Page 16 of Bae

“What’s wrong?” B asked, coming up behind me.

“Rim’s car isn’t here.”

“Maybe Trent has it, doing an oil change or something.”

His thought process was a lot calmer than mine. Bastard.

“Yeah, probably,” I said, refusing to show my concern. With renewed determination, I strode toward the door.

I’d been hoping to get home earlier. I always liked to sneak in when she was in still in bed and I could slip between the covers and wake her up with my body. It was already late morning, though, so I knew she’d be up, but I still anticipated seeing her likely drowning in sweats.

The way her eyes lit up when she saw me still made me feel like the man.

I’d never get tired of the way Rim made me feel.

Please, God, just let her missing car be nothing.

Me and B moved through the breezeway quickly and to the door leading into the house. I flung it open into the large laundry/mud room and barely registered a glance at the large washing machines, dryers, and deep sink.

“Rim!” I bellowed as I moved across the light-colored tile.

I heard her make a small sound of surprise from out in the open kitchen and grinned to myself.She’s okay. Everything is okay.

Movement in the doorway caused my steps to quicken, and I braced myself for her slight weight to be flung in my general direction.

But it wasn’t Rim that launched at me first.

It was a dog.

A dog that was not Prada or Darcy.

Yes, we had two dogs now.

Braeden and I both faltered and looked at each other, then back at the dog who was standing there sniffing the air in our general direction like it was trying to decide if we were friend or foe.

“Did you know about this?” Braeden asked.

“Why would I know about it?” I countered.

He made a rude sound. “‘Cause your woman drags home animals on a daily basis.”

The dog in question started barking.

I rolled my eyes.

In a flurry of movement, Rimmel rushed through the door, Darcy right on her heels. Darcy took one look at me and leapt forward, rushing right past my wife and nearly taking her out.

Rim made a sound and pitched forward, knocked over by the dog and her gigantic sweatpants. Braeden and I both lunged forward. I beat him and swung her up as she fell into my arms.

“Hey, baby.” I grinned down at her as chaos literally reigned around my feet.

It was a typical day at the compound.

She looked up at me through her dark-framed glasses and past her wild hair. “You’re home!” she squeaked, breathless.

“Tell me you missed me,” I demanded loud, over the dogs jumping and barking.

“I missed you.” Her hands wrapped around my neck, and she pushed close into my chest. I inhaled her scent, and instantly, all was right in my world.

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