Page 16 of The Rules

Well, that was just fucking great. He looked down at his watch. He was already in the city and dressed to impress if he did say so himself. He had no reason to go home now. He pulled up his contact list labeled “downtown” and swiped his thumb quickly up the screen, setting the numbers scrolling like the big prize wheel onThe Price Is Right. It stopped somewhere in the “M” listings and he tapped the name most likely to be in his proximity.

The line rang and a smokey voice that had a few fun memories attached to it answered. “Dylan Peirce.”

“Mia. I knew you still had my number saved.”

“It’s been a while. Is this work or pleasure?”

“Always a pleasure with you. I’m in town. You up for a drink?”And maybe a little more to get me out of this mood.

Mia didn’t miss a beat. “Tell me where.”

And just like that, his night turned around.

On Monday nights, Dani met Cat after work at the little pub that was halfway between their offices. It was her favorite part of the week. They would drink margaritas and eat fried food and vent about work and family and—on the rare occasion when Josh wasn’t being an angel—men.

But this week, Cat was in Hawaii and Dani had a date. Nick Elway was the brother of a junior consultant at Root. Jean had been dying to set them up, and last week Dani had done a little social media stalking and decided Nick had a cute smile and looked damn fine wearing board shorts and no shirt on the back of his friend’s boat. Jean and Instagram had been a little vague on what it was Nick actually did for a living, but Dani was sure it was something… something.

“Thanks for meeting me,” Nick said, pulling out the chair for her at the table for two he’d booked at Arabella Steak House in the West End. The small high-top was in the center of a bay window looking out onto the busy downtown street. A single candle flickered from the center of the table, reflecting in the glass around them and keeping the space from being too dark.

“Of course. I came from work anyway.”

Nick took his own seat, running a hand through his intentionally messy black hair. He had great hair. Another point in his favor.

The thing with dating in the city was it was sort of like high school. There were all these boxes guys could fit into and there were very few who straddled more than one. There were the corporate-types who tended to have sticks so far up their asses that they couldn’t sit straight. Then there were the starving artists who were always a blast, but there was only so much she could take of the thirty-something-still-lives-with-mom lifestyle. It was rare to find a guy who didn’t take himself too seriously but could also afford dinner. Nick had potential, though.

“So my sister says you’re a partner at Root,” Nick said.

“I am. I was promoted a couple of years ago when one of the owners retired. Big office, staff of my own. That’s about the gist.”

“Branding must be fun.” He waved a hand in front of her, gesturing to her dress. “If your own look is any indication, I’d say you’re good at it.”

“Oh yeah?” she said, leaning across the table. She already liked his particular style of flirting. “And what image am I portraying right now?”

Nick’s lips curled upward revealing straight, white teeth and comma-shaped dimples. His eyes ran the length of her. “Let’s see. Sky-high heels,” he said. “Power statement. You can handle anything.”

“Astute.”

“But that dress.” He hissed through his teeth and she felt her cheeks flush. “That dress says you’re no stiff suit. I’d say fun is high on your list of priorities.”

Dani sipped from the glass of water in front of her, returning Nick’s appraising look. “And what is it you do, Nick? And don’t tell me you’re a psychic because I willsobelieve you.”

Nick laughed, a low rumble that came from his broad chest. “I’m, ah, in pharmaceuticals.”

“Oh. Sales?”

“Mm-hmm.” Nick drank his water too. Gulped it actually. Odd, but back to that face. Were his eyes ocean blue or navy?

“I’ve always heard that’s a stressful profession.”

“It is.”

“Have you been doing it long?”

“You know,” Nick said, picking up a menu and glancing around for the waitress. “Work is boring. What do you do for fun?”

Dani lifted her menu as well, but before she could answer, the waitress came for their drink orders. Nick ordered a beer and Dani went for a mid-shelf wine. Something that said classy, but not snobby. She really was good at her job.

When she returned, Nick lifted his pint, touching it to Dani’s wine glass. “So you were saying?”

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