“Just take it.” Cali shoved a stack of condoms at Ireland’s chest.

“Whoa, I don’t need these.” She shoved them right back. “It’s my first date in, like, two years. I’m not going there. I’m not even sure Bran thinks of me that way.”

Okay, that was a lie. Bran thought of her that way. He’d made it clear, since his lips were always landing on hers whenever they were alone…or hers were landing on his. Whatever. The point was, Ireland wasn’t sure if Bran thought of her as more than a hookup.

Ireland suspected the last few boyfriends she’d had were more like extended hookups. Men didn’t appreciate her, and she was tired of that shit.

Cali wore short-shorts and a tank top, her hip cocked to the side while she held Buddy. “Take one, that’s all I’m saying. You said you weren’t on the pill—”

“Because it’s been an ice age since I’ve been with a guy.”

“Exactly. So don’t ruin your opportunity to get a little lovin’.”

Ireland shook her head. “I don’t know what Bran is thinking. It could be a fling for him, and I don’t want a fling.”

Cali walked over and rested her hand on Ireland’s arm, and Buddy swiped Ireland’s T-shirt with his wet tongue. “If you decide to…be in the moment, I want you to be safe, that’s all.”

Ireland twisted her mouth to the side. She liked Bran, when he wasn’t being an asshat. And for some extremely annoying reason, he did it for her—the way he smelled of man and soap, the way he touched her. The guy even tasted good.

Fine. Probably not a bad idea to bring protection, just in case.

Cali scanned Ireland’s face and grinned, shoving a condom in Ireland’s purse. “Just one. No pressure.” She winked, and Ireland sighed.

“I’m not kissing and telling, so don’t wait up.”

Cali pouted. “You’re no fun. Fortunately, I’ll be able to read what happened on your face.”

Dammit. That was true. “Leave me alone!” Ireland shouted as Cali and Buddy rounded the corner to the bedroom hallway.

Ireland pulled out the condom and read the package—“Jumbo-sized.”

Great. What if Bran wasn’t jumbo-sized and it didn’t fit? And why the hell was she thinking about this anyway? Nothing was going to happen.

She shoved the condom back in the side pocket of her purse, rubbed her front teeth with her finger to make sure she didn’t have lipstick stuck there, and glanced at the ceiling, saying a silent prayer. “Everything’s going to be fine. It’s just a date.”

Bran glanced at the picnic basket he’d borrowed from Hayden and Adam and made sure it was safely tucked in the back of his truck as he rounded the bumper and headed toward Jaeg’s front door. The car he’d owned before the truck was a beater from his days as a restaurant manager in town. He’d never lived off the trust fund his father had created for him, and he still didn’t. The money had never been important to Bran, and living off it would have meant he’d approved of how his father had put work ahead of family.

Bran made enough now at Club Tahoe to buy a new truck and a large house if he chose. Instead, he’d bought Wes’s small cabin and was fixing it up. Of course, the added money he earned running four restaurants instead of one came with a boatload of responsibility and stress in his life. Either way, the truck came in handy when he needed restaurant supplies that couldn’t wait. And when he wanted to take a beautiful woman to a remote location.

Fuck. Was this a good idea? Being alone with Ireland? With no one around to interrupt?

No. No, it wasn’t. But he wasn’t turning back now.

Bran could keep the relationship in hand. Control it the way he had every other encounter with a woman over the last several years. But in the back of his mind, he recognized the lie for what it was.

Somehow, he was more invested when it came to Ireland. And a hell of a lot more attracted to her than he’d been to any other woman, and that was a problem. Easy to keep things in check when your cock wasn’t involved. But when the big man started piping up, all hell broke loose.

Bran paused on Jaeg’s front porch. Not too late to back out.

And then Jaeg opened the front door. “Well, well, well… What do we have here?”

Ireland’s beautiful face peeked around Jaeg’s biceps. “He’s here for me.” She tried to scoot around him, but Jaeg didn’t budge.

Great. Bran knew where this was headed. “How’s it going, man?”

“I hear you’re taking Ireland out,” Jaeg said. “Where are you taking her, and when can I expect her home?” His gaze was intense, but a smile tugged the corner of his mouth.

And then Jaeg was being dragged from behind by tiny arms wrapped around his waist. One hand dug into Jaeg’s side, presumably hitting a sensitive spot, as the big guy jerked and gave a hearty laugh.

“Stop cockblocking!” Cali said, and pulled Jaeg the rest of the way to the side as she simultaneously pushed Ireland out the door. “Sorry, Bran. Here she is. You two have a good time, and I mean a real good time.” She winked, and Bran glanced at Ireland, who’d turned bright red.

Ireland stepped onto the front porch and quickly closed the door. “I love my cousin, but I gotta get my own place.”

Bran chuckled. “Never seen Jaeg play the protective older brother before. Even if he was giving me a hard time, feels strange, given he’s my friend.”

“Cali’s my cousin. He’s looking out for her family.”

Bran laughed. “True. Just never thought I’d be on the receiving end.”

“Because you don’t date?”

“Because I don’t date cousins of my friends’ fiancées.”

She smiled. “Ah, yes, the cousin of the friend’s fiancée should most definitely be off-limits.”

Bran glanced at her as they walked down the steps. “She should be. You can still back out.”

He’d considered it. Why not give her the option?

Though if she tried, he’d make every attempt to convince her otherwise.

He liked Ireland too much, and he was afraid that if he kept this up, his selfishness knew no bounds. Bran didn’t know what caused the software issues, and if you asked James, he’d say Ireland had made things worse. Not that Bran believed James. But it put Bran in a bit of a touchy situation. Given he was officially dating her. And she worked for him.

However…selfish it would be. At least for tonight, because he was taking Ireland out whether or not he should.

Ireland looked insanely beautiful in a white summer dress and navy cardigan, pretty red-painted toenails peeking out of strappy sandals. He opened the passenger-side door, and Ireland slid onto the seat.

“Back out?” she said. “Are you kidding? We’re having dinner, and you won’t tell me the location, but it’s not in a restaurant. I have to see where this excursion leads.”

Bran walked around the front of the truck to the driver’s side, his heart pounding. That was exactly what he was afraid of. Because whenever he was with Ireland, he longed to take things places he’d never been before.