Seal It With A Kiss (McClellan Trilogy) by Judy Hagemann Page A

asked.
    “No, we want it to be a surprise. The only thing we hope for is that it is healthy. We plan to have several more. Don’t we Luke?”
    “As many as you want, beautiful.” Luke responded.
    Sam noticed that Holly was a bit uncomfortable about Luke and Brooke’s display of affection and piped in. “Don’t they just make you want to puke?”
    Holly grinned at his comment and was about to reply when Brock walked into the backyard. “Doesn’t what make you want to puke?”
    She spun around about the time Brock spotted her and she could tell that he was as shocked to see her as she was to see him. “I didn’t know you were going to be here—I wouldn’t have come.” Holly commented.
    Brooke grabbed Holly’s hand. “Don’t be silly. Here—sit back down. Luke, would you help me grab the meat for the grill?”
    “Sure—Sam, would you like to grab us another beer?”
    “Yeah, I’ll get that right now.” Sam replied.
    “Wow—if that wasn’t obvious of my family to make sure they gave us some time alone.” Brock mused.
    “I should leave.” Holly said as she stood up.
    Brock was at a loss for words as his eyes drank her in from top to bottom lingering on her long legs and where her short shorts came across her thighs.
    “Is there something wrong Brock?”
    “Nnno…‌You’re stunning.”
    Holly felt the tears welling up in her eyes and tried her best to force them down. “Don’t.” She whispered shaking her head as a tear let go.
    Brock instinctively reached up and wiped it away. “I’m sorry. I was a jerk this morning. I had a lot on my mind and I took it out on you. That was a mistake.”
    Holly barely recognized his voice—it was so tender and sincere. She choked back a sob as Brock took a step towards her and pulled her into an embrace. “I’m so sorry.” He repeated.
    “Are we interrupting?” Luke asked.
    “No.” Holly said as she pushed herself away from Brock and wiped her eyes.
    Brock pleaded with Holly. “Stay—please?”
    She nodded. “Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”
    “I’ll show you where it is.” Brooke offered.
    Luke and Sam both glared at Brock as Sam spoke. “You need to fix this. Whatever you have done—you need to fix this.”
    “I know.” Brock said as he slumped into a chair.
    “Are you going to move forward with that asinine plan of yours?” Luke asked.
    “Hell if I know—I think we kind of need to talk first before I can answer that question.”
    Holly emerged from the bathroom to find Brooke waiting for her. “I’m so sorry—I should leave. I don’t want to cause any problems. I really liked meeting Luke and Sam and they seem like really nice guys. Can you just tell them that I wasn’t feeling well?”
    “Absolutely not! I thought you had more backbone than that. I don’t have a clue what is going on here, but what you two need is an intervention.”
    “Can we talk somewhere more private? I don’t want someone walking in on what I’m going to tell you.”
    “Sure, let’s go to the bedroom.”
    Once the door to the bedroom was closed, Holly sat on the bed and looked up at Brooke. “Have you heard the expression friends with benefits?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, Brock and I…”
    “No! You’re not saying that the two of you are friends with benefits—are you?”
    “Yes and no. We agreed to it on Friday, but we haven’t ‘benefited’ yet. I thought everything was fine when he had left work on Friday, but then when he came in today, he was in a foul mood and started to treat me like shit, so I avoided him the rest of the day. I mean if he was having second thoughts about the arrangement after giving it some thought this past weekend, all he had to do was tell me. Hell, the thought of it today scares the crap out of me.”
    “I am speechless. That is so not Brock. Last I knew he wanted to find a permanent relationship. He has seen what Luke and I have together, and he wants it too. What were you thinking agreeing to that kind of