Page 4 of The Rules

Dylan’s lips curved into a grin. “Sure thing.”

He held up two fingers to the bartender and the kid pulled out a matching glass. Dylan turned back to her, his eyes dancing as he swiped a thumb over her cheek. He held it up, and her face flushed again.

Frosting. Great. So much for owning it.

He licked the frosting off of his thumb, watching her closely. “You sure you need another drink, Dani-pie?”

“Yes,Dylan.And don’t call me that.”

“It’s your Instagram name.”

“Stop stalking me on Instagram.”

“Never.” The bartender slid two shots across the bar. Dylan tossed a few bills into the tip jar and balanced them both in one hand. “Trade you yours for a dance,” he said. “Unless you’re afraid you might turn to mush when I get my hands on you.”

“I’m not sure you can keep up with me on the dance floor,” she said, ignoring the fact that she knew he could. She also knew she was pleasantly buzzed and feeling more than a little emotional. Bad combination when you’re thinking about pressing yourself to another warm body. Especially a hard one like Dylan’s.

Dylan’s chest puffed predictably. “I guess I have something to prove then.”

“Fine.” She held out her hand and he placed one of the shots in it. She could behave herself for a dance.

“So here we are,” she said, wrapping one arm around his neck, the other clutching her shot. “Officially the last ones on the singles cruise.”

Dylan’s hand landed on her waist. “We knew it was coming.”

“We did.”

“You remember the first night we all met?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically nostalgic.

“I do.”

“It’s weird, right? One minute you’re on vacation trying to get laid, and the next your best friend meets his future wife. Sappy fucker.”

Dani laughed, nearly spitting out her tequila. She wiped at her lips, then took a proper sip. “Don’t act like you don’t love your boy.”

“I love him,” he said, looking over the top of her head. “Everyone does.”

She caught something in Dylan’s tone that surprised her. Not envy, but a comparison nonetheless. She followed his gaze across the dance floor, seeing Josh and Cat still cuddled up. “They are a little sickening,” she said.

“Right?”

“Don’t forget I was there for that magical moment. You’d have thought the heavens had just opened up and choirs of angels were singing.” Dani batted her eyes and swooned in her best Cat and Josh impression.

Dylan laughed into his tequila. “Foolishness.”

“Gag-worthy.”

His arm tightened around her, turning them, and another whiff of that cologne, salty and fresh, swarmed her senses. He smelled delicious. She imagined running her tongue along the razor edge of his facial hair, and then mentally slapped herself for it. So much for behaving.

She gulped the rest of her shot and was about to suggest another when a petite woman with greying black hair and olive skin tapped Dylan on the shoulder. He turned, the tips of his ears going red.

“Dylan, sweetie, I’m going to head out. I’m exhausted.” The woman turned to Dani, flashing a pair of familiar green eyes. “Hi, I’m Irene. Dylan’s mom.”

Oh wow.He was the spitting image. This was priceless.

“You’re Cat’s best friend, right?”

“Dani. Nice to meet you.”

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