Breaking the Rules

by Tinthia Clemant

  She angled her head to the side. “I guess we’re both duds.”

  “I don’t think so. In fact, I’m convinced we’ll be great together.” He moved around to her side of the car and lightly touched the bruise on her arm. “Has Justin done this kind of stuff before?”

  She swung away from his hand. “Just so we’re clear: what Justin does or doesn’t do isn’t your business.”

  “I’m making it my business.”

  “Well, don’t. If you feel like pretending you’re a white knight, go rescue some other damsel in distress.”

  “Are you admitting you’re in distress?”

  “Just drop it, okay, St. John?”

  He had no intention of fulfilling her request. Either she’d tell him, or he’d get the information out of Justin. One way or another, he would find out the truth, and if it was as he suspected, Justin would pay. First, St. John needed to deal with her shutting him out. “Want to hear another one of my rules?”

  “Does it come before or after the one about love?”

  “After.”

  “How many rules do you have?” Shannon asked.

  St. John ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “Enough to keep me out of trouble. Do you want to hear the rule or not?”

  “Fine, enlighten me.”

  “Don’t shut me out; I might never come back.” He enjoyed her chewing on the corner of her lip. “Any questions?”

  “I don’t get how that’s a rule; it’s more like a command.”

  “Forget whether it’s a rule or not. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  Shannon hardened her gaze. “Who said I would want you to come back? I didn’t even ask you to be here in the first place.”

  “You’re doing it again. If I’m bothering you, just say the word, and I’ll go away.”

  “Ha, you keep saying that, but you’re still here.”

  He hoped the look he was giving her said he didn’t want to go anywhere.

  She held out her hand. “Can you just give me the papers, so I can get back inside where it’s cool?”

  He reached onto the back seat and brought out a manila envelope, Chad’s T-shirt, and hat. “Bring them with you Monday night. By the way, you have a great kid. Are you going to do the right thing by him?” The last question hadn’t been planned; it sort of popped out, but he was glad it had.

  “What?”

  He could have sworn he saw sparks flash in her green eyes. There was no way she would be a dud in bed, not with that emerald fire burning inside of her. “I said—”

  “I heard you.”

  “Then, why did you ask—?”

  Shannon tore the envelope from his hand. “I asked because I couldn’t believe what I heard.”

  “Then you should have said that instead of what?”

  “What?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Oh, for…give me those.” She swiped the shirt and hat away from him. “I swear, you seem to enjoy rattling my cage.”

  “What I’m trying to do is give you the combination to the lock, so you can set yourself free.”

  “Skip the metaphors.” She threw the items into her car and slammed the door.

  “You’re the one who uses metaphors. I was just joining in the fun.”

  He expected her to walk away. He’d pushed as many buttons as he could while they were out in public, and he’d given her Chad’s stuff, so there was no reason for her to stay out in the oppressive heat. But he wanted her to. No, what he wanted was to take her someplace isolated where they could pretend they cared about each other.

  “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  Her nasal chuckle failed to sway him.

  “Why not?”

  “Are you kidding? First off, you know I have plans with my friends. And second, I’m done with men ordering me around.” She stepped close, her chin raised. “Here’s one of my rules, St. John, and you’d be wise to remember it: if you can’t ask me nicely, don’t ask me at all.”

  He couldn’t contain his grin, which seemed to enrage her even more. “Sorry, it’s just that you’re becoming as much a rule person as I am. Okay, here goes: please, will you have dinner with me tonight?”

  “I can’t, but thanks for asking. And thank you for Chad’s things. We’ll be at practice Monday night. Have fun on your date.”

  “It’s not a date. It’s a meeting.”

  “Whatever. Have fun.”

  “I might be in Manchester later. Maybe I’ll run into you.” Begging wasn’t his style, but here he was, on the verge of dropping to his knees.

  “What’s up with your bar?” she asked. “Dee said it’s a dive?”

  He laughed. “She would. Jimbo, Marty, and I own it. We bought it about ten years ago. The city was going to tear down the building, which would have been a shame. It’s a historic landmark.”’

  She raised the corner of her mouth. “So it is a hookup place?”

  “You could call it that. Let’s just say nobody goes there for the chicken wings. It’s certainly not a place for you if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “You have no idea what I’m thinking, St. John.”

  “But I want to.” To hell with trying to decipher her thoughts. He wanted her, maybe even needed her. “Sleep with me, Shannon.” When her eyes widened, he said, “Will you sleep with me, please?” Obviously, begging wasn’t off the table. “For Justin’s sake,” he quickly added. He could tell he’d piqued her interest.

  “Justin?” she said. “Let me get this straight. When asking a woman to sleep with you doesn’t work—”

  “It always works,” he interjected.

  “Not this time it isn’t.”

  “Not yet, but I have faith. And, yes, I’m asking for Justin’s sake if that will get you into my arms.”

