Three Rules I’d Never Break by Remi Carrington

Chapter 3

After washing off my calming mask and putting on something more appropriate than a towel, I called my friend Tessa. “Have you eaten?”

“I thought you were on a date. Oh-no.” Tessa gasped. “Was it that bad?”

She was the kind of friend people wrote about in books, the kind who played the sidekick in romantic comedy movies. I probably wouldn’t have survived living in this town without her. She made me feel like I belonged.

Tessa was the absolute sweetest person on the planet, possibly because she made sweets all day.

“The jerk showed his true colors before we even ordered.” I sighed, irritated all over again. “I drove home, and I’m starved. Want to meet at the barbeque joint?” I didn’t have to give more info than that because our town only had one barbeque place, and we ate there often.

“Sure. I’ll be there in a few minutes. I need to change out of my jammies.”

“You don’t need to change. No one will care.” I yanked on my tennis shoes and tied the laces.

She laughed. “I care. I haven’t yet reached that point of desperation. Yet.”

“Desperate. Comfortable. They’re all just words. See you there.” I hung up, grabbed my purse, and walked out the back door.

Out of habit, I always scanned the area behind the building. I didn’t want any surprises. Tonight, I’d already had too many surprises. I circled around the end of the building and stopped.

That dud’s truck was in the lot. Why hadn’t he left when I told him I wasn’t interested? Had he really just been sitting there for a half hour waiting for me to leave?

I stayed in the shadows and watched. Was he in the truck? With my luck, he’d crossed the street to get barbeque, and I’d bump into him again. I didn’t want that.

My phone buzzed, and I stepped back to check my messages. If Tessa was texting and I didn’t respond, she might worry.

How long are you planning to work tonight?

Was the jerk being stupid or persistent? Either way, I didn’t really want him knowing I was living in the back of my shop. Where was Eli when I needed him? He’d been behind the shop only a bit ago.

I tapped out a quick reply. Stop messaging me. I do not want to go out with you. Ever. That seemed simple enough for anyone to understand.

The jerk’s truck rumbled to life, and he tore out of that parking lot like a spooked cat. Good riddance.

Before I stepped out of the shadows, my phone buzzed again. What did the guy want now?

Nothing. It was from Tessa. Cami is coming. Harper is working tonight.

I definitely wouldn’t be talking about what happened with the towel incident. Tessa and Eli were cousins, so that made it weird. And Cami was determined to set me up with Eli. Neither of my friends needed to know he’d seen me only in a towel.

Cami’s purple goddess turned into the lot just as I was about to cross the street. I glanced both ways, then ran across.

“Sorry about your date. But yay for barbeque. I was craving it.” She hopped out. “Maybe I’ll take some to Harper when we’re done.”

“That’s just an excuse to go see him.”

“Yep.” She grinned. “He misses me when he has to work.”

“I’m sure he does.” I pulled open the door to the restaurant.

The amazing aroma of smoked meat greeted me. Barbeque always made me feel better.

Tessa waved. “I thought you’d beat me here.”

“I was slow.” Maybe I’d tell them about the jerk in the parking lot; maybe I wouldn’t. Right now, I just wanted food.

I fell in line behind them and pushed my tray along.

“What meat would you like?” The guy behind the counter motioned to the array of smoked meats.

“I’ll take half a pound of smoked brisket and two ribs.” Brisket always made good leftovers, so I didn’t worry about ordering too much.

He handed over my food, and I waited while Tessa and Cami got their sides.

The guy repeated his question to the person behind me, and when Eli answered, I glanced around for a rug to crawl under.

For a small town, the restaurant options were pretty good. There were three places. What were the odds he’d end up here? This was the best barbeque around. Of course he was here.

I glanced back, and Eli was staring at the floor.

My assumption was right. He wasn’t going to look at me. Ever.

I pushed my tray forward, hoping Cami and Tessa wouldn’t notice the man who was well over six feet tall. What were the odds?

Not good.

“Do you want to split a potato salad?” Cami turned, and her face lit up. “Eli Gallagher! What a fun surprise. Do you want to sit with us?”

“No thanks.” He didn’t look up.

Tessa stepped around me and nudged his arm. “You okay? We really don’t mind if you sit with us.”

He flashed that Gallagher grin, but it lacked its normal spark. “I’m good. Y’all have fun. I’m going to eat and run.”

It didn’t seem at all fair that he said lots of words to Tessa but hardly any to me. After tonight, was it any surprise?

