Bear of Interest (7 page)

Cole, wood burning stove, snuggling up with him in front of it.

“Only kidding,” said Lucy. “He volunteered to do it because Liam hates that chore.”

“He looks like he’s in good shape.”

That had slipped out before she’d realized it.

“I mean not that…”

“It’s okay, we’re girls together and we can check out guys just like they do us.”

“What do we do to you?”

It was Liam.

“Check us out,” said Lucy.

“And I take it you’re both checking out Cole?”

“Sam was. I’m a married woman.”

Liam tapped her on the nose, leaving a dirty mark on its tip where he had oil on his hand.

“How about I show you the cars before we eat?” asked Liam.

“Sure, that would be great,” said Sam.

“Cole, Sam’s here,” shouted Liam out of the window.

Cole looked over at house. He put the axe down and headed their way.

Holy cannoli, his chest was glistening with sweat, and his chest muscles and biceps stood out like beacons for her. If only she’d brought another pair of panties with her, she’d change into them.

“Hi Sam,” he said, stepping into the kitchen.

“I’m just going to show Sam the cars I have for sale. Maybe you’d like to ride along with her and she can give them a test drive.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to,” said Cole. “Let me go grab a t-shirt and I’ll be right with you.”

Damn. T-shirt meant he’d be covering up that gorgeous body of his.

Sam followed Liam outside and over to the first car.

“This would be my preference out of the two cars. Two years old and low mileage. However, the other one is older but is four wheel drive which is perfect for winter driving in Montana.”

“I have been thinking about getting one of those because I have a long drive from home to work.”

Cole walked back out now wearing a blue shirt over his jeans.

“So which one are we testing first?” he asked.

“I think I’d like to take the four wheel drive for a spin,” said Sam.

Liam dug the keys out of his pocket and handed them to her.

“If you head out of here and around that bend there’s a good stretch of road where you can put your foot down and no cops are ever around.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” said Sam.

She got into the driver’s seat and Cole slid in beside her. He smelled sweaty but a good and different sort. Musk-like that made her pussy sit up and take notice. His arm brushed hers as she moved around trying to figure out where everything was.

“He’s great with cars, nothing he doesn’t know about them so if you decide to buy one of them you’ll be getting something every reliable,” said Cole. He ran his hand over the dashboard. Strong hands, long fingers, and Sam imagined him running them over her body instead of the car’s interior.

She turned the ignition. The engine already sounded smoother than her current car which was over a decade old. Cole slipped on the seat belt as she pulled out onto the road.

“This is a pretty part of town. Well, every part of town is pretty in Kalispell,” said Sam.

“Are you from here?” Cole asked her.

“I was born in Great Falls, but I moved around while I was growing up.”

“Did you have a parent in the army or navy?”

“No, it’s sort of a long story.”

She didn’t know him well enough yet to tell him her life story. It wasn’t one she liked to share. Sam had done her best to forget anything that happened to her before she’d turned eighteen, was able to leave the system, and venture out on her own.

Sam turned onto the road that Liam had mentioned and put her foot down harder on the accelerator.

“What happens when a cop gets picked up for speeding?” asked Cole.

“We get a ticket?”

“Really?”

“I guess it depends on how fast we’re going over the speed limit which right now is just fifteen. I don’t think I’ve ever been along this route before. I don’t get west of town a lot.”

“Liam’s brother died on this curve that’s ahead. He was into motorbikes and one night a drunk driver hit him on that bend and threw his body down onto the rocks.”

“That’s awful. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, Liam wasn’t that great to be around for a long time after that.”

“I can understand why.”

“But now he has Lucy and his nephew and it’s like he’s a new
bea
… man.”

She wondered what he was going to say but then got back to concentrating on the road ahead.

“Lucy is really nice. Liam is too,” she said.

“Yeah, I’m lucky to have great landlords. So what do you think of this car?”

“I like it.”

“You want to turn back and take the other one for a spin?”

“Yeah, I think I would like to compare them, although this one’s going to be hard to beat.”

****

Cole helped Sam put the second car into gear.

“It’s been years since I’ve driven one of these, and I thought it would all come back to me,” said Sam.

