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AMBER
So, Rob Hartley is not only good with kids, and good at melting a lady’s heart with roses, but he’s also excellent in the kitchen. Having seen his Instagram posts, I shouldn’t be surprised, but seeing him move and handle his knife so expertly, I am more than impressed.
Rob is not Matty’s dad, but look at him! He’s a man with the qualities of a loving father, like the Steiff Papa Bear—gentle, endearing, and loyal. Once again, I can’t fathom that he fishes with Elon Musk, dives with James Cameron, and parties with blonde, leggy women in bikinis.
Holding the yellow rose, I watch him laying out the pots and pans and other tools that look too shiny to be cooking gadgets.
I leave my handsome host as Matty invites me to his room and shows me Bjork. “See, I take good care of him.”
“Nice job, Matty.”
Matty positions the bear’s arms so the teddy looks to be offering a hug, and then presses Bjork toward me. “He likes you.”
“I’m his doctor, what can I say!”
“I don’t like my doctor,” the boy complains. “I’m glad I won’t have to see him again.” Then he asks me, “Are you Rob’s girlfriend?”
I haven’t let the butterflies in my belly fly into my heart yet, but they’re definitely making it clear they’re not about to give up. “No. I’m just a friend.”
“I like you better than Lina.”
“Lina?”
“Yeah, Rob’s girlfriend.”
Lina—I presume it’s short for Karolina Belaya.
“Are they still together?” I ask.
“No. Rob took her to Switzerland. I never saw her again.”
I feel a nervous whir in my chest. Maybe they broke up in Switzerland and she never came back to America.
“Matty!” Rob calls. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Coming!”
Matty and I sit at the table, watching Rob garnish the plate of fish. This is not my idea of how a billionaire bachelor lives his life. It’s refreshing, and sexy.
“Here we go, middle-eastern spiced halibut. Freshly caught. Sort of. Clay was out with a client yesterday, and they went fishing with our brand-new boat.”
It smells and looks incredible.
Then Matty says to me, “Do you know Rob used to be in the Navy?”
His big brother flashes a lopsided smile as he serves potatoes and veggies on my plate. Maybe that was why Captain Beau at my shop caught his attention when he came over that night.
My cell buzzes. “I’m sorry!” I say. I shouldn’t have put it on the table in the first place.
“Answer it, it’s okay,” Rob says. “It might be a bear emergency.”
“No. No. Sorry.” My fingers tingle with embarrassment as I switch my cell off. “So, you were in the Navy?”
“I did a stint in the Navy, yes.” Rob takes a seat opposite me.
The first piece of halibut hits my taste buds.
“This is incredible,” I say. “The fish, the sauce… so perfect.”
