Page 38 of Against The Rules

“Hi, babe,” she says just as calmly, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Is this her?” My mom crowds into me at the door, beaming down at Savannah like she’s the greatest thing she’s ever seen.

I don’t blame her one bit. I feel the same.

“Hi, you must be Mrs. Matthews,” Savannah says, holding out a hand for a handshake.

Good move, I think, weirdly proud of her.

“Oh shush, please, call me Robin,” my mom says, grabbing her hand but pulling her into a big hug.

“Oh,” Savannah says, patting my mom’s back a little awkwardly, considering she’s carrying a bag full of stuff.

“Take her bag from her, Tyler,” my mom scolds, but she looks so pleased with Savannah that I can’t even be mad at her bossing me around.

“Savannah, we have so much food to eat this morning, I sure hope you’re hungry.”

“Always,” she says, and my mom makes a sound of contentment.

“Is she here?” my dad asks as we round the corner into the kitchen. Jacob’s cooking up a storm, the heavy scent of bacon grease clouding up the whole room.

“Hi,” Savannah says, holding out a hand for my dad.

“This is Savannah,” I say as my dad introduces himself.

“Hi Mr. Matthews,” she gushes, “it’s so nice to meet you. Tyler’s told me so much about you.”

He doesn’t correct her, and neither do I, liking the way my full name sounds on her lips.

Tyler. Most women I sleep with call me Ty, and then I never call them again.

I like the idea of being Tyler for her.

“Peaches, what did you bring?” I ask, hauling the bag onto the countertop.

She gives a shrug, her blue eyes wide and innocent. “Your favorite, hon,” she flutters her eyelashes. “Did Tyler tell you how we met?”

Oh god. Is she going to tell them? Surely she’s not.

And I have no idea what she means by my favorite.

I stare at her, thunderstruck and nervous, but she just smiles even bigger. “Oh, don’t be shy.” She turns to my mom, who is still grinning at her like Savannah hung the moon.

Please don’t tell them the truth.

“We met at the grocery store,” she says, giving a rueful laugh. I blink. Is she really going to do this? “Would you believe it? I don’t think I’ve met anyone at the grocery store before. But there he was, and our hands touched as we both reached for the same peach—”

She breaks off her story, a mischievous smile in place.

God, she’s stunning. “Well, Tyler, you tell the rest.”

“I saw her, and that was it for me,” I say. The story might be a lie, but I’m not sure that is. “It was electric.”

Her throat bobs, and I wonder if she hears the truth in it.

“Have to say, I find it hard to believe,” my dad says. My smile disappears, but Savannah just beams at him.

“It was old-fashioned, that’s for sure,” Savannah says smoothly.

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