Read The Rules for Free Online

across his forehead. “Fine. If you don’t have an incredible time on our date, I’ll leave you alone. Deal?”
    “There are no stipulations. One time, that’s it. Take it or leave it.”
    Gavin frowned at her. Then a slow, triumphant smile came over his face, and Terri shifted uneasily in the seat, wondering if she should retract her offer. “Where do you want to go?” he asked.
    She hadn’t thought that far in advance and couldn’t think of any place at the moment. “Um…a nice restaurant. You pick.”
    He stared out the window and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. After some thought, he said, “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you. Are you working tomorrow night?”
    “Yes, but I’m free next Saturday.” Now that she’d agreed to go out with him, a tiny part of her already looked forward to the evening out.
    “No plans with Drake?”
    “Seriously?”
    “All right, all right, Dagwood.”
    Terri rolled her eyes.
    “I’ll pick you up next week.” Gavin opened his door and then looked over his shoulder at her. “Don’t move.”
    Remaining in place, Terri’s eyes followed him as he walked around the SUV to her side. She knew the routine now and appreciated this treatment. It made her feel special.
    Like a lady.
    Gavin opened the passenger door and she hopped onto the asphalt. He didn’t step back, standing very, very close. Her skin reacted to the close proximity of his—tightening, tingling. A glimmer of heat entered his eyes and she waited, breath suspended.
    Gavin handed her the keys and walked away. Disappointed, Terri stood in place for a minute. She didn’t know what to expect, but she hadn’t expected him to simply walk away.
    She trailed him around to the driver’s side. “Thank you…for everything,” she said.
    “My pleasure.” A lazy smile crossed his lips and filtered into his honey-colored eyes.
    “I guess you’ll need my number,” she said slowly.
    “I would love to have it.”
    She gave him the digits. “You’re not going to write it down?”
    Gavin tapped the side of his head. “I have a great memory,” he said, and recited it back to her. “So you’re really going out with me next week?”
    “I said I would.”
    The corners of his mouth turned upward, a sign of genuine pleasure. He opened the driver door and she climbed into the seat.
    “Good night, Terri Slade.”
    “Good night, Gavin Johnson.”
    He shut the door, patted the hood, and sauntered off.
    As she watched Gavin wind his way between the cars to his own vehicle, Terri recalled the promise he’d made in the salon when she told him she wouldn’t give him her number.
    I’m not leaving without it.
    Sure enough, he hadn’t.
     

Chapter Six
    Terri exited her clean vehicle and closed the door. The Jimmy glowed under the lights of the parking lot of Stack Home Apartments. Most of the windows of the ten buildings were illuminated. The three-story brick building where she lived contained only efficiency apartments and she knew a few of her neighbors, but for the most part, everyone kept to themselves and it was fairly quiet.
    Trudging up the walkway, she yawned and rolled her shoulders. She entered the building and saw Mr. Raymond, a white-haired old man who moved in six months ago with a little Chihuahua named Max. Every evening before the sun went down, no matter the temperature, he and Max went for a walk around the complex. Mr. Raymond explained to her once that the exercise was good for his stiff joints.
    He pulled mail from his box and one of the envelopes fluttered to the ground.
    “I’ve got it.” Terri hurried over, swooped up the envelope, and handed it to him.
    “Thank you, Terri.” His face beamed with a friendly smile.
    “You’re welcome. How are you doing tonight, Mr. Raymond?”
    “Good, good. My grandson’s coming to visit me next weekend. Got himself a new girlfriend he wants to introduce me to.” He winked.
    “Uh-oh, must be serious.”
    “I think