Page 130 of Changing Rules

My heart squeezes painfully, but I don’t allow myself to get upset. She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either.

Finally giving in to temptation, I take her hand in mine, gently trailing my fingers over her palm.

“Go on a date with me,” I repeat. “Please.”

“I don’t know.” This time, she zeroes in on my mouth.

Heat builds at the base of my spine, but I ignore the sensation. “I know how important your privacy is to you. I’ll wear a hat, and a hoodie to hide my tattoos. I’ll rent another car. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you comfortable.”

Head tilted, she gives me the smallest of smiles. “Okay. Figure out where and when and let me know.”

“Will do.” I entwine my fingers with hers and soak in her warmth. “It’ll be the best date ever.”

“You’re ridiculously overconfident.” She shakes her head. “But thank you for respecting my privacy. I really want to stay under the radar.”

“I get it. The media hasn’t been fair to you. You’re protecting yourself.”

“If my experience taught me anything,” she says, absently brushing her thumb over my knuckles, “along with all the work I did with Dr. Khan, it’s that negative opinions will always exist, but I can’t let them bother me. If that’s the energy people want to bring into the world, they’re welcome to it. But I have to protect my peace and put boundaries in place to keep people from walking all over me.”

“You’re brilliant, seriously.”

“Now you’re just sucking up.”

With a laugh, I rock back. As I straighten, I catch sight of a picture of her and Kaden stuck to her mirror. “Do you keep in touch with Kaden?” It isn’t my business, but I can’t help it. I need to know everything about her, even the tiniest details.

“Yes. Is that going to be a problem?”

In the future? When she’s with me? “No. I have no right to dictate who you spend your time with.”

She snorts. “Try to be more convincing next time, Mr. Walker.” She shakes her head, smiling. “How’s your dad?”

A flutter of hope blooms in my chest, but I tamp it down. “I’m afraid to jinx it, but I think he’s getting closer to accepting his diagnosis. The last time I saw him, he’d actually come out of the bedroom. The three of us sat in the living room, and he was present. He talked to Mom and me both, even made some jokes.”

Her expression brightens. “I’m so glad to hear it. I always loved your parents, so I truly wish them both only the best.”

For a moment, I forget how to breathe. I’m lost in her beautiful eyes, her words about my mom and dad making my heart so full.

“They always loved you too,” I say, voice thick with emotion. “Maybe you?—”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”

Chuckling, I drop my head back. I take in her room. This was the guest room before she returned, but she somehow managed to make it look like it’s been hers all along. The pink desk lamp is just her style, and the stuffed shark on one of her bookshelves is familiar. I smile to myself. This place feels like home…because home is where she is.

“This room is so you. Everything about it,” I murmur.

“My place in New York was even more me. Jess helped me find it, and by some stroke of luck, my landlord gave me permission to paint.”

“I can only imagine how good it looked.”

Her cheeks go pink, but there’s no hiding her smile. “It needed work, so my landlord and I kinda worked as a team. He purchased new furniture so he could rent it furnished. He had a new tenant lined up before I moved out, and I’m pretty sure they’re paying twice as much as I did.”

“And Jess? Sounds like the two of you hung out.”

“Yeah. Every time she came to town for work, we’d get together. I loved it there.”

“Selfishly, I’m glad you’re back.”

“You sure are.” She giggles, tucking her hair behind her ear.

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