Page 110 of His Rules

“Always the possessive man,” he chided.

“You bet.”

He lifted his glass. “To friendships.”

“To friendships.” We touched glasses and took deep swallows. “Did she give you the sermon about growing up and not losing friends? Being ridiculous and bullheaded?”

“I think those were her exact words. She also threatened me that if I didn’t work this out with you, she’d never talk to me again.”

“Yep. So like her. She didn’t trust us to make the right decision.”

“I guess not. Maybe she knows us too well.”

“I think so.

Daniel took another gulp of his drink. “If I were you, I’d keep that in the back of your mind always.”

“Good advice.”

“I always gave you good advice.”

I glared at him playfully. “No, I gave you good advice.”

“You mean like the time you also dared me to climb that goddamn flagpole?”

“Hey, I was right there with you.”

This time we laughed easily.

“Those were some fun times,” he said. “I miss them.”

“We need to get together and do a few every once in a while.”

“I might be a little old for a few of our antics.”

“Never admit that. Never.”

His grin was just like in the old days. “Okay. Now that’s the kind of advice I’ll take.”

“Why don’t we order lunch? I’m starving.”

“I am too. One question though.” He swirled his drink and I knew it was going to be a ballbuster of a question.

“Sure.”

“If the two of you get married, do I get to call you my son-in-law?”

I choked on my gulp, forced to grab my napkin. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions. We’ve been dating a couple weeks.”

“But you will make an honest woman out of her. Right?”

“God. You are a pain in my ass.”

“Just wait until my daughter gets her claws into you.”

I wasn’t about to say it, but I couldn’t wait. I was starving. But not for food.

For the woman who’d awakened my senses and brought me back to life. And I’d meant what I’d told her before.

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