Three rules id never bre.., p.4
Three Rules I'd Never Break, page 4
After that complete sentence, one that felt a whole lot like flirting, Eli didn’t say another word to me. Forget words, I didn’t even get a nod.
For the last hour, he’d stayed at least ten feet away. But he’d looked at me. More than once.
Several of the guys—including Eli—were in the yard, playing Corn Hole. Haley was out there too.
Tessa and I were on the patio, sitting near the firepit and sipping lemonade.
Haley threw her hands in the air. “I win!”
Eli laughed. “Haley, you and Zach must practice every night.”
“Right. That’s what we do every night.” Zach shook his head.
Haley poked Eli in the side. “Want to know what we really do every night?”
“No. I don’t.” He strolled to the porch.
“Roasting time.” Haley ran back to the porch.
I leaned closer to Tessa. “Okay so help me with your family tree. Eli is your cousin, and Eli is Zach’s cousin.”
“Right. But Zach and I aren’t cousins. I just know him because he’s lived here forever.”
“Got it.” I watched as Eli hovered on the far edge of the patio.
Haley handed me a long metal skewer. “Jumbo marshmallow or Peep? Which do you want to roast?”
“Roasting a Peep sounds interesting.” I stuck a pink Peep on the end of my skewer and hovered it over the firepit.
Tessa stood next to me, roasting a jumbo marshmallow.
When my sweet treat was perfectly toasted, I pulled the skewer back from the fire and tugged the Peep off the end. I promptly dropped it onto the stone wall surrounding the firepit. Too hot.
After licking my fingers to get them to stop burning, I leaned down over the Peep and blew on it, cooling it off before attempting to hold it again. After a few puffs, I had to back away from the flames. Being right next to it had my cheek on fire. Not literally.
Standing upright, I popped the Peep into my mouth. Between the crunch of the melted sugar and the creaminess of the gooey marshmallow, I was in heaven.
Something made a sizzling sound next to my ear, but before I could figure out what caused the noise, ice-cold liquid cascaded over my hair and down the front of my shirt.
I yelped as the cold permeated my skin. If this was someone’s idea of a joke, I didn’t think it was funny.
“Oh my gosh, Delaney, are you okay?” Cami ran up next to me.
Tessa propped her hands on her hips. “Eli, what in the world?”
He set the empty pitcher on the table. “Her hair . . .” Forking his fingers through his hair, he stared at the ground.
I wiped my face, and the pieces started to fit together. “My hair was on fire, wasn’t it?”
He glanced at me as he nodded, then dropped his gaze back to the concrete patio. Why was he making such an effort not to look at me? Was my drowned rat look that horrible?
Tessa stepped closer to me and pointed at the front of my shirt. One look, and I understood why Eli was searching out other places to fix his gaze. The pretty things that no one was supposed to see were now visible through the wet white shirt.
I pulled on my flannel and buttoned it all the way to the top. Always prepared.
Eli opened the back door and looked over his shoulder at me. The apology etched on his face spoke louder than any command he’d ever given.
Haley handed me a towel. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Really.” When I looked back toward Eli, he was gone.
She shook her head. “Why did he use the lemonade? It’s gonna be sticky.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Eli should’ve let one of the firemen handle it.” Cami laughed. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell him that I said that.”
“He put the fire out.” I needed to thank him for that.
He’d also kind of started one with that smoldering gaze. Or maybe it was just hot near the fire.
“Want me to run you home? Didn’t you ride with Eli?” Haley pointed toward the door.
How anyone knew that was beyond me because there wasn’t a soul in the front yard when Eli had pulled up. When Cami saw us, I’d been on the sidewalk.
“I don’t mind walking.” I said a quick goodbye before slipping out the front door.
Hurrying up the street, I kept my keys in my hand, ready for anything.
How long had Eli been gone? Was he on duty yet?
I arrived at Main Street and looked both ways before running across. Not only was I not in the mood to walk all the way to the end of the block for a crosswalk, but I also hoped Eli was on duty and watching. He wouldn’t be able to ignore my jaywalking.
Back inside my tiny apartment, I locked the door and turned off the alarm before shedding my wet clothes. I needed a shower. And this time I carried my keys with me into the bathroom.
Chapter 7
Much earlier than I’d intended to be up on a Sunday morning, I knocked at the doughnut shop. Tessa wasn’t open yet, but I knew she was inside.
She unlocked the door. “Come in and lock it behind you.”
I did as I was told, then perched on my favorite barstool. “Want me to start the coffee?”
“Sure. You’re up early. Something bothering you?” Tessa poked her head out of the kitchen. “Trouble with Eli?”
I’d debated about whether to bring up the topic, but now that she had, I was grateful. I needed someone to talk to about this. Keeping secrets was too hard.
“I wish I could read his thoughts.”
“Eli? The guy has his thoughts written all over his face.” She laughed as she set a pan of glazed doughnuts on the counter. “I did feel bad for him last night.”
“Me too.” I faced the coffee pot and added water before flipping the switch. “I love Cami, but she cannot hear anything of what I’m about to tell you.”
Tessa opened the display case and began loading trays onto the shelves. “My lips are sealed.”
