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She cocked her head. “Do you think you earned one?”
“Yes.” He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers over her cheek. “And I’m ready for the second date whenever you are, Caroline.”
Chapter 5
JOSH PRESSED PAUSE on the mental replay of last night’s end-of-date kiss. Daydreaming about how much he wanted to slip his hands under Caroline’s pretty pink shirt would lead to a reaction that didn’t belong in his big brother’s kitchen. If Caroline were sitting at the table his big brother had handcrafted . . .
“Planning to make us dinner?” Brody pulled out a chair and sank down.
“I thought Kat was at a conference this week,” Josh said as he played Tetris with an assortment of leftovers to reach the beers in the back.
“She is. But Chad is about a minute or two out. He had the day off and gave me a hand on a volunteer search and rescue mission. Another lost hiker. We found her safe and sound.” Brody held out his hand for a brew.
“Not for you,” Josh said.
Brody raised an eyebrow. “You’re stealing my beer? What are you planning to make with it?”
“I’m planning to drink it,” Josh said.
“All alone in your apartment?” Chad strode in and claimed a seat across from Brody.
“I’m expecting company.” Josh set two bottles on the counter and then returned to the fridge for the lone remaining can. He carried it over to the table. “And I don’t have time to go shopping.”
“Caroline?” Brody asked as he cracked opened the can. He took a sip and passed it to Chad.
“Yeah.”
“You just saw her last night,” Chad pointed out.
“Yeah,” Josh said. “And we had a good time so I invited her over to watch a movie and share a take-out pizza.”
“Moving a little fast, aren’t you?” Brody said, reaching for the beer can.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve kissed her this past year, Josh thought.
“She has to work the rest of the week.” Josh picked up the bottles. “And I’m done playing games. I wanted to see her so I called and invited her over.” He raised his hand holding the beers and pointed first to Brody. “You shouldn’t be lecturing me about fast. You were messing around with my doctor on her first night in town.” He shifted his attention to Chad. “And you—”
“Lena’s different,” Chad cut in, his easygoing, playful tone forgotten.
“So is Caroline.” Josh lowered his arm. “Stay out of the barn tonight.”
“We could always send Katie over to check on the horses,” Chad pointed out.
Josh shook his head. “I already told her that I’d let her goats out in the middle of the night if she did that. You’ll be out there helping her round them up and making sure they didn’t get their heads stuck in the fence again if you encourage her.”
“We’ll leave you alone,” Brody said firmly.
“One more question,” Chad added. “What are you watching?”
“Katie lent me that adventure movie about that kick-ass girl with the bow and arrow,” he said.
“You can’t watch a movie based on a kid’s book,” Chad said. “Not if you want to get laid tonight.”
We could watch porn and the date still wouldn’t end in bed, Josh thought. But he wasn’t about to explain Caroline’s three date rule to his brothers. Or his suspicion that three dates might stretch to four or more.
“I have a better idea.” Brody pushed back from the table and stood. “Wait here a sec.”
“I’m not watching some cheesy romantic tear-jerker,” Josh called after him.
