Three Rules I’d Never Break by Remi Carrington
Chapter 25
Snuggled on the couch, I rested my head on Eli’s shoulder.
“Sherlock is sure happy to see you.” Eli stroked the dog. “He’s been off-kilter the last few days.”
“I’m so sorry.” It was easier to stay focused on Sherlock and not look at Eli. “I cried myself to sleep Friday night. I was so mad. But you have to understand that I’ve had guys tell me that they were shopping for their mom. They act like it’s funny or some inside joke. When you said that . . .” I looked up at Eli. “I don’t know how to explain how it made me feel.”
“Mad.” He poked me in the side. “Guys have really said that? That’s weird. If I’d had any clue what was in the bag, I would’ve done a lot more explaining then and there.”
“But you didn’t want to see what was in the bag.”
“Does it surprise you at all that I didn’t want to see what my dad bought my mom at the lingerie store? Really?”
The way he’d behaved that day made more sense without the cloud of anger and jealousy masking the truth.
“You asked about my panic when Tandy talked about the robe.” I rubbed at the wrinkles in his t-shirt.
He trailed a finger along my jaw liked he’d done that day. “One minute we were flirting, and the next minute, you were looking at me like I was dangerous.”
“Why did you get your mom a medium?”
“Delaney, when you were modeling that robe, I wasn’t thinking about my mom.” He grinned when I laughed.
Telling him about my rules would sound silly, and I asked another question, hoping to delay that part of the discussion.
“Tessa knew about you picking up the gift for your dad, didn’t she?”
“Yep, but I made her promise not to say anything. She didn’t need to be in the middle of it.” He shifted me into his lap. “But I made her tell me about your rules.”
“How is that fair?”
“We’ve already established that I have flaws. Do you want to hear my side or not?” He lifted his eyebrows.
“I’m listening.”
“When I told her what happened, she mumbled something about rules. I hounded her until she spilled the beans.” He wrapped his arms around me. “Then I understood. You and me, we like rules. And if I had you breaking your rules, I was a little bit dangerous.” Soft lips pressed against my temple. “I know that not being like your mom is why you have rules. I’m sorry for implying you were acting like her.”
“The truth hurts.”
“I shouldn’t have said it.” He leaned his head on mine. “As soon as I did, the look on your face broke my heart. I worried you wouldn’t forgive me even after you knew the truth.”
“When I knocked and you didn’t answer, I worried that you had reverted to the quiet Eli or that you’d lost interest.”
He dropped a kiss below my ear, then continued down the side of my neck.
My rules had been so important to me that I’d given up good sense. “Rules have always been important. I never wanted to be like my mom, and she acted like rules didn’t matter. But I put too much focus on my rules—which might’ve been the wrong rules to have anyway—and lost sight of what’s most important.”
Eli hugged me closer but didn’t say anything.
“Will you forgive me?” I resisted the urge to bury my face in the curve of his neck. Instead, I held his gaze and waited for his response, knowing what he’d say and needing to hear it.
“Yes. I forgive you.” He tapped out our secret knock on my hip. “And I love you, rules and all.”
I tilted my head, giving him easier access. “When your mom came into the store to exchange things, I told her that I love you.”
“I know. She called me.”
“Did Joji tell you that I went to your house?” I tipped my head back as he kissed the front of my neck.
“Clint sent me a video.”
“Video?”
“Doorbell cam. He thought it sounded important.” Eli brushed his lips on mine. “He was right.”
“You heard everything I said?”
He nodded. “Including what you said to Boingo.”
“Why does your trailer have a doorbell cam? You don’t even lock it.”
“Because of the goats. Joji installed several on the property to catch the funny things they do.” After kissing his way across my collarbone, he pulled back. “I should probably head over to the store. It’s late, and you have to work tomorrow.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not working.” He stretched. “I’d already booked leave so I could help you move in. I was going to surprise you. I’m off all week.”
