Cleo beamed. “I know. The last time he was back on leave, we had the best time. He was so sweet and attentive, more than he usually is. I don’t think he wanted to go back. And we’re talking about Stuttgart, Germany. The land of beer and blond chicks.”
Zoe laughed. “Beer and blond chicks, huh? Funny, I thought Germany was about more than that.”
“Not for Scott.” Cleo teased. “So what are you doing tonight?”
“I invited Gavin to my place for dinner and a movie. I thought we could watch something on Netflix together and hang out.”
“Seriously? I didn’t know Netflix and chill was your kind of deal.”
Zoe frowned. “What?”
Cleo sighed. “Like I said. Pathetic. So what are you cooking?”
“That’s not the point. Gavin passed the first test. Let’s see what he does on the second.” She frowned. “Now what’s this Netflix and chill business about?”
* * *
Gavin had no idea what to do about the upcoming evening. According to his sister, sex on the first date would have been bad. But the second should work, right? Except he didn’t think he could do it. And that freaked him out.
He could fuck a woman, no problem. Detachment—check. He was the king of meaningless sex. Of course, it meant something during the doing, but after, he and his partner would part ways without a problem. Also, the reason he’d been with those particular women at the gym was because they’d wanted nothing more than a few orgasms and clean sex.
But Zoe meant more than a mindless screw. The pleasure with her was in being with her. Not justbeing with her.
He groaned and covered his eyes with his forearm as he lay back on the couch in his living room.
“Seriously, Gavin. The whole patient lying back on the couch while confiding his problems is a stereotype. I don’t really use the couch in my practice except as a seat,” Ava said, her wry smile a testament to a terrific sense of humor in a shrink. “When you asked me for some advice about Zoe, I thought we’d talk. Sitting up. Like normal friends.”
“Is that what we are? Friends? You’re going to be my sister-in-law someday, if Landon doesn’t screw up your relationship. You’re a future sister. That means I can hang all out with you. Pick my nose, walk around in my boxers, include you in the prank wars…” He peeked from under his forearm and saw her grimace. “Too immature for you?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
“Yeah, right. I know you encouraged my brother yesterday to switch out Mom’s toothpaste for that numbing agent you got from your dentist.”
She buffed her nails on her shirt and glanced away from him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He snorted. “Right. Hey, it was damn good. And Mom is still blaming Dad, which means we’re all safe from the wrath of Linda for a while. Now help a brother out.”
She sighed. “Fine. Continue to lie on the couch. Tell me about your problems, Gavin.”
He frowned. “Shouldn’t you have a notepad to write this down?”
“Gavin.” She tapped her fingernails in a rhythm that only someone with an interminable amount of patience could have. Of course, she was dating his brother. With Landon, patience was not just a virtue; it was a requirement.
“I’m kidding.” He sat up. “Tell me how to handle Zoe. I mean, we’ll eventually get to the good stuff. I hope. But I’m oddly reluctant to rush it, and I’m not sure why.”
“Because you care for her more than your other casual partners.”
“I was waiting for you to call them my conquests. Good on you for being a feminist and refraining.”
Ah. There. That tic in her forehead. And his job was done.
“Kidding, Ava. I respected those othercasual partners. I think a woman wanting to have sex should go for it whenever she wants. I’m a forward-thinking guy.”
She blinked. “I’ll say. You have a much rangier vocabulary when we talk one-on-one. Interesting.”
“Yeah, I try to underwhelm at every opportunity. Gives me an edge.”
“But not with Zoe.”
