towards me. “Eat. We won’t tell the boys that I let you eat early. They never get to. I noticed you didn’t eat at all yesterday, though. No wonder you fainted”
I greedily scarfed the food down, not stopping to remember my own manners. When I finished the plate, I came up for air and laughed roughly. “Sorry. I guess it’s been a few days.”
She put a large bowl of milk on the floor for Mason and then suddenly grabbed me and pulled me in for a hug. “Thank you for keeping him safe and finding us. He’s safe now, though, so you can focus on your own needs.”
Before I could reply, she winked. “All of them.”
Lucas chose that moment to strut into the kitchen, freshly showered, in a faded pair of jeans and a flannel. His hair was curling around his face as it dried and he was cleanly shaven. He looked and smelled so delectable that I had to force my eyes away from him.
“Is that an empty plate I see?” He moved behind me resting his hand on the small of my back as he leaned over and tried to grab a biscuit.
Carolyn smacked his hand. “You know the rules.”
A pretty woman came in, carrying a large baby. She immediately pushed the baby into Carolyn’s arms before turning to me. “Hi! I’m Elizabeth.”
I couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm. “Sammie. Nice to meet you.”
She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from everyone. “I am so glad you’re here. Leila, Matt’s wife, is pregnant and her hormones have been all over the place. She’s about as mean as rattlesnake right now.”
I looked back to find Mason and caught Lucas staring at me. I blushed and turned back around hurrying after Elizabeth.
CHAPTER 6: Lucas
I stood at the kitchen counter, watching Mason warm up to Mom for a while. My mind was elsewhere, though. I couldn’t stop thinking about Sammie and the way she felt under my body. The woman was driving me crazy. Even my bear, who usually looked at my conquests with disdain, was sitting up and howling.
Mom leaned over and picked Mason up in her free arm. He struggled for a second and then quieted down when she shoved a piece of bacon at him. “That’s it. We’re going to be good friends, aren’t we?”
“You could bribe me, you know. I’m standing right here.”
She narrowed her eyes at me and shook her head. “You don’t need bribing. You need to get your head out of your backside.”
Mason made a sound that was dangerously close to a laugh. I glared at both of them. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that you’d better not let that woman get away.” She fed another piece of bacon to Mason and then turned the stove off. “Let’s go find a toy before everyone else gets here, huh?”
She left with Mason and Connor so I grabbed one of the chocolate croissants she’d made. I shoved it into my mouth and stared after them. I didn’t know what she was talking about. I didn’t especially feel like my head was up my ass. And how the hell did she expect me to keep Sammie around? What was I supposed to do? She’d done her job. I was assuming she’d probably leave soon.
That thought had my bear pacing frantically inside of me, demanding that I go to her. I headed towards the stairs. Beg her to stay.
I took the stairs quickly and then stopped. What the hell was I doing? What the hell did I plan to say to her? I spun and headed back down the stairs, feeling like an idiot. With my foot on the bottom step, I turned around again. How could I not say anything? I felt such a strong pull to her. What if she felt it, too?