Page 44 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

I swallow when my knuckles trip over the black lace of her bra. I can’t help but smile because I like knowing this secret: Lucy wears a sexy bra under what she calls mom clothes. It’s like she’s been desperately trying to hide behind a comfortable façade, but inside she’s still a woman who wants to feel attractive and desired. She wants to feel those things but is afraid to show it. If I could, I’d make Lucy feel both of those things without her ever having to voiceit.

But I can’t…because her brother will hunt me down and make sure I’m never given the opportunity to do it again.

Once the zipper reaches the top, I fasten the tiny clasp at her neck, tension wrapping like a cord around every muscle in my body, restraining me from turning this into somethingmore.I want to dip my head down and kiss a line up the side of her exposed neck. I want to breathe in her sweet, warm scent and let it fill my lungs for the rest of the night.

I clear my throat to dislodge my words as I sweep her hair back again. “You should wear this dress tonight. You look amazing.” Even to my own ears, my voice sounds strained and gravelly.

Lucy slowly turns to face me, and her eyes sweep slowly over my features. She’s searching fortheanswer…the answer to why the air feels warm between us, why my pupils are dilated, why my voice sounds like sandpaper and I’m slowly backing away from her.

I remind myself that I’m retreating for tonight only. Not forever. Just for now.

Drew will come around, and when he does, I’m coming after Lucy.

“Where are you going?” she asks with lifted eyebrows, and I grab my hat from the bed and put it back on, making a beeline for the door.

“Sorry, I just remembered I…have a thing.”

“Oh. Okay. Yeah…sure. You have a thing—totally fine. Well, thanks for coming to fly a kite today. Levi loved it. Oh, and thanks for the oil change. Now I have you to thank when my car doesn’t burst into flames.”

Wait, wait, wait. She’s rambling—something I’ve come to know means she’s hiding her feelings. I take quick stock of my actions and realize they look bad. I spent the entire day with Lucy and her son (which was a big thing for her, letting me into Levi’s life) and then I see her in a dress that makes her feel uncomfortable and bolt with a weak excuse.

Nah, I’m not going to act like an asshole right now.

I pause my journey to the door and backtrack to Lucy. I stop just in front of her and smile warmly, putting my hands on her upper arms, and lean down to kiss her cheek.It was a friendly kiss, Drew, sheesh.

“Thank you for today. It was the best day I’ve had in a long time.” I want to kiss her right on her full mouth, but I refrain and let go of her instead. “You look gorgeous, Lucy. Enjoy your date tonight.”

She gives me a belated, whisperedThank youon my way out. In the living room, I find Levi, tongue sticking out the side of his mouth as he tries to fit two tiny Lego pieces together, now wearing his amazing dino pants. I give him a fist bump and tell him he’sthe best freaking kite flier I’ve ever seen. His jaw drops on the wordfreaking,and I think I might have just taught him something new that Lucy won’t like. What can I say? I’m new to this. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to learn.

Once I’m in my car, I make a quick call.

“Hey, Rachel, you up for going to dinner tonight around seven at Thistle?”

Chapter 19

Lucy

Okay, why did I let Cooper talk me into this dress? I’m racing up the sidewalk toward the restaurant, wearing my old red dress that feels about two sizes too small for me now, my boobs bouncing up and down, threatening to burst from the scooped neckline, and tripping over the much-too-high heels strapped to my feet. Did I mention I haven’t worn heels in at least four years?

Yeah. Terrible idea.

I think I was still buzzing from whatever that moment with Cooper was when I left the house. One good look at me, however, and Ethan is going to get the wrong idea. Now, granted, I haven’t worn anything other than some sort of T-shirt and jeans or leggings combo in the last several years, so I might be exaggerating, but I don’t thinkso.

I step inside the fancy restaurant feeling like the PG-13 version of Cinderella—if her boobs were pushed up to her throat and her dress was threatening to burst at the seams. Seriously, if I make one wrong move, this whole thing is going to explode like aconfetti cannon. It was a good thing Cooper zipped me up in it, because I never would have been able to achieve it on my own. I’m already planning on cutting myself out of it when I get home.

“Lucy?” a male voice sounds from behind me, and I turn to find a good-looking man, with nice white teeth and all his hair, smiling at me. He looks very businessy in his navy suit and tie, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, he looks great—like, if I’d never met Cooper, this guy would probably make me turn my head if I passed him in the grocery store.

Ugh. And there’s the problem. Cooper…he’s infiltrated my mind. Weaseled hisBaywatchbody and dazzling smile into my subconscious and bench-pressed the standard I used to measure men against.

“Yes, and you must be Ethan?” I say, extending my hand in his direction.

He takes it, and his smile deepens as he does a brief, polite scan of my body.Do not blush, Lucy.This dress is too tight to add any extra heat.

“Wow,” says Ethan, with a tone of reverence I was not expecting. He reestablishes eye contact with me and shakes his head lightly. “You look gorgeous.” He says it in a way that has me standing a little taller. Maybe this dress doesn’t look so obscene on me after all.

“Thank you. It’s surprising that I’m not six foot and burly like my brother, right?”

He takes on a sheepish look. “I wasn’t going to bring it up, but I’ll admit I was a little nervous when he mentioned I should ask out his sister without showing me a picture. You never know how closely siblings will resemble one another.”

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