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“You make it look easy,” she said when he was done.

“That’s because I’ve had plenty of practice,” he said, turning and flashing one of his disarming smiles.

She walked across and placed her hands on his chiseled torso. “And practice makes perfect. Right.”

“Drills and repetitions, babe. That’s what makes us good.” He dipped his head and kissed her as he unfastened the chain and lowered the plates to the floor.

“Are you done?” she asked.

“Yep. Last set.”

“You want to tell me what’s got you stressed?”

“I’m not stressed. Dinner was great. Rick and Jenny’s news was amazing. Life is good.”

Her eyes narrowed as she studied his face.

“What?” he asked, racking his weights.

“You’re worried about Axe, aren’t you?”

He shrugged.

“Babe, it’s teeth. He’s going to be fine. The vet dental specialist is the best in the business, and I’ll be there to assist. Nothing is going to happen to our boy.”

“Ali, he’s an older dog.”

“Mike, he has the fortitude of a bear. His resting heart rate is lower than yours. He’s going to be fine.” She leaned in close and placed her hands against his chest. “I promise.”

He dipped his head and kissed her. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Well, if you didn’t have Axe, you’d be dating strippers, Rick would be engaged to an OnlyFans model, and TJ would be divorced and drunk.”

Mike laughed. “You’re right. That dog brings out the best in us. I can’t believe Rick is going to be a dad. That’s awesome.”

Ali traced her hands down his chest to his hips. “Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

“About Rick being a dad?”

She shook her head as she gazed up at him with her green eyes, her plump lips ever so slightly parted. “No, I think Junior needs a sibling.”

“Oh,” said Mike.

“Oh?” replied Ali, her voice husky with desire. “Is that your answer?”

“We always wanted two,” he managed as she leaned forward and kissed his chest. “And we’ve got the space now.”

“We do,” whispered Ali as his hands slid around her summer dress and located the zipper. “Although we might have to swap your truck for a minivan.”

He froze. “My truck?”

She laughed as her fingers found the waistband of his shorts. “Babe, I’d never make you give up your truck. Two kids do not warrant a van. I like to tease you.”

“Is that right?” he whispered as his lips found her neck and he lowered the zipper. Her summer dress descended from her neck to the small of her back. “Let the teasing begin.”

Chapter Three

Mike slipped through the door to one of the team briefing rooms at Group One’s headquarters building in Coronado. TJ, Ernie, and Rick were already inside, along with one of the team’s intelligence staff, Greg. “Sorry, I’m late, guys. I had to drop Junior at daycare. Ali’s taking Axe into surgery.”