Page 6

CHAPTER THREE

BECKETT

I pull into my driveway, still high on the adrenaline from meeting Elsie, which is not how I expected my night to go, but apparently, the universe enjoys having a laugh at my expense.

I don’t even get the door all the way open before Beans barrels in, immediately hunting for food like he hasn’t eaten in weeks.

First things first. I yank my phone from my pocket and punch in Mario’s Pizza on speed dial.

“Mario’s, whaddaya need?” It’s the same bored teenager every damn time.

“Large meat lovers. Extra cheese, normal sauce. And cheesy breadsticks.”

He makes some kind of snarky comment about my cholesterol and gives me the total before hanging up. We have thirty minutes.

Across the room, Pork is dead to the world on his custom dog bed—a ridiculous monstrosity from Etsy with his name stitched in gold thread. The dog’s legs are in the air. He lets out a single, condemning snore and rolls over, completely oblivious to my sky-high stress level.

Beans, on the other hand, is wired like he just snorted a pound of sugar. He paces, tail corkscrewed, doing victory laps around the coffee table. Every few seconds, he pauses to stare at the front door like he can sense Elsie is coming over.

I catch myself in the hallway mirror and nearly have a heart attack. My hair is a disaster. I run a hand through it, which only makes it stick up more. Fuck.

I duck into the bathroom for a quick touch-up. Get a fucking grip, Hot.

I square off with my own reflection, reminding myself not to fuck this up as my phone dings with a text from Elsie, letting me know she’s five minutes out.

Fucking hell.

Four minutes and thirty-two seconds later, the doorbell rings, causing my heart rate to accelerate.

Beans launches into full-blown riot mode. He lets out a piggy bark as his hooves hammer a drumline on the tile. I take a deep breath and try to look casual as I swing the door open.

Holy shit. Elsie stands on my front porch, framed by the glow of the porch light, hair blazing like a red-hot warning. She’s grinning, cheeks flushed, eyes so blue I forget how to breathe. The little curve of her mouth nearly knocks me on my ass.

For a full two seconds, I can’t move. I’m just standing there gaping, probably looking like a Neanderthal who never learned words.

I step aside so she can walk in, and holy hell, she’s even more beautiful up close. Tight yoga pants do nothing to hide those curves, and the light blue sweatshirt makes her eyes look nuclear. My hands itch to grab her, haul her against me, but I force myself to act like a normal human instead of a caveman. “Come on in.” My voice comes out rough, like I’ve been gargling gravel. “Beans has been doing laps waiting for you.”

Her laugh is pure sunshine. “I heard him from the driveway. Is he always this excited to see visitors?”

Beans lets out a high-pitched squeal and nearly wipes out trying to make a beeline for her. Elsie laughs again and drops to her knees instantly, placing a bottle of wine on the ground before wrapping her arms around the idiot pig. “Hi, handsome! Did you miss me?”

Beans pretty much melts on the goddamn spot. I swear to Christ, I’ve never seen a pig look so fucking blissed out. Beans flops right over, belly up, legs in the air, tongue lolling. The little traitor doesn’t even look at me. He’s laser-focused on Elsie, grunting and chuffing as she runs her hands over his bristly head.

God. My cock pulses just watching her. The way her hair falls in her face, the way she giggles when Beans tries to climb in her lap like a goddamn lapdog. I want that laugh. I want to hear it every goddamn day for the rest of my life.

“Careful,” I warn, voice rougher than I mean. “He’ll sucker you into giving him treats. He’s got no shame.”

She glances up at me, grinning. “Beans and I are kindred spirits then. I’ll do anything for a snack.”

Fuck. My brain short-circuits, because all I can picture is feeding her strawberries in bed and watching that pink tongue flick over her lips. I want to see her in nothing but my shirt, curled up next to me with her hair wild from my hands.

Goddamn. I am so far gone for this woman.

Before I can embarrass myself by staring any longer, Beans lets out a whimpered grunt that’s supposed to sound pathetic. Elsie giggles, completely enchanted by his bullshit. She scratches his round belly, murmuring, “You’re so dramatic.”

I snort. “Don’t let the act fool you. Beans lives like a king. Had scrambled eggs twice last week just because he pouted.”

She beams up at me, hair falling in her face. “He runs the house, huh?”