Page 1 of Bending The Rules

One.

Today is the day that you’ll be nice to him.

I repeated those words in my head over and over, trying to make them stick. From the time I woke up, as I pulled into my parking spot at the store, as I waited on customers, and as I drove myself back to the hotel serving as my temporary home, I tried to drill it into my head.

I repeated it as I showered, got dressed, got back in my car, and drove to the house.

Today is the day that you’ll be nice to him.

I repeated it as I walked to the door, and rang the bell.

The door swung open, and there he was on the other side.

The first time I’d been face to face with him for six, maybe seven years.

Today is the day that you’ll be nice to him.

“Toni,” he said warmly, extending a hand to me. My gaze rested on his hand, then went up to his face. Warm brown eyes, perfect white teeth displayed in a warm smile. Warm, warm, warm. Annoying.

“Justin.”

Mytone knocked a pitcher of ice water on his oven-fresh vibe. I ignored his hand, squeezing past him in the door to get inside.

Today is the day that you’ll be nice to him.

Oops.

Maybe not.

“Tony, Toni, Toné!” I heard as I stepped out of the foyer, into the living room. I grinned as Justin’s younger brother Jason walked up, arms extended for a hug. “What’s up, girl? How you doing?”

“Good,” I said, accepting his hug. “And I see howyou’redoing. Where did all of this come from?” I asked, running a hand over the hair on his face. “Where is the baby face I remember?”

“I let go of the military shave. Less maintenance.”

“Uh huh. Less maintenance, or more booty?”

A sly grin spread across his face as he stepped back. “You’re not about to get me in trouble, Toni. I’m dedicated toonebooty now, and she’s in earshot.”

I laughed as he led me around another corner, to the informal dining room where everyone was gathered. The Josephs – Senior, and Junior – stood to greet me, and then I exchanged hugs with Devyn and Reese, Joseph Jr and Jason’s girlfriends. Both women were a little younger than me, but I knew them from all the time I’d spent working my parent’s bookstore. Once they sat down, I was introduced to Imara – Big Joe’s girlfriend, who was also Reese’s mother – and soon enough we were all chatting like a big happy family.

After a few moments passed, we loaded into the kitchen, grabbing dishes and drinks and plates and napkins to take to the table. Once everyone was seated, it ended up how I should have expected it to end up.

I was next to Justin.

“Where is that adorable little princess of yours Justin?” Imara asked, after we’d said grace and began to eat.

“Yeah, Mr. Bestseller,” Jason added, swallowing a mouth full of food. “Where is my niece? She owes me five dollars.”

I forced myself not to look in his direction as he answered, though I’d wondered the same thing. “Mr. Bestseller” was pretty private about his little girl, and limited her exposure to the limelight, which surprised me. The whole “sexy single father” angle could be a marketingdream, and exactly what I would have expected his fancy New York agent and publishing company to push for.

But this wasn’t an interview, or a photoshoot.

So was he keeping her away from… me?

“This is Cat’s weekend. She took Bri to visit with her parents, up in Boston. They’re on their flight back as we speak.”

I took a long drink from my water at the mention of Cat – Catherine – Justin’s ex-wife. But, his explanation meant he wasn’t keeping her away from me. Not that it mattered. It didn’t.

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