Free Hooked by Audra Cole, Bella Love-Wins Page B

but then again, love usually isn’t the easy road.
    “I guess my stay is going to be a little shorter than I imagined,” I say with a smile.
     

Chapter Eleven
    A few hours later I touch down back at LAX. If nothing else, at least I’ll rack up a decent amount of frequent flier miles if I keep up this pace.
    Before boarding I called Brandon’s cell phone but it went straight to voicemail. I have no idea where he is or what he is doing and the fact that I can’t get a hold of him is slightly unnerving. It puts my mind into overdrive, wondering what he is thinking and feeling now that a few days have passed since my epic meltdown.
    I cruise on autopilot to get my luggage, and before I know it I’m sitting in a cab outside Brandon’s house. I hesitate for a minute with my hand on the strap of my bag and take a deep breath.
    I use my house key to get inside. I expect to see LeeLee running to greet me, but it’s silent as I stand in the entryway. It’s almost six o’clock. It’s possible Brandon had some sort of work thing at the last minute, but it seems doubtful.
    I leave my bags at the door and walk through the house, trying to see if I can find Brandon. I go through all the rooms calling for him and come back to the front of the house with the conclusion that he is gone.
    With a sigh, I plop down at one of the kitchen table chairs and pull out my phone. No text messages and no missed calls. My finger lingers over Brandon’s number as I silently debate trying to call again. Before I push down the phone starts to buzz. Startled, I jump and drop the phone and it lands on the floor with a loud smack.
    “Shit! Oh, please don’t be broken, please don’t be broken,” I plead as I scoop it off the floor. It’s still vibrating and I flip it over to see Brandon’s name on the screen.
    “Brandon!” I exclaim as I answer the call. “Where are you?”
    “I’m in Seattle. Where are you?” he answers.
    “Seattle? I’m in LA. I’m at the house.”
    He groans. “Okay, okay, stay there. I’ll turn around and get back on a flight.”
    “I tried to call. It went to voicemail last night and today before I left,” I say.
    “I’m sorry. I couldn’t talk last night. I didn’t know what to say. And then, this afternoon, I must have been on the flight.”
    “What are you doing in Seattle?” I ask.
    “I had to see you. I had to tell you to come home.”
    “I guess I’m one step ahead of you then,” I say with a smile.
    “I guess so. Hang tight. I’ll be there soon.”
    “Okay,” I whisper.
    We say good-bye and disconnect. I put the phone back on the table and set about passing the next few hours. I’m in the middle of unpacking my bag when I get a text with the flight time and number from Brandon.
    I text him back asking where LeeLee is, he answers back with the name of a doggy daycare. I decide to go pick her up to pass time, all the while, mentally rehearsing what I need to tell Brandon when he gets home.
     
    ***
     
    “Cherry, baby, wake up.”
    I stir and open my eyes to see Brandon’s face hovering over mine. I try to sit up but am pinned down, and realize LeeLee is asleep on my chest. Brandon lifts her up and scoots her out of the way. I sit up and lean forward into Brandon as he wraps his arms around me.
    “I missed you,” he whispers into my damp, tousled hair. I had taken a shower and put on one of Brandon’s shirts before lying down to rest my eyes. “I see you unpacked. Does that mean you’re staying?”
    I nod. “I’m sorry. I never should have left.”
    “It’s okay. I understand. That whole thing was a disaster,” he says, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I’m just happy you’re back. You’re home.”
    “I don’t know if this place will ever feel like my home, but what I’ve realized is that whenever I’m with you, I’m home.” I tip my head back and kiss him. It’s slow and intense and ends all too soon as Brandon pulls back.
    “Well, on that note, I have