Page 54 of The Rules

“Ha. And why’s that?”

“It’s just common courtesy.”

“No. See, the no sleeping with other people rule I understand. It’s a health thing, I get it. But this seems like it’s coming from a different place.”

“What place?”

He huffed out a laugh. Her clueless act was starting to piss him off. “Why can’t you just admit that you’re jealous, Dani?”

“That’s the second time you’ve accused me of that.” She pushed her finger into his chest. “Maybe you’re projecting.”

“Maybe I am!” Exasperation raised his voice dangerously and he dragged a hand over his mouth, reminding himself they were a wall away from all of their friends. A wall away from the show they were putting on for everyone—the one where he didn’t know the little sounds she made when he touched her, or the way her hair looked like a tornado had hit when she woke up in the morning. The one where he didn’t think about her the whole weekend.

And he did. As much as he tried to chalk it up to a natural possessiveness over someone he considered a friend, he’d spent more and more time stalking Dani’s social media accounts for glimpses of the guys she was seeing, signs that she was enjoying herself. Hoping she wasn’t, so she’d be forced to continue this arrangement.

“Look, like I said, I’m not going to kiss you when I’m here with someone, but Cass and I took different cars. She has plans after this. I don’t.”

“What’s your point?”

“My point is you’re already in town. Why not stay?” He trailed a finger down the length of her neck, over the ridge of her collarbone. He wasn’t going to kiss her, but standing this close and not having his hands on her required more willpower than he had on him at the moment. “I missed you Friday night after I left.”

Her eyelashes fluttered. “You missed me?”

“I did.” He was tired of denying he enjoyed her company. Not getting to finish that show with her had jabbed in his side like a thorn, rubbing at him the rest of the weekend. He’d stewed over it. Tortured himself over the thought of her having dinner and God knows what else with some guy Saturday night after he’d acted like an asshole. He’d only called Cass to ease some of the irritation arguing with Dani had caused him.

Cass wanted him. She was an easy smile, a stroke to his ego, and yet the second she’d sat down next to Dani on that couch, the comparisons started. She was too sweet, too easy to please. He didn’t have to be any better than when he woke up that morning in order to impress Cass. He didn’t know when the helleasybecame a point against a woman, but there it was. And he had no idea what to do about it. But he did know one thing.

“I’m going home alone, Dani,” he said. “You should meet me there.”

“I don’t know why I’m here.” Dani kicked her shoes off at the door and followed Dylan over to his couch. She’d stayed at Cat’s for a full hour after Dylan and Cassidy had left. She’d wanted him to wait, wonder. She wasn’t sure herself if she’d go. But as soon as she’d gotten in her car to leave, she had this overwhelming need to be the last woman Dylan touched today. The last one to touch him.

“Do you need a reason?” he asked, unfazed. He’d lost that growly tone he’d used with her earlier. Now he was back to being charming. Smooth. She wasn’t sure which was more dangerous.

“I also don’t know if I’m staying.”

“Fair enough. Do you want something to eat? A drink?”

“A drink would be good.”

Dylan handed her a glass of wine and took the seat beside her. “One and done if you’re really driving home.”

Her stomach knotted with indecision. She’d never slept there before. She wanted to stay and sniff his sheets and pillows like a weirdo, but she also kind of wanted to smack herself upside the head. This was a mess.

“Convince me,” she said, taking a slow sip.

“To stay?”

“Yep.”

Expecting a dirty suggestion or his hands wandering, she watched him curiously as he leaned down and took her foot into his hands, pulling her into a half-reclined position. He pressed his thumb into her arch and a moan slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it.

“What’s this?”

“I’m convincing you.”

“With a foot rub? I’m not saying it’s not working, it’s just a new tactic from you.”

“I’m not trying to convince you to sleep with me. I’m trying to convince you to stay here.” He lifted her foot and kissed the top of it. “Sleep in my bed. Wake up next to me. Maybe have coffee before you take off.”

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