Pete Benson is not happy. He has a boring going nowhere job and to save money he lives with his grandmother because living with his homophobic parents isn’t an option. A knee injury meant Pete had missed the majority of the previous rugby season. His general unhappiness at life plus the enforced lack of activity resulted in his weight and his waistline ballooning, and his self-confidence plummeting.
Knowing he needs to make a change, a reluctant Pete agrees to accompany his friend to her weight loss group. Despite his friend’s reassurances, Pete fears he’ll stick out as the meeting will be full of women. It is, but there is one other man present ... Bear. And what a man.
Pete is instantly attracted to Bear, who rocks the whole lumberjack look with his flannel shirt and tight jeans. The bald head and full beard only add to the man’s sex appeal. And those dark blue eyes ... But a man like Bear won’t be interested in a fat lump like Pete.
The lost and hopeless demeanour Pete exudes speaks to something within Bear, but Bear is happy, okay, content, living the single bachelor life. However, Bear would swear BJ is doing his doggy best to push Bear and Pete together. Not that Bear objects. Those firm, strong rugby player thighs of Pete’s turn Bear on something fierce.
When it’s Man of the Year Award time again, will the group have a choice of who to vote for?
Pete smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be too bad after all. Laughter from across the room drew his attention. A bald man with his back to Pete stood at the food table, a couple of women on either side of him. One woman had a hand on his arm while the other stood on tiptoe to whisper something in his ear, causing them both to laugh. Pete was gripped by a strange mixture of anger and longing. Anger that these women could paw at a man in public without anyone raising an objection, and longing that he wished he were the one doing the pawing. This man -- wide shoulders and broad back all clad in red checked flannel, his full, firm arse covered by black jeans -- was Pete’s idea of a real man. Could this be the Bear Tina was talking about?
“Uncle Bear!” Grace cried out and ran towards the group, wrapping her small arms around the bald man’s right leg.
If Pete was impressed by the rear view, it was nothing to what he saw when Bear turned around. At a glance, Pete took in dark blue eyes, a full bushy beard, a mass of brown hair poking out the open neck of his shirt, a flat stomach, and a more than adequate crotch bulge.
The woman to Bear’s right caressed his shoulder when Bear squatted to be closer to Grace’s level. The woman to Bear’s left pulled out a handkerchief and jokingly polished Bear’s bald pate. Everyone laughed except Pete. Again he was gripped by jealousy. Why couldn’t he be the one allowed to touch this man? Mentally Pete shook his head. Where were these ridiculous thoughts coming from?
“Gracie!” Bear said loudly, the man’s rich baritone washing over Pete, making his stomach flutter.
“Uncle Bear, I brought my new doll to show you.” Grace held up the Barbie, thrusting it in Bear’s face.
“Wow, she’s pretty.” Bear’s fingertips touched the doll’s dress. “But she isn’t as pretty as you.”
Grace squealed. “You’re silly.”
“You get prettier every time I see you. And taller, too. Soon you’ll be taller than me.”
Grace giggled. “No way. You’re, like, the tallest person I ever met.”
Bear hoisted her into the air, his legs straightening and his arm muscles flexing. “See, you’re already taller than me!”
Grace screamed with joy.
“Inside voice, remember?” Tina admonished.
Pete turned to face Tina and undid the buttons on his coat. The room was pretty warm.
“We’ll get you registered and weighed,” Carol told Pete. “Then after you’ve eaten, I’ll go over the plan, okay?”
“But I didn’t bring ...” Pete gestured to the table of food.
Carol made a dismissive noise. “Don’t worry about that. There’s plenty to go around. Just take a seat over here and I’ll get a few details to start the ball rolling.” Calling over to Bear, who’d set Grace down and was turned back to the food table, his two female admirers still fawning over him, Carol asked, “Bear, would you be a love and weigh Pete once I’ve finished registering him?”
Bear turned around again, that dark blue gaze locking onto Pete. “Sure, no problem. Welcome to the club, Pete.”
“Uh, thanks.” Pete croaked, mouth suddenly dry.
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