Free Caught in the Net by Breanna Hayse

ducked behind her father. 
    Rich shook his finger at her.  “Watch out, my dear. 
You’re not the only one who can pull pranks.”
    “Good, finally we get someone who can beat her at her
own game,” Scott commented, slapping Dr. Quimby’s hand away from his bacon. 
“Welcome to the family, Mr. Lewis.  You’ve been pranked.”
    “Should I expect this often?” Rich asked, hearing the
girl yelp as her uncle smacked her thigh.
    “We don’t have enough time in the day to warn you what
to expect.  Just sit back and enjoy the ride.  And please let one of us know if
she gets to be too much to handle,” Scott ordered, wagging his finger at Sam
who stuck her tongue out at him.
    Rich grinned, his dimples accented.  “Yes, Mike warned
me as well.  Don't worry, I will call on you for anything I can't handle on my
own.”
    Rich blended into the family easily, and by the end of
the day, the comfort level was at its peak, with him joining right in with the
warm teasing and playful banter.  Sam walked him out to his car, holding his
hand.  “Did you have fun today?” she asked.  “My family is always like this.  I
love hanging out with them more than anything.”
    “It was the most fun I’ve had in years.  Are you upset
that I joined them in teasing you?”
    “After my stunt?  Heck no.  I had to see if you had a
sense of humor, you know.  And balls.”
    “I have both.  Just beware, you don’t want to pull
pranks on me too often, I always get even.”  Rich smiled, holding her chin
gently.
    “I’m an expert at dodging bullets.  Live in a family
like this, raised with hundreds of big brothers, a girl learns how to take care
of herself.  I hope we didn’t overwhelm you about us, though.”
    “Not at all.  I find you amazing.  And beautiful.  And
a bit of a brat.”  Rich smiled, kissing her.  “All the qualities I look for in
the perfect woman.”
    “Even the brat?”
    “Especially the brat.  I have a special way of dealing
with that quality.”  He kissed her again.
    “Believe me, so does my family and I don’t care for
it,” she mumbled against his lips.  Her knees shook after he let her go and got
into his car.  Wow , she thought, almost as good as the swirls.  
Sam watched him drive away and, after regaining control of her legs, returned
inside.  Her family was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.  She smiled,
leaning against the wall.
    “Did you have a nice day, love?” Dr. Quimby asked,
handing her a dishtowel.  She nodded, still smiling. 
    Michael grunted.  “Looks like she got a real kiss
tonight.  Samantha?  Helllloo? Care to join us?”  He snapped his fingers in her
face.
    “He’s so nice and cute.  And he likes my brat side.”
    “Speaking of which, what were you thinking with
putting his arm in that damn whale's mouth, girl?  You have more sense than
that,” Scott asked. 
    She started to dry a plate.  “No, really, Uncle Scott,
I was responding to Ton's inquiry.  He asked me how Rich tasted.  I didn’t
understand, so I let him find out for himself.  Plus it showed me Rich wasn’t a
wimp.”
    “Tasted?” Michael piped in, “What could that mean?”
    “I don’t know.  I can tell you now, from a human perspective,
he’s delicious,” she sighed.
    “I don’t want to hear that, thank you,” Dr. Quimby
grumbled.  “How did you introduce him to Ton?”
    “As a new pod member, but closer than those at work. 
Like a mate.”
    “Oh shit!  Samantha, Ton was asking you about sex!” Michael
howled again, laughing hysterically.  “He wanted to know if Rich satisfied
you!”
    His sister turned bright red as her eyes widened.  “Oh
no... Do you really think so?  No wonder he was confused when I put Rich’s hand
in his mouth.  I’m so embarrassed.”
    “You’ll get over it.  At least until I tell the men,”
Michael hooted.  The room exploded with uncontrolled laughter as the other two
men joined in. 
    Sam's face turned a deeper