Maybe a small nudge—not a full-on assault—would help. Because the man ticked all the boxes maybe it was too soon to give up on my plan of a happily ever after. I just needed to get him on board with my plan.

“He has a town to protect.” I slowly lifted my gaze, hoping he wouldn’t think I was poking fun.

Dang. Those green eyes accelerated my heartrate.

“Something like that.” He pointed ahead. “Y’all are holding up the line.”

Tessa and Cami stepped up to pay, but I hung back when Eli touched my arm.

“If he comes back, call it in. I’ll circle past a few times during the night.”

“How did you know . . .”

He pinched his lips together a second. “I saw you walking over here.”

That was only part of the explanation, but if I prodded him for more information, Cami and Tessa would know something was up.

Now I knew that when he talked about work, I could get complete sentences. I filed away that tidbit of information. “Thanks, Eli.”

He responded with a slight nod. If I’d never seen him around our other friends, I would’ve called him the strong, silent type, but he was only quiet with me, which made him the strong, shy type. I’d never dated a guy who was shy. Those weren’t the guys who asked me out.

I was hoping that would change.

Because apparently Eli was around when I needed him. I just didn’t know it.

If he’d seen the guy leave the parking lot, then Eli probably saw me run across the street.

“Sorry about jaywalking.”

A real Gallagher grin spread across his face. “Just be sure it doesn’t happen again.”

I couldn’t promise that. Jaywalking was one rule I didn’t mind breaking.

After paying for my food, I carried my tray into the dining area. It was emptier than normal for a Thursday night. Cami and Tessa were already seated at one of the long picnic-style tables when I walked up.

Tessa patted the seat beside her. “Sit over here.”

I dropped onto the bench beside her and immediately regretted it.

Eli sat two tables away, facing us. Whenever I glanced up, guess who I saw? Dinner was going to be awkward.

“You never answered about the potato salad, so I grabbed one. I can’t eat all of it. Help yourself.”

I scooped out part of it. “Thanks.”

Tessa glanced at Eli, then at me. Her wheels were turning, and I prayed she wouldn’t ask me any questions about him.

After downing two slices of brisket, Cami patted the table. “Tell us what happened. The dude had to be awful if you didn’t even eat dinner.”

“But first, where did you meet the guy?” Tessa pulled a paper towel off the roll in the middle of the table.

“Y’all know that I’ve been going to look at puppies. Obviously, I’m not going to get one until my house is finished, but whenever they have adoption days, I go look. I can’t help myself.”

“You should get a kitten.” Cami folded a slice of white bread around some moist brisket.

Tessa laughed. “Was the guy at the puppy adoption?”

“Yep. He didn’t leave with a dog, so now I’m thinking he just goes to meet women. How low is that?”

“You didn’t leave with a dog either.” Tessa smirked.

“Very funny.” I picked up a rib and pointed it at her. “I go for the puppies, not to meet guys.”

“Some guys will do anything to get a date.” Cami laughed. “The real question is, what are you going to do to get a date?” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder and winked. “Since he won’t talk to you, maybe you should talk to him.”

“Or maybe I should let the man eat in peace.” I didn’t want Cami’s help to get a date, especially not when Eli was involved. That sort of interference just made everything feel awkward.

The number of singles in our friend group was shrinking rapidly, and all the added pressure of people trying to shove us together had Eli quieter than normal even before tonight. Basically, since Cami’s wedding reception, and more precisely since he’d been whapped in the eye with a tail.

I’d tried to warn him about the tail flying directly at his face, but he’d mistaken my waving as flirting . . . right up until the tail hit him.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about her question. What could I do to get a date with Eli?

My last few dates had all been varying degrees of utter disappointment. I kept ending up with guys who had one thing on their mind, and that thought didn’t involve a happily ever after. Maybe I needed a different strategy.

Eli was a good guy. More than just the uniform told me that. My gut told me he was interested. Shy, but interested. Maybe a few more nudges would untangle his tongue.

It was worth a shot.

“How long until the house is ready?” Tessa grinned. “You drove by today, didn’t you?”

“I go by there almost every day. Contractor said four months.” I was eager for my house to be finished, and not just because I was staying in such a tiny space.

I’d scrimped and saved to buy the land, and now, thanks to a few successful years at the store, my dream home was becoming a reality.

The only gaping hole in my perfect plan for a happy forever was a prince.