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CHAPTER NINE

BECKETT

I pull my truck into the lot and barely remember to put the fucker in park before sprinting for the side entrance. My hair is still damp from the shower I shared with Elsie, and all I can think about is the imprint of her nails in my shoulders and the honey-sweet way she moaned my name.

I’m a goddamn disaster with zero brain cells left after last night. Elsie short-circuited every goddamn one of them.

And to make things worse, my phone is already blowing up with group chat messages from the assholes I call my brothers. Evidently, Ian fucked me over and created a “Beckett got laid because he never came to get Pork n Beans,” family group chat. Asshole.

Get it together, Hot.

Ian, my youngest brother, is slumped at the table, wolfing down a mountain of eggs like he’s been starved for weeks. His shirt is half-untucked, hair sticking up in wild spikes, and he’s got a glob of what I really hope is ketchup smeared across his cheekbone.

Across from him, Atlas is wolfing down pancakes. His phone’s brightness is cranked up so high I can SEE the group chat lighting him up from across the room.

Dawson’s at the counter, scrolling through messages while absentmindedly stirring his coffee.

The minute I step in, all three brothers snap to attention and lay on the shit-eating grins.

“Look who made it in,” Ian hoots, like it’s the punchline to a joke.

Atlas shoves half a pancake in his mouth, talking around the food. “Look at that hickey on his neck.” The fucker whistles through his teeth. “Impressive.”

“I can’t believe the grumpy asshole found someone to give him a hickey.” Dawson smirks as I flip him off.

“Why are you here today?” I growl back at him. “Don’t you have a meeting in Houston?”

Dawson just shrugs like it’s no big deal. “They moved the inspector training. Houston’s got a rolling blackout, and the city rescheduled half their classes. I’ll go next week instead.” A huge fucking smile lights up his face. “Perfect timing. Now, I get to be here and witness this…” He points at my throat, and I barely resist the urge to cover up the bruise.

Atlas grins, pure trouble. “We all get to witness it.”

Ian waggles his eyebrows. “I’m supposed to get all the details for my wife.”

I glare at all of them, but they’re like a pack of hyenas with a fresh kill. Dawson just sips his coffee, totally unbothered. “And Mom is waiting for an update. She’s already taking credit for your new relationship and planning your wedding.” Fucking hell. My mother is never going to let me forget this. Oh well. Meeting Elsie was worth whatever shit I’ll have to take from my crazy ass family.

I ignore the peanut gallery and head straight for the coffee pot, needing a caffeine infusion to get my brain functioning.

“Don’t you three have actual work to do?” My voice is rough, mean, and bossy as hell. Or, at least, it would be, if I’d gotten enough sleep last night. Fuck.

Atlas just winks. “Already done, Chief. I ran the truck check and filled out the weekly inventory before you even got here. We’re operating at peak efficiency, sir.” I grunt, but inside I’m cracking up. Atlas is running a victory lap because he managed to finish the truck check without any adult supervision. Dawson’s acting like the king of the universe, sipping his coffee and smirking at me over the rim. Ian has both elbows on the break room table, grinning at my neck like he wants to take a damn picture and send it straight to Mom.

I swear to fuck, I’d rather run into a burning building naked than deal with these idiots before I’ve had two cups of caffeine.

I pour myself an industrial-sized mug of coffee. I slug half of it down and let the burn clear out the leftover fog from last night. My girl wore me out. I’m pretty sure there are scratch marks on my back and a permanent smile burned into my face.

Atlas elbows Ian. “You think the vet left those marks with her teeth?”

Ian looks thoughtful, like he’s considering the forensic evidence. “Based on the bruising, I’m thinking teeth and maybe a little suction. Like, that’s not an amateur job.”

Atlas cackles, nearly choking on his damn pancakes. “Never thought I’d see the day. Mr. Uptight’s neck looks like a crime scene, and he’s not even trying to hide it. It must be love.”

I glare at the table, jaw clenched so tight I might break a tooth. My dick’s still half-hard, thinking about the way Elsie bit down and left her mark. I fucking loved it, too. I don’t care if they give me hell. I want the whole fucking town to know she belongs to me.

Dawson raises an eyebrow, all smug. “I’ve been waiting for the love bug to bite this asshole.” I flip him off again, halfheartedly. “My life is now perfect.” I snort out a laugh and shake my head. The insanity never ends.

“Glad you’re so invested,” I mutter, but I can’t keep the smirk off my face.

I glance at Ian, who’s busy inhaling his breakfast like he hasn’t eaten in a month. “Hey, you’re on deck for animal duty tonight. I need you to watch Pork and Beans again.”