Page 39 of Rules Are Meant To Be Broken

Trying to distract him again. Classic Hope. He grinned a sad grin and let her.

“The shower probably dispenses Dom Perignon,” he said as he started foraging. It didn’t take long. After finding a bottle of hideously expensive Syrah he joined Hope on the couch.

“I thought a guy in training would be all about protein shakes and coconut water.”

“I’m sure my manager would prefer that, too.”

“You have a manager?”

“Professional lifesaver means it’s a profession. He’s responsible for a lot of my success. He’s the one who arranged all my sponsorship deals. He’s all right.”

“Well, I guess someone has to wrangle your Instagram followers. I didn’t know you had a proper manager. Does your fan base have a name? Let me guess, uh, the Xavierites? Oh, can I be an official fan girl?”

She fluttered her eyelids playfully, trying to distract him again. He chose not to answer, poured two generous glasses of wine, and waited until she’d taken her first sip. “What if I want to save you? Would that really be so bad?”

“Yes, yes, it would. Look, I get that you want to swing in and save the day. I do. It would be endearing under any other circumstances, but I need to sort my own life out for myself. I’ve decided the best way to start is to get away from it all for a little while. Soon, I’ll go back. I will. It’s just—it’s hard. It’s a mask I’ve been wearing for a long time. It’ll take me a while to figure out who I am without it.”

“But—”

“Butts are for sitting on. Unless—wait, are you my designated knight in shining armour? How marvellous. Do you have the white steed in your backpack, or do you have to order it in special?”

Xavier let that one slide.

She went on. “See, if you become the big, bad saviour, then what does that mean for me?”

“It means—”

“It means I’m a damsel in distress. Same old, same old. My father, my brothers, my friends. All of them treated me like a ditsy toddler. Let me tell you, so far that reliance has meant I’ve led a shitty, miserable life. The cycle changes now. No thanks, I need to handle this one on my own.”

“I know, but—”

“No more buts! Seriously! You’re a fun, sweet Aussie. Heart of gold, muscles of stone, cock of steel, all that good stuff.” She winked. “I don’t need you messing in my life because, well, soon you’re going to blow right back out again. You and I, we’re definitely in thefun time not a long timebox.”

He bristled, but she ran her hand over his cheek, her words softer, calming. “This is my life. I know I can’t keep going along this path. One day, I’ll find a way out of this mess. Today, all I need is this. You, a break, and I’m going to need it if I’m going to go back ready for battle.”

As strong as her words were, Xavier wasn’t convinced even she believed them.Hecertainly didn’t. It infuriated him more than he was willing to admit. Hope was in pain. That much was clear. Despite the battle cry, he seriously doubted she’d put up a fight when she returned home, and they both knew it.

“Right.” Xavier upended his glass and took a big gulp. “Well, I know one thing for sure.” He removed his hand from her knee and edged away.

Hope’s face fell, her eyes widened, and her brow furrowed.

Xavier tilted his head, and said, “We’re going to need more wine.”

* * *

Xavier mulled over what he’d learned. They’d spoken about less controversial topics for another hour until Hope had protested hunger. He left her lying peacefully on the couch while he foraged for snacks.

Hope’s predicament rubbed Xavier the wrong way. She’d more than made up for whatever mistakes she’d made when shewas young. That wasn’t how life was meant to be lived, especially not for a woman as full of life as she was. Her family had feared she was kidnapped, but was her usual life really all that different? They just kept in her in a gilded cage. A woman as brilliant and amazing as Hope sure as hell should never be kept like that. No one should.

In spite of her pleas to the contrary, Xavier had made a determination. He had a couple of weeks. He would find a way to help Hope. He just had to find a way to do it without her knowing.

Despite everything, Xavier’s spirits were lifted. Another layer of Hope had been revealed to him. Sure, it was like peeling a layer off a belligerent onion, but he felt like they were closer than ever. Discussing her fears, the possible ways to rectify it, and his attempts at cheering her up had only bonded them more.

It was odd. Every new complicated layer Hope exposed only made him fall for her more. The Woman in Red, Hope, Emily. All of her. Each new part he discovered, made him want more. Wanthermore.

Distracted by the thought, he smiled as he sat back down beside her on the large couch, bottle of wine in one hand and the only snack he could find, truffle oil flavoured potato chips, in the other.

Hope caught his smile and asked, “What’s that for?”

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