Page 34 of Rules of Engagement

The balloon floats down toward us, so I step forward and bat it into the air. Lucifer leaps, and his teeth pop it.

Luke’s “Ahhhhh” makes everyone laugh.

Jocko ruffles Lucifer’s fur as he gently explains to Luke that his ‘fur missile’ needs to eat and get to bed.

I turn to Betsy and hug her. “Thank you.”

She smiles. “No thanks needed.”

Jocko

Aunt Betsy waves goodbye from the porch. “Now, don’t you be a stranger, Jocko. You hear me?”

I throw up my hand, turn around to face her, and walk backward, saying, “Just let me know when the cornbread is cooking.”

She laughs and goes inside.

On the ride to Jorja’s car, she's quiet, staring out the window. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, just tired.”

Pulling up to the driver’s side of her car, I put my truck in park and then turn to face her. She unbuckles her seatbelt and looks at me. “If anyone had told me yesterday, what I would do today, I would never have believed them.”

“Still in shock and awe?”

“Will it go away one day?”

“God, I hope not.”

She laughs. “I assume you know I’m writing an article on you forModern Family Magazine.”

“Yeah, Sidney called earlier to ask if I was cool with it. Honestly, the only reason I am is because you are writing it.”

She smiles, “I need your digits.”

I grin. “Yes, you do!”

She pulls her phone and enters my number. Then she turns and tells Lucifer, “Goodnight, Luce.”

She reaches to open her door, and I grab her arm. She hesitates but then opens it and slides out.

A rush of emotions hit me as she slips out of my grasp, and the sound of the truck door closing jars my gut. She walks around in the headlights tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. She has no idea how beautiful she is.

I put my window down as she unlocks her car door. “I'm going to follow you home. I want to make sure you get inside safely.”

She opens the door. “That's sweet, but not necessary. You go home and feed the hero.”

“Let’s do lunch tomorrow.”

“I only get 30 minutes.”

I smirk. “I like the way ‘only 30 minutes’ doesn’t sound like enough time.”

“We have a lot to talk about.” She lowers herself into the seat. “Goodnight, Jocko.”

She cranks it and waves sweetly to me as she pulls away. I tail her anyway. When she turns into her drive, I turn in too and kill the lights. Her brakes stay illuminated. I smirk, hoping she's trying to decide sleep or sex.

When she opens her car door, my fingers lace on the steering wheel, and I lean in for a better view. Her sneakers hit the ground, and she stands.

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