Page 1 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

PROLOGUE

DAIRE

That’s my kid.

The thought is instinctual. One look at this tiny human, and I know in my gut he’s my child.

The problem?

He’s in my former professor’s arms. A woman I should’ve never touched. A woman who wasn’t mine to have.

The worst part of all?

Her husband is standing right beside her.

1

DAIRE

I’m in hell.

It’s the only explanation for why I’m standing in front of Rosie Thomas, asking her for a favor. Althoughfavoris too mild a word for what I’m proposing.

Literally proposing.

Marriage.

She gapes at me, blinking a pair of big round eyes that were my undoing when we were kids. Back then, all she had to do was look at me, and I was ready to do her bidding. She had me wrappedaround her finger.

Until she didn’t.

The look of shock slowly slips from her face, and then she starts laughing. Great big peals of maniacal laughter.

I look over one shoulder, then the other, to see whether students shuffling in and out of the dining hall are looking at us.

“I have to be dreaming, right?” She pinches her arm. “You can’t be serious?”

I clench my fists at my sides. “As a heart attack.”

I’ve been spiraling for weeks.

Longer.

Since the moment I saw my former professor holding a baby I know is mine. The kid looks just like me. I’ve been driving myself mad. Using my own money so my dad won’t know, I’ve consulted a lawyer for help with figuring out the best way to go about this. According to her, if I were married and had my own place, it’d be much easier. I don’t think she intended for me to immediately jump to the marriage portion of that equation, but Iwillhave access to my child, no matter what. If that means getting married for the time being, then so be it.

That’s why Rosie’s perfect. We don’t even like each other, so she’ll be under no illusion that any of this is permanent.

She breaks into another fit of laughter. “Jesus, didyou lose a bet with Cash?” She refers to one of my older brothers.

“No.” I grasp her hand and tug her into a quieter corner since we’re drawing attention.

She yanks free of my hold the second we’re tucked away and crosses her arms so I can’t reach for her again. As if Iwantedto touch her.

“Listen, I already explained the situation,” I hiss. I have no reason to be annoyed with her—not when my proposition sounds absolutely insane. “It’s temporary. Two years. Three tops, depending on how long court takes.”

Her mouth drops open. “You want me to be fake married to you foryears?” The bark of laugher that escapes her is humorless.

My gut tightens in a knot. I really wish she’d stop doing that. This isn’t a laughing matter.

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