The Rules of Heartbreak: An Enemies-to-Lovers/Next-Door Neighbor Romance (The Heartbreak Series Book 1)

by Brittany Taylor

I stand in the doorway, unsure of how to process what’s happened since Sloan showed up on my doorstep.

  It feels as if she’s challenging me. Her eyes are daring, shifting to an intense dark blue shade.

  Vada is a few feet ahead of her. When she reaches the end of my walkway, she glances over her shoulder with a smirk. “Hope you have a good night, Dallas.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “This place has the best music.” Vada spins around, walking backward down the sidewalk of Sixth Street as she talks to me.

  The street is busy and unlike anything I’ve seen before, not even in the largest cities in Minnesota. Neon signs are perched out front of nearly every bar and club, music blasting through the windows and open doors. The concrete beneath my feet pulsates, and it feels as if my chest is bursting open in the best possible way.

  Austin is full of life, and I’ve only begun to touch the surface by being here tonight. Listening to the music and life surrounding me only solidifies my desire to live in the moment. But despite how thrilled I am to be here with Vada, I can’t help thinking about Dallas. The expression he had when I walked away this morning has been sitting at the forefront of my mind. I was challenging him, daring him to make a move.

  My rules were never meant to be broken and I don’t intend on opening myself up to the possibility of dating Dallas, but I can’t help the nagging prickle in my chest every time I see him, the one that makes me want to step forward, rise up on my toes, and slam my lips against his.

  I already got a few drinks in me at dinner. The pasta and salad I ate acted as a small cushion, absorbing the initial shock of the alcohol hitting my bloodstream. I’ve been riding a buzz for the last half-hour, certain that if it weren’t for the food, I’d be drunk.

  I’m following Vada down the street when I pull my phone free from my purse, reading over my texts with Liam from earlier today.

  Liam: Ugh, I miss you so much and I wish I could explore the city with you. Call me when you get home and tell me everything.

  Me: I will.

  Liam: Promise?

  Me: …yes, Liam. I promise.

  Liam: Listen, I’m just making sure. You never know what can happen. Remember, sis—you’re living in a big, exciting city. Live it up, take a few risks. Not too many though.

  Me: I’ll be fine. Nothing too crazy. I’m having a girl’s night with Vada and then I’m going straight home.

  Liam: Like I said, don’t be afraid to live a little. Rules or no rules, you deserve to have some fun.

  I stare at Liam’s last text, deciding to follow his advice. He’s right. I deserve to loosen up and enjoy myself. I click out of Liam’s texts and continue walking down the sidewalk.

  When I asked Vada if she wanted to go out tonight, it was more of a way to gauge Dallas’ reaction. I wanted to test him and challenge him to offer up any sort of indication as to how he feels about me. He didn’t say much when he was standing on the other side of his door, but he didn’t need to. I’ve come to know the changing expression on Dallas’ face at the sight of me. His hair hovered above his sharp brow, covering his blue eyes. He no longer looked at me with a vacant, careless gaze. He set me on fire the second he opened the door.

  Where Vada and I are now isn’t exactly how I’d pictured our girl’s night. I figured we would hang out on my couch and snuggle in with a little Netflix while we ordered the unhealthiest food imaginable. I should have known she had other plans in store for us. I’ve quickly learned that if you plant an idea in her head, she takes it and runs, covering it in glitter and sparkles. I live for her excitement. I need someone like her in my life.

  My heels click across the pavement as I try to keep up with her. My bare arms brush against the crowd as I weave through them. The red fabric of my dress stretches with each step I take, pulling against the curves of my thighs. The neckline is a bit deeper than I’m normally comfortable with, plunging down well past the center of my breasts. It’s been too long since I’ve worn a dress like this. I bought it after I found out about Cole’s affair. I didn’t intend on wearing it when I first bought it, but I knew this was my comeback dress, the kind you wear when you’re ready to start living again. Maybe this is what Liam was talking about when he said to live a little.

