Breaking Her Rules

by Jennifer Snow

  “Great. By the way, who’s this chick Walker’s bringing?”

  She stopped browsing. “Walker’s bringing someone?” News to her. Of course she had been avoiding him as much as humanly possible the last few days.

  “Yeah. He said she’s a sports newscaster.”

  Faith. She hadn’t known for sure, but she’d suspected he was still seeing her. Maria had texted her the night before to say if Walker didn’t keep his girlfriend out of her bar, he was fired. She’d texted back that he was no longer her problem. And damn, she wished it were true. But the amount of effort she’d put in the last few days avoiding him made it clear he was still a problem for her. “She interviewed him this week for Knock Out Sports.” And has attached herself to his hip ever since, she didn’t add.

  “What’s she like?”

  Perfect. “Nice, really pretty, successful . . .” She tried to sound as though each word didn’t make her feel the complete opposite, but the truth was, Faith was hard to compete with, and she shouldn’t even be trying. An image of Walker on top of the blonde on her sofa a few nights before flashed in her mind, and she shuddered.

  “All the things we hate. Fantastic,” Kylie said with a laugh.

  “Hey, what are you wearing to this party?” she asked, suddenly not feeling too conservative after all as she eyed a white, slim-fitting, above-the-knee tunic. Normally, she’d insist it was a T-shirt posing as a dress and wear a pair of leggings with it, but maybe not this time . . .

  “As little as possible. It is freaking hot out here. And I plan to spend most of the weekend in the pool, so I’d say a bikini or better and you’re good to go.”

  “Perfect.”

  ***

  “Tell me that’s a nightgown,” Erik said later that evening when she modeled her impulse purchase for him as soon as he got home from his trip to Reno.

  Her confidence waned. “Too short, right?” She tugged on the edge of the stretchy fabric, willing it to be slightly longer. It hadn’t appeared this short in the store, and the commission-staff salesclerk had gushed about how great she looked.

  “Not for one of the ring girls.”

  She rolled her eyes. Fantastic. What had she been thinking? She couldn’t pull off a dress like this. Only a petite, five-foot-two southern blonde would look good in this dress. She looked like she was squeezing into someone else’s clothing.

  She wanted to look good for this party. She’d been prepared to face Walker at the party . . . but Walker and Faith? The thought made her stomach churn. “Come with me,” she said, suddenly to Erik.

  “No.”

  “Please.”

  “Grace, I just got back from Reno and I’m still dealing with legal on the details of Carlos Alward’s contract. Man, his manager is seriously riding my ass about every little detail. Did I tell you he wanted me to guarantee Carlos would get fight of the night?” He sighed as he shook his head.

  “Yes, you mentioned that.” Twice. “But there’s really nothing you can do until Monday morning anyway, right? We’ll drive out tomorrow morning and leave at the crack of dawn on Sunday.”

  “I have meetings to prepare for first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “You will have time, I promise. Take your laptop.” She really needed him at the party with her. Facing everyone alone, again, would be torture. She wanted her mother and her friends and the other people she’d left behind in the small town to see how far she’d come since high school. She needed them to see Erik—a handsome, successful man who wanted her. At least she thought he did. He still hadn’t proposed . . .

  “No, I can’t go. You go, wear that dress if you want, have a great time with Kayla . . .”

  “Kylie,” she corrected. She moved toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck as she sat on his lap. “I never ask you for anything,” she started.

  “Guilt? Really, Grace?” He frowned and she felt like a child.

  “No. I’m not trying to guilt you into anything.” It would be nice if she didn’t have to. “I’m just asking you to consider it, please. I’m not looking forward to going alone.” She had been okay with the idea until she found out Walker was bringing Faith. Now, going alone seemed like the most embarrassing idea on the planet.

