Page 9 of Mine to Possess (Veteran K9 Team #3)

Chapter Nine

Barron

B etty came by herself to the lodge and we got to spend a whopping twenty minutes together on Sunday before Linc, Li-Lou, and Sarge were fogging up the windows in my truck.

We texted all night, all day Monday, and all morning today.

She invited me over to dinner to celebrate her mother’s birthday tonight.

I’m fucking nervous.

So nervous that my hands are sweating.

Parking down the street from Betty’s apartment complex—because my truck is too big for the tiny parking spaces in front—Sarge and I walk the half block worth of concrete with lumps in our throats.

Well, maybe Sarge is cool. Nothing rattles her cage.

But me? I’m a mess.

I grabbed flowers on my way here, as well as a bottle of wine, both of which make me feel like a cheesy ass as I walk up the communal walkway to the front door.

Betty meets me at the stairs wearing a flirty skirt that begs to have my hands underneath it and a sweet smile on her face. “I’ve never seen you dressed up.”

I glance down at my black sweater, dark blue jeans, and black boots. “You should see me in a suit.”

“I bet you’re breath-taking.” She throws her arms around my neck, claiming my lips in the middle of the hallway for all to see. “I missed you.”

My anxiety settles for a second, the desire to lift and press her back against the wall while she wraps her legs around my waist strong. With her skirt on, it would be so easy too. “I missed you too. How was the rest of your time on the mountain?”

“Pretty boring without you. Since my mom messed up her knee, she wasn’t skiing, so we lounged around the house, played board games, ordered takeout, and watched the bunnies ski up and down the slope.”

“Not as much fun as orgasms?” I arch my brow to lighten the mood.

“Not nearly.” She smiles so wide that it does something to my heart.

“I brought wine.” Showing her the bottle, she nods and takes the flowers from me.

“These are beautiful.”

Leaning forward, I put my mouth to her ear. “I know exactly what facial expressions you make when you come and yet, I don’t know what flowers you like. I hope to rectify that over the coming months.”

“Months? That’s a lot of dates.”

“Not nearly as many as I want.”

She interlaces her fingers with mine and pulls me behind her down the hallway to apartment #223. “Come on. Let’s get these in water and get the introductions over with.”

As soon as the door swings open, a woman who is damn near a carbon copy of Betty hobbles out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her face lights up with a beautiful smile and although her hair is considerably blonder than Betty’s, she has the same rich brown eyes.

She walks forward and offers her hand. “Barron, I presume?”

“Brandi.” We shake hands briefly. “Nice to meet you.”

She chuckles, tilting her head back to look up at me. “Wow. You are a mountain of a man, aren’t you?”

“Mom!” Betty chides from her position near the floor as she scratches Sarge behind the ears.

“What? I think he knows he’s built like a bear.” Brandi double downs, but her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

I chuckle and hand her the bottle of wine. “It’s been mentioned a couple of times in my life.”

“Oh, this is nice.” She hobbles back to the small four-person table set for two.

“Happy birthday.”

Her mouth drops. “Is this for me?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I don’t really know anything about wine, so I let the clerk pick it out.”

She picks the bottle up and really inspects the label, then she laughs. “Yeah, I don’t know shit about wine either, except that it’s delicious. I’m sure we will enjoy it.”

“How’s your knee?”

“Oh, it’s fine.” She waves away my concern. “I feel stupid complaining about it.”

“Linc said it could have been a lot worse.”

Betty’s head snaps up. “Worse?”

Brandi’s cheeks grow a darker shade of red. “Did he? What else did he say?”

Linc has been uncharacteristically tight-lipped since we got back from the mountain, except when he’s telling everyone about walking in on me naked in a hot tub.

The motherfucker has been sharing that story with the whole Veteran K9 Center.

Although I had my suspicions—knowing Linc and his instant attraction to Brandi—I wasn’t positive something happened between them until right now.

The look on her face says it all.

“He hasn’t said much of anything in the last few days.”

“Oh.” She bites her lip and sets the bottle down. “I’ll get us glasses and a corkscrew.”

“See?” Betty slides her arms around my waist. “She likes you.”

I wrap my arms around her and rest my chin on the top of her head. This feels right, the ache that has been burning in my chest since Sunday morning finally easing up. “Does she like me enough to see me in the morning?”

“Are you saying you want to spend the night?” Betty lifts her chin and smiles.

“Yes.” I kiss her forehead, the tip of her nose, and then her lips. “Or you can spend the night with me. Either way, I want to wake up with you in my arms.”

“Not to mention all the things you want to do to me throughout the night.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“Yeah, that too.”

I loosen my hold when I hear the bottle pop. I didn’t realize Brandi took the wine into the kitchen with her.A gentleman would have opened the bottle himself.

“I hope you’re hungry, Barron.” Brandi walks out with two wine glasses, handing Betty and me a glass.

“Starved. It smells amazing.”

“It’s my favorite, chicken cacciatore, but I told her we should eat her favorite on her birthday.” Betty grumbles.

“Well,” Brandi walks out with two more glasses, setting one on the table.

Four glasses total, but only two plates—what the hell is going on?

“I should probably tell you now. I’m not eating dinner with you tonight.”

“What?” Betty takes a step back at the same time Sarge growls low in her throat. My fur baby stands up, walks over to the door, sniffs, and then sits down patiently.

Holy shit.

I’m ninety-nine percent sure Linc is on the other side of that door. She only does that for members of my team—people she’s been around her whole life.

“I have a date.” Brandi lifts her glass and takes a drink like she didn’t just drop a bomb on her daughter.

I say nothing, watching the exchange and waiting for the big reveal.

Not a moment too late, there’s a gentle knock at the door.

Betty’s head swings around. “A date? With who? You don’t know anyone here.”

