Page 10 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

We. Why the hell does that word make my heart squeeze in a giddy way?

“And you’ll wear a tux?”

He blinks at me. “Yes.”

“And dance with me?”

He sighs heavily, pinching his brow. “Yes—we do have to keep up appearances.”

“What about…” Heat rises to my cheeks as I work up the nerve to get this next question out. I’ve never been a prude, but suddenly, I find myself embarrassed to put it into words. “What about relationships?”

Confusion ripples across his face. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Ducking my head, I survey the pale pink polish on my freshly pedicured feet. “Are you planning to stay celibate for this entire farce of a marriage?” I snap.

I have zero claim over Daire Hendricks, but that doesn’t stop my stomach from turning over at the thought of him sleeping with other women while married to me. Even if it isfake.

You’re so stupid. He was never yours and he’s not yours now. Get over it.There’s no quieting the voice in my head that’s reminded me for years that he never cared about me the way I cared about him.

I inhale, waiting for his response, keeping my expression neutral despite the negative thoughts swamping me.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” he says carefully, like he’s wondering to himselfwhyhe didn’t consider this fact. “I don’t want either of us sleeping around until after custody is finalized. In case it could be used against me. Think you can handle that?”

“Think you can handle that?” I mimic in a sarcastic tone.

Sighing, he sits up straight. “It’s a legitimate question, Rosie.”

Annoyance crawls up my spine. “You know,” I spit, “if I were one of your buddies or teammates, you’d give me a pat on the back and congratulate me for fucking my way around this school.”

His eyes narrow on the wordfucking, but I don’t give him time to comment.

“Don’t act so high and mighty.”

“Fine.” The word is hissed through clenched teeth. “Sounds like neither of us should have a problem with it then.”

“Good.” I lift my chin. “We’re in agreement then.”

We stare each other down for a long moment, neither of us breaking eye contact. It feels like a full minute, maybe even longer, before he looks away.

That’s a point for me!

“I have one rule that you absolutely can’t break.” He wiggles his indexfinger at me.

I arch a brow. “What’s that?”

His blue eyes narrow on me like he’d love nothing more than to rip out my tongue right now. “You can’t fall in love with me.”

With a snort, I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to worry about me ever breaking that rule.” Not anymore, at least. “But the same applies to you. You can’t fall in love with me either.”

Silently, he holds out his hand, and we shake on it.

Daire gets up from my desk chair, leaving it spinning round and round in his absence, and heads for the door. With one hand on the knob, shoulders tense, he pauses.

One breath.

Two.

Three.

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