Page 38 of The Rules

He turned, and she quickly darted her eyes to the beer.

“I’m sure you smooth-talked him.” She popped the caps off of two bottles of Heineken, meeting him back at the couch.

“I am pretty smooth,” he said, thanking her for the beer with a quick kiss. “But I don’t think this guy was charmed. Might need a new tactic.” He blew out a breath then took a long pull of his beer. “Josh wants this job. Lately, every conversation with him is like an interrogation. I get it—he wants to do more historic rennos, and the Jansens have a big budget. This one connection could fund the expansion we’ve been planning, but his stress is getting to my head.”

Dani turned to face him, pulling her legs underneath her and studying a line on his brow that she’d never seen before. The worry in his tone was completely off-brand, like he’d let a secret slip. “But you’re still in it?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He scrubbed a hand over his chin, staring at a spot on the floor. “I guess I’m just used to it coming a little easier. I’ll get him, though.”

“I have full faith you will.” Hell, she’d been closed by Dylan Pierce more than once. “And I think it’s pretty clear Josh trusts you to do your thing, so don’t psych yourself out about it.”

Dylan cocked his head, looking her up and down, and his lips tilted into a smile. “Thanks.”

She squeezed his shoulder. “Speaking of Josh, has he said anything to you about Cat?”

“Like what?”

“About her being pregnant.”

Dylan raised an eyebrow. “You’re still on this? Why don’t you just ask her?”

That was the second time she’d been asked that today. Didn’t anyone understand that the point wasn’t whether she knew, it was whether Cat wasn’t telling her? Everyone was acting like it was no big deal that she was out of the loop, but it hurt.

“I’m not stillonit,” she said with a little more aggression than she’d meant to. She sunk into the couch cushions, a combination of embarrassment and irritation mixing in her chest. Of course Dylan wouldn’t get it. He’d probably never had a hurt feeling in his life. “Forget it,” she said. “I was just wondering.”

Dylan looked hard at her, his eyes sweeping around her face in a way that made heat paint her cheeks. Like he could see every insecurity she was trying to hide, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. But then he surprised her. He nudged her with his elbow, his cheeks rounding into a boyish grin.

“I’ll find out for you, Dani-pie,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Count me in.” He winked. “Secret mission.”

Out of nowhere, a laugh bubbled up in her chest, squashing the tension that had been building all day. “Okay,” she said. “Secret mission.”

Dylan squeezed her bare knee, then reached over her lap and grabbed the remote control, pointing it at her television.

“Are you staying?” she asked, her voice jumping an octave.

He shrugged, his shoulder muscles popping. “You just gave me a full beer.”

She took a sip of hers, watching him carefully as he flipped through her channels. This was new. The last time he’d pretty much zipped his fly and flew. Which was what they’d agreed on. This, though. This could be okay too. She crossed her bare feet on the coffee table. “No sports.”

One side of his mouth lifted in reply, but he was focused on the screen. Finally, he stopped scrolling and clicked a title, turning up the volume.

“Old school,” she said when the theme song toThe Officecame on.

“Classic.”

“Agreed.” She watched his profile as he stared at the screen, the way little lines appeared at the corners of his eyes when he found something amusing. It was sort of cute.

Shit. Should she be thinking stuff like that? She’d let herself enjoy Dylan’s face before all of this, but now it felt dangerous to let a fond thought like that slip through. Although, wasn’t that why she chose him for this? She was fond of him in a way. If she’d despised his company, this never would have worked.

“Relax, Dani,” he said when she’d been staring too long. “It’s a long drive back to my place. I’m just procrastinating.”

“I’m relaxed.”

Dylan rolled his lips inward and turned his head to squint at her.

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