Free Taking Heart by T. J. Kline

down. “Why don’t the two of you finish chopping up the celery and drop it into the pot with everything else? We’ll let this simmer, but I’m in the mood for pizza and a movie. I’ll call it in while I go feed the dogs. What do you guys say?”
    â€œI’m game.” Gage sounded overly enthusiastic, and she wondered at the reaction.
    â€œWhatever.” Dylan shrugged, looking somber.
    Julia arched a brow at him and shook her head. “Don’t sound so excited, Dylan.”
    â€œI’ll probably just go to bed early.”
    Gage glared at his brother, but Julia wasn’t going to be deterred by his foul mood. “Suit yourself. That just means more for us.” She winked at Gage and watched fury fill Dylan’s eyes as she exited the kitchen.
    â€œW HAT ’ S YOUR PROBLEM ?” Gage spun on him as soon as Julia was out the back door.
    Dylan knew Gage wasn’t about to let him off easy. “Nothing, leave me alone.” Roscoe pawed at his leg but he ignored him.
    â€œSo, you’re just planning on being an ass tonight? Because if so, I should warn Julia.”
    â€œShut up, Gage.” Dylan grabbed the knife and began chopping the celery as his brother leaned a hip against the counter.
    â€œYou know, you’re adorable when you get all domestic.”
    Dylan set the knife down and pounded the side of his fist against the cutting board. Instead of looking intimidated, Gage winked and blew him a kiss, quickly moving out of arm’s reach. Roscoe jumped up at the commotion and moved between the brothers. “Is everything a game to you?”
    â€œOkay, I’ll stop, but only if you tell me what’s going on. Did something happen today while you guys were on your ride?”
    Dylan glared at his brother before swiping the celery into the pot. “No. Yes. Crap, I don’t know.” He ran a hand over his shaved head before wiping it over his mouth.
    â€œYou don’t have long before she gets back in here, so spill it.”
    â€œI almost kissed her,” he blurted.
    Gage froze in place for a moment before frowning. Dylan knew this would be his reaction. Gage had already expressed his interest in Julia. Suddenly, a smile spread over his lips and Gage actually laughed out loud. “You should have. What stopped you?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, what stopped me?” Was his brother insane? There were at least one hundred reasons for him not to kiss her. He slid the cutting board into the dishwasher and put the produce back in the refrigerator. “I can’t kiss her.”
    â€œWhy not? It’s a kiss, not a marriage proposal.”
    â€œShe doesn’t want to kiss me .” Dylan loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and looked pointedly at his brother. “She’s interested in someone else.” Gage waited for him to say more. Did he have to spell it out to him? “You, Gage. She’s interested in you.”
    Gage burst out with a loud guffaw, which only pissed Dylan off even more. This wasn’t funny. He didn’t like feeling envious of his brother. In all their years, he’d never once coveted anything his brother had. Dylan was proud of what he’d accomplished on his own. But this was different. He didn’t want to want Julia. It wasn’t right, and doing what was right was the only constant in his life, the only thing he could hold on to from the man he’d once been. Too bad knowing it was wrong didn’t seem to lessen the wanting.
    â€œDon’t make me beat the crap out of you.”
    Gage waved his hand at him, barely controlling his laughter. “No, it’s just . . . I can’t believe you.”
    Dylan clenched his jaw, refusing to be drawn into his brother’s antics. “Screw you, Gage.”
    â€œWait! I’m sorry.”
    â€œDylan, she isn’t interested in me. I have no clue why you’d think she was, but Julia’s made it