  “Your mom doesn’t like me. Your friend Kelly doesn’t like me—”

  “Kylie,” she said through gritted teeth. How many ways could he say the name and not get it right? She took a deep breath and snuggled closer to him. “I like you. And I really want you to come.” Not to mention he owed her one for the birthday disaster, but she kept that thought to herself. She really didn’t want to guilt him into this. She wanted him to come because he wanted to be there with her.

  “I’ve never seen this needy side of you before.” His voice was so cool she almost shivered.

  She stood. “You’re right. Forget about it.” Going into the closet, she removed the dress and placed it back on the hanger. It was a final sale, there would be no returning it. Maybe Kylie would want it. Her friend was shorter than she was by five inches. The dress wouldn’t make her look like a streetwalker.

  Of course it meant a quick stop at her apartment the next morning to grab something else from her closet. She sighed.

  Erik came toward her as she removed her earrings. He brushed her long, dark hair over her shoulders and stared at her reflection in the mirror. “I’ll go if it means that much to you,” he said.

  Oh thank God. She turned and hugged him tightly, so relieved he would be there with her, she could almost forget that she’d practically had to beg.

  ***

  Unlocking the door, Walker entered the dark apartment after nine o’clock. Gracie wasn’t home . . . again. Obviously she was avoiding him, and he hated that he’d forced her out of her own home. Since the night of her birthday, things had been awkward between them and he longed for a chance to be alone with her to find out if she still had feelings for him.

  One thing was painfully clear—he had feelings for her.

  He knew it by the way he couldn’t stop thinking about her. When he was training, when he was working . . . nothing he did erased her from his thoughts. No other woman had ever taken control of him that way. And no other woman had made him think about what a future together could hold, but he found himself thinking about a future with Gracie more and more. Gracie was smart, beautiful, and kind. She was career oriented and successful, yet he knew she’d also be a supportive and encouraging partner in life. They would be great together. They shared a history and they had similar goals for their futures. He could see himself waking up with her every morning and never being able to get enough.

  He tossed his bag into the closet and ran a hand through his hair. Would he ever get the opportunity to tell her any of that? Could he ever change her mind about the future she had planned with Erik?

  Turning on the lamp above the sofa, he sat and picked up the photo of his family on the end table. He stared at their four smiling faces.

  God, he wished his mother were still here. She’d always been his rock—the one person in his life he could depend on to offer advice and to listen. Really listen. Not the half listening, then telling him he was wrong that his father did.

  He set the photo aside and leaned his head back against the couch. Was he doing the right thing giving up the career his father wanted him to pursue to follow his own dreams? Gracie had said that everything had always come easy to him—she’d been right. Until now. Nothing in the last few weeks had been easy, yet he felt more alive, more confident, more driven than ever before.

  Surely, that had to mean he was on the right path, right?

  His cell phone vibrated in his pocket, and his sister’s familiar ringtone filled the air.

  “Hey, Sis.”

  “Did you get the picture I just sent you?”

  “Hang on a sec,” he said, checking his messages. A picture of Kylie standing next to the MFL’s promotional poster in the entryway of Longhorn Bar in Lovelock appeared. She was obviously
home for the party already. She was pointing to his fighter profile picture and smiling proudly. He laughed. “Great pic.”

  “That big guy next to you is your opponent?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “In that case, I’m really glad you will be home this weekend. Might be the last time I see you in one piece.”

  “Thanks for the encouragement.”

  “I’m just messing with you. Remember what Mom always used to say—if you want something bad enough, you’ll get it.”

  His thoughts immediately shifted from his upcoming fight to Gracie. He wondered if that philosophy applied to all aspects of life. He definitely wanted it—wanted her. But did she still want him?

  Chapter 8

  “Those shorts should be illegal,” Walker said, leaning against the side of his Jeep, watching Grace as she put her small suitcase and laptop into the back of Erik’s car. The fight matchmaker sat inside the vehicle, his cell phone to his ear. The guy really was a workaholic. He was surprised the man was even coming along. Surprised and more than a little annoyed. He’d also been surprised to see Grace that morning. She’d spent the night at Erik’s apartment again, and he wasn’t even sure she would be heading to Lovelock that day for the anniversary party.