  I raise my arm in the air and quickly snap a picture of myself with the bright neon sign of the bar Vada has brought us to behind me. Vada’s in the background, clearly several feet ahead of me already. I grin, staring back at the snapshot of myself. My cheeks are tinted pink, the colors of Austin’s nightlife swirling in my eyes. I send it to Liam followed by a few simple words, throwing them back at my brother.

  Me: How’s this for taking a few risks? Wish you were here. Xoxo

  I end my text with a simple heart emoji and quickly hit send before shoving my phone back into my purse and jogging to catch up to Vada. She reaches behind her, grabbing my hand as we weave through a crowd standing outside one of the clubs. I remember passing by this place when I was driving through the city, searching for somewhere to eat lunch then stumbling upon Dallas’ bar. We’re only a few blocks away from it, and I find myself wondering what Dallas is doing. Is he thinking about what his sister and I are doing? Does he even care?

  Probably not.

  And neither should I.

  There’s a bounce to her step, one I am happy to see. She hasn’t pulled her phone out since before dinner, but I know there is something going on between her and Colton. He didn’t show up yesterday when they were supposed to watch a movie together, and when we were on our way to dinner, I saw his name flash across the screen of her phone before she groaned as she tossed it into her purse without answering it. She hasn’t pulled it out since.

  “When was the last time you went out like this?” Vada asks. She pulls us past the line outside the club.

  “Um, not since college. But to be honest, I’ve never been to a place like this.” I quickly look around, a flood of bright, neon colors clouding my vision. It’s all too much to take in at once, but she doesn’t allow me to stop long enough to truly appreciate it.

  “You’re in for a treat then.” She quickly pulls us to a stop at the front of the line. “One of the perks of being editor in chief for the city’s big newspaper.” She tosses me a wink before turning her attention to the man standing outside the front door to the club. He’s large with muscles the size of my head. The single word ‘Security’ is printed in the corner of his black shirt.

  “Hey, Joe,” she says.

  “Vada! It’s been a while.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Too long if you ask me.” She grabs my elbow, introducing me to Joe. “This is my friend, Sloan.” She grins. “Just us tonight.”

  “Sure.” He holds his hand out toward the door to the club, not even bothering to check our IDs. It truly is a perk to be Vada’s friend.

  I allow her to take the lead as she takes us deeper inside the club. We pass through a small hallway, and when we reach the end, the room opens up to one of the largest dance floors I’ve ever seen. The walls are blood red, the loud country music beating between them. The pounding rhythm reverberates through my body as we make our way to the back, toward the bar.

  Vada stops in front of it and leans forward, catching the bartender as he passes us. “Two lemon drop shots and two martinis, please.”

  “Sure thing.” The bartender gives her a wink, quickly getting to work on our drinks. Vada spins around and leans back on her elbows. I stand beside her.

  “Martinis, huh?” I ask her.

  Her shoulders shudder with a small laugh. “Too classy?”

  We’re both yelling over the loud music. I shake my head, glad I decided to do this with her. “Not at all.”

  “Good,” she yells back. The bartender places our shots on the counter in front of us followed by two martini glasses filled to the brim with clear liquid.

  Vada hands me one of the shot glasses and holds hers up. I grab mine and hold it up to hers. “To us.”

  “To us
.” I clink my glass against hers and swiftly bring the edge to my lips. The deliciously sweet and sour mix immediately hits my mouth, coating my tongue as I tip my head back. It burns slightly on the way down, warming me from the inside out. I slam it on the counter then wrap my fingers around the stem of my martini glass.

  The dance floor is packed, every booth filled. Even if we were to move, I’m not entirely sure where we’d go.

  Vada takes a large sip of her martini, observing the crowd in front of her. “Men fucking suck.”

  I laugh, caught off guard by her choice in subject. “You’re telling this to the woman who made up rules on dating. I’ve sworn off men for the foreseeable future.”

  Her eyes sparkle under the flashing lights above us. “I think I might just adopt a few.”

  I scoff, not believing her. “Let me guess—does this have to do with Colton?”

