Seducing Bran

by Jules Barnard

  “Absolutely not. She’ll get an infection. Make sure you wipe front to back.”

  Bran’s lip curled. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Don’t push the poop toward her delicate stuff. Wipe from the top toward the changing pad.” She motioned the action, and he frowned.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Bran closed his eyes and wiped the baby the way Ireland had showed him. He popped one eye open, and gave the baby one more wipe. “Good?”

  Ireland peered over. “Good. Now carefully switch out the dirty diaper, pulling the tabs to cover the wipes you put there, and tuck the fresh diaper under her bum.”

  Bran did as she said—surprisingly well, actually.

  She nodded. “Put some ointment on her so she doesn’t get a diaper rash, close the tabs, and you’re finished.”

  Bran used a fresh wipe and cleaned his hands. He dug in the diaper bag, searching, as he held down Harlow’s kicking legs. The baby was wiggling to and fro like crazy after being forced in one place for so long, and Ireland was running out of toys to distract her.

  Bran pulled out ointment and put some on his finger, then quickly slathered it on her bottom. He secured the tabs of the diaper in place and held up his hands as though he were being timed.

  Ireland reached over and redid the tabs so that the diaper fit more snugly. “Congratulations, you successfully changed your first diaper.”

  Harlow flipped over and crawled away without her leggings, her little bottom booking it across the carpet to Hunt, who quickly swooped her up and into his arms.

  Bran wiped his brow with his forearm. He threw the diaper-changing products into the diaper bag and picked up the poopy diaper with his forefinger and thumb. “I don’t suppose you know what to do with this?”

  “Wes or Kaylee will show you where to put it.”

  Bran crossed the room to Kaylee, and Ireland made her way to the bathroom she spied near the front door. She hadn’t bothered closing the door, as she was only washing her hands, and Bran walked in while she was finishing up.

  “Excuse me,” he said, and started to back out.

  “I’m all finished. It’s yours.” She grinned. “You did a good job out there.”

  He frowned comically as she dried her hands on the towel and they switched positions. Bran started washing his hands vigorously. “I love Harlow, but damn, changing diapers? I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”

  Ireland glanced back, wondering how strange it was for them to be talking in the bathroom. The scene was intimate, as though they’d stolen a moment together. “No one likes changing diapers, but someone’s got to do it.”

  He dried his hands on the towel and turned toward her. “You don’t think it ruined my masculine mystique? Changing diapers isn’t how I typically woo women.”

  She laughed. “Do you woo women?” Half the time, Bran seemed uninterested. The other half, his tongue was seducing her mouth and she thought she’d implode from the fire of his touch.

  He sent her a sexy look, and her nipples perked up as though he’d called to them.

  She cleared her throat. This. Exactly this. The man was a menace. “I don’t know. I thought it was kind of sexy, a big, strong guy taking care of a baby. Pretty hot.”

  His eyebrow rose, and he reached behind her and closed the door, sealing their privacy. He pressed his hand against the door beside her head. “Hot, eh? How hot?”

  She swallowed. “Really hot.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth. “I think it’s sexy that you knew how to coach me. When were you around kids?”

  Her gaze focused on his mouth, which seemed to move closer, distracting her. “Cousins. I have cousins. Cali and I are in the middle, and some of our older cousins have kids.”

  He reached up and slid his fingers down a lock of her hair. “I love your hair.”

  “My hair? I mean, thank you.” What were they talking about?

  Diapers. Right.

  Most guys would have told their brother to screw off if they’d been asked to change a diaper. But Bran had taken care of Harlow, because he loved the little girl. How could that not be sexy?

  “I-I…” Shit, she was stuttering. How the hell was she supposed to remember anything with his body so close and his intense blue eyes drinking her in?

  “Screw it.” Ireland grabbed the back of Bran’s head and pulled his mouth the last inch to her own. She kissed him, her tongue working its way into his mouth as he lifted her up and seemed to turn them around. The next thing she knew, she was propped on the bathroom counter, his large body pressed between her legs.

  His mouth trailed down her neck, and he ran his hands up her waist, cupping the sides of her breasts.

  “You like to prop me up on things—desks, counters.”

  “I’d prefer a bed, but this will do.”

  This was the second time in two days Ireland had found herself making out with Bran Cade. What were they doing? She wasn’t even sure she liked him. Well, she liked him, clearly, but she wasn’t sure he was good for her.

  “We should probably stop,” she said as she leaned back, giving him better access to the top of her breast, where his mouth and tongue swirled delicate, wet kisses that sent bolts of electricity through her belly.

  “Probably,” he murmured. “Don’t want to.”

  “Me either. Why is that?”

  “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

  He took her by the mouth and grabbed her bottom, pulling her flush against his long, hard length.

