Page 48 of Breaking Rules

Mouth suddenly dry, I watch my best friend leave.Shit. I consider going to the bathroom just so I can get up and put some space between me and the man across the table.

When a wetness on my leg registers, I look down and find Milo watching me, tail wagging.

My mood instantly lifts, like it always does when I see him. I lean over and scratch behind his ears. “Aw, I’m so happy to see you, buddy. I missed you.”

“He missed you too.” Xander’s voice slices through my skin, a delicious poison injected directly into my veins.

My heart flutters. Hooking one leg over the other, I tighten my core muscles, willing the throbbing to stop. My body’s reaction to this man’s presence still throws me off, but I’m determined to put a stop to it.

“How are you?” I ask. Then a server comes to our table.

Xander orders an espresso, and as she walks away he zeroes in on me, an easy smile on his lips. “I’m good. Been busy with the start of preseason.”

“You don’t say.” I unlock my phone, navigate to the side-by-side comparisons of the vanity choices, and set it in front of him. “Check these out and tell me what you think.”

For a long moment, he studies the image, using his fingers to resize it a few times. Finally, he looks up. “I like the second option the most.”

Eyes dancing with mirth, he turns my phone around. There, on the screen, is a selfie I took in the dressing room while Meg and I were shopping earlier. “But I like this one too. Red looks stunning on you.”

With a groan, I snatch my phone from his hand. “I don’t remember saying you could look through my pictures.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Isn’t that why you gave me your phone?”

Gah, he’s impossible!

With a shake of my head, I open my Notes app, determined to stay on topic. “Did you take measurements?”

The server delivers his espresso, and when he thanks her, she walks away smiling from ear to ear. The way she throws glances at him over her shoulder leaves no doubt she finds him attractive.

He takes a sip of his drink and finally nods. “I did.”

As he rattles numbers off, I type them into the app. Then I find the vanity dimensions to make sure it’ll fit.

“Looks like it’ll work perfectly in that space. Now we can finally move forward.”

He lets out a deep chuckle. “I thought we were moving forward when you ordered the rug.”

“We were,” I confirm, sitting back in my chair.

It took five minutes to complete a task he’s been putting off for almost a week. It’s like he was doing it on purpose…but why?

I open my mouth, ready to call him out, but I snap it closed again. Riling him up will only encourage him to flirt.

He’s watching me over the rim of his espresso when a curvaceous girl with long blonde hair walks into the shop. She’s wearing a tight black dress, nude stilettos, and a wide, familiar smile—and she’s laser-focused on Xander.

I frown as she approaches.

Who is she?

CHAPTER17

SHE’S JAKE MILLER’S GIRL

XANDER

August

The soundof heels clicking across the floor pulls my attention away from Bella. As I turn, a woman appears at my side, someone I met at the club after the Warriors party. She was hanging out with the team, and from the way everyone spoke to her, it was clear they all knew her.

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