“On my way home from the bombed date, Eli pulled me over, and I sort of unloaded on him about guys only wanting one-night stands.”
Tessa’s mouth fell open.
“It gets worse. When I got back to the shop, I forgot to turn off the alarm. I didn’t figure that out until Eli was standing in the store with a gun pointed at me.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he point a gun at you?”
“He didn’t recognize me in a towel, and I had a mask smeared all over my face because I was about to jump in the shower.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth as she laughed. “No wonder he wouldn’t sit with us.”
“Yeah.” I refilled the napkin holders. “If he’s interested, why won’t he ask me out? I get that he’s a bit shy, but he talks to other people. Like you. And Haley. And Cami. Is it really so hard to talk to me?”
“Eli isn’t really shy. He just can’t form sentences when he’s around someone he’s attracted to.” She lifted her eyebrows and shot me that knowing look. “Occasionally he’ll muster up a spurt of courage and rattle off a sentence or two, but it’s rare unless you get him talking about something like work.”
“Or safety.”
Tessa laughed. “Oh yes. I’ve been lectured on going out alone at night. And the one time I picked up a stranger off the side of the road, Eli came unglued. For weeks, he repeated all the reasons it was dangerous. Also, he hated it when Cami lived in the back of the photography studio. He’d go by there to check on her.”
“Was that the stranger who puked in your car?”
“Yep. I didn’t need Eli to explain why it was a bad idea. My car reeked.”
“You knew Eli was coming by because he did that with Cami.”
“I guessed, but your reaction confirmed my suspicion.”
“He’s checked on me every night he’s worked since the towel incident, but he didn’t stop by last night.” I looked around the shop. “Anything else I can do?”
“Figure out ways to talk to him. About work. Or you could learn to play video games. He likes those. What do you know about cars? He has a thing for cars.”
“Law enforcement. Video games. And cars. Got it.”
She closed one case and moved on to filling the next one. “Some of the guys give Eli a hard time about not talking to you. Not nearly as bad as it was during high school, but still. Anyway, because of that, last night was embarrassing for him.”
“When I asked if there was anything I could do, I meant is there anything I can do right now. To help you.” I tore the napkin that was in my hand. “And people should leave Eli alone.”
“Teasing is their way of trying to help him get over it.”
“So, what happened before when he wouldn’t talk to someone? Does he just have this long list of females he won’t speak to?”
Since he was single, I worried there was no solution to his silence.
She shook her head. “Eventually, he gets past it and starts talking. Then he isn’t interested anymore.”
“Fabulous. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” I reached for the door. “Should I unlock it?”
“Yep. And flip the sign, will you?”
As soon as I turned the sign around, I spotted Eli getting out of his truck.
“Tessa, he’s here.” I moved away from the door, wondering if I should slip out the back and leave.
She set a bag on the counter. “Here’s his food. Grab him a coffee cup. I’m going to finish up in the kitchen.”
“You’re leaving on purpose.” I was a little afraid that after one look at me Eli would leave without his coffee.
She grinned. “Guilty. Talk to him.”
The door opened, and I slowly turned around. “Good morning.”
He gave a small head bob, which was silent Eli’s version of a hello.
I didn’t move as he walked toward the counter. “I’m not upset about last night. I hadn’t even realized I was on fire. Thank you for being a hero and saving my hair. I don’t think I’d look good bald.”
“Okay.” He reached around me and picked up the bag.
The man was maybe ten inches taller than me, but when he was this close, I felt really small. In the best kind of way.
I held out an empty coffee cup. “I figured I’d let you fill it since I’m not good with lids.”
As he took the cup out of my hand, he studied my face. “Thanks.” He didn’t move.
Hopefully, I could find something to say that would get him talking. “Nothing weird happened last night. The store was quiet.”
He nodded.
“But you know that. You drove by here during your shift, didn’t you?”
The slightest shrug was his version of an answer.
“I jaywalked again when I walked home from the party. It was getting dark, and I figured it was safer to get home faster rather than walk all the way to the corner where there is a clearly marked crosswalk.” To any normal person, I sounded like a complete loon.
Eli narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t do that.”
“Which part?”
“Both. No place is completely safe, and cars speed through here at night. They won’t be able to stop in time to avoid you.”
I leaned in closer. “You make it sound dangerous.”
He inhaled, then strode to the coffee pot.
My brain buzzed with attraction. Maybe using words wasn’t the best strategy.
Once he’d filled his cup and put the lid on properly, I touched his arm. “Eli?”
He turned around. “What?”
I didn’t let his curt reply change my mind. I moved my hand to his chest. “I, uh . . .”
His gaze stayed glued to my fingers.
When I placed my other hand on his chest, he sucked in a breath.
Inching up on my tiptoes, I questioned the wisdom of what I wanted to do. He might never speak to me again. Or maybe he’d decide he wanted to spend more time with me.
I’d never been good at poker. I was more of an all-in type of player, and that only worked sometimes. Hopefully, this was one of those times.
I slid my hands up his chest and around his neck. As I closed my eyes, he leaned down and captured my mouth with his. Who needed words?