  Grace shot him a look. “Everything I wear is short. It’s the curse of being tall,” she mumbled.

  “I wouldn’t say it’s a curse exactly,” he said as she slammed the trunk of the Escalade.

  “Really? I thought you preferred short, petite blondes?” she said, coming to stand in front of him.

  “Only when tall, curvy brunettes shoot me down,” he said with a wink. “Ah, speaking of short, petite blondes . . .” He turned and forced an excited smile as Faith pulled her car into the driveway behind his Jeep. Inviting her to his family home that day was not what he’d intended when he’d used the party as an excuse to get out of seeing her that weekend. She’d insisted he needed a date to act as a buffer between him and his father, and he’d been forced to see the logic behind it. But he was disappointed not to have Gracie alone for a drive to Lovelock. His original hope was that they would drive together and have some time to talk. He knew she was with Erik, and his mind told him to leave her alone, but his heart was telling him something else entirely. Despite training and working the evenings away at the bar, he’d thought of her constantly, resisting the urge to call or text her. Every night, he’d been hoping to see her when he got back to her apartment, but she’d stayed away.

  And now his hope of a road trip alone together wouldn’t be happening either. No, now they were driving the same highway, the same time, in two different vehicles, with two different people.

  “Hi!” Faith said, running up the driveway and practically leaping into his arms.

  “Hey, we were just talking about you,” he said with a glance toward Grace.

  “Hi, Grace,” she said. “Good stuff I hope.”

  “Always,” Grace muttered.

  “I hope you don’t mind me tagging along like this.” She looked around. “Where can I put my bag?” She went to the back of the Escalade.

  Grace shook her head. “No! I mean, um, actually we aren’t all driving together.”

  Faith frowned. “That’s silly. We’re all going to the same place.”

  Erik opened the door and climbed out. “Are we going?” He caught sight of Faith, and his smile faded. “Hi, Faith, I didn’t know you were coming,” he said tightly.

  Despite the annoyance in the executive’s tone, his gaze drifted over her in appreciation. Shouldn’t he feel like punching the guy for sizing up “his date”? Unfortunately, the only urge he felt was the one to turn to Gracie and say, Seriously, this is the guy you’re with? His words died on his lips though, at the look of hurt on her face as she witnessed the awkward, sexually charged exchange between her boyfriend and the blonde.

  “I’m going as Walker’s date,” Faith said, her eyebrows furrowed in a frown.

  Erik shot him a look that would have intimidated a weaker man, but Walker just smiled casually.

  Obviously, the history between Erik and Faith remained unresolved.

  “Ready to go?” Grace said, quickly going to the passenger side.

  “Why don’t we all go together?” Walker blurted out before he could stop himself. “I mean, it makes sense.”

  “Oh, I don’t think . . .” Grace started.

  “It’s fine with me,” Erik said.

  “It is?” she asked with a shocked expression.

  “I can be an adult about things,” Faith said, opening the back door behind Erik and climbing into the vehicle.

  Walker hesitated, looking at Grace. Her expression spoke volumes. Clearly, she hadn’t known the history between her boyfriend and the reporter . . . until now. She clenched her jaw and shrugged. “Sure. Why not?” She climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door.

  Walker picked up his bag and tossed it into the back of the Escalade with the others. Well, this should be interesting, he thought, climbing into the back.

  ***

  “Sorry to crash your road trip like this,” Walker said two hours later as they waited their turn outside the rest stop bathroom while Erik and Faith looked for food in the convenience store.

  Grace danced from one leg to the other. At that moment, she didn’t care about their untimely intrusion or the fact she’d been forced to listen to Faith’s southern accent, sounding sweet as pie as she flirted with Walker in the backseat over the ear-bleeding sound of Erik’s country music. All she cared about was emptying her bladder. “No you’re not. It was your idea. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Whatever,” she said, not looking at him.

