Page 124 of As They Are
“But there was a rule.”
“Rules can be changed.”
Somehow, this was the most shocking thing he could have said. My eyes grew wide. “You’re suggesting we bend the rules?You?”
“It’s new for me too. But you make me want to.” His hands were in his pockets, but his eyes were firmly on me.
I couldn’t believe this. He was willing to change rules. Forme.
Had anyone done that before?
It was tempting to stare at him forever, to memorize this moment.
But he needed an answer before he changed his mind or took my silence as a no.
“You said we would explore this. Explore it as in it’s another one-time thing?”
“Honestly?” He shook his head. “I don’t know if itcanbe.”
“Me either.”
“We should still have some rules, though.”
I nodded. The idea of it was a little comforting. My Henry was in there somewhere. “Please don’t tell me you’ll only be nice.”
He laughed. “No, not that. But this is ... risky. I want to be sure we don’t have regrets when it’s time for you to go back to Nashville.”
I nodded. I’d be back to visit Mollie, but the point still stood. I would be living in Nashville and spending most of my time there. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
“We still fake date. We’re still friends in private, with the added benefit of ...”
“You telling me what to do while you give me orgasms?”
“Exactly,” he said with a smile. “And not at our houses. That’s a slippery slope. At least for me.”
I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. I still wanted to see every part of him. And that included where he lived.
But he was right. I was leaving, and getting our wires crossed was a bad idea.
“And if you ever wanna change things, you can tell me at any time.”
He said it like I would want to. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll let you know if things change. Anything else, Mr. Rule Man?”
“That’sDoctorRule Man, and no. That’s it.”
“All of that sounds good to me.” I stepped close, running my hand up his tie. “Are you open to some exploration now?”
“I’m up for it any time I’m with you.” Henry’s hand traced my cheek. “And I have an idea for the desk that’s just over there.”
He didn’t have to say anything else. I was running for it the second he suggested it.
23
HENRY
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor:Can someone tell these tourists to use the crosswalks??? Were they raised in BARNS?
