Page 21 of Breaking Rules

“Your living room looks like it was already decorated. The paintings are gorgeous, the throw pillows, the curtains. Why am I here?” I fold my arms over my chest, pursing my lips in an annoyed pout.

With a nonchalant shrug, he says, “Did I say which room needed to be decorated?”

“No.” I draw out the word as I scrutinize him. He’s plotting something, but I don’t know what. Or am I reading it wrong? Is it possible that Jake’s story about their past is clouding my judgment? Is he being honest about needing my help? Or is this just a way to get close to me?

No. It’s ridiculous. I’m being ridiculous.

“Follow me.” With a wink, he strolls past me, Milo on his heels.

Goodness, this man will be the death of me.

Taking a deep breath, I follow, not allowing myself to look at his perfect ass in those jeans.

“What do you think of this?” He stops at a closed door and turns the knob.

I peek inside, and my heart instantly leaps into my throat. There’s a spacious shower. The toilet looks new, but the tile isn’t finished, and the walls haven’t been painted.

“Erm.” I clear my throat. “What happened to your designer? You definitely had one, based on your living room.”

Smirking, he rocks back on his heels. “My father hired her. Things were great at first. We discussed my style, she chose items I really liked, and she worked with the contractors. But then I found out she’d been fudging the numbers and skimming money off the top.”

“Oh,” I say lamely. I nibble on my bottom lip, and Xander’s gaze instantly darts to my mouth, his eyes flashing. The sudden change in the air has goosebumps scattering across my skin. Swallowing my nerves, I clear my throat. “I’m sorry that happened. Did you sue her?”

“No. I threatened to, but she returned every penny she took.” He chuckles dryly. “She decorated everything except for this room. Think you can help me finish it?”

Head tilted, he watches me, like he’s truly worried I’ll say no.

I sigh, my shoulders sagging. “Okay.”

Grinning, he holds out a hand. I slip my palm against his, but when an electric current runs up my arm, I pull back.

But Xander seems unbothered, closing the door to the bathroom and peering at me. “So, what’s next?”

“Do you mind if I look around? So far, what I’ve seen is mostly Scandinavian, but I want to really get a feel for it, so I can ensure the bathroom flows well with the rest of the house.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be in the kitchen. I need to feed Milo.” With far more cheer than the moment calls for, he saunters off. Halfway down the hall, though, he spins on his heel to face me. “You should start in my bedroom. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

I raise my eyes to the ceiling and groan. “Go to hell, Xander.”

“Only if you keep me company.” With one more wink, he disappears.

I shake my head and breathe through the annoyance streaming through my veins. I need to set boundaries, show him I’m not okay with his jokes. When I finish the tour, I’ll talk to him and make myself clear. For now, though, I need to look at his bedroom, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about what I’ll find.

CHAPTER8

BOUNDARIES

BELLA

July

When I stepinside Xander’s bedroom, I can’t hide my smile. My expectations weren’t wrong. His bedroom is an authentic example of Scandinavian style, and it’s gorgeous.

The wall behind his bed is exposed white brick, the rest are painted a light gray. The ceiling is white as well, enhancing the natural light streaming in from the windows. The floors are made of light wood, but a large area rug adds some warmth and softness.

The king-size bed is made up with a solid gray comforter, two big pillows, and three decorative throw ones. The beautiful simplicity warms my insides. Jake desperately wanted a four-poster bed and sulked like a child when I didn’t agree. Xander’s bed, on the other hand, is something I’d choose for myself.

His room smells like him, sandalwood and cinnamon and just a hint of tobacco. Maybe there’s even a little vanilla, complementing the velvety, woody blend perfectly.

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