“Well, neither did you before Saturday.” Brandi points out and walks to the door, opening it to reveal Linc standing there with the same bouquet I brought, making me feel like even more of a cheesy ass.

“Hey, beautiful.” He leans in and kisses her neck, a most intimate of exchanges. “Happy birthday.”

“Oh… plot twist.” Betty whispers and looks up at me with wide eyes.

“I thought you two talked about everything?” I say low so only she can hear me.

“We do,” Brandi says, not only hearing what I said, but also busting me on it. “But, I wasn’t sure I’d hear from Linc again, so I saw no reason to tell her about our—” She blushes.

“Need to keep warm,” Linc finishes for her with a big smile on his face, his youthful bravado allowing his mouth to utter stupid, albeit truthful, things.

I roll my eyes and slap palms with him, but say nothing.

“Hey Betty.” He offers her his hand, which she shakes tentatively.

“Hi again, Linc.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I really want to take Brandi out for her birthday.”

Betty’s mouth opens and closes, but words seem to elude her. She finally shakes her head and squeaks, “No, it’s fine. Where are you going?”

“Dinner and live music.” He glances at Brandi and she nods. “I would’ve suggested dancing, but that is not possible given the circumstances.”

“No, not today.”

Linc grins. “Maybe next time.”

Next time? Damn, Linc. Way to stake your claim and intentions early. Good man. I guess the nineteen year old horndog I knew so long ago did grow up. I’d like to think I had some influence on that, but who knows.

The four of us stand around for a good thirty seconds in awkward silence when I notice the fourth glass of wine sitting on the table. I grab it and hand it to Linc while making eye contact with Brandi. “I assume this is for him?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

He takes the glass. “A birthday toast?”

“Give it a crack, man.” I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with on the fly. The boy has a silver tongue—always has—which is why his tight-lipped routine over the last few days has been so surprising.

“To new beginnings and good times ahead of us. I hope this birthday brings you everything that you not only need, but deserve. Happy birthday, Brandi.”

Damn. That was actually pretty good.

We take a drink and then Linc slides his hand possessively on her back. “We should get going.”

“Okay. Let me put these in water and I’ll be right out.” Brandi takes her flowers and then hands Betty the bouquet I brought before grabbing her hand and pulling her into the kitchen to leave us alone.

Linc and I exchange a look. I shake my head, narrow my eyes, and lower my voice. “You son of a bitch. Talking shit at work for two days about me and you didn’t think to mention your love life?”

He chuckles. “Hey, if you had caught me in a jacuzzi getting ridden by a hot chick, then I would’ve expected you to talk about it at work.

” He lowers his voice even more and steps closer.

“As it is, we planned to sneak into the house and shower together, but finding you two blew that bright idea all to hell.”

I nod, conceding the point. “Okay, I guess we’re even. Stop fucking talking about it at work and never call Betty a hot chick again.”

“Roger.”Linc tosses back the last of his wine and puts the glass down on the table. “By the way, I don’t plan on bringing Brandi back here tonight.”

“No shit.” I toss him a look that makes him chuckle.

“And I’ll call before bringing her home in the morning.” He smirks. “To give you time to…”

“Stupid ass.” I mutter.

He responds with a cheesy ass grin. “I see we brought the same flowers.”

“Yeah, that’s embarrassing.” I slide my hand down my face.

“Well, at least they know what they’re getting from us.”

“Are we ready to go?” Brandi grabs her wallet and sets a giant bouquet—both of our flowers combined—down on the table in a pretty purple vase.

“After you, beautiful.” Linc turns around with his arm motioning to the door, only then seeing Sarge.He bends down and scratches behind her ears before ushering Brandi out the door.

“Have a nice night!” Betty yells at the door as it's closing and then looks at me. “Oh my god.”

“Are you okay?”

“I mean, yeah. Of course. But oh my god!”

I chuckle. “Yeah.”

“Did you know?” She narrows her eyes.

“No, of course not.” I shake my head. “But I had my suspicions.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew Linc was attracted to Brandi, and I know what kind of guy he is. So I figured if she was into it, something was bound to happen.”

“Are you telling me he’s a slut?” Betty casts wary eyes at the closed door.

I intertwine our fingers, bringing our joined hands to my lips. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying he’s a man that when he sees what he likes, he goes for it.”

“Hmmm?” Her eyes sparkle as she looks up at me, a playful tilt to her lips. “Sounds like somebody else I know.”

I grin. “Yeah, we’re cut from the same cloth that way.”

“Well, now that we have the house to ourselves—” Betty turns into me, walking her fingers up my chest “—whatever shall we do?”

Wrapping my hands around her waist, I slide them down her ass, cupping and pulling her against me. “I can think of a few things.”

She lays her hands flat on my chest and looks up at me with big brown eyes. “I have something to tell you before we go any further.”

“What is it, bunny?”

“The last few days have been torture. I don’t understand how I can miss somebody I just met this much.”

Nodding, I brush the hair back from her face and grab her chin, tilting her head up. “I feel the same way.”

“What does that mean?”

“I think it means we’re in love.”

She takes a deep breath and exhales it slowly. “Those words have been burning my tongue ever since I woke up in your arms Sunday morning, but it seems crazy to say them out loud.”

“Yeah, it’s a little crazy, but I say we lean in and embrace it.” I frame her face with my hands and tilt my head down. The tip of my nose touches hers, while our eyes lock. “I love you, Betty. I am in love with you and I won’t apologize for it.”

She melts into me. “I love you, too, with all my heart. And I don’t care if the world thinks I’m crazy.”

I kiss her with all the love and passion I feel in my chest and then swoop her up into my arms. “Now that we have that settled, where’s your bedroom?”