Playboy Bear

Chapter 1

Chapter One

It wasn’t really that different of a day. The weather outside was cool and crisp, and Amy could sense the first hints of fall in the air. It made her smile – autumn meant boots and sweaters, hoodies, and comfy blankets. It was her favorite time of the year.

She stepped out the door of the small town veterinarian office where she worked. No, it wasn’t a glamorous job, but it let her work with animals, which she loved, and it let her stay in her hometown. Everywhere she looked in town, she had sweet memories of her parents, who died in a vehicle collision when she was just 18. How could she ever leave? It would be like leaving the last connection to her family behind. Even after she graduated from college, it just wasn’t something she even considered.

Strolling home, she had a smile on her face. She was two hours early and she would get to surprise Lucas. She wondered if he remembered that today marked their two-year anniversary together. She wanted to do something special. That’s why her boss let her leave early.

As soon as she walked in the door, something was…off. It just didn’t feel right. She stood in the threshold trying to figure out what was wrong. That’s when she heard a woman laugh.

She didn’t even say anything when she opened the door to the bedroom and saw Lucas lying in bed with a strange -- and very sexy-- woman. She just stood there, too dumbstruck to even gasp. But then Lucas saw her.

“Oh, god. Oh s**t. Amy. What are you doing here?” He jumped out of bed, apparently trying to distance himself from the woman he was just naked with. He grabbed his boxers, haphazardly thrown on the floor and for a minute, Amy wondered why. It was clear everyone in the room had seen him naked after all.

“I…I got off early for our anniversary,” she stammered, the tears starting to form in her eyes.

“Listen. It’s not what it looks like, ok?” He started walking toward her.

That’s the point when Amy finally found her anger and her voice.

“Not what it looks like? Because it looks like you just had s*x with her.” She tried to stay calm. Didn’t they always say crying was a sign of weakness? But, she felt the tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Well, yeah, but. Well, Amy, it’s really your fault.”

“My fault? How is it my fault?” She was really trying not to scream at him now. And, to add insult to injury, his…female friend…had to open her mouth. At some point, she had gotten out of bed and zipped herself into very tiny jeans before walking to stand beside Lucas.

“Well, honey, he told me he needed a sexy woman. I mean come on, look at yourself! Couldn’t you lose a few pounds to keep your man?”

Amy’s hand moved.

She never slapped anyone before. She didn’t realize how much it would hurt. The bombshell huffed and stormed out, holding a hand to her face protectively.

“Deal with her if you want to be with me, Lucas.” She demanded as she brushed by Amy.

The tears were flowing now and Amy inwardly cursed herself for crying. She should be stronger than this.

“How long?” She breathed through clenched teeth, brushing her blond hair out of her face.

“What?”

“How long have you been cheating on me?”

“Amy…I”

“No, tell me Lucas.”

“A couple of months, I guess.”

She wanted to scream. Curse at him. Throw things. Anything. Instead, she marched across the room, pulled her big suitcase from the closet and started flinging clothes in it without folding them up.

“Amy wait.”

“What? What could you possibly say?” She didn’t stop emptying drawers to respond.

“I just. I told you. No, you know what? I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t attracted to you, Amy. Jeez. Look at me and then look at you. It’s a no brainer.”

Amy glanced up at the man she had loved for almost two years. He was still shirtless and was certainly good looking. He did have a nice physique and a handsome face. He was not, however, all that.

“What are you trying to tell me Lucas?”

“I think we should break up.”

“Yeah, well, that’s kind of a given.” She had moved on from packing her now overstuffed suitcase to throwing things in a weekender bag she had found in the back of her closet.

“No, I am breaking up with you Amy. I should have done it a long time ago.”

It seemed absolutely ludicrous. She was packing her things. She had been cheated on. But, he was the one breaking up with her. The words stung. And once again, she wanted to scream at him. But it would do no good whatsoever. She should have seen this coming. She should have known that things would go bad. The passing comment about what she chose to eat. The times she caught him ogling other women who were veritable stick figures. She should have known.

Amy caught a glance in the mirror as she turned to grab more clothes. So, she had some curves. Well, a lot of curves. So, she wore a size 12. She was still pretty, right? Well, not at the moment. Her mascara was smudged. Her hair looked a little wild from running her hand through it. But, she was an attractive young woman at only 23, and plenty of men like curves, she told herself. She could do better. Lucas didn’t deserve her, she thought as she began loading things in her car. She didn’t want to say another word to the man who was supposed to love her, but had betrayed her so badly.

Lucas followed her to the door.

“You know, I did love you Amy. Where are you even going to go?”

She didn’t break the vow of silence until she had the keys in her hand and was walking out of the apartment they shared together, and she knew she was walking out for the last time.

“I don’t know, but I never want to see you again.”

With that, she got in her car and drove. The tears flowed hot and wet down her cheeks. Just a couple of hours ago, she was in a loving relationship, on the way home to celebrate their anniversary. Just a couple of hours ago, everything had been right.

Now, she found herself driving past the city limits sign of the town she had lived in all of her life. It was time for something new. With her bachelor’s degree in business administration, she could easily get a better job in the big city.

She had thought about it before, but she had just always loved living in the small town that reminded her so much of her parents – the small town where she met Lucas. But it was time for something new, she thought as she held tightly to the steering wheel, took a deep breath, and drove toward a new life.

He stood on the top floor of his high rise – yes, HIS. He may only be 29 years old, but he had worked hard to gain his status and position. The boss. The top dog. The number one. That’s who he was.

The rain was pattering softly on the big picture windows of his spacious office. As he looked out on a gray world that looked so tiny from his position on top of it, his chiseled jaw clinched ever so slightly.

It was a good life, he thought. He was a billionaire before he even turned 30. He was incredibly attractive – of course he knew that. And, he had his pick of any woman he wanted. But, no matter how much he tried to convince himself, something just wasn’t quite right. The parade of women – none of them even remotely challenged his intellect. And, he wondered if a single one of them would accept the secret he guarded so carefully.

It hadn’t been a great day, and to top it off, his secretary had put in her two weeks’ notice last Monday and he still didn’t have a replacement. He really hated to be put out like that. He was used to her. She was good at her job. Now, she was leaving and he would have to deal with someone new. A deep growl of irritation rumbled in his chest before he sighed and walked back to the computer. HR had sent him a few resumes to browse. He might as well make a decision.