Page 21 of Breaking the Rules of Love

“Um, I was going to just browse,” I say slowly. “But that green outfit in the window…I kind of liked that.”

Trish’s eyes light up, and she gets up from her seat and comes around from behind the counter. “That’s one of mine,” she says, her tone clandestine like we’re sharing a secret. “You see, the boss, Marissa, she usually styles the mannequins. But she let me do one. I think she’s testing me. So I’m happy you like it. Come on, I’ll show you where the pieces are.”

I like this girl already. She motions for me to follow and leads me past many racks and mannequins to what looks like a very fancy set of drawers, which she opens to reveal the panties I saw in the window.

Yeah, he’s going to love me in these, I think. The thought of showing myself off in the full outfit is already getting my heart racing.

“Do you like the green?” she asks.

“I do, but I’m open,” I reply. “What do you think? Is it my color?”

Trish steps back and looks at me. “Hmm, well with your skin tone, I think you could go with a peach maybe. Or a red. And then of course there’s always the classic black.”

“Peach?” I say with surprise. “That sounds interesting! But you know, let’s keep it simple and just stick with black this time.”

Trish nods. “First-time lingerie buyer?”

I feel myself blushing slightly. If Trish wasn’t so sweet, I think I’d also feel judged. “Is it that obvious?”

“A little.” She winks, opening another drawer and removing the bra. “But that’s not a bad thing. It’s great to be adventurous. Let me guess—spicing up a marriage?”

I scoff and do my best not to burst out laughing. “Oh, no! No way! Hell to the no!”

Trish jokingly takes a step back and throws her hands up.

“Okay, girl! Okay!” She laughs. “Didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s fine,” I say, laughing along with her. “It’s just…there’s a lot of history there that I should probably get some counseling for.”

“Oh, we all need counseling, sweetie! Believe me.”

15

Jake

Ryan hashis eyes on me, and I can just see an idea formulating. I’ve known him long enough to know this isn’t going to be another easy day with the boys. And with all the thoughts of Sadie running around in my mind right now, that’s exactly what I could use.

“I dunno, Logan. I think we might have to stage a hostile takeover of the company and kick Jake’s sorry ass out. What do you think?” Ryan glances over at Logan with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Logan, who is cleaning his Glock 22, returns the grin and nods firmly. “I agree, Ryan. I think we need areal manrunning this place.” He turns and looks at me. “And, Jake buddy, you just don’t meet that qualification any longer.”

I stretch, shake my head, and lean back in my office chair. I knew this was going to happen. If only Ryan hadn’t been in the truck the other night for the Violet Keith job, then I could have made something up about what happened after the mob broke through the fence at the venue. But he heard basically everything that went on in the backseat, and despite my request, went and told Logan all about it.

“You know, you two would make perfect Violet Keith fans,” I ask.

“Yeah, how’s that?” Ryan asks.

“Because you gossip like a couple of high school girls.” I smirk as I get up from my chair and go to the fridge to grab myself a beer.

They both roar with laughter.

“Hey, you gonna get me one?” Logan asks. I shake my head and sit back down.

“Get yourself one, you vile traitor.”

Logan chuckles and looks over at Ryan. “See that, bro? See how testy he is today? That’s what happens when you don’t get the pussy. You can’t take a joke.”

“Oh, is that right?” I ask, cracking my bottle open on the edge of the desk. “Well then why aren’t you two just constantly testy? Seeing as how you twoneverget any.”

---