Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
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?”
I drag a hand over my jaw, feeling heat crawl up my neck. “He and Pork call the shots. I just pretend I’m in charge.”
Pork finally decides to participate in the action. He thuds to his feet, waddles over, and sniffs her. Then he rolls over and presents his belly for rubs. Traitorous dog.
Elsie obliges. “Aww, Pork. You’re so sweet.” She gives his belly a gentle scratch. The little bastard closes his eyes in ecstasy, tongue lolling out. If a dog could look smug, this is it.
Watching them, I try to remember how to use words.
“You, uh—want a drink? Water, soda, wine?” Fuck. I sound like a babbling idiot.
She stands and hands me the bottle of wine. “I come bearing gifts. This is my favorite, and I thought it might go good with pizza?” She’s watching for my reaction, a little unsure, but mostly just radiant.
Wine and pizza. She gets me.
“Perfect combo.” I take the bottle and my hand brushes hers, and for a nanosecond, the heat is so intense I almost drop the wine.
Get it together, Hot.
Beans is still doing circles, tail a blur, absolutely devoted to Elsie now.
She laughs and finally manages to wiggle out of his orbit, giving him a little pat on the back.
“He’s got so much personality. I just love him.
” The words go right to my chest and twist, tight and hot, making me want to haul her up against me and never let go.
This is bad. I’m in deep. I can’t even pretend otherwise.
“He’s a show-off,” I manage, but all I can think about is the way Elsie looks at me over Beans’s round belly, her eyes alive and her cheeks glowing. If I don’t kiss her soon, I’m going to fucking explode.
Before I can do something stupid, the doorbell rings. Beans nearly launches out of his own skin, snorting and spinning, and Elsie jumps like she just remembered she’s not alone with me in the universe.
I scrub a hand over my face and try to act normal. “That’ll be the pizza.” Like an idiot, I blurt, “Hope you’re hungry. Mario’s doesn’t fuck around.”
Elsie grins. “I could eat a whole pizza myself after the day I’ve had.” She flashes this wild, hungry grin, and my cock punches hard against my zipper. Jesus. This woman already owns me lock, stock, and barrel.
I stalk to the door and yank it open. The pizza guy stares at me, eyes wide, and shoves the boxes at my chest like he’s facing down a feral wolf. I grunt, slap several bills in his hand, and kick the door shut.
Elsie’s already clearing a spot at the table, her hair swinging over her shoulder, and her ass looking way too good in those leggings. I drop the pizza and breadsticks in front of her, grab two glasses, and pop open the wine.
I pour us each a glass and try not to stare at her lips as she takes a slow sip. She moans, just a little, and my knees nearly buckle as my cock urges me to make a fucking move already.
“God, I needed that.” She winks at me, and I have to fight to keep myself under control.
While we eat our pizza, Elsie keeps one hand under the table to pet my spoiled animals. The pure joy on her face… I’m pretty sure my heart just flips upside down.
Everything falls into place. Elsie cracks jokes about how spoiled my animals are, and I make fun of Beans’s dramatic sighs every time she pauses in petting him.
“So,” Elsie finally says, voice soft and curious, “how did you end up with this crazy crew?”
I glance at the animals and snort. “It’s technically my mother’s fault. She fostered these two after their previous owner fell sick. He was a little old man who lived down the street. When he went into hospice, the animals needed a place. Mom thought she’d find them a new home after a few weeks…”
“Lemme guess,” she laughs, “you fell. Hard.”
“We all did,” I admit. “Plus, they’re a bonded pair. Couldn’t split them up, even if I wanted to.”
She leans forward, chin in her hands. “That’s adorable. You’re a softie, Beckett. I’m onto you.”
I roll my eyes. “If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”
She snorts and takes another bite of pizza. “Anyone who sees you with your pets already knows.”
I want to memorize this—her laugh, the way her eyes crinkle at the corners, and how she snorts when something really cracks her up. I want to bottle it, keep it, get drunk off it.
