Page 3 of Breaking Emily's Rules
But for twenty-eight years, I’d stayed away from his kind, and I wouldn’t end that streak tonight.
* * *
Stone
Thiswas a bad idea.
Stone Mcallister sat nursing his beer at a bar someone had the moxie to name the Silver Saddle. Everything in this town had whimsical names like The Hair-Em, and The Drip. It felt like he’d been dropped in the middle of Whoville. And even after he’d avoided this joint for six months, tonight his luck had run out. Jedd, his mechanic, wouldn’t take no for an answer. So now he was stuck staring at the blonde with the wavy hair that seemed to dance as much as she did. Dressed in a short white dress, showing off the best pair of legs he’d seen in years and wearing a pair of blue cowboy boots, she had the attention of every male in the place.
She tempted the hell out of him. Something he didn’t need.
What he did need right now was some financial hocus pocus, and sitting here staring at the girl wasn’t going to help.
She was tearing up the place, dancing with anyone who asked. None of his business. He didn’t plan on staying in town for long. That reason, more than any other, made him wonder if maybe he should introduce himself to the young lady. Women were more trouble than he could handle right now, but if the girl wanted a warm bed for the night, he certainly had one. Jedd brought him another beer though he still wasn’t done with the first one. Stone set the old one aside and grabbed the cold one.
“Thanks for coming out with me, boss,” Jedd shouted over the live band playing some kind of nonsense song about friends in low places. Another thing he could barely stomach about this place. Country music.
“Told you not to call me that.”
“Aw, but if it wasn’t for you taking over the flight school, I’d be out of a job right now.”
“Not true. You’re a great mechanic and you’d find work, no matter what.” The last thing Stone needed was the pressure of the distinct possibility that if he didn’t fix this mess and fix it soon, Jedd would be out of a job. But he was young. He’d find other work.
“I don’t know about that. But anyway, I’m not here to talk business. I wanted to give you the good news. I’m going to be a daddy.” Jedd reached across to Stone’s bottle and they clinked together.
Stone swallowed, in part because the blonde had just passed him on the dance floor, leaving a trail of her sweet scent behind, but mostly because he wondered what Jedd would do with a pregnant wife and no job.
“Congrats.” He slapped Jedd’s back. Monday Stone would start the ball rolling for Jedd and make a few inquiries. Couldn’t hurt.
“Are you going to dance? I can’t because Casey would kill me. But don’t let me stop you. I see you eyeing Emily.” Jedd elbowed him.
“Who?”Emily. Vanilla. Yeah, she smelled like vanilla.
“Uh yeah, the blonde you can’t take your eyes off. That’s Emily Parker,” Jedd said with a wink.
Another thing. People in this town winked too much. He wasn’t interested in Fortune, California, this Peyton Place of towns, but Emily did have his attention. In the next moment, she caught him staring, but rather than look away, he locked gazes with her. She smiled back a little and continued to dance.
Stone gulped down the ice cold beer, hoping it would reach his bloodstream and cool him the hell down. “About the flight school. You know we’ve been having problems. I had a buyer for the school lined up, but my sister is causing trouble.”
“I heard. She wants to sell to that big corporation.” All the blood seemed to drain out of Jedd’s face. “But there’s no chance I could lose my job, right?”
“No, of course not.” He couldn’t tell Jedd. Not tonight. But if his sister kept it up, Stone was worried his buyer would walk away, afraid to get caught up in a lawsuit.
“Don’t worry. I have faith you’ll figure it out. If anyone can, you can.” Jedd’s cell phone rang and he whipped it out, checked the caller ID and smiled. “My wife.”
As Jedd walked outside, Stone wondered why anyone would put their faith in him. And as if he needed to prove the point, Stone took one last swallow of his beer, got up and headed straight for the girl.
* * *
Emily
Hot Guy marchedstraighttoward me, like a man on a mission. Unfortunately I was between dancing partners, vulnerable as a lamb. One quick glance toward the bar and Jimmy chatted quietly with the head bartender and some of their coworkers.
A little tingle went down my spine, and I drew in a shallow breath. What was Jimmy doing when I needed him? I could just pull up my big girl panties and deal with it, but I wouldn’t do it alone. Mentally, I picked up a sword to go with the imaginary shield. Yep, I was as ready as I’d ever be.Go ahead and let me have your best shot, Mr. Hunk.
On second thought…
Before he reached my side, I veered to the right, toward the bar. I’d get Jimmy’s attention one way or another. Pretend Jimmy was my boyfriend and scare this guy off. Even if he didn’t look like he scared easily. It was worth a try, because my imaginary sword’s blade felt a bit dull and the shield a little tarnished.
