Page 68 of From Maybe to Baby

My phone buzzes. Ryan this time:

“One sec, Jonas. This is my editor.”

Draft status?

Working on it

That's what you said yesterday

Well I’m still working on it, Ryan

I turn back to Jonas. "I don't do this," I remind myself. Remind him. Remind the universe. Like a freaking broken record

"I know." He squeezes my hand. "You're a professional."

"Exactly."

"Always maintaining distance."

"Precisely."

"That's why you're teaching my children proper sandcastle building?"

"Research requires full immersion."

His laugh vibrates through me where our shoulders touch. "Very thorough."

My phone buzzes again. Mom this time:

“Sorry Jonas. This one’s my mother, who’s in France.”

How's the three-day rule going?

I hate you

That well, huh?

I sign off the call with Mom, the whole time thinking about how I should leave, go back to my room, and try to remember why I made all my rules in the first place.

Instead, I let Jonas pull me closer because it feels so damn good.

"LEXA." Jace's voice carries from inside. "One more story? Please?"

I look at Jonas, who shrugs. "She gets the negotiation skills from her dad."

"Pretty sure she gets the ability to break down my defenses from her dad too."

His smile is worth breaking every rule for.

"Very unprofessional of me," I sigh, but I'm already heading back inside. I'm being outmaneuvered by a pint-sized bedtime strategist who's more relentless than any city-hopping itinerary I think I've ever planned.

"Are you sure about this?"I eye the resort's fanciest restaurant with trepidation. "They have actual tablecloths. White ones."

"The kids can handle fancy." Jonas adjusts Jace's tiara, which she insisted on wearing. "Right, guys?"

"Right." Lukas straightens his collared shirt. "I know all about manners. Elbows off the table and everything."

"And no mess," Jace adds solemnly.

---