Page 19 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

His gaze stayed glued to my fingers.

When I placed my other hand on his chest, he sucked in a breath.

Inching up on my tiptoes, I questioned the wisdom of what I wanted to do. He might never speak to me again. Or maybe he’d decide he wanted to spend more time with me.

I’d never been good at poker. I was more of an all-in type of player, and that only worked sometimes. Hopefully, this was one of those times.

I slid my hands up his chest and around his neck. As I closed my eyes, he leaned down and captured my mouth with his. Who needed words?

For a man who had trouble talking, he sure could kiss. His lips moved against mine. Hunger and desire crackled in the air, sending tingles dancing on my skin. Was he feeling this too?

If so, why hadn’t he wrapped his arms around me?

Crap. Why hadn’t I suggested he put his breakfast down before starting this?

Stubble grazed my lips as he turned his head. “Delaney.”

Cradling his face, I pressed my lips to his again, wishing I’d also thought to flip the sign to closed.

The bag crinkled as Eli wrapped his arms around me. Then his coffee hit the floor.

He backed up like he’d been slapped. “Tell Tessa I’m sorry about the mess.”

“Eli, wait!”

Shaking his head, he rushed out the door.

So much for my great idea.

Technically, for the record, he’d kissed me. And I’d enjoyed every second of kissing him back.

“That was quite a conversation y’all had.” Tessa dragged the mop across the floor. “It didn’t burn you, did it?”

I ran a finger around my lips. “A little.”

“The coffee, Delaney. I was asking if the coffee burned you?” She rolled her eyes.

Glancing down at my coffee-soaked tennis shoes, I stifled a giggle. “Didn’t feel a thing.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. You were too busy feelingsomething. That’s why you didn’t notice that hot coffee landed on your shoes.”

Sighing, I watched his truck pull out of the lot. “I’m bad luck for him when it comes to coffee.”

Tessa stepped up next to me. “If it helps, I’ve never seen Eli do that.”

“Kiss someone?”

“Leave like that.”

“The way he raced out of here worries me.”

Her nose crinkled as she scrunched it up. “Yeah. He might avoid you for a while.”

Chapter 8

Tessa was right. I didn’t see Eli for several days. A full week. If he drove by at night, he didn’t stop to knock. Aside from stalking him—which was way out of my rule-follower comfort zone—there wasn’t much I could do about it.

I read a lot and checked on my house at least once a day.

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