Page 18 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

Since he was single, I worried there was no solution to his silence.

She shook her head. “Eventually, he gets past it and starts talking. Then he isn’t interested anymore.”

“Fabulous. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” I reached for the door. “Should I unlock it?”

“Yep. And flip the sign, will you?”

As soon as I turned the sign around, I spotted Eli getting out of his truck.

“Tessa, he’s here.” I moved away from the door, wondering if I should slip out the back and leave.

She set a bag on the counter. “Here’s his food. Grab him a coffee cup. I’m going to finish up in the kitchen.”

“You’re leaving on purpose.” I was a little afraid that after one look at me Eli would leave without his coffee.

She grinned. “Guilty. Talk to him.”

The door opened, and I slowly turned around. “Good morning.”

He gave a small head bob, which was silent Eli’s version of a hello.

I didn’t move as he walked toward the counter. “I’m not upset about last night. I hadn’t even realized I was on fire. Thank you for being a hero and saving my hair. I don’t think I’d look good bald.”

“Okay.” He reached around me and picked up the bag.

The man was maybe ten inches taller than me, but when he was this close, I felt really small. In the best kind of way.

I held out an empty coffee cup. “I figured I’d let you fill it since I’m not good with lids.”

As he took the cup out of my hand, he studied my face. “Thanks.” He didn’t move.

Hopefully, I could find something to say that would get him talking. “Nothing weird happened last night. The store was quiet.”

He nodded.

“But you know that. You drove by here during your shift, didn’t you?”

The slightest shrug was his version of an answer.

“I jaywalked again when I walked home from the party. It was getting dark, and I figured it was safer to get home faster rather than walk all the way to the corner where there is a clearly marked crosswalk.” To any normal person, I sounded like a complete loon.

Eli narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t do that.”

“Which part?”

“Both. No place is completely safe, and cars speed through here at night. They won’t be able to stop in time to avoid you.”

I leaned in closer. “You make it sound dangerous.”

He inhaled, then strode to the coffee pot.

My brain buzzed with attraction. Maybe using words wasn’t the best strategy.

Once he’d filled his cup and put the lid on properly, I touched his arm. “Eli?”

He turned around. “What?”

I didn’t let his curt reply change my mind. I moved my hand to his chest. “I, uh...”

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