Page 79 of Breaking the Rules
"No."
He looks back to me. "Is it for a woman?"
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Has that look."
"You wouldn't get roses?"
He pulls his t-shirt up his stomach to show off a side tattoo. Roses outlined by the state of California. "Most guys aren't secure enough in their masculinity for that shit."
"You know there isn't anyone here to gawk at your bod," Emma calls from the counter.
"What about you, Em?" He turns to her and pats his stomach. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't enjoy the view."
She shakes her head, but she can't hide the smile spreading over her lips.
He's fucking with her.
He's obviously into Chloe.
With Chloe even—nobody tells me shit about what's going on.
But my stomach still twists.
Fuck, I need to get over this.
Emma is gorgeous, sharp, and charming.
She's also off limits.
We're friends, at best.
I need to prove that to her. And myself.
Our double date is a necessary evil.
She needs to believe I'm not interested.
"She's always playing coy. That's our thing. Right, Em?" He winks as he lifts his t-shirt a little higher.
She makes a show of rolling her eyes.
Dean turns back to me. "You can try the same thing."
"Subject Emma to my stripping?" I ask.
"Yeah. She'll be into it." He winks again. "I see you checking Hunter out. It's only when I'm not there to soothe your lust for eye candy."
She laughs. "How do you know if you aren't there?"
"I'm always here." He draws a circle around the room. "I'm everywhere, all the time."
"Uh-huh." She shakes her headyou're ridiculous. "Hunter is like Brendon. Doesn't want to do anything to disgrace himself."
"Disgrace himself?" Dean pats his stomach. "With that bod? I don't think so."
"True." She presses her palm into the counter to fight her blush.
