Page 15 of The Bear's Forever Mat
Oh dear, she was going after a polar bear headed into mating fever, and they would end up having sex, and she was a human, and what was she thinking, but this was exactly what she wanted.
Amber: Say something before I freak out. Do you think this is a terrible idea?
Lara: Sorry about that. I screamed when I read your message, and then I had to wrestle Alex to get my phone back before he could see what you wrote.
Amber rested her forehead on the table in front of her. Great. She hadn’t even made it to Cooper’s hideout, hadn’t even had a chance to be rejected, and his brothers were going to know what she was up to.
It was one thing to have her friends know. It was another entirely for the whole family to be aware.
Kaylee joined the conversation then, her online button turning green a second before she dropped into the conversation.
Kaylee: OH. EM. GEE. Are you serious, Amber?
Lara: Of course she’s serious. They’ve had the hots for each other for ages. It’s been very…ahem…aromatically apparent.
Amber: I hate your wolf nose. Just saying.
Lara: I’ve been polite and never mentioned it! Very polite, even though sometimes I’d swear…never mind. Suffice to say, I’ve noticed.
Amber: Can we get back to the question at hand? If you don’t think me going to Cooper is a terrible idea, am I still stepping over a line? I need you guys to help me here, because if you tell me I should stay away, I will.
Kaylee: Bluntly speaking: you know this could end up with you two the equivalent of married? It could be a lot more than simply a week-long fling.
Amber: Understood. I’m truly okay with that.
Lara: There’s a brave human.
Amber: Brave or reckless. You tell me.
Kaylee and Lara both started messages at the same time. They both posted at the same instant, and a second later, Amber’s eyes filled with moisture. Her girlfriends were the best.
Kaylee: Recklessly brave, because you know taking a chance is worth it. I’m so glad James took a chance on me because he really is my everything.
Lara: Brave enough to be willing to be reckless because it’s what you want and what you think is right. Like Alex with me—we truly belonged together, but he took the chance and made it happen.
This was why they were her best friends, and she was so thankful to have them in her world.
Amber: I love you guys.
Kaylee: Love you too. So, the mating fever thing? If he’s in it, be ready to get very, very sexed.
Lara: Bluntly speaking. Don’t mention other men, don’t mention leaving him, not even to get some privacy.
Kaylee: The leaving thing—yeah, he’s going to be stuck like glue within touching range all week. Don’t waste room in your suitcase for clothes. Pack energy bars.
Lara: Good point. And chafing power. And KY jelly. And drink lots so you can pee after every bout of sex to avoid getting a UTI.
Kaylee and Lara alternated with sexual suggestions for another five minutes. Amber’s face was burning hot, but she took mental notes the entire time before finally posting again.
Amber: Now I will pretend this conversation never happened, and I expect you two to do the same. Cone of silence, especially with your guys, at least for the week, okay? And Kaylee, can you cover for me at work? I went in and did everything time-sensitive last night and made a schedule for you to follow.
Kaylee: No problem!
Lara: I won’t say a word. I might have to duct tape Alex to something to stop him from hacking into my phone to read these messages, though. But you know, that could be fun…
Amber:I’ll be in touch. Thanks for everything.
It was a short enough drive to the cabin that second-guessing didn’t have a chance to set in. Amber stopped at the main office before inching her way down a long bumpy road to where the teeny cabin sat on its own at the edge of a wide, north-facing clearing.
