Page 113 of Worth the Chase

“Stop being mean to Peaches,” Bells groaned.

“Me? It’s trying to cockblock me,” I complained. “Or kill me. I haven’t decided which yet.”

Bells laughed. “My tough guy, scared to death of some cats.”

“Because they’re only nice to you,” I whined because it was the truth.

Those things followed her around the house, winding their bodies between her legs until she picked them up.

She leaned up on her tiptoes, her breath hot against my ear as she whispered, “They know you want a dog.”

I turned and took her mouth with mine in a long kiss before finally breaking it. “I’m going to get two.”

Bells gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I would dare. Just you wait.” I hopped off the counter.

When we got back from the honeymoon, I was getting some dogs. I’d bring them to the resort with me, like Patrick had with Jasper. The guests would love it.Maybe.

“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” I asked.

Bells had been deep in wedding planning. Or at least it felt that way. Honestly, I’d been kind of typical when it came to that stuff and let her choose whatever she wanted. Of course, I’dgiven her my opinion when she asked for it, but all that truly mattered to me was that she (a) showed up and (b) saidI do. The rest were minor details, in my opinion.

“Just some last-minute details. The island has everything planned. I really didn’t have to do much in the grand scheme of things.” She grinned. “It was kind of nice, so thank you for that.”

I smiled and kissed her again. “Anytime.”

“I do get to pick up my dress today though, so no peeking!” She gave me a smirk that tried to look forceful, but was downright adorable instead.

I threw my head back. “Why would I peek?”

“Because you can’t help yourself. Remember Christmas?”

She cocked her head to the side, and a lock of hair fell over her face. I brushed it aside and tucked it behind her ear.

“That was one time. One gift,” I complained, but she was right.

She’d made the mistake of wrapping a present and putting it in our closet, where I could see that it was for me. It sat there day after day, tempting me to look inside. I’d caved. Reverting to being a little kid who unwrapped and rewrapped every gift he’d found just to see what was inside. Bells had known immediately what I’d done and started hiding the presents somewhere I couldn’t find them.

“If you can’t behave, I’ll keep the dress at Addi’s house so you won’t be tempted,” she warned.

“I can behave,” I said before thinking better of it. “But maybe you should put it in a closet downstairs somewhere,” I suggested.

She laughed. “I knew it. You just can’t help yourself.”

“I really can’t.”

She maneuvered herself off of the counter and landed with a thud. “I have to get to the dress store.”

“Are the girls meeting you there?” I asked.

Brooklyn and Addi had been involved in every step of this process with her. I wondered if it had bothered Bells, and I remembered asking her one night when we lay in bed together. She had swatted my shoulder and told me it was the best thing ever, having two sisters.

I couldn’t have related to anything more.

Having two brothers was the absolute best. One wasn’t enough.

“Yep,” she said, popping theP. “And my mom. And Clarabel and baby Ella,” she said, making a dramatic face.

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