it’s not as good as mine.”
“Or mine,” Kal said, not even bothering to look at them.
“I guess we’ll find out later.”
“We should do a blind taste test and see which sauce everyone likes the most,” Rafe suggested.
Jackson nodded. “I’m down with it.”
“Same,” Kal said, coming over with a spoon to dip it in Rafe’s sauce. “It’s good. But I’m afraid it’s not gonna be good enough to win.”
Rafe wasn’t the least bit affected by the shit-talking from his brothers. He knew the games they played, trying to get into his head. His sauce was the best and he’d win the taste test tonight. “You’re both losers. And I’m gonna prove it.”
Bring on the party.
CHAPTER 23
CARMEN ENDED UP HAVING TO STAY AN EXTRA HOUR AT work to finish up with a patient, so she hustled home to shower and get dressed and make a dish for the barbecue.
There were already cars parked in the driveway, and she heard music and the sound of people laughing coming from the backyard. But she went in through the front door, which was unlocked.
Becks was in the kitchen with Jackson, the two of them working side by side at the island. Becks smiled when she saw her.
“Hey, Carmen.”
“Hi. I know I’m late.”
“No one’s ever late,” Jackson said. “We’re glad you made it.”
“I hope you haven’t already eaten.”
“Things move pretty slowly around here,” Becks said. “We’ve just been drinking, and the guys are grilling. I made margaritas and there’s beer and wine. What would you like?”
Happy to hear that she hadn’t missed dinner, she slipped the salad she’d made into the fridge. “A margarita sounds awesome.”
Jackson took a plate outside, leaving her in the kitchen with Becks.
“I had to work past the end of my shift at the hospital, then come home and shower and dry my hair and . . . well, you know.”
Becks laughed as she poured ice into a glass. “I do know. I actually closed the shop early today, but I still had to come home and shower and do the hair thing, and then I wanted to make a side dish. I mean, it’s not like we can get out of the shower and, voilà, we’re ready like guys are. It takes us some time.”
“Right? It’s so annoying. I should just buzz all my hair off and save myself an hour every day.”
Becks handed Carmen her margarita. “Yeah? You’d look hot that way.”
Carmen laughed. “I was joking. Mostly. Except on days I’d like to sleep in.”
“I can relate.”
Rafe came through the back door with an empty plate and smiled when he saw Carmen. “Hey. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I just got here. Becks fixed me a margarita, so we’ve been chatting.”
“Oh, good.” He went to the sink to wash the empty plate.
Becks leaned over and whispered to her. “Watch this.”
Carmen had no idea what was about to happen.
“Hey, Rafe,” Becks said, “Carmen told me she’s thinking about buzzing all her hair off and going bald.”
Rafe dried the plate, then walked over to her. “Yeah? If that’s what you want to do, you’d look hot that way. And think of all the time you’d save getting ready for work.”
Carmen gave him a shocked stare.
Becks arched her shoulders and smiled.
“I’ve gotta go check the chicken. Come on outside when you’re ready.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, then left.
Carmen laughed. “He says that now, until I come home bald someday.”
“He’s got it bad for you.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because he’s telling you that he’s going to like you no matter how you look. A lot of guys wouldn’t do that.”
“You think?”
“Please. You know how superficial men can be. Women, too. We value ourselves based upon our partner’s looks.” Becks climbed up on the chair on the island to sit next to Carmen. “It might not be right, but it’s how it often is.”
Carmen took a sip of the margarita Becks had made for her. It was salty and delicious. “True. Our attraction to someone is based on their looks, at least at first, until you form a deeper connection.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m telling you that Rafe cares about you. His feelings for you have gone beyond the ‘Hey, I’m dating a beautiful hot woman’ to ‘I care about this woman and I’d proudly walk beside her, bald or not.’”
She hadn’t thought about that. She took another sip of her drink. “That’s sweet. But I’m not shaving my head.”
Becks laughed. “Good call. You have amazing hair. I mean, you’d