“I don’t mind sleeping on the couch tonight, but we’re going to have to figure something out because having you stay at the shop won’t work when you are working nights. Women would die if they saw you in a towel headed to the shower. Shoot. I might die.”
Eli laughed, full and loud. “I truly hope not.”
Sherlock’s head popped up, and he barked.
“Sorry, baby. We didn’t mean to wake you.” I patted Sherlock’s head.
Eli yawned. “You go crawl in the bed. I’ll sleep out here.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m glad we talked.”
“Me too. And thank you for not telling your parents about how stupid I was acting.”
“People who are in love argue. My parents don’t need to know about every spat.”
I straddled his lap and kissed him. “I love you, Eli Gallagher.”
Gripping my hips, he made silent promises as his lips moved against mine.
From now on, I’d stick with one rule—trust my gut.
* * *
At four in the morning,I trudged out to the living room because Sherlock needed a potty break. After a whispered warning to be quiet, I let him out the front door and stepped out onto the porch.
What I really wanted to do was take advantage of the fact that Eli was sleeping without a shirt and enjoy a few moments of gawking, but instead, I was watching a dog pee. Sometimes life wasn’t fair.
“Go back to bed.” I kept my voice low and pointed down the hall when Sherlock tromped back inside.
He looked down the hall, then at Eli.
I put a finger to my lips and whispered, “Don’t bother him. He’s sleeping.”
“Not anymore, he’s not.” Eli opened one eye.
I walked over to the couch and leaned over him. “I’m sorry.”
He traced the pattern on my flannel nightgown and grinned.
“What?”
“I’ll tell you another time. Not right now.” He blew me a kiss. “Go back to bed before Sherlock thinks it’s morning.”
“Okay, but I was thinking that when you work nights, you should just sleep here during the day while I work. At least until I find another apartment.”
Grinning, he tugged at the hem of my nightshirt. “Are you asking to share my bed?”
I swatted his chest, not hard because that would only hurt my hand. “I liked you better when you were quiet.”
He clasped my hand and held it against his chest. “That can be arranged.”
Sherlock ran up to the couch and barked.
“I should probably go back to bed.” The only problem with that was it meant pulling my hand away from his chest. And my hand looked so comfortable pressed against his pecs.
Eli nodded.
“Just for the record, I love you when you’re quiet and when you’re being a patootie.” I kissed him before retreating to the bedroom.
If we spent any more nights in the same place, I’d need new rules. But then I’d just be tempted to break them. And that wasn’t good.
* * *
The smellof bacon woke me, and I was no longer competing with Sherlock for space. I tugged my hair into a ponytail as I walked down the hall. “You made breakfast.”
Eli smiled. “I did. How do you like your eggs?”
He still didn’t have a shirt on, and I liked waking up to this view.
“Just however.” I spotted fresh coffee and filled a mug. “Coffee! Thank goodness. Most mornings you get it from Tessa’s.”
“I’m usually either racing out the door or getting off my shift. It’s easier to stop and pick it up.” He stepped away from the stove. “Sleep okay?”
“I did, and I needed it. It’ll be a long day.” I thought of all the calls I’d have to make regarding the house.
He handed me a plate. “Sunny side up with a side of bacon. If you need help at the store while you deal with the house stuff, I’m there. I can’t promise I’ll be good at it, but I’ll do my best.”
I set my food on the table and looped my arms around his neck. “You are volunteering to help women shop for lingerie?”
He laughed. “If you need me, yes. But I reserve the right to hide in the back if Tandy comes waltzing in.”
“How will you help customers find the right size?”
He lifted me off my feet and set me on the counter. “I’d probably need to know the rules about exchanges and returns. In general, being aware of the rules is helpful in avoiding problems.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“So do you need me?”
“I do.” I needed him; of that I was completely sure. “And as for my rules, I’ve settled on having just one. To trust my gut.”
“And what does your gut tell you?”
“That I’m hungry, and breakfast is getting cold.” I kissed him before sliding off the counter. “Now we’ll see if you cook as good as you kiss.”