Sadness crossed his face for a few seconds, and I didn’t like that at all. I loved seeing that twinkle of mischief in his eyes, so I decided to bring it back.
I didn’t have time to add anything more though, because the doorbell rang. Looking through the peephole, I confirmed my brothers had arrived before opening the door.
“Hey, Sis—” Ian began but stopped abruptly when he noticed Brayden.
“Come in. Ian, Dylan, this is Brayden,” I said as they stepped inside and closed the door.
“We know,” Ian exclaimed. “I’m a big fan.”
Dylan was already glancing between the two of us suspiciously. “Wait a second. Josie was saying you’re seeing someone, but she couldn’t tell me...”
My sister was usually great at keeping secrets, but she claimed motherhood sleep deprivation was making her easy prey for my brothers these days. I could practically see Dylan’s wheels spinning.
“Are you two dating?” he asked eventually.
Instead of answering, Brayden pulled me toward him, kissing the side of my head.
Ian clapped his hands once, grinning. “Holy shit, I can’t believe this! Man, I’ve been a fan for years. I don’t think I have anything for you to sign...”
He started searching the pockets of his jeans, and so did Dylan.
My eyes bulged. I had not expected my brothers to let out their inner fanboys. At least not before they gave him some sort of brother talk.
Stepping away from Brayden, I placed my hands on my hips, clearing my throat.
“You two have been side-eyeing every guy you thought was on my radar forever, and now you’re searching for pens?”
Ian grinned. “We’ll get to that, Sis. We need to get his autograph while we’re still on friendly terms.”
Dylan elbowed Ian with a smug smile. “Don’t give away the plan. Beats the purpose.”
Brayden laughed, especially because my brothers came up empty. “How about we get to know each other now, and I’ll send some signed stuff for you later.”
He shook hands with each of them. Dylan looked him straight in the eye. “In that case, remember that we’re keeping an eye on you. Don’t mess with Isabelle.”
“There, finally. Thought you were selling me out for an autograph,” I teased. “Should we start?”
My brothers nodded. Dylan pulled out an iPad. Ian checked the door and the windows, but they’d already done that when I first moved in here, so it didn’t take long.
Once we all sat on the couch in the living room, I was flanked by my brothers. Brayden sat on Ian’s other side.
“So since there’s no built-in wiring for sensors at the doors and windows, we’ll have to use wireless sensors,” Ian explained. Dylan showed me a picture of the system.
“Why the windows? I’m on the second floor. It’s not like someone can climb in. Why not just the door?”
“It makes it more secure, and they won’t bother you. You won’t even notice them.”
Brayden walked up to the window, glancing outside. “Theoretically someone could come on your balcony if they climb the tree in front.”
I ran a hand through my hair, looking at all three of them. “That sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?”
Three pairs of eyes stared at me in obvious disagreement.
I laughed, raising my hands in the air. “Fine, fine. Put sensors everywhere. You’re three peas in a pod, I swear.”
My brothers chuckled. Brayden smiled.
“Brayden, you have my support only because we’ve never been able to convince Isabelle to have an alarm system here,” Dylan said.
I rolled my eyes, standing up and heading to the kitchen. “I think it’s an unnecessary fuss. And I never had a break-in when I lived in Philly, where you made me have an alarm.”
“Maybe you didn’t have it because of the alarm,” Dylan said.
“When can you get started?” Brayden asked.
“I’ll buy one next week and do it,” Ian said. Elbowing Dylan, he asked, “Can you believe we have insider information for once? Josie doesn’t know it’s him yet.”
“Ummm... sorry to burst your bubble, boys, but she does know. And so do Tess, Skye, and Laney.”
Ian blinked. “So you basically told everyone but us.”
“It wasn’t intentional. It slipped.” I batted my eyelashes, kissing each of them on the cheek as I walked them to the door. “I promise I still love you both to the moon and back.”
“She actually thinks she can sweet-talk her way out of this,” Ian said.
Dylan shrugged. “She always tries. But we’ll keep this in mind.”
“Aww, don’t be like that. Pinky promise that I’ll update you before Josie next time. By the way, did Mom and Dad decide when they’re coming for Sophie’s party?” I asked.
Josie had given birth two weeks before her due date. We’d scheduled the baby shower one week before. Mom had declared that she wanted a welcome party for Sophie instead, so that was happening in two weeks.
“I spoke to them yesterday. They’ll fly in on Friday so they’re well rested on Saturday,” Dylan said.
I clapped my hands. “I can’t wait. Mom is probably going to talk about Sophie nonstop.”
Dylan chuckled. “I’ll take that over more wedding talk any day.”
I couldn’t blame him, especially after finding out what really happened with Lina. We always talked about weddings lately when we met up with the Winchesters because Tess’s wedding was coming up soon.
After they left, I turned my focus on Brayden, who was still checking the windows in my living room.
Rising on my tiptoes, I made to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and spoke against my lips.
“Come over to my place tonight.”
My eyes widened. I remember Sasha explicitly saying even she hadn’t been there.
“To sleep there?” I teased.
“Among other things.” His eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Such as?” I shimmied against him, teasing him.
He pressed his lips to one corner of my mouth. “You’ll see.”
Taking a step back, I faked being suspicious. “You’re not really selling me on the idea. I need something to look forward to.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Besides me naked?”
“Okay, now you’ve won me over.”
He laughed, giving me a quick peck. “Come on, let’s go. I have a surprise for you.”
Chapter Twelve
Brayden
“I can’t believe they stayed open so late because you asked them to.” She licked her fingers after she finished the burger. She still had fries left. We were standing at the island in my kitchen, eating straight out of the take-out boxes. I’d made a call to a burger restaurant she’d mentioned last week, and it didn’t take much to convince them to stay open for one more hour.
“I know how to get people to do my bidding.”
“Did it include bribing them with concert tickets or an autograph or something?”
I went behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Maybe.”
I pushed her hair to one side, kissing her neck.