Page 34 of The Rules

Dylan was about to drop his drink on the nearest table and remote start his car when the weight of his phone in his pocket stopped him.

Right. The rules.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I have an early morning so I have to sleep at home tonight. I was thinking more like another bar.”

Kendra gave him awhat the fucklook and he almost agreed with her. He couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. But eight dates with Dani? He’d be an idiot to give that up.

“Suit yourself,” she said, turning on her stiletto.

He really hoped that’s what he was doing.

Thirteen

“You look pretty.” Cat leanedover her ginger-ale, touching the sleeve of Dani’s blouse.

It was Thursday night and they were squeezed into a shiplap booth at The Swell—a trendy seaside bar with exposed-brick walls and wavy glass windows. Shawn had rented the entire upstairs lounge for Minnie’s birthday party.

“Thanks,” Dani said. “You look cute too.” Cat had on a white sundress and gold sandals. Her hair was in a huge bun on top of her head. She looked more alive than she had on the Fourth. Or at least she didn’t look like she was about to pass out. Her cheeks were still pale though, and she was still sipping soda and picking at her food. So much so that Josh had gone back to the buffet to try and find her something else she might like better. He seemed to be doting on her more than usual. Since when could she not get her own food at a party? It was weird.

He came back with a plate of crackers and cheese and slid in beside Cat. Cat snuggled into his side, practically in his lap, and Dani had a vision of her teenage years—sitting at dinner across from her mother and her step-father, scrolling through her texts while they ignored her.

She pulled out her phone now, figuring it was a good opportunity to add to her embarrassing photo collection. The party was in its second hour. People would be getting messy. Shawn was already on the dance floor wearing a pink party hat and a t-shirt that said “It’s my party and I’ll puke if I want to.”

Perfect.

She snapped a picture and saved it just as a text came in.

Dylan: Hey, gorgeous. Come here often?

Dani smiled and looked around the room for him. He’d been bouncing from table to table since he’d arrived forty-five minutes late, in a pair of jeans that did him all sorts of favors and a white t-shirt that she was sure had a designer label stitched on the inside despite the casual look.

Now, she spotted him in line for booze. He had his elbows propped on the long wood and brass bar, his head tilted to one side. She could just picture the smile he was wearing—one side of his mouth tugged higher than the other, dimples popping, teeth bared.

Dani was feeling amused at how well she knew him, until a busty redhead appeared from behind the bar, setting down a pint glass in front of him and batting her eyes. She popped the cap off a bottle and poured it like someone was tucking dollar bills in her thong.Kind of unprofessional.This was a family event. Shawn and Minnie’s son was here.

“I’ll be back,” she said. She crossed the dance floor and slid up next to Dylan, letting her arm brush his. “Can I get a vodka cranberry, please?” she asked the bartender.

“Put it on my tab,” Dylan said, his eyes sufficiently refocused.

“That’s kind,” Dani said. “Unless maybe you’re just remembering the last time you got me a drink.”

“I remember that often.” Dylan’s eyes dropped down her front, then raked back up. “And now here you are, flirting with me in broad daylight.”

“I’m not flirting. I’m just ordering a drink.”

The bartender slid Dani’s drink across the bar and went to help someone else.

Dylan inched closer. “Let’s dance,” he said, his smile wicked.

“Thought you were talking to the pretty girl behind the bar. I don’t want to step on your game.”

“You know I only have eyes for you.”

That comment had her belly reflexively flipping, and she cursed herself for being so easy. Somehow, sleeping with Dylan hadn’t eased that constant push and pull between them. Which was alarming.

“What did I tell you about lines?” she asked, turning away.

“Gimme that dance and I’ll only speak the truth.”

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