There were serious disadvantages to sharing a house with a man who took up as much space—physically and metaphorically—as Caleb. Caleb was messy. Caleb was loud. He blended frozen margaritas at two o’clock in the morning and snored on the couch louder than any human being had a right to. He never did his laundry and was happy to go days without taking a shower. It was like living with a man-sized toddler deep in the throes of his terrible twos.

Then again, it wasn’t always so bad.

“Wait… I’m confused. You mean you literally can’t cross over this line?” Ruby stood in the middle of the living room, her legs straddling the duct tape that divided Spencer’s one-bedroom home in half. It had taken quite a bit of argument and mediation before they’d been able to agree on a division of assets, but the result was an equitable one. Outside, Caleb had the garage and driveway, while Spencer had to make do with the back deck and a small space to park his truck. Inside, Caleb was sole possessor of the kitchen and most of the living room, but Spencer had access to his bedroom and the bathroom.

As far as Spencer was concerned, he had the better bargain—life without a bathroom and regular access to the washer and dryer was inhuman. From the way Ruby’s nose wrinkled as she took in the sight of Caleb’s dirty clothes strewn about, most of which were hanging from various pieces of furniture, Spencer assumed she agreed.

“You do this on purpose? Every single day?” She glanced back and forth between them. Spencer would have gnawed off his own arm rather than admit it, but she looked really good in scrubs. She also looked as tired as he felt, her hair in a loose ponytail and her eyeliner starting to smudge. Caleb might have spent the better part of his day playing video games on the couch, but he and Ruby had both worked full shifts like the functional adults they were.

It went a long way in making him regret that earlier remark about her being a doctor. He hadn’t meant to sound so judgmental, but it was too late to back down now. Besides, he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Things were better this way.

If that woman had any idea what kind of power she had, this dog show would be over before it began. Ships had been launched for a face like that. Entire kingdoms lost. Add in the fact that she was a doctor with a laugh like honey and a tongue like a sword, and Spencer didn’t stand a chance.

And if the expression on his brother’s face was anything to go by, neither did he.