Page 18 of Bae

I chuckled. “Duh.”

“Ralph.”

I blinked. “What?”

“His name is Ralph.”

I glanced at the dog. He’d come closer to me, and I was scratching behind his ear like I’d done with Darcy. I had no idea what kind of dog he was. Frankly, he wasn’t all that attractive.

Wasn’t all that attractive = ugly.

He was adorned with plain brown fur, some white speckles on his ass, one white leg and ears that looked a little big for his head. One of those big ears had a literal chunk missing from it. Like someone took a big ol’ bite out of it. Oh, and his eyes were two different colors. Not a nice green and blue either. More like a poop-brown color for one and then a more diluted yellow shade for the other.

Frankly, it was a little creepy.

His looks just made it seem even more unfortunate she named him Ralph. I patted him on the head, and he wagged his tail. Someone had to help this dog. Rim was obviously too kindhearted to understand the least she could do for an ugly mutt like this was give him a badass name.

I straightened and looked at her. “What the hell kind of name is Ralph?”

Rimmel gasped and rushed to put her hands over the dog’s floppy, half-chewed ears. “Roman Anderson!” she gasped. “He’ll hear you!”

“Baby, I’m sure even he thinks that’s a terrible name,” I said, dry.

She gasped again. “He likes it!” she demanded. “Just watch!”

She turned toward the dog. “What’s your name, boy?”

He gave a bark. It was quite the ear-splitting sound… andyeah. It totally sounded like he said Ralph.

God help me.

“See!” She insisted and pointed at the dog.

I rubbed a hand along my jaw, then the back of my neck. “Welcome to the family, Ralph,” I said.

Rimmel squealed and launched herself at me. I caught her as her legs wrapped around my waist. That was the stuff.

“I love you,” she said and peppered my face with kisses.

Ralph barked.

Seriously. How the fuck was I going to call this dog Ralph?

“He likes you!” She bounced against me. Down in my sweats, my cock tingled. I was horny as hell. Her crazy antics were just making me want her more.

“And just what would you have done if he attacked me when I walked in, Mrs. Anderson?” I asked as I carried her into the wide-open kitchen.

“Trent and Drew have extra space. I’d come visit you,” she deadpanned.

I jerked to a stop and stared down at her incredulously. She tried to hide her smile, and I lifted a single eyebrow.

She laughed.

The sound of her laughter fell away when my lips latched onto hers. I swallowed down the sound as I kissed her deep. Her happiness was the best flavor I’d ever sampled. Her shape was the best thing my hands had ever touched.

Her arms wound around my neck, her small body pressed as near as possible, and we melted together as my tongue swept into her mouth and explored as if it hadn’t been there for years rather than weeks.

Around us, both dogs clattered over the wooden floor, the scent of coffee permeated the air, and I supported my entire life in my arms.

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