Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 348

Catching the teasing lilt in his voice, Bonnie shot him a sharp glare. Lawrence just offered a devastatingly handsome smile and reached into the back to retrieve the dog.

"You hold him, I hold you," Lawrence said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Unless you plan on hopping up a flight of stairs on one foot?"

She knew she was beaten. She gathered her notebook and phone, clutching June to her chest with quiet dignity.

Lawrence reached out, entirely instinctively, wanting to run his hand through her hair. Catching himself at the last second, he awkwardly patted the dog's head instead. "Behave. No licking your Mommy's hands. I'll make you a nice dinner later."

June stared up with massive, dopey eyes, pawing at Lawrence's hand. Bonnie pressed a kiss to the puppy's head to calm him.

Forcing his eyes away from her radiant smile, Lawrence rounded the hood, opened her door, and unbuckled her. Sliding one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, he lifted her effortlessly out of the seat.

The moment she was in his arms, his brain short-circuited. She was so incredibly light—like she could just blow away in the wind if he didn't hold tight enough.

Yet, she felt like the heaviest, most vital thing in his world.

He swallowed hard, curling his fingers into fists to minimize direct contact with her bare skin. Kicking the heavy car door shut, he carried her toward the alleyway.

Bonnie kept her eyes firmly on the puppy, but she couldn't ignore the situation. June was squirming, pressed tight between her chest and Lawrence's. As she reached down to soothe the dog, the back of her hand brushed against Lawrence's chest.

She froze.

Beneath the crisp cotton of his shirt, his heart was hammering against his ribs. It was erratic and wild, beating so hard it felt like it was trying to break through his chest wall.

"Is the door code still the same?"

"Mhm," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He chuckled softly, punched in the numbers, and carried her over the threshold.

The apartment looked exactly as it had on moving day, save for some fresh bedsheets and a fluffy new dog bed tucked in the corner.

Lawrence deposited her gently onto the sofa. He went to set June on the floor, but the puppy scrambled onto the cushions beside her.

"No! Get him off the couch!" Bonnie gasped. "I just washed that throw blanket yesterday!"