“Maybe.” Cade’s eyes darted my way, quick enough that Colin probably would have missed it, but I didn’t.
“Dude!” Colin’s eyes lit up. “Who is she?”
“None of your business.”
“Come on, man. Give me something.”
“Nope.”
“Is she hot?”
I watched Cade’s chest lift and fall with a deep breath. “Gorgeous,” he said quietly.
Colin whooped and reached forward to slap Cade’s knee. “Good for you, dude. Seriously. Maybe this one will stick.”
I turned away to pour myself a glass of water, using the moment to get my expression under control. My hands were steadier than I expected as I filled the glass from the bottle I kept in the mini-fridge just below. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that Cade’s relationships only ever last three months, max,” Colin explained.
I took a slow sip of water before turning back around, leaning against the counter with what I hoped looked like casual interest. “That’s not that unusual.”
Lord knew my own relationships weren’t any more successful.
“But he’s a total catch. Good-looking, runs his own company, doesn’t live in his parents’ basement. Women should be trying to lock him down.”
“That’s literally the bare minimum,” I said, setting the glass down on the counter and crossing my arms over my chest. “If that’s your standard for what constitutes a catch, it’s no wonderyou’restill single.”
Colin shot me a withering look. “I’m single by choice, fuck you very much. I know who I want. I’m just waiting for them to realize we’d be perfect together. Unlikesomepeople I know who wouldn’t know a good thing if it slapped her in the face.” He lifted his beer in a mock toast at me.
I opened my mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. My brother wasn’t wrong. I was an expert at picking the wrong men.
“Anyway, we’re not talking about me,” Colin said, pushing up from his chair and flopping down on the sofa next to Cade. “For some reason, every woman this guy dates ends up bailing after three months.”
“Maybe I’m terrible in bed,” Cade offered dryly, his eyes fixed on me.
I nearly choked on my water. We both knew that wasn’t the problem. He was the best lay I’d had in my entire life.
“Please.” Colin rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard you bring girls home, dude. The walls in our house aren’t that thick. You’re doing just fine in that department.”
A sharp possessive spike of jealousy lanced through me before I could stop it.
And yes, I realized that said more about my current state of mind than I was willing to acknowledge, thank you very much.
“Jesus Christ, Colin,” Cade muttered, his knee starting to bounce.
“I’m just saying,” Colin continued, apparently oblivious to Cade’s discomfort. “Maybe this new girl is different.” He paused, his eyes lifting to mine and holding. When he spoke next, it was clear his words were meant for Cade, but he was looking directly at me. “Maybe you’ll give her a fair shot.”
My pulse jumped. That look, those words, felt deliberate. Accusatory.
“What are you talking about?”
Cade went very still beside my brother, his jaw tense, his fingers tight around his glass.
Colin shrugged. “They were all perfectly nice girls. Pretty, too. But …” He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the beer in his hands. He slowly rotated the glass, watching the liquid swirl inside.
“But what?” I pressed, unable to help myself.
Cade shifted slightly, his knee bouncing again, and for a second, it looked like he was about to say something, but Colin spoke first.
