Page 10 of Love That Sass

She imagined the tiny pregnant woman could entice the devil to drink holy water with those puppy eyes of hers and that wide smile. She was positively beguiling.

“Okay fine, I will have the brie burger also, but medium rare, please.”

“As you wish,” Brock replied and winked before stalking back to the kitchen.

“So, what are we doing?” Sheila asked when a third woman came running in and joined them at the table.

“Hey girls!”

“Tracey! When did you guys get back?” Lucy asked, hugging the woman up tight.

“About ten seconds ago,” a tall man answered for her, his smile wide and indulgent as the woman, Tracey, hugged Sheila next.

“Hi, I’m Tracey. Who are you?”

“Um, Gwen, I’m going to be working here,” she replied, smiling back at her.

How could she not? The woman exuded joy, and her grin was contagious. The man with her was clearly one of the owners of the bar, tall, muscular, and hotter than a rockstar, Gwen mused with a shake of her head.

“I’ll be back. Have to check in with Derrick,” Phoenix said, kissing Tracey quickly before he walked away.

“Hey Brock, put on another burger for Tracey,” Lucy screamed, smiling like a maniac. “I am so glad you guys are back. I thought you were going to miss the birth!”

“Not on your life,” Tracey told her.

Gwen sat, just absorbing their energy, and listening while trying to remain unobtrusive. As if sensing it, Lucy steered the conversation to include her, and she had never felt such gratitude.

They were really something. This group of beautiful females and their equally beautiful men, Gwen thought. Each of their guys checked in on them at some point during their hour long lunch, either texting or physically dropping by. It was not something she had much experience with, and Gwendolyn was intrigued.

“Okay, I have a question,” she asked, tummy full of the unsurprisingly delicious burger and hand-cut fries she’d gorged herself on.

“Shoot,” Lucy asked, going to town on the triple crème raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake she was eating for dessert.

“Did you guys like special order your boyfriends from a catalog or something?” she asked point blank.

The three women blinked, looked at each other, then busted out laughing. Tracey was wiping her eyes while Lucy held onto her pregnant belly and chuckled.

“Why do you ask that?” Sheila wanted to know.

“Well. I just never saw such good-looking men be so attentive and caring to their significant others. Seems too good to be true,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Okay, there’s a story there, woman, spill,” Lucy commanded.

Well crap. Of course, that happened. Gwen should have known better than to open that can of worms, but she was trapped now.

“Usual story. Small-town girl moves to the big city, becomes infatuated with a fast-talking handsome man, who uses her, empties her bank account, and breaks her heart.”

“The rat!”

“Got a name? I can have his legs broken by midnight,” Lucy growled, and Gwen laughed, stopping when she realized no one else was.

“Oh, um, no, that’s okay. I was raised by my grandfather, who was a deacon at our church. He taught me you reap what you sow, and believe me that, pardon my French, asshole is going to get what he deserves,” Gwen told the three women who seemed to settle a little after that.

“So, you were raised by your grandfather?” Sheila asked.

“Yep. Pop is all I have. He’s older now, and I couldn’t care for him anymore. I got him a place though, at the Hope Springs assisted living facility. It’s truly the best place for him with his advancing dementia and osteoporosis.”

“I’ve heard of that place. It’s a fortune if you can get in,” Tracey said, nodding.

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