  “Don’t whatever me. You’re pissed, I can tell.”

  “No, not pissed, just have to pee. There’s a difference.” Oh, come on. What the hell was that lady with the kid doing in there? She knew she shouldn’t have offered to let them go first.

  “Really have to go, huh?” he asked with a smirk.

  “Yes.”

  “So, I guess I shouldn’t do this,” he said, grabbing her and tickling her sides.

  Oh no. “Walker, stop!” She wiggled as she laughed, on the verge of panicky tears. “Seriously, I’ll pee on both of us.”

  “Hm, gotta say, never had a woman pee on me before. I might enjoy it,” he said, still tickling her.

  “You’re disgusting . . . stop!” she shrieked, desperately struggling to get away from him. She’d only packed one other pair of shorts. The last thing she needed was to have to change her shorts, especially with Miss Perfect in the vehicle.

  His hands were relentless at her sides as she flailed, desperate to get away. “I’m not stopping until you agree to stop avoiding me.”

  “I’m . . . not . . . avoiding you!”

  “You are, and I think we should talk,” he said as he continued to tickle.

  Oh God. Any second now . . . “Fine, okay, we’ll talk.” At that moment she’d agree to anything to make him stop.

  The men’s washroom door opened, and she made a beeline for it, half dragging him along. She stumbled inside and to her shock, he followed her in, arms still around her as he closed the door and leaned against it. “What are you doing? Get out—I have to pee,” she said, slightly breathless from the tickling. Her heart raced at their close proximity in the confined space of the washroom.

  “You’re in the men’s room,” he murmured against her lips. “I’m allowed to be in here. You’re not.”

  “Well, one of us needs to get out,” she stammered, pushing against his chest in his tight black T-shirt. He pulled her closer to him, and their eyes locked. Heat coursed through her, and sweat formed on her neck and the small of her back in the sweltering space.

  “Kiss me, Gracie,” he said, holding her tight.

  “No. Are you insane? My boyfriend and your . . . whatever she is . . . are just outside.” Oh God, she hoped Erik hadn’t seen him disappear inside with her. “And I need to pee.”

 
“Kiss me, then I’ll go.”

  “Why do you want to kiss me? You have a beautiful woman out there falling all over you. It’s absolutely nauseating, by the way,” she grumbled.

  “I like it when you’re jealous.”

  “I’m not jealous. I’m happy for you. Now please get out.”

  “One kiss . . . then I’ll leave and I promise it won’t happen again. I just need to know . . .”

  “Know what?” she asked, her gaze locked with his and her hands pressed against his chest to create a tiny gap between them.

  He didn’t answer. Instead he gripped her hips and pulled her even closer. His lips landed on hers and his tongue separated them. She pushed against his chest, struggling to escape his arms. He had to stop this. She was in a committed . . . The thought vanished as his hands slid around the back of her to grip her ass and he lifted her slightly off of the ground, deepening the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth, frantically, urgently, and she was gasping for breath when she was finally successful in pushing him away. “Stop it! Are you out of your mind?” she demanded, taking a few steps away from him.

  “That’s the answer I was looking for,” he said, stepping toward her and touching her lips, his intense gaze full of desire and need locked on hers.

  “What answer?” Had there been a question? She didn’t know anymore. In that instant she’d almost forgotten everything—the fact that she was bursting to pee, the fact that their “significant others” were outside, and the fact that Walker Adams would eventually break her heart again, given the chance.

  “That you want me as much as I want you.” He reached behind him for the door handle, and disappeared outside. “Now you can pee, but later, we need to talk.”

  ***

  Walker tried and failed miserably to remove the guilty smile from his face as he returned to the Escalade moments later. The kiss had been nothing short of amazing. Gracie Andrews obviously still carried a torch for him, despite her claims that it had been a silly childhood crush. She was lucky they weren’t alone on this trip and it had happened in a rest stop bathroom, otherwise he might not have been able to stop at a kiss.