  Ireland’s head went dizzy. “Bran, wait.”

  He looked up and stepped back half a foot. “Right. Not here.”

  But somewhere else? Really? Why couldn’t they keep their hands off each other?

  Ireland liked Bran, but until recently, she wasn’t sure he respected her. She still wasn’t. Though he was seriously growing on her. The man knew how to make her body needy, which wasn’t helping.

  Cali, of course, would approve.

  “We should get back to the others,” Ireland said. “Someone might have seen you enter the bathroom before I left.”

  Bran was staring at her breasts, and he scratched his jaw. “Right.”

  “Bran?”

  He lifted his eyes to hers.

  “Do you want to leave first?”

  He propped his hands on either side of her waist and leaned forward, kissing her gently on the mouth. “I’ll walk out first. You come out a few minutes later.”

  She grinned. “This is like high school.”

  “Welcome to my world. That’s how I have to operate with a bunch of nosy-ass brothers around.”

  She watched him leave, and then sank against the counter.

  “Holy shit.”

  If this was what happened every time they were alone, their non-restaurant dinner date might end up in flames.

  Chapter 16

  “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.

  Chapter 17

  Bran pulled off Pioneer Trail and down a private road. The road was two-way, which narrowed to a one-way with a few houses separated by large lots against conservatory land. He took a right before a small two-bedroom house and drove toward the back of the lot, which was fairly long, since the house sat on two acres.

  He stopped at his favorite spot on the property and killed the engine, the back of the truck facing the forest.

  Ireland glanced around. “This is beautiful, but won’t the owner object to us parking here?”

  “Nah.” Bran could have taken her anywhere. Plenty of beautiful spots in Lake Tahoe for an evening picnic. “I have it on good authority that the owner won’t mind.”

  She looked skeptical. “How?”

  “Because”—he tossed the keys in the glove compartment, a waft of her floral-orange scent with undertones of Ireland hitting him like a drug—“I own the house.”

  Bran slowly straightened, suddenly tense, unsure how Ireland would react to him choosing his place for the evening.

  “Oh.” She bit the inside of her lip. “Are w-we staying out here?”

  Great, he’d made her nervous. “Is that all right? I brought blankets.” And a twin mattress for comfort.

  Shit. It looked bad, didn’t it?

  “We can go somewhere else,” he said. “I’ll take you to a restaurant. There are several—”

  “No.” She smiled. “This is lovely. I’ve never had an evening picnic. And the houses are so far away that I feel like we’re in the woods.”

  He let out a relieved sigh. The last thing he wanted was to make Ireland uncomfortable. That wasn’t what tonight was about. More of a penance for being a dick and then turning and kissing her so many times. Though he never got the impression she’d objected to those kisses.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’ve got a basket of food in the back of the truck.”

  The sound of the Heavenly Valley Creek trickled in the background as they exited the truck. Bran unhitched the tailgate and lowered it, grabbing a blanket and handing it to Irela
nd. Evenings could get cool, though tonight was unseasonably warm.

  He climbed in the back of the truck and propped outdoor cushions from his backyard furniture against the cab, creating seating—and hopefully not intimidating Ireland with the mattress.

  He reached back and helped Ireland onto the tailgate. She crawled across the mattress and leaned against the cushions.

  She closed her eyes. “This is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to.”

  He grinned watching her, warmth filling his chest. Why did pleasing Ireland make him so damn happy?

  “Careful,” he said. “I thought I owned the best restaurant in town?”

  Without missing a beat, she said, “Club Tahoe restaurants are a close second.”

  Sassy. And he loved it.

  Bran grabbed the basket of food. “Well, you’re in luck. Because I brought food from one of the second-place restaurants. Between the location of this one and the food from that one, I’m hoping to impress.”

  Her eyes shot open. “Oh, I’m impressed.”

  What was this man doing to her? Bran hadn’t only chosen an original place to take her, he’d brought her someplace special. Sure, they were technically in his backyard, but it was freaking gorgeous. And he’d brought cushions and blankets and a beautiful basket of food. No man had ever put together such a special night for her.

  Bran set out a small folding table that was fairly steady, thanks to the firm mattress beneath them. Ireland had noted the mattress, and it made her pause. For all of two seconds, until she’d scooted onto it and appreciated the comfort far too much to be suspicious of Bran’s intentions.

  He placed dishes on the lap table and poured two glasses of wine. “Saw you drinking red when you were doing lunges the other day.” He cut her a sexy, one-sided smile that made her belly clench. “Sorry, no wine yokes tonight.”

  “I’m capable of drinking wine without one. Though when lunges are involved...”

  He handed her a glass. “Yokes and lunges are good for hiding.”