Page 23 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

“I do think it’s cool that you hang out with your cousin. I see my cousins at family reunions like once every ten years.”

“We both grew up here. We were born a few months apart—he’s six months younger—and we’re both only children.”

“So y’all basically grew up together.”

“We did. My mom worked, so my aunt took care of me. Eli and I were always together. I know he’s really embarrassed about spilling coffee on you. Especially after the lemonade incident.”

“So far with Eli, it’s been one incident after another. The towel incident. The coffee incident. The lemonade incident. And I can’t leave off the kissing incident.”

“It’s funny that he asked if you walked.”

“Kinda. The other night I mentioned that I walked home, and he told me I shouldn’t do that.”

“Sounds exactly like Eli.”

“I had a guy almost ask me to model a sheer chemise today. Another customer nixed that idea. But that got me thinking. I like Eli because he isn’t the kind of guy who would ask me to model lingerie. Or come into the store and say he’s shopping for his mom. I need to do something to get Eli’s attention.”

“You going to start jaywalking every night when he’s on duty?” She set a plate in front of me.

I pointed at her with my fork. “Genius. That’s way better than my idea.” I didn’t need a ticket for speeding anyway.

Chapter 9

Iscrolled through social media, killing time until I knew Eli’s shift had started. The last two days, I’d thought about him often. The look he’d given me right before leaving Haley’s party still gave me chills.

Every part of me wanted to be around him. Even if he only nodded and grunted. Kissing was optional. How could I convince him that I was safe?

That was a question for another time. Right now, I had to tackle the seeing him part. Timing would be key in snagging his attention. Tessa’s idea seemed like the best place to start. Jaywalking.

A perfectly timed run across the street would spark a conversation or a mini lecture. I was fully prepared for the lecture. Then I’d go get barbeque. Win-win.

I paced on the sidewalk. Traffic was non-existent. Turtles could’ve chased each other across the road without fear of being run over.

In theory, it was the perfect time to cross, but I waited for a certain vehicle to come into view. If Eli had taken the back way to the highway, I’d be standing here a while. The highway was part of what he patrolled. I knew that from stories I heard.

He had a talent for pulling over women when they were in tears. Poor guy. I bet not all of them spewed all their problems at him.

I waited a little longer.

The chances of crossing in front of a different deputy were fair to middling, but I’d have to take that risk.

When I spotted a sheriff’s vehicle way down the road, I dashed across Main Street. Eli would feel obligated to stop and lecture me.

I walked toward the restaurant at a snail’s pace, giving him plenty of time to pull into the lot and stop. But he didn’t turn. In fact, he didn’t even glance at me as he drove on down the street.

He could’ve at a least flipped on his siren, so that I could’ve consoled myself with the idea that he was racing to an emergency. But no. Jaywalking wasn’t going to work.

In addition to lots of barbeque, I needed a banana pudding. Maybe two.

Tessa grinned when I walked in. “I figured you’d show up here. Sorry he didn’t stop.”

“Saw that, did you? I’m going to have to find other ways to talk to him.”

“Or you could be patient and wait until he decides to talk to you.”

“I’m not liking that approach. Once he gets to that point, he might not be attracted to me anymore. You said—”

“I should never have said anything about that.” Tessa sighed. “I’m hungry. Let’s order and you can tell me about how the house is coming along.”

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