“I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary,” he lied.

Caleb didn’t fall for it. “Bullshit. You were knocked just as far sideways as I was. That’s the only explanation for why you were so mean to her.” He sighed and held a hand to his chest. “Now, if it were my dog show and a woman like that came sauntering in…”

“If it were your dog show, you’d have done the exact same thing,” Spencer protested. “There are certain rules we have to follow, and she was in violation of at least half of them. You know that as well as I do.”

“Some rules were made to be broken. Especially with a prize like that waiting at the end. Did you read her application all the way through? She used to be a beauty pageant queen. I’ve never dated one of those before.”

Spencer clamped his mouth shut against the retort that sprang to his lips. What he wanted to say—that breaking rules was what had gotten them into this mess in the first place—would only set Caleb’s back up. And what he should say—that no human being, however gorgeous, was a prize to be won—stuck in his throat.

The truth was, Ruby was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was a terrible dog handler, obviously, and he was pretty sure she was going to end up being a huge pain in his ass, but there was no denying her allure.

Considering Spencer was an expert on the subject of clinically objective beauty, that was saying something.

Before he could come up with something safe to reply, Caleb gave a short whistle that caught Caesar’s attention. With an apologetic glance at Spencer, the dog trotted over to Caleb and planted himself at his feet. If Spencer hadn’t already been feeling uncharitable toward his brother, that would have cemented it. Caesar was his dog. He’d raised that bulldog from a puppy—loved him, sheltered him, and cared for him every day of his life.

In the three months that Caleb had been living with Spencer, however, the dog had decided he preferred the company of the second Wilson twin.

Just like everyone else.

“And before you yell at me for pretending to be you, remember that it’s been three months since I’ve seen any woman except Next-Door Nancy.” Caleb sighed and shook his head. “These are desperate times, and I, brother dear, am desperate.”

“What have you been doing to Nancy?” Spencer demanded.

“For shame, Spencer.” Caleb winked. “A gentleman never tells.”

Considering that Nancy was a sixty-five-year-old retiree with a penchant for gardening and automotive repair, Spencer was pretty sure Caleb was messing with him. Which made sense. That was what Caleb did best, pushing every button Spencer had before he’d even set foot inside the door.

Still…