Catching Her Bear Read Free Page A

looked up. “What?”
    The girls chuckled. “Molly just asked what you’d like to drink.”
    Oh, crap. She’d been daydreaming about Kalan. “I’ll have your house Merlot, please.” Damn, and here she was just telling herself not to drink. Oh, well. She’d give up dessert tomorrow.
    Molly nodded and left. Apparently, her friends had given her their order already. Sheesh. Elana inhaled, needing to share her news and ask for advice. “You’ll never guess who came into my flower shop.”
    The girls exchanged glances. “Who?” Missy asked.
    “Kalan Murdoch.”
    Izzy leaned forward then flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “Kalan came to the flower shop? Why?”
    She let loose her little fib. “He was buying something for his mom. I think it was her birthday.”
    “Aw, that is sweet. He’s coming over on Saturday to my birthday party, you know,” Izzy said.
    She shook her head. “He said he might have to work.”
    One brow rose. “He said that?”
    Elana didn’t like her tone. Oh, shit. If they were discussing Izzy’s party, she might think he was in the store to buy something for her. “Yes.”
    Izzy shook her head. “He’ll be there. He’s Rye’s best friend, and I don’t think Rye would forgive him if he didn’t come.”
    “I hope so.” Elana tried not to let the relief show, but a grin crept up on her face anyway. “What are you all wearing?”
    Missy shrugged. “I’m just wearing jeans and a T-shirt. It’s more or less an outside affair.”
    Darn. “I guess heels are out then. I hate being the shortest one around.”
    Teagan clasped her hand. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in Kalan?”
    She didn’t know why Teagan sounded so surprised. Elana twisted in her seat. “I admit he’s a little older, but he’s so fucking hot!” The group laughed and she slumped against her seat. “He’s out of my league, isn’t he? I’m stupid for thinking about him.”
    “No,” they all said in unison.
    Their drinks arrived—her red wine, Izzy’s white one, and two colorful Mojitos, full of mint and lime, for Missy and Teagan. Elana tipped back half her glass. Fortunately, no one commented.
    Izzy waved a hand. “Forget him. Kalan doesn’t deserve you. When he’s not on the job, he plays around—or so Rye said. You can do better.”
    “That’s sweet of you to say, but I want to give him a chance.” She’d watched him for years now but never had the nerve to speak with him. When she ran into him at the hospital after checking up on Rye, he’d seemed out of sorts. When he suddenly said he had to leave right away and then ran right into the door, it almost looked like he was trying to get away from her as quickly as possible. She hoped there had been another explanation.
    Missy lifted her refreshing looking drink. “I have a kickass top you can borrow, if you want. It will really show off your tits.”
    Elana almost spit out her wine. “I don’t want to lure him in like that.”
    Missy shook her head. “It’s called advertising. You have to get him to look first before buying. Then he’ll find out how incredible you are.”
    “Real incredible.” Not.
    Teagan chimed in. “How many women have started a business? Huh?”
    “My parents are the consummate entrepreneurs. I learned from them.”
    Izzy glanced to the ceiling. “You barely saw them. It’s not like they took you anywhere to show you what they did for a living.”
    A sharp pain stabbed her just below her heart. “I heard all about their adventures when they came home.” She would have learned more if her parents had taken her on even one of their worldwide jaunts.
    “Where did they go this last time?” Izzy asked.
    Clearly, her best friend had read the longing on Elana’s face and felt bad about it. Understandably, Izzy never had any use for her mom and dad since they often neglected her. “India.”
    Teagan sipped her drink. “How exotic. Were they there to buy stuff for their import-export company?”
    How