She wipes her mouth and leans back, totally relaxed. “So, have you lived here your whole life?”
“Born and raised,” I say. “Riverbend’s the only place I’ve ever wanted to be. Always knew I’d stay, make something here.” I can’t help watching her as I talk. She’s really listening. Most people fake it—nod, smile, move on. Not her.
She twirls the wine, watching the color catch the light.
“I get it. I moved here from Houston a couple of months ago. I needed a change of pace.” She glances up and holds my stare.
“I had no idea how much I’d love it until I got here, honestly.
Every day it’s something new—one minute, I’m checking on a miniature goat with a head cold, and the next, I’m doing surgery on a rescue raccoon.
It was the best decision I’ve ever made. ”
The way her whole face lights up when she talks about her work? Goddamn. I want that every day.
We kill the entire pizza off before I know it. By the time the last slice disappears, I’m so full I could explode, but I don’t want the night to end.
She glances at the clock with real regret. “Sorry to eat and run, but I’ve got an early surgery tomorrow, and Mr. Snugglebutt is a tyrant if I’m late.”
I blink several times, wondering if I heard her right. “Mr. Snugglebutt?”
“My spoiled-rotten, grumpy cat.” The fond smile on her face tells me all I need to know.
She stands, and the animals instantly protest—Beans makes a heartbroken whuff, while Pork snuffles her ankle in a last-ditch guilt trip. She crouches down and gives both a proper goodbye, murmuring absolute nonsense to them.
I walk her to the door, hands jammed in my pockets, so I don’t do something insane like grab her and never let go.
But holy hell, the urge is practically burning out my control circuits.
My hands twitch in my pockets, and I barely unlock the front door before Beans tries to wedge himself between us, snorting like a jealous toddler.
Elsie turns to me, her eyes so bright I want to drown in them. “Tonight was… really fun.” Her voice is soft, a little shy, but she’s grinning. Jesus, she’s gorgeous. I can’t remember ever wanting to kiss someone this badly in my life.
“Yeah,” I agree, and I hear the rough edge in my own voice. “Best night I’ve had in a long time.” My heart’s beating so hard it’s probably visible through my shirt. The need to haul her against me and see if her mouth tastes as sweet as her smile is almost unbearable.
She bites her lip, like she’s waiting to see what I’ll do next.
I don’t leave her wondering. I step closer, crowding her against the doorway.
Her body goes soft and sweet against me, exactly where she belongs.
Those blue eyes go wide, lips parting like she’s just as desperate as I am.
I slam my hand to the frame behind her head, pinning her in place, and lower my mouth to hers.
The second our lips touch, I fucking lose it.
She tastes like wine and heat and everything I never knew I needed. Soft. Fucking perfect. Her hands fist in my shirt, and she arches against me, letting out a little breathless sound that nearly makes me throw caution out the damn window and haul her back inside.
I force myself to ease up, just enough so she knows I’m not going to maul her on the porch. Not unless she begs me.
She’s dazed, smiling, cheeks flushed as I walk her to her car. I cup her jaw and brush my thumb over her bottom lip just to feel it tremble under my touch. She shivers, looking up at me. "Thanks again for dinner," she breathes, her voice honey-sweet and low.
"Thanks for taking care of my crazy pig," I whisper back, my voice rough with wanting her. She laughs, the sound sending a bolt of heat straight to my cock. I don’t want to let her go. Ever. I brush my thumb over her cheek, memorizing the way her skin flushes under my touch.
“You’re welcome.” She smiles up at me, and I barely resist the urge to kiss her again.
“Have dinner with me Friday night,” I growl, barely recognizing my own voice.
“A real dinner. No distractions. No animals demanding belly rubs, no piggies faking sick for extra attention. Just you and me.” I grin, nipping her lower lip.
“I’ll bribe my parents to babysit Pork and Beans.
You get my full attention. No interruptions. ”
She looks up at me through her lashes. “It’s a date.”