Page 12 of Breaking the Rules of Love

I nearly gasp. “The type of gal who’d mind?” I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, but after a moment’s thought, I decide to not allow myself to get offended this early in the morning by the man performing such a nice gesture for me.

“You know what? You’re right. I saw this video on the Internet once of this total Karen who got mad at a man for mowing her neighbor’s lawn for free. Have you ever seen that?”

Jake laughs. “No, I haven’t. Pretty funny?”

“Well, she says she’s going to call the police on the man,” I tell him. Jake’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head.

“Call the police for voluntarily mowing a woman’s lawn?”

“That’s right.” I nod. I reach into the pocket of my shorts and pretend to start dialing. “So I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to call the police and report you for illegal weedwhacking.”

I glance up at Jake, who looks like he’s trying not to burst out laughing.

“Damn,” he chuckles. “You don’t want me whacking your weeds?”

“That’s right.” I shake my head. “Not without my permission. If you want to whack my weeds, you’re going to need to ask first. Understand?”

Even I’m having a hard time holding it together now. If we keep this up much longer, I’m going to be crying laughing.

Jake flashes me a thumbs up. “Roger that, Miss.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and try not to look back at him. But It’s hard not to stare. How is such an unbelievable specimen of a man standing on my lawn right now?

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way—you look thirsty. How long have you been out here?”

“Not too long,” he replies. But who really knows with men? He could have been out here five minutes or an hour and give the same answer. They always want to downplay how hard they’ve been working.

“Well, you look thirsty. Would you like to take a break? Come in for some lemonade? I made some fresh just two days ago.”

His glacial-blue eyes look back at me, and I feel my nerves begin to tingle. I shouldn’t be anxious around him. This man was just weedwhacking my lawn without me even having to ask, but for some reason I still am.

Maybe it’s just a sign of how long I’ve been out of the dating scene. Or maybe it’s my mom’s voice in my head telling me that I’m not young and fertile anymore and men won’t be beating down my door much longer.

I know I shouldn’t be listening to all that, but shedoeskind of have a point. I’m not 22 anymore, and Jake could get any girl he wants. Why would he want to spend time with me when he’s probably got like 50 Tinder dates lined up with a bunch of 18-year-olds already?

“Lemonade?” he asks with a panty-melting smile. “That sounds like it would definitely hit the spot right now.”

I try not to let him see me breath an enormous sigh of relief.

“But I am all sweaty,” he warns.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I laugh, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “I grew up with brothers. A little sweat doesn’t bother me.”

9

Sadie

“Brothers, huh?”Jake asks from his seat at the table. He’s using a wet towel I gave him to wipe the sweat from his neck while I pour him a glass of lemonade with ice. I have to dilute the tiny bit that’s left with water for me. I made this batch two days ago and wasn’t expecting to be sharing it with anybody, but I don’t want Jake’s masculine instincts to kick in and have him do something kind and stupid like offer to share his with me or something.

“Yeah, two,” I reply. I’m lying again. I don’t know why. I’m normally a very truthful person, but right now I’m willing to say anything that will keep Jake here.

First I told him I was an accountant and now I’ve told him I grew up with two brothers. I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do down the road if things continue with us.

“What was that like?” he asks. “Only child here.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ve heard stories of growing up with siblings a thousand times before,” I reply as I take the glasses over to the table and sit down beside him. “It’s not that different from those, I’m sure.”

Jake nods and takes a sip of his lemonade. I brace myself, but thankfully, his eyes light up. “Damn, this is good!”

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