Page 65 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

“Occasionally. There was a man in here this morning who bought a corset and garter and thought he was being clever by saying that he was shopping for his mom.” I rolled my eyes.

“It’s never for their mom.” Tandy laughed. “That must be code for ‘I’m telling a fib.’ Don’t you think?”

“I guess. I can’t imagine anyone would actually believe it.” The door opened, and I gasped. “Eli! You never come here when my shop is open.”

The man rarely walked in further than the back hall even when I was closed.

He nodded toward the racks. “I came here to shop. Today, I’m a customer.”

“What are you looking for? I’ll have to see if I have it in your size.” I gave him the once over. While I carried a limited selection of items for men, I knew better than to think Eli was shopping for himself. That begged the question. Who was he shopping for?

He grinned. “Not for me, but I’ll definitely need your help.”

“What did you have in mind?” I kept my voice low because Tandy did not need to hear me flirting with Eli.

“A robe maybe?”

I laced my fingers with his and led him to a rack. “Something like this?”

He smiled at the terrycloth robes. “These are nice.”

“They come in several different patterns. I’m partial to the wildflowers.” I took a brightly colored robe off the hanger and slipped it on. “It’s a nice length. Below the knee, but not so close to the floor that you trip. And it has pockets.”

“Pockets in a robe are important.” He leaned in closer. “Where else would you put your keys when you go take a shower?”

My cheeks felt like lava, and that was before he trailed a finger along my jawline.

“What size do you need?” I leaned into his hand on my cheek.

“I’ll take that one.”

Tandy walked over and flashed a wide grin, completely interrupting our moment. “Well, don’t you look cute modeling that robe!”

Her words sent an icy chill racing down every nerve. Modeling the merchandise. I’d broken another rule. He hadn’t even asked me to do it. My panic tasted sour. I’d have to think about this when Eli wasn’t around.

Breaking rules wasn’t right. I had rules for a reason.

Now Eli was here shopping, and that made him a customer, which meant I’d broken all three rules.

Eli’s brow furrowed as he stared at me. He could probably read my inner turmoil.

Tandy patted him on the arm. “You tell your mama hello for me.”

“Yes, ma’am. I will.” He barely glanced in her direction.

“If you change your mind about posing without a shirt for one of my book covers, you call me.”

“No, ma’am. I won’t.” He waved as she walked out.

“Is this all? Just the robe?” I focused on keeping my breaths steady and even.

It wasn’t Eli’s fault that he’d made me break the rules. He hadn’t suggested I put on the robe. But thoughts of all the men who had asked in the past flooded my thoughts.

Avoiding his gaze, I walked to the counter. “I can ring you up over here.”

He followed me to the register. “I’m picking up another item. It should be paid for already.”

We received very few phone orders, and I hadn’t taken a call from Eli, so Issa must’ve handled it on Saturday. I picked up the bag with his name on the little yellow slip attached. How had I not noticed his name on an order?

---