Page 2 of Bending The Rules

We weren’t even friends.

… Anymore.

“You’ve never met Bri before, have you Toni?” Big Joe asked, and I swallowed hard as my mind raced for an answer. The whole table had gone quiet, waiting for an answer I couldn’t come up with, but mercifully, he kept talking. “With all the traveling you do, I’d guess not. When was the last time you were home?”

“I stop in to see my parents several times a year, but I’m usually all over the place. The two months I’ll be here is going to be the longest time I’ve stayed in any one place in about three years.”

“Do you have a release date for that black romance set in Japan you told us about?” Devyn asked, and I grinned.

“Not yet,” I laughed. “I do have a phone meeting with the author in a few days though, and she will be thrilled to hear about your interest.”

“How many authors does that make now?” Joseph asked, from his place directly across the table from me.

“She makes number one-twenty-four, worldwide. Scattered Seeds is still small, but we’ve had twenty-two USA Today bestsellers in the six years since I started it, andthreeNew York Times Bestsellers. I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do.”

“As you should be.” Something like a chill ran up my spine at the sound of Justin’s voice. He’d leaned toward me to speak, and awkward, frenzied butterflies bombarded my stomach over the compliment from the man whousedto be my best friend in the world. “I knew you’d build it into something great.”

For the first time since we’d sat down, I actually looked at Justin. His handsome face – which had gotten me into more than one fight over the years, with girls who wrongly thought I was their competition for his affection – had matured from the baby-faced twenty-three-year-old I’d exchanged angry words with seven years ago. I knew that already – had seen his face splashed on magazine covers, and tablet screens, and on TV. But being face to face was justdifferent.

His facial hair had finally filled in. It was cut low, but I could tell from the stubble that the patchy “Anthony Hamilton” thing I used to tease him about didn’t exist anymore. Fine lines – nothing heavy, just normal aging – textured his golden brown skin. And his eyes… pools of hot chocolate framed by jealousy-inducing, thick lashes, that had seduced countless girls, and then women, out of their panties.

Apparently, the loss of our friendship had stripped me of my immunity to their charm.

“Thank you,” I said curtly as I looked away, finding solace in Joseph’s face instead. There were no drastic differences between him and either of his brothers, but he was unquestionably more like a big brother to me than anything else. No chance of needing to clench my thighs together there. “But I don’t do it by myself. Scattered Seeds has a CFO, Editorial Directors, Associate Publishers, all of that. Which is why I’mableto travel around the world, and meet the authors in person, nurture them, talk with them, all of that.”

From the other end of the table, Imara said, “Sounds like you work hard to make your authors feel welcome, and valued.”

I smiled. “That is one of my primary goals. If I can’t dothat, nothing else matters.”

“That’s my girl,” Big Joe said, with a broad smile. “Uh, your mama said something about a fiancé last time I spoke to her. Where is this young man?”

I choked on the water I’d just sipped. “Did she now?”

“She sure did.”

“Um… that was supposed to be kept private. Very, very private.”

Big Joe frowned. “Why so private?”

“Just… um… lack of desire for attention. We didn’t want to make a big deal of things.”

“Mmmhmm. Well you make sure this man understands your father isn’t the only man he needs to concern himself with meeting if he plans to marry you.”

I nodded. “I will absolutely make sure that a conversation happens before then.”

Luckily for me, the engagement topic shifted gears after that, to Devyn’s pregnancy. She was barely eight weeks along, but the whole family knew. I was glad to keep the conversation going by asking questions the others already had answers to – anything to keep the attention focused somewhere other than me. Before I knew it, dinner was over, and I was excusing myself to get back to the hotel in time for an international call with one of my authors – allowances had to be made for the time zone difference.

I purposely avoided Justin when I said my goodbyes, then headed for the door, digging for my keys as I went.

“Engaged, huh?” I heard from behind me, and kept walking like I didn’t hear it. I wasn’t surprised when Justin jogged ahead to cut me off at the door. “Congratulations.”

“It’s really none of your business. Can I get past you please?”

He let out a sigh, then pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He’d gained weight. It suited him. “I was hoping you and I could talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

“I beg to differ.”

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