Page 31 of Breaking Rules

I hide my smile behind my mug. The eagerness clawing at me is enough to make me want to jump out of my seat and yank the device from him so we can get to the fun part.

“This.” He puts his phone on the table and pushes it toward me. “I want this.”

“Oh.” I blink at the photo, a bit disoriented. I sent him five design ideas, and he chose the one I like the most.

“Oh?Do you not like it? I figured you would, since you included it in the options.” Xander leans away, his brows pulled together.

There’s no stopping the smile that splits my face. “No, I do—it’s my favorite, actually.”

Just like with coffee, our tastes are aligned. It’s strange. When I decorated Jake’s house, every choice was a battle, and it took a ton of compromise to finally get it done.

“We like the same coffee; we like the same bathroom design,” Xander muses. “You’re my perfect match, Bella.”

My traitorous heart stumbles over itself, but I ignore the sensation. “Those are just coincidences.”

His lips tip up in a confident smirk. “No. The more you get to know me, the more you’ll see I’m right.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, banishing the strange tingling in my extremities. “Matches burn, Xander. Keep that in mind.”

For a long moment, all he does is watch me. My heartbeat quickens under his penetrative gaze, and my cheeks start to burn.

Finally, he puts me out of my misery. Leaning forward, he props his cheek on his knuckles. “Don’t worry about money. There are no limits. The most important thing is quality.”

“Great.” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “I’ll find items that fit this design and let you choose from the options before I order. If everything goes well, I expect your bathroom to be ready by the end of next month.”

“Two months for one bathroom?” He cocks an eyebrow at me, though the expression is all tease.

“You’ll be busy with football, and I have a job. I’ll be working on this during my personal time. Plus, it takes time to find the right pieces.”

“Got it. You’re the boss.” He takes a sip of his coffee, holding my gaze.

“Glad you’ve finally accepted that.”

“I think I might surprise you once you get to know me better.”

“You already have.” The words are out before I can stop them. Throat tightening, I avert my attention, choosing to watch Milo instead. “Well,” I say eventually, knowing there’s no reason for me to linger, “Jake is waiting for me.”

He nods, standing. “I’ll walk you out.”

As I follow him to the door, I can’t help but wonder what his plans are for today, though I keep my questions to myself.

He’s not my friend. He’s my client.

On the front porch, I turn and give him a small wave. “Have a nice day.”

“You too.” He smiles at me, but I’ve only taken a few steps when he calls my name. “Bella?”

Pausing, I peer over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I’m hosting a party to celebrate the start of preseason.”

“Okay.” I shrug. Jake doesn’t need my permission to go anywhere. “Jake will be?—”

“I want you to be there too,” he says before I can finish the sentence.

Nerves skitter through me. He’s specifically requesting I attend? “I don’t?—”

“Please,” he insists quietly. “You can bring Meghan. Whatever you need. I just want you to come.”

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