  She keeps her focus on the dance floor but gently smiles against the rim of her glass. She arches one eyebrow. “Maybe.” She inhales a deep breath then turns to me. “Tell me, Sloan. How long are you exactly sticking to these rules of yours?”

  “Not sure.” I shrug. “I didn’t put a time limit on it. I think I’ll know when I’m ready.”

  She quirks an eyebrow. “You’re stronger than I am.”

  “I don’t know about that.” It’s true. Most of the time I feel weak, and there have been many moments over the course of the past few months when I’ve considered the possibility that it was my fault Cole turned to Brenna. I worry I was the reason he turned to my best friend. It’s one thing to have an affair; it’s a whole other ball game when it’s with your best friend.

  “You are,” she says. “I’ll ask you this.”

  The lemon drop shot hits me, followed by the martini I’ve been sipping on. Suddenly, the shield of pasta sitting in the bottom of my stomach grows weak. “Ask away,” I tell her, grinning.

  “Now, I know you have your rules and all, but I have to ask—do you have a thing for my brother?”

  I laugh, maybe a little too hard. I try to play off her question as absurd, acting as if I haven’t imagined him every time I’ve touched myself this week, shamelessly imagining my hand was his mouth and my fingers was his tongue.

  I raise my glass, using it to block my mouth and hoping it will hide the redness in my cheeks. “What makes you think I have a thing for him?”

  I tip back the rest of my drink and place it on the counter. I wave down the bartender, pointing to my empty one.

  “Oh, I’ve just seen the way the two of you are around each other. At first, I thought you hated one another. I mean, that’s what you told me before you found out he was my brother. You said he was being an ass to you. But then…” She trails off, spinning around to the bar. She’s finished her drink as well. “I’ve seen the way you two watch each other, the way you look at each other.”

  “I don’t look at him in any way.” I shake my head. I don’t know why I’m trying to convince her I haven’t been looking at her brother any differently. Not only am I already a poor liar, but my inhibitions are also weaker due to the drinks I’ve had.

  “It’s okay, Sloan. I don’t care if you like my brother. To be honest, I like seeing this part of him come out. Even if he doesn’t realize it himself.”

  The bartender places a full drink in front of me. I stare at the clear liquid, wondering how deep I’m in with Dallas if it’s enough for Vada to notice. Not only that, she noticed a change in him too. I know it’s hard for Dallas to show his feelings, and for a moment, I consider that his sister might be an exception to that rule. Then again, she seems surprised to see the change, happy even.

  I don’t know what to make of this conversation. The prospect of there being anything between me and Dallas is conflicting. I don’t want a relationship, but I can’t deny the attraction I have to him.

  My chest begins to swell, my heart rate pounding against my ribs to the beat of the music. The warmth of the alcohol falls over me like a warm blanket, covering all the exposed parts of my body.

  I twist the stem of my glass between my fingers then turn to Vada. “I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  I snatch my purse from the counter and push through the crowd surrounding us. I don’t know where the bathroom is. All I know is that I need a second to breathe. I need to get away from Vada’s interrogation and the overwhelming need for air. I don’t know where to even begin to sort my feelings when it comes to Dallas.

  I have my rules, and if I’m going to stick to them, I know I need to leave Dallas alone. It doesn’t matter if I’ve touched myself a thousand times, imagining his mouth as the one to give me the orgasms instead of my hand. What matters is that I don’t allow my fantasy to turn into reality.

  Looking up from my feet, I finally find a break in the crowd. There’s a long, narrow hallway in the back corner of the club, a bright neon restroom sign hanging above the entrance. “Oh, thank God.”

  I step into the hall and groan, noticing the men’s room is the first door I see. It’s always first. I keep edging my way toward the back, keeping my eye on the door to the women’s. The light dims more the farther back I go, and suddenly I’m covered in shadows. A few women exit the bathroom, laughing with one another. Thinking back on my conversation with Liam earlier, I pull on the zipper of my purse to grab my phone to see if he’s responded to my picture. Even if our conversation did take a serious turn, I hope he’s happy I decided to loosen up and enjoy my night out with Vada. I am enjoying myself, but I can’t help how our conversation took a sharp turn to the right. I never stopped to think that others might have noticed the way Dallas and I have been interacting. Since Vada can see it, it makes me wonder if maybe Colton does too.

