Page 30 of The Bad Boy Rule

Saint smirks. “And you don’t think daddy dearest is going to grill either of us the first chance he gets when you spring this on him? Like how all of a sudden, you’re fucking with a guy like me?”

My stomach drops. Shit.

He’s right… and I’ve been so caught up in trying to figure out the particulars of this entire stupid arrangement to eventhinkabout that.

“Just wanna make sure I’m prepared for whatever shit’s coming my way.”

I nod. “I mean, hecouldask questions. Unlikely, but he might. He’s mostly concerned with how it looks for him, not what’s actually happening in my life, so the image alone of the two of us ‘together’ should be enough. I guess if he asks, just go with the truth. We met at school.”

It’s not the full truth, but it’s the closest thing to it.

Technically, wedidmeet at school.

“I can tell him how you fell for me the second you stepped on the ic?—”

“No,” I blurt, cutting him off, my spine straightening. When his brow arches, I blow out a dejected sigh. “I… He doesn’t know. That I’m skating again, so please do not bring that up at any point, ever. I’m serious, Saint. Please.”

I want to piss my dad off and make him understand that I am never, under absolutely zero circumstances, ever getting back together with Chandler, but I don’t want to completely ruin our relationship for the rest of eternity by him finding out that I’ve been lying and keeping this from him. And I definitely don’t want to give him the opportunity to find a way to somehow shut it down again. It’s just another tear in the already unraveling relationship.

“Golden Girl’s got secrets. Who would’ve thought,” he mumbles, gaze snapping to Leo as he walks back into the room with a dress shirt draped over his arms.

“Sorry to interrupt. Please try this on, and we can check and see how it fits, especially the arm length.” Leo passes the fabric to Saint and promptly leaves, clearly picking up on the vibes that he gives off.

My jaw nearly hits the floor as I watch Saint reach for the neck of his T-shirt and pull it over his head, dropping it onto the chair beside him.

I knew he was in shape—he’s a hockey player, so that’s to be expected—but holy… shit.

He looks like he was carved by a renowned sculptor, molded from the most exquisite marble, with rows and rows of abs and an Adonis belt that tapers into the sweatpants slung low on his hips.

For the very first time, I worry about what I haveactuallygotten myself into.

FIFTEEN

SAINT

She looks like a deer caught in headlights.

Her eyes, a blue-green mixture like the depths of the ocean just as it turns deep, widened. Rosy, plump lips parted, a bright red flush coating her cheeks as she stares at me like I’ve stripped fucking naked in front of her rather than just taken my shirt off.

If I’m not mistaken, which I rarely am not, there’s a look of heat mixed with shock.

Jesus, this is going to be entirely too much fucking fun. Maybe the most fun I’ve ever had in my life with someone, and that’s saying a lot since I spend the majority of my free time between a girl’s thighs, tits… or mouth. I’m not picky.

Golden Girl wanted an asshole, a bad boy to let her daddy think she’s playing on the wrong side of the tracks, and she found exactly what she was looking for.

“You know, it’s not polite to stare,” I murmur, my gaze slipping over her delicate features, watching as the realization of being caught hits her, and she stiffens.

She can try and hide it all she wants, but I affect her no matter how much she may hate it and try to act the opposite.

Her eyes fall to the floor, looking at every other thing in the room but me as she smooths her palms over the blue jean shorts she’s wearing.

“Not staring.”

Chuckling, I slowly slip my arms into the sleeves but leave the shirt hanging open, unbuttoned. “If I’d known the only way to get you to be quiet was to take off my clothes, I would’ve gladly done it before now.”

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the corner of her lip curving even as she attempts to stop it. “Do you takeanythingat all seriously? Ever?”

I shrug, “Rarely.”