Page 154 of Breaking the Rules

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I shrug the jacket off my shoulders and lay it on the counter.

Hunter clicks the door locked behind us. His footsteps fill the room as he moves forward. "Em?"

"Yeah?" I press my palms into the black plastic. My nails are too chipped. It's time to change the purple polish to something else. Something that feels right. I pick a color that suits my mood.

Right now… this is red. A deep, crimson red, like the rose tattooed to Hunter's hip.

Ahem.

Not that he…

I'm not…

God, I so am.

"You decide where you want to focus?" he asks.

"You're the teacher."

He nods.

I force myself to look him in the eyes. "Give me some options."

"Fair." His soft lips curl into a half-smile. "You manage the schedule?"

I nod.

"And the social media?"

"Yeah."

"You ever see the books?"

"Sometimes. Ryan is secretive about it."

Hunter chuckles. "He's secretive about everything."

"Those are strong words for you."

"Oh?"

I nod. "I still don't know why you're crashing at my brother's place."

"Ran out of cash."

"Because…"

"Because I spent it."

"Really? Is that how money works?"

He moves around the counter. Turns on the computer. Types his login.

"You don't seem like the type of guy who can't balance his checkbook."

"Shit. Do I really seem like I use a checkbook?"

My lips curl into a smile. It's the perfect response. And it's so Hunter. Defensive. But funny too. "Honestly, Hunter, if you ran out of cash because of stupidity, I'd like to cancel this lesson."

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