Page 56 of The Rules We Broke
He chuckled, leaning in. “It’s hot chocolate.”
“You remembered?”
He nudged me, familiar and playful. “I think it may surprise you what I remember.”
Despite the warmth he ignited in me with a single statement, I took a sip of the hot chocolate to keep myself from doing something reckless.
“So, how did you know what time to be here?” I asked, trying for casual. “And don’t you have a job?”
That probably came out snarkier than I wanted it to. He just had me so confused. And I was trying my best to resist his charm.
He raised an eyebrow. “Kendra called and told me. Benjamin’s got the bank handled for the day.” He paused, then added, “By the way, Kendra really likes you.”
“I like her, too. And your brother. And, of course, Caroline.”
“Speaking of Caroline,” Brady said, reaching into his pocket, “she wanted me to give you this.”
He handed me a folded piece of paper. I opened it carefully.
It was a drawing—me, reading to her on her bed, with a puppy curled beside us.
I smiled up at him. “I think someone needs to get her a puppy.”
He chuckled. “Benjamin said she talked of nothing but you this morning. How you’re coming to her show and tell. I told him I was offended—she’s never wanted to take me.”
“And what would you show and tell?” I said way too flirty.
He leaned in, eyes gleaming. “There are some things I’d like to show and tell you.”
My cheeks flushed.
“And what would that be?”
He brushed my cheek with his hand—soft, slow. “I plan to show and tell you later.”
I shivered, leaned back, and took a long sip of my drink before I did something stupid. I wasn’t supposed to be flirting with Brady Jackson. Not here. Not today.
But he was relentless—charming, warm, and dangerously familiar.
We made small talk after that. I tried to keep it light. Brady didn’t make it easy. If I’d let him, I think he would’ve pulled me onto his lap and kissed me until I forgot I was an Eaton.
But at least he made the hour pass quickly.
The hour passed.
Then another half.
Still, no one came to get me.
Worry gnawed at me as I headed to the nurses’ station to find out what was going on.
“Someone will be with you in a moment,” was all the nurse said.
What did that even mean?
I returned to Brady’s side, but my nerves were frayed. I couldn’t sit, so I started to pace. Brady stood and walked with me.
He reached down and took my hand.
