Goldie and Her Bears Read Online Free Page B

said, looking her way again.
    Leaning in and bracing her elbows on the table, she looked at each one of them. “Good thing for you guys that I really don’t scare all that easily, huh? Or is it good for me?” She shrugged. “Besides, if you give me any shit, I will roll up a newspaper and smack the back of your head to make you shut up and listen to me.”
    Torben and Mahon were grinning wide and then burst out laughing. “I hate you two. I have no idea why we’re fucking friends at all,” Ark muttered, glaring at them. “You two planned this, you told her didn’t you?” he asked, leaning in closer. “You did!”
    “Planned what? Huh?” Goldie was completely and totally lost. “You guys seriously act more like brothers than friends. That’s why you guys are friends. You are all three so much alike it’s not even funny. Even I can see that, and I’ve only just met you.”
    “Ignore him,” Torben said, throwing a kernel of corn at his friend. “He’s just remembering something Mahon commented on this morning. Mahon said we needed to find an assistant for the office; one that wouldn't be afraid of Ark’s mood swings and would just roll up a paper and whack him. He,” he pointed at Arkadios, “is under the delusion that we told you before now and you’re toying with him.”
    Goldie looked from one man to the other and then began to snicker. Seeing Arkadios’s face thundering she began to full out laugh, she couldn’t help herself. “Oh man, that’s utterly and completely priceless. You. Oh that’s too funny.” She snickered again, “No they didn’t tell me about that. It really is something I would do without question if you got out of line. And no, you don’t scare me. To be honest with you, you should scare the living shit out of me but I feel rather comfortable around you,” shaking her head, not really understanding the instant attraction or the feeling that she has known them before. The whole situation was absurd.
    “Oh, I really like her,” Mahon chuckled, shaking his head with a huge grin at Arkadios. “Come on, Ark, you have to admit, she’s got a set on her.” He looked to her and explained, “By this point, most people are pissing their pants and running for the nearest exit.”
    “Well, good thing for you I’m not most people, huh?” Goldie asked and looked back at Arkadios. “I don’t want to fight with you, I really don’t; however, I won’t let you run over me either. I give as good as I get—in all things. Just keep that in mind.”
    Torben threw another kernel at Ark and grinned when the man caught it and threw it back. “He’s a pain in the ass and snarly but you’ll eventually like him, or try to kill him every chance you get. With Arkadios there really are only the two options,” he said to her, flicking the kernel right back across the table.
    She snickered, unable to help herself. Leaning forward, she braced her elbows on the table and asked, “All right, I have to ask because it’s driving me crazy. Why the headache-inducing pink room?” Torben and Mahon snickered and look to Ark to answer.
    “My niece chose the color and happens to love it, is there a problem?” Arkadios asked her with a lifted brow. “She’s six and happens to love pink at the moment. Two years ago, it was neon yellow. Who knows what the hell the next color will be.”
    “Oh, you poor man.” She reached out and touched his hand with hers, smiling as she gave it a squeeze. “I think that it’s sweet you are willing to cater to her like that. It makes me see the man you are instead of the growling beast you are putting forward. I like the man, you should let him show often,” Goldie eyes twinkled for the big guy that would bow to wants of a six year old.
    The three shared a look before Arkadios looked at her, “Darling, you are in for one hell of a shocker,” he told her, pulling his hand out of her reach. Snagging his beer bottle, he took a drink as he watched her