  She didn’t say anything, and he held his silence, choosing instead to watch as a bead of sweat eased down the side of her neck. He’d love to be doing the same thing with his tongue. When the drop pooled near her collar bone, he licked his lips and said, “I bet he’s already told the whole town about us, so why not make him an honest man? I mean, we’ve been standing out here for God knows how long, and people have been walking by, and wouldn’t you like to find out if we are duds together?”

  Her laughter stirred his blood.

  “I wasn’t joking.”

  “Are you trying to save my husband’s reputation or your own?”

  He closed what little distance remained between them. “Neither. I’m asking because I want to feel you under me. I’m asking because I want to taste you.” He grinned as she nibbled on her lip. Hopefully, he’d be doing same exact thing very soon. “I’m asking because if I don’t make love to you, I’ll go crazy. Plus, you told me if I asked nicely I’d get my way.”

  She thanked him again for Chad’s things and strolled across the lot.

  Watching her hips sway made him groan. This wasn’t going at all like it usually went. Typically, he’d find someone who sparked an interest and be done with it. He never had a desire to talk to any of them, outside of ordering drinks or asking for a name. So why, for fuck sake, did he want to spend time with this confused woman?

  He got in his car and started the engine, directing all the air-conditioning vents his way. His shirt was soaked through, but he didn’t have time to go home and change. As it was, he was going to be late for his meeting—which made him sitting in his car with the gear shift in park all the more peculiar. Just because Baldos was an ass didn’t mean she wasn’t still his wife. There were plenty of other women he could bed, women who didn’t come with a load of baggage. He would be smart to avoid her.

  What he needed was a stiff drink and to get laid. Maybe get hit in the head with a brick. Anything to clean her out of his system.

  His phone vibrated, and he glanced at the text.

  Dee, Peg, and I are starting at Elements. We’ll be arriving around 8. Game on.

  Good thing he didn’t pass anyone as he was pulling out o
f the parking lot, or they’d have thought he’d gone insane from the goofy grin he was sporting.

  Chapter 17

  “Love demands all, and has a right to all.”

  Beethoven

  Barefoot, with her shoes dangling from her fingers, Shannon slowly ascended the steps leading to the second floor of her house. She entered her bedroom and tossed the sandals into the back of the closet. After peeling off the confining jeans, she threw them down the laundry chute. If only she could toss away the night as easily. The ride home had soured the whole evening, courtesy of Dee’s lecture about the divorce, shouted over Peg’s drunken singing from the backseat of the car.

  ‘There are worse things than staying in a loveless marriage,’ Dee had started without warning. ‘When Chad is having trouble in school or starts taking drugs, you’ll wish you’d stayed with Justin.’

  ‘Are you kidding me?’ she’d shot back. ‘Now you have Chad shooting up in some dark alley in Manchester? What’s next—he’ll turn to prostitution?’

  Since their referee was inebriated, they’d shot barbs and accusations back and forth until Dee had pulled into the driveway and summed up her real feelings. ‘I’m scared for you and Chad.’

  “I’m scared for me and Chad too,” Shannon whispered now as she removed her makeup.

  Jasper jumped on the bed and did his usual routine of circling around before curling up. He settled himself in the spot near the second pillow, rested his head between his paws, and sighed.

  Shannon sighed as well. “My feelings exactly.” Once under the comforter, she lifted her phone to reread the text Justin had sent after she’d called to say goodnight to Chad.

  Kids watching a movie. Your boyfriend is here slobbering over the new bartender. I made sure he won’t be bothering you anymore. You can thank me tomorrow.

  She double sighed. The night had worked out as it should: she and Chad got to be with their friends, and St. John got to charm someone into his bed. All was right with the Universe.

  Things would have been so much easier if St. John hadn’t blown her off. She’d be lying in his arms, the glow of sexual bliss on her face, happy that she’d found a safe haven to hide from Justin. But, nope, she was in her king-sized bed with her dog, and St. John was snoring with his face planted on the woman’s Brazilian-waxed crotch. Good for him.

  She didn’t need him. She didn’t need any man. She just needed to make a stinking decision about her marriage.

  The rich timbre of St. John’s voice penetrated her thoughts. ‘Are you going to do the right thing by him?’

  She grumbled at the intrusion. “You don’t get to have an opinion because you blew me off for a hot bartender.”

  She checked her cell phone, frowned, and dropped it on the nightstand before switching off the light. Soon—hopefully, please make it so—she’d be sleeping in a different bedroom. Oh, please goddess, not a condo. A house. Like the one in her vision. Small enough to keep her from getting lost in its rooms…and her fears.

  Divorce Justin, don’t divorce Justin, leave, stay—her brain was a ping-pong ball. She threw back the comforter, sweeping Jasper along with it, and entered the bathroom.

  “Make a decision,” she scolded her reflection. “But know one thing: if you stay with Justin, you’re a fucking coward.”

