Page 62 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

“For a while she’d call from time to time, but I haven’t heard from her in years. Part of me would like to see her again just so she could see how I turned out. In spite of her.” I pushed out of his lap and walked into the kitchen. “Want anything to drink?”

“Sure. Grab me a cola.”

I grabbed two Shastas and snuggled beside him. “What I didn’t know until I got back to Texas was that my dad had just gotten married again. My stepmom wasn’t happy to see me. Oh, she smiled, but even at seven, I could tell it was fake. That night, I heard them arguing. The next day, my dad drove me to San Antonio to my grandma’s house. The only time I ever saw him cry was when he walked off the porch and left me. But living with Grandma turned out to be wonderful.”

Eli draped an arm around me and drew circles on my shoulder.

“Because of her, I had an idyllic childhood in spite of my crazy family. But she died when I was fifteen, and I went to live with my dad. My stepmom wasn’t that upset about it because they had a five-year-old and a three-year-old, and I was free babysitting. But I always felt like an extra. After graduating high school, I moved out, put myself through school, and then I used the money my grandma had left me and started my business.”

“How did you end up in Stadtburg?”

“Tessa. Originally, I planned to open in San Antonio, but I spent a few days scoping out places outside the city because the rent was cheaper. After looking at the space where my store is now, I stopped in to get a doughnut. Tessa was warm and friendly in a way that reminded me of my grandma. Your mom has that same quality.”

Eli kissed my temple. “I wish I could’ve met your grandma. She sounds amazing.”

“She was. And she would’ve loved you.” I took the can out of his hand and set our drinks on the table before nestling into his lap. “My initial interest in you was sparked by your rugged good looks and that dazzling smile. I had no idea that being in your arms would feel like this, like I belong here.”

He hadn’t even said that he loved me, and I was talking about belonging. But carving out space for me in his house meant the world to me.

His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You do, Delaney.”

Chapter 21

Ilifted my head off the pillow and felt around for my phone. Why was it buzzing in the middle of the night? Normally, I would’ve slept through it, but when Eli worked the night shift, I woke up at the slightest sound.

After rubbing sleep out of my eyes, I picked up the phone.

Stay inside with the doors locked until you hear my knock. Do NOT open the door for anyone else. Eli’s text made it impossible to go back to sleep.

I lay there in the dark for thirty minutes, maybe an hour. Time did funny things in the wee hours of morning. When I heard a thunk near the back door, I sat up and tiptoed into the hall.

The handle jiggled.

I shot off a text to Eli.Are you at my back door?

If Eli wasn’t the person at the door, I wouldn’t hear the end of this. Eli would lecture about the dangers of living in a retail space. Hopefully, he could cope for one more week. The house was so close to ready.

The screen lit up with Eli’s name. I swiped and whispered, “Hello.”

“Move to the front of the store. Do not open the door for anyone except me. Hear me?”

“Yes.” I hurried to the front.

“I’m on my way.” Eli stayed on the line.

Peeking around the edge of the blinds, I watched as Eli ran across the street. Blatantly jaywalking. Was jayrunning a thing?

When he darted onto the walkway in front of the store, I touched my hand to the glass. He acknowledged with a quick tap, then motioned for me to move back.

Huddled near a rack of negligees, I waited. But I couldn’t help a quick look every few minutes. Two other deputies were parked in the lot. Eli’s vehicle was still parked across the street.

One more week. That was what I kept telling myself.

I glanced at my phone every few minutes, expecting that an hour had passed. Time dragged out as I waited.

Men shouted somewhere outside, and I burrowed into the corner, forcing myself not to go check on Eli. If I stepped outside, he’d be furious. He was trained to deal with bad guys. I wasn’t.

The voices quieted, and I held my breath as footsteps approached the front of the store.

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