  I brush away the thoughts stirring inside me and hope that by the time I get back to her, we’ll be able to move on.

  I’m reaching inside my purse when a large hand wraps around my arm, pulling me deeper into the hallway toward the back. My heart leaps into my throat and chills prickle their way along my spine. I open my mouth to scream, but my voice catches in my throat when I’m pulled around a corner into a smaller area near the back door. I’m then pushed against the wall. A firm body presses against me, towering over me. The pressure of his body is familiar, the peaks and valleys of his muscles melding into me. He presses his finger against my lips, keeping them hushed.

  It takes my mind a few seconds to recognize the two ice blue eyes staring back at me. “Dallas?” My mouth moves along his finger still held against me. He doesn’t attempt to move it, his gaze focusing in on the point where our touch is connected. My heart thrashes inside my chest at the sight of him, or maybe it’s the way he nearly scared the shit out of me just now. Either way, I know his body is pressed against mine, and this time it isn’t because I tripped and fell on top of him.

  “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” he asks. His eyes are narrowed, both fire and ice at war. His hot breath dances across my skin as he slowly drags the pad of his finger across my bottom lip.

  “Excuse me?” I ask him. Heat swallows me whole. I’m angry with him. Angry he grabbed me in the shadows of the hallway, scaring the living fuck out of me. Angry he has the audacity to show up here and ask me such a question.

  “What,” he repeats, this time slower, bringing his face closer to mine, “the fuck…do you think you’re doing?” He drags the tip of his nose along my cheek, inhaling as he moves along my skin. My body prickles at his touch, sending shivers down my legs.

  His mouth stops at the hollow of my ear, and I bite down on my bottom lip, convinced I’m going to have an orgasm just from how close he is to me. His hardened cock presses between my legs. His subtle movements push the bottom of my dress higher up my thighs.

  “What were you thinking going out in a dress like this then having the audacity to send me a fucking picture of you in it?” I bite down on my bottom lip. His thick velvety voice hits my ear. “I wasn’t sure if I should be mad at you or f
ucking thankful.”

  He pulls away from my ear but still keeps his face close to mine. The tip of his nose glides across my cheek before stopping on the side of mine. His intoxicating smell of pecan wood from the restaurant and motor oil immediately surrounds me when I inhale.

  “I didn’t send you a picture.” I swallow, thinking back to when I sent the picture of myself to Liam. I had closed out of our thread of texts before deciding to go back in and must have clicked on Dallas’ name instead. Earlier today, he sent me my work schedule for the week, so his name was at the top of my list. Alcohol truly lowers your inhibitions and skews your judgment. “Shit.”

  “That’s not exactly the kind of picture you send to your boss now, is it, Sloan?” His smirks, clearly amused. He lifts his hand and traces the tip of his finger down my cheek and along my jawline. His other hand grips my hip, keeping me pressed against the wall.

  “I sent it to you by accident.”

  “Bullshit.” He’s quick to answer, flashes of light sparking in his eyes.

  I consider him, thinking about his reaction to me sending him the photo. This clearly was his breaking point. He took my text as a form of permission slip for him to make a move.

  “I knew you were testing me back at my house before you left,” he continues. “Seeing what I would do.” He’s cocky, the arrogance dripping from his irresistible smile. I’m instantly wet for him, the skin between my thighs heating more the longer he’s pushed against me.

  I figure this could go one of two ways. I could break right now and give us what we both truly want. Or I can push him off a little while longer to find out what Dallas’ goals were in coming here. If he wants a relationship, there’s no way I will bother giving him the attention we both crave.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I tip my chin up, challenging him. “Why would I send you a picture like that? I told you I wasn’t interested in dating anyone.”

  At least I was telling the truth then.

  “Is that one of your rules? To not date anyone?” His eyes search my face, following my expression. My heart is still pounding in my chest, yet somehow his stare grounds me.