Three Rules I’d Never Break by Remi Carrington

Chapter 6

On Saturday, I stepped into the store just before closing. “Hi, Issa. How did things go today?”

She worked as a kindergarten teacher during the week and helped me out on Saturdays, which gave me a much-needed break.

“Great. We were busy on and off throughout the day. Oh, and a delivery came in. I set it in the hall.”

“Thanks. Must be the new robes I ordered.”

“I’ve been eyeing those lace negligees.” She coiled a curl around her finger. “Ryan would love it.”

“It would look so good on you.”

She nodded. “Since he’s been gone so much, I try to plan a nice evening when he gets home.”

“Is he out of town again?” I tore the tape on the top of the box.

“Just got home today. It’s supposed to calm down once this project is finished.”

“You should go. Take that negligee. I’ll close up.”

“You sure?” She reached for her purse under the counter.

“Absolutely. Go see Ryan.” I handed her the lingerie and shooed her out the door.

There was nothing else on my schedule for Saturday night, except hopefully a check-in from Eli, but he didn’t start his shift for hours. I unpacked the shipment and counted out the robes before putting them on hangers.

Tessa worked every Saturday, so I often spent the day alone. In the morning, I’d decided on cabinets for the craft room. Having them custom made would have added too much time, so I’d selected premade cabinets the contractor could install and have stained. The room would be amazing.

Then I went to look at puppies. I’d never owned a dog. My desire to have one probably stemmed from the fact that I couldn’t have one when I was a kid. My mother couldn’t even take care of me. There was no way she could’ve handled a puppy. My grandma had been allergic to them. My stepmom had hated dogs.

I’d been on my own for ten years, but I’d waited to get a dog until I had a house and a yard.

After moving the last few rompers to a rack with nighties, I arranged the robes by size on the rack.

My phone buzzed just as I finished.

“Hello.”

“Put on something super cute. I’m sending you an address.” Cami giggled. “Haley and Zach are having one of their patio parties, and you need to come.”

“I know Haley a little, but I’ve only met Zach once.” I tried to decide if the social gathering would be worth the effort of getting ready. I was pretty comfortable in my leggings. I hadn’t exactly dressed up to run errands today.

“Where did you meet Zach?”

“He came in to shop for Haley. Why does it matter?”

A door closed. Then Cami whispered, “If Harper shows up to shop one day, will you tell me?”

“If Harper buys something from my shop, I’m quite sure you’ll know. He’d be buying it for you.”

Thankfully, my friends had all married good guys. I never worried they’d come in to shop for anyone other than their wives.

“But I mean before he gives it to me.”

“And spoil his surprise?” Keeping secrets was the hardest part of this job.

“Whatever. Anyway, as I was saying, Zach Gallagher—that last name should sound familiar—is having a party. It starts at five.”

Gallagher.

Cami had said the magic word, but I couldn’t let her know that.

“That’s in less than an hour!” I needed time if I wanted to look presentable.

“You’re beautiful. You don’t need much time to get ready.” She laughed. “Sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. It just occurred to me.”

I kicked the empty box into the corner, then walked into my room. “I might meet you there. We’ll see.” My casual tone hopefully masked my eagerness.

Flipping through the clothes dangling from the rack that served as my temporary closet, I looked for something fabulous. Something that would render Eli Gallagher talkative. Did an outfit like that even exist?

I ended the call but glanced at my phone when it buzzed. Cami had sent the address.

If Eli was working tonight, he probably wouldn’t even be at the party. If I didn’t go and he showed up, I’d kick myself.

But I didn’t want to go alone, so I called Tessa. “Hiya. Are you going to Haley’s tonight?”

I omitted Zach’s name altogether, so she wouldn’t hear the excitement in my voice when I said the name Gallagher.

“Thinking about it. You?” She sounded tired.

“Sounds fun. Want me to pick you up?”

“No. They live just down the road from me. I’ll walk. But don’t tell Eli.”

“That will be easy because he doesn’t talk to me.” I tried to sound like I didn’t care.

Tessa laughed. She wasn’t fooled. “Like you didn’t talk the other night in line? Or how he doesn’t talk to you when he stops in to check on you every night? You’re keeping secrets.”

“You know how he is about women living in the strip mall. He’s being cautious. And it is a good night for a stroll. I’ll see you there.” I’d skirted the question for now, but eventually I’d end up telling Tessa about my plan. Just not tonight.

After jumping into the shower—now when I showered, I checked all the locks first—I slipped into a pair of fitted jeans, pulled on a white scoop-neck top, and finished off my casual look with a pair of easy-to-walk-in shoes.

Underneath all that, what I was wearing was incredibly cute, but no one would see that tonight.

If I was too dressed up, Eli would avoid me completely. And Cami would think I was giving into the notion of chasing Eli. I didn’t want either of those things. This casual outfit looked more like Cami had dragged me to a party.

I dried my hair, put on a bare minimum of makeup, then tucked my phone and keys in my pocket. Tonight, I wouldn’t even take a purse.

One step out the door, I stopped. If it got the least bit cold, I’d hate the walk back. I ran back inside and grabbed my flannel shirt with the lace trim. Practical and cute. With the shirt tied around my waist, I studied the map as I crossed the parking lot.

When the street was clear, I ran across, then glanced back down at the map. I had many talents, and getting lost was one of them. So, even in this small town, I double checked the map.

A truck rumbled up to the curb, and before looking to see who it was, I slid my keys out of my pocket. The pepper spray key chain was small, but it carried a punch. I shifted my finger into position.

I turned just as Eli rolled down the window.

“You just jaywalk whenever and wherever, don’t you?”

The reflective sunglasses blocked my view of his glorious green eyes. It also made it difficult to read his expression.

“You going to give me a ticket?”

He shook his head. “It’s your lucky night. I’m off duty. At least for another few hours.”

“You cut your sleep short to party?”

“For Zach’s brisket, I might cut off an arm.”

A truck passed, honking as it went. Of course Cami and Harper would drive by as I was talking to Eli. I’d hear about this later.

“I should get over there.” He shifted out of park and started rolling but stopped after only a few feet. “Want a ride?”

I hopped into the passenger seat before he could retract his offer.

For the next two minutes, he didn’t say a word. Any chance at conversation was up to me.

If I asked about work, he might actually answer. If I asked a personal question, there was a chance he’d drop me off on the side of the road and head home.

Because I knew he really wanted brisket, I tried the second option. “Where do you live? Now that you aren’t living at Harper’s.”

He pulled to a stop along the curb. I’d underestimated his shyness, and now I’d have to walk again.

He turned off the engine before opening his door. “Cami didn’t tell you?”

“If I knew the answer, I would’ve asked a different question.”

After setting his cowboy hat on his head, he grinned. “Right.”

I chased after him as he sauntered up the sidewalk. “Are you going to tell me?”

“Nope.” He stopped in front of a walkway and pointed at the house. “After you.”

Sometimes it was hard to tell if he was being stingy with his words or if he was intentionally trying to frustrate me.

When we made it to the door, I spun around.

Even with those sunglasses on his face, I could read his surprise. “What time are you going to check on me tonight? I want to be ready.”

He reached around me and opened the door. “After you.”

“You really don’t have to worry about me. I can handle myself.” I inched closer to him, wanting some sort of reaction.

Looking down at me, he pulled off the glasses. “You going to carry that tiny can of pepper spray with you into the shower from now on?”

Dang. The man didn’t miss anything. I bet he did know what color my towel was.

* * *

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.