For a man who had trouble talking, he sure could kiss. His lips moved against mine. Hunger and desire crackled in the air, sending tingles dancing on my skin. Was he feeling this too?
If so, why hadn’t he wrapped his arms around me?
Crap. Why hadn’t I suggested he put his breakfast down before starting this?
Stubble grazed my lips as he turned his head. “Delaney.”
Cradling his face, I pressed my lips to his again, wishing I’d also thought to flip the sign to closed.
The bag crinkled as Eli wrapped his arms around me. Then his coffee hit the floor.
He backed up like he’d been slapped. “Tell Tessa I’m sorry about the mess.”
“Eli, wait!”
Shaking his head, he rushed out the door.
So much for my great idea.
Technically, for the record, he’d kissed me. And I’d enjoyed every second of kissing him back.
“That was quite a conversation y’all had.” Tessa dragged the mop across the floor. “It didn’t burn you, did it?”
I ran a finger around my lips. “A little.”
“The coffee, Delaney. I was asking if the coffee burned you?” She rolled her eyes.
Glancing down at my coffee-soaked tennis shoes, I stifled a giggle. “Didn’t feel a thing.”
“I don’t believe that for a second. You were too busy feeling something. That’s why you didn’t notice that hot coffee landed on your shoes.”
Sighing, I watched his truck pull out of the lot. “I’m bad luck for him when it comes to coffee.”
Tessa stepped up next to me. “If it helps, I’ve never seen Eli do that.”
“Kiss someone?”
“Leave like that.”
“The way he raced out of here worries me.”
Her nose crinkled as she scrunched it up. “Yeah. He might avoid you for a while.”
Chapter 8
Tessa was right. I didn’t see Eli for several days. A full week. If he drove by at night, he didn’t stop to knock. Aside from stalking him—which was way out of my rule-follower comfort zone—there wasn’t much I could do about it.
I read a lot and checked on my house at least once a day.
From the outside, the place looked almost finished. Inside, it still needed work. I walked through the master suite. The closets were huge. I’d designed them that way. It would be nice to have the rest of my clothes out of storage and accessible.
After a quick walkthrough, I trudged back out to my car. I’d avoided Tessa’s shop this morning, but skipping a stop at her place meant I now craved coffee in the worst way. Would I have time to run down the highway to the truck stop?
As much as I wanted to see him, my stomach soured when I remembered how he’d hurried out the door. Was kissing me really that bad? So much for my grand plan.
I walked out to the end of the driveway where I’d parked. Parking any closer to the house guaranteed nails in my tires.
A truck rumbled past, and I gasped. Eli? The brake lights flickered, but he didn’t stop. Did he live out here? Had he seen me?
Following him would be weird. I was already his bad luck charm. I didn’t need to add stalker and desperate to the list.
But since he was headed away from town, I was going to Tessa’s shop to get coffee. There was a bright side to everything.
One of the best things about my new house was that it was only five minutes from the strip mall. I parked and ran inside the doughnut shop.
The crowd had thinned a little, which was nice because that meant Tessa would have time to chat.
“Missed you this morning. Someone else did too. He sat at that corner table for almost an hour before finally trudging out of here.” She set a mug and a cream-filled doughnut in front of me. The woman knew what to give me when the world seemed like it was falling apart.
His actions didn’t make sense. Why would he wait for an hour, which made it seem like he wanted to see me, but then drive right on past? Maybe he hadn’t seen me after all.
I filled my coffee mug before biting into the doughnut.
Tessa rubbed my shoulder. “I wish I knew what to say.”
“Do you think it bothers him that I’m older than he is? He’s what . . . twenty-five?” If I could pinpoint the problem, I’d have a better chance of finding the solution. That was the way planning worked. If there was a problem in Plan A, Plan B was created to fix the problem.
“He’s twenty-six, and based on what I saw here the other morning, that’s not an issue for him.” She smiled. “All kidding aside, no. I don’t think that’s why he goes silent. It’s just the way he is. He’s a thinker, and attraction sends his brain into overdrive. A two-year age difference isn’t that big a deal.”
“Work and safety. I’ll focus on those things. Because I know next to nothing about cars, and I’m all thumbs when it comes to video games.” I finished my doughnut. “What if I don’t get a chance to talk to him?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” She glanced toward the door. “Customers. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.” I hurried back to the store and made sure everything was in proper order before opening.
There had to be a way to talk to Eli.
The other option was to forget about Eli. This whole plan of trying to get his attention made me feel like I was back in high school. The difference was, in high school, I hadn’t chased anyone. The guys had chased me. Even back then, they weren’t the guys I wanted.
I turned on the lights in the store and flipped the sign to open. If Eli was interested, he could make a move. All my efforts to be around him had only ended up adding stains to my clothes.
One of my regulars walked into the shop. With her colorful track suit and mischievous grin, she looked like trouble. The fun kind.
“Good morning. Lovely day, isn’t it?” She walked around the racks, occasionally picking up bra and panty sets. “I always start here and look at all these cute ones before I end up buying an old-lady set.” She reached into her over-sized purse. “I brought you one of my new books.”
