It was too late. Caleb already had them. “A forfeiture rule? That’s genius! You’re a genius!”

Ruby started to murmur a protest, but Caleb swooped close and pulled her to his side of the living room. It was such a Caleb thing to do, this impulsive and easy burst of affection, that Spencer wasn’t the least bit surprised when his brother whirled Ruby in a circle and planted a kiss on her parted lips.

“If one of us can’t do the exercise, it’s double the money or the line moves six inches, agreed?” Caleb said as soon he released his hold on Ruby. She looked a little bemused but was otherwise silent.

Which made sense. Caleb had that effect on people. He dazed them, dazzled them. The only thing Spencer had ever dazzled was a black Lab’s fingernails when she was under anesthesia for a tumor removal.

Caleb extended his hand over the line toward Spencer. It had been so long since Spencer had voluntarily touched his brother that he didn’t immediately reach back.

“Come on.” Caleb wiggled his fingers. “I won’t bite you, and we need a little something to spice up the routine. It’s the perfect solution. I’ve had my eye on that bathroom for weeks.”

Spencer couldn’t think of a way to refuse without looking like a bad sport. Maybe if they didn’t have an audience, if Ruby wasn’t watching to see what he would do… Who was he kidding? He’d have given in anyway. Even after everything Caleb had done, everything he was still doing, Spencer was unable to resist the magnetic pull of him.

He had just slipped his palm against Caleb’s when Ruby interrupted.

“Wait. You don’t have access to the bathroom?” She turned to Caleb with a look of horror. “As in, any bathroom? Ever? Where do you…?”

She followed the line of Caleb’s gaze to the kitchen where, unfortunately, Spencer had caught him using the oversized farm sink as a urinal on more than one occasion. When Caleb’s house arrest was over and he finally moved out, Spencer was going to have to haul out his surgical sterilizer and put every item in that kitchen through it. There was a portable bathroom in the garage, but most days, Caleb was too lazy to go out there.

“Uh, I’ve decided to pass on that drink, thanks.” Ruby shook her head and started inching toward the back door. “We should get started on the dog training.”

Spencer couldn’t help but laugh. At the sound of his deep chuckle, Ruby glanced over. When she’d first come inside, her eyes had seemed to hold all the light in the room. Now that they’d fixed on him, he could feel the air leaving his lungs to join it.