Page 191 of My Rules

Blake Grayson Sr. is handsome and suave and everything that I imagine Blake’s father would be. And yet he loves a normal woman and has normal daughters. He’s normal; it’s only his outside that seems different.

Is that the same for my Blake?

Have I been reading him wrong all along?

Aubrey links her arm through mine. “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.” I smile.

Emery links her arm through my other arm. “Off we go.”

“What about me?” Blake calls from behind us.

“You get to see Rebecca every day, Blake. Tonight it’s our turn.”

“And then I dated an artist,” Aubrey continues. “But he was all into creating and earthly experiences, and that’s great, you know? But when he’s too broke to buy a cup of coffee, and your entire relationship is based around what restaurant he won’t go to because it’s too expensive, what’s the frigging point?” She sips her champagne. “We couldn’t even go to McDonald’s without him whining about the price.”

“Ugh, that doesn’t sound fun.” I wince. I glance up into Blake’s stare. He’s sitting back in his chair with a glass of red wine in his hand as he watches me chat with his sisters. He’s wearing his black dinner suit, his hair has a bit of a curl to it, and he’s giving me the best come-fuck-me look of all time.

I smile shyly as I sip my champagne, knowing exactly what he’s thinking about. I turn back to Aubrey to try and pretend to listen to what she’s telling me. But who can concentrate when Blake Grayson is looking at you like the devil himself?

He’s so naughty.

You know those moments in life where you pinch yourself because things are going so well?

I’m in the middle of one right now.

Blake’s family is perfect—absolutely and utterly perfect.

His mom is friendly, his sisters are divine, and his father, well ... let’s just say he’s a silver fox.

The man is ridiculously hot.

And kind and gentle and everything that I admire in a person.

His aunts and uncles and cousins, well, they’re all a little kooky, but I think that’s standard with extended families, isn’t it?

Not weird kooky, just embarrassing kooky, and I have to say I find it all the more endearing.

“Oh my god, then she went out with a firefighter,” Emery chimes in. “And he used to come over to Mom and Dad’s without a shirt on.”

“No.” I laugh. “Surely not.”

“It’s true.” Rosemary nods before breaking into a smirk. “I mean, it wasn’t all bad. He was very easy on the eyes.”

“Mom!” everyone cries, and I laugh. Oh, I love this woman.

Blake stands and comes around to my chair. “Dancing?”

“We’re talking, Blake,” Aubrey snaps.

“I would like to spend five minutes with my girl, if that’s okay with you,” he fires back. “Get your own date.”

His girl.

I smile and put my hand in his, and he leads me to the dance floor and takes me into his arms. The string quartet is playing, and the music is floating through the room. “My beautiful witch.” He smiles down at me.

“What?” I frown.