She kangarooed along a few feet, and then the car stalled.

“You know what? I think something’s telling me car number one should be my new vehicle.”

Cole smiled.
Wise woman.

She turned the car around and drove in front of Liam’s garage.

“That was quick,” said Liam.

“I’d like to buy the first car,” said Sam.

“Okay. Now are you thinking of selling your old one privately or would you like to trade it in with me? I’ve looked it over and I’m guessing with a little work I can easily sell it.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Shall we say an even $5,000 for the new car?”

“Liam that’s more than generous.”

He raised his hand. “You work with Trent, Cole’s vouched for you, and so that’s the price. And don’t offend me with any higher counteroffers.”

“Okay, you have yourself a deal.”

“Are you guys ready to eat because I’m starving?” shouted Lucy.

“We’ll be right there,” said Cole.

He put his hand on the small of Sam’s back as they walked across the yard. Lucy had set up the picnic table on the grass between their house and his rented cottage.

“I hope everyone likes quiche and potato salad,” said Sam as they all sat down.

“I love it,” said Lucy.

She cut it into slices and then passed the platter around.

It wasn’t one of Cole’s favorite things but he didn’t admit to it. “Did you make this?” he asked.

Sam shook her head. “Nope, the kitchen and I are not the best of friends.”

“You do know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” asked Liam.

“I…”

“He’s giving you a hard time so ignore him,” said Lucy.

“Whoever made this it’s great,” said Cole.

“We have to head out to Sam’s softball game in about an hour so you can show Sam the cottage and please take note of the interior design,” said Lucy.

“It’s what Lucy does for a living,” said Cole.

“Really.”

“I’ve had no training, no prior experience but I love it so if you know anyone who would like a consultation put a word in for me.”

“I’ll certainly do that,” said Sam.

“She’s great. It’s what sold me on renting the cottage,” said Cole.

“Have you thought about buying one of Brady’s new condos when they finally get finished?” asked Liam.

“No because I doubt he’d even sell me one. He’s a nemesis from school,” Cole told Sam.

Liam laughed. “Brady is filthy rich, the most competitive guy you’re likely to meet and gets what he wants and these two, well I think they should have their own reality show.”

“He’s also a sweetheart underneath that tough business exterior,” added Lucy.

“You’d say that because he hired you,” said Cole. “Maybe fatherhood will take the edge off his gruffness.”

“So you all went to school here?” asked Sam.

“Most of us. Me and Brady were in the same class. Liam, weren’t you in Dane’s year?” asked Cole.

“Sure was, and his first wife Lucinda was in our class too. Danny went to school with Christopher Renner.”

“And Trent?” asked Sam.

“I think he was a year behind me,” said Cole.

“Wow, it must be so nice keeping in touch and hanging out with your school buddies,” said Sam.

“And you didn’t?”

She shook her head. “Like I said I moved around a lot.”

Liam looked at his watch. “We have to get moving because we’ll miss the start of Sam’s game and we’ll never hear the last of it.”

Lucy began clearing the things away. Cole stopped her. “I can do that, you go get ready.”

“You sure?” asked Lucy.

“I can help too,” said Sam.

“Okay, and we’ll probably see you again when you pick up the car.”

Sam liked this, maybe liked it a little too much. Being with people and socializing. Something she’d tried to avoid. That concrete barrier she’d worked so hard to construct around herself could be in danger of crumbling. It had started to get chipped away when she’d had a date with Cole.

“You want to come and see my place? Lucy’s got talent if you ever want to hire her.” asked Cole.

She looked up seeing him standing at the door of his place, shaking his head for her to go ahead of him. Every minute she spent with him that concrete barrier would be in danger of another piece being chipped away. Once it was gone, what would be there to save her, protect her from the outside world?

Take your first step, Sam.

She walked toward the door and stepped over the threshold. He was right. The place looked wonderful. The hallway led to a living room and kitchen. The beige colors were subtle, yet added major impact as you made your way through the tiny space. A dome air vent sat over a stove top that had been built into an island. It was small but everything looked like it had been well chosen.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” asked Cole, reaching up for a bottle from the rack above the refrigerator.

“Sure, that sounds good.”

“White okay for you?”