Page 66 of Surprised By Love

“Lucas,” Ma says in her stern mother’s voice. The voice we all know better than to disregard.

“Yes, Ma,” Lucas says, turning to me with a scowl on his face.

I hear a soft giggle coming from behind me. I turn to see Sam holding her hand over her mouth, trying to hold in a laugh.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” I say, walking towards Sam. She backs away as if she knows what I’m about to do.

She shakes her head. “No,” she says, but she’s still smiling.

I make a run for her, but she turns and darts behind the desk. “Josh please don’t.”

“Oh, you’re ticklish, are you?” As I move to the side of the desk, she moves to the opposite side.

“No,” she squeaks out, and I laugh.

“Oh, but I think you are. Now come here.” I crook my finger at her, beckoning her to me.

She shakes her head and darts for the door. I run and grab her by the waist before she can make it out and swing her around.

“Please Josh,” she begs, gripping my arms with her hands.

I grin and place a soft kiss on her lips. “You are too cute. But don’t think I’ll forget that.”

She bites her lower lip andFuuuuck… I shake my head. This girl is something else: cute and sweet one minute, then a freaking temptress the next. I can’t wait to get to know more about this girl who showed up out of nowhere and has me questioning my thoughts on dating.

“Mrs. Prescott, can I help you with anything?” Sam asks as we enter the kitchen.

“No, dear, we have it. You’re a guest and please call me Maureen,” Mom says, carrying a basket of rolls to the kitchen table. Sam smiles and looks over at me, and I give her a wink. I grab one skillet of Chicken Paprikash and Ethan, who’s been oddly quiet tonight, grabs the other.

“Sam, you can have this seat next to me,” Lucas pulls out a chair. I glare at him and he cracks up, laughing.

“Lucas, leave your brother alone.” My dad scolds him this time and I pull out the chair next to Amelia for Sam to sit and I take the seat on the other side of her.

Emily and Amelia are sitting beside each other, laughing about something, and it warms my heart that my daughter has made such a good friend. She’s had friends from school before, but no one she’s been this fond of.

All she talks about is Amelia, and on the weekends when she gets up she asks if she’ll see Amelia that day. She reminds me of myself in that aspect, wondering if I’ll see Sam at the diner when I go in for my morning coffee.

“So, how do you like being back at the diner?” My dad turns his face to Sam as we help ourselves.

“I’m really enjoying it. I’ve forgotten how much I enjoyed working in the diner.” Sam places a piece of chicken on Amelia’s plate and cuts it up for her.

Dad grabs a piece and cuts it up for Jake when he says, “What’s a MILF?”

I put my hand over my mouth, trying to keep the water I just drank from spitting out all over the table.

Everyone is silent for a moment before my dad asks, “where did you hear that?” Dad looks at Jake and I can tell he’s trying his hardest not to laugh. His mouth clamps down but the corners curl.

“I heard Uncle Lucas saying Sam was a MILF to Uncle Efan and I don’t know what dat is.”

I tilt my head and stare daggers at my brother before glancing over at Sam, her eyes wide and her face turning a bright shade of red. I swear he keeps this up and I will kill him.

Enough is enough already. I get it. It’s a big thing, me dating someone from town, but shit. He needs to stop with this crap already.

“Umm.” Dad pauses, looking from me to Lucas. “It’s what you call a mom who you’d like to be really good friends with.”

“Ohhh, okay.” He nods. “Then she really is a MILF cuz she’s a great mom.”

We all laugh, even Sam. I like how she can roll with the punches with my family and I can see the smile on my mom’s face. I know she’s already planning our future in her head.

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