  The bluish mark encircling her arm was one of a million reasons to leave, but walking away was so stinking hard. Why?

  A noise outside caught Jasper’s interest, and he took off down the steps.

  She yawned and crawled back into bed; he’d let her know if she needed to get involved. It was most likely a raccoon scratching around the deck.

  In bed, she allowed her vision to fill her mind. The quaint house looked perfectly suited for the life she imagined for her and Chad. She knew the black truck would soon appear, and St. John would step from it. The whole scene played like the end of some romantic movie, but it didn’t answer the questions she had, like how the frig had she gotten away from Justin? Had she walked out? If so, what had been the proverbial straw to push her over the edge?

  Maybe her vision was nothing more than wishful thinking. Her conscious playing tricks on her subconscious.

  Shrugging under the comforter, she let the vision play out. The black truck arrived, and St. John emerged. He came to her and opened his arms; she entered them and allowed his lips to find hers.

  The rattling of her cell phone against the bedside table burst through the scene, her first thought going to Chad.

  Are you still awake?

  With her heart beating inside her eardrums, she scowled at the screen. Who did he think he was, texting her at midnight? She had a good mind to turn the phone onto mute and… But then if something happened to Chad… Oh, for crying out loud.

  Yes, she texted back.

  Want some company?

  The guy was definitely one of a kind. He’d just screwed one woman and was now hoping to get laid again. He gave double dates a whole new meaning, although she’d had a few of the same back in her day. But that wasn’t the point. She’d been in her twenties and he was almost—what? How old was he? Forty? Fifty? Anyway, that didn’t matter. She would be damned before she became St. John’s second conquest of the night.

  No, she typed.

  We need to talk. I promise to keep my hands in my pockets.

  She responded with a loud, “Yeah, right, talk my ass.” It wouldn’t matter if his hands were tied behind his back; if he came into the house he wouldn’t stand a chance. We can talk via texts.

  Not a good idea and delete this text when we’re done.

  What’s the magic word?

  Please.

  Why?

  Because your husband is out for blood.

  What else is new?

  Not much, except he and I had an interesting conversation tonight.

  Where?

  At the lodge. I’m sorry I didn’t meet you. After giving it some thought, I’ve decided to stay away.

  You’re funny. You pursue me like a dog in heat and when you might have a chance you back down.

  Funny, and correction, you would be the one in heat.

  Excuse me?

  Female dogs go into heat, male dogs are just horny.

  I guess that makes you a male dog.

  Guilty as charged. Can I come over?

  I don’t know, can you?

  Are you always so difficult to get along with?

  Guilty as charged. Why bother? You blew me off. Face it, you lost what little chance you had.

  I’d like to explain my reason for not showing up.

  Save it. You think you can get whatever you want.

  Not true. I try my damnedest but sometimes I fail.

  I doubt that.

  It’s true.

  Name one time.

  I want to make love to you but I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.

  The pulsing of her blood moved from her ears to her groin as she reread his last string of words. There was a reason he hadn’t met her at Elements that went beyond him physically not driving there. Even if she was disappointed, she shouldn’t alter the course of fate. Go home, St. John. Chad is here.

  You’re doing it again.

  What?

  Lying? I get lied to all the time. It’s part of doing business and dealing with people. I’d like to know one person who doesn’t lie to me. Could you be that person?

  I’m not lying.

  Still lying.

  No, I’m not.

  Still lying. You’re not paying attention.

  Excuse me?

  I already told you I saw Justin at the lodge. In fact, I played several games of pool with him. He’s not very good. I won a ton. And, before you give me another excuse, I saw Chad too.

  Okay, so he’d caught her. Big deal. She still wasn’t giving in.

  Please, can…may I come over, he continued. I’d really like to talk to you and I don’t want to do it through a string of texts. And, again, delete everything wh
en we’re finished.

  No.

  Shannon.

  Fine, but you can’t park in the driveway.

  I’ll park at the entrance to the development and walk down.

  Fine.

  She jumped from the bed and swung on her robe. A soft tapping filtered through the open bathroom windows. What’d the guy do, fly? Or had he been outside the whole time? She ran to the Great Room where Jasper stood at the sliding door, his tail wagging.

  “Some attack dog you are.” She held Jasper’s collar and unlocked the door, stepping back to put distance between her and the man she wanted to ravage.

  St. John entered, closed the door, and remained in place. He still wore the suit pants and white shirt—gold watch too. But instead of the slicked hair of earlier, the dark blond strands were strewn every which way, and his eyes revealed an exhaustion she’d yet to see in him. And his leg-weakening grin was gone.

  She wanted to run to him, give him a reason to smile again. Take him to her bed and make him forget whatever had darkened his blue eyes. But, like some Mexican standoff, they remained in their respective spots, neither speaking, both staring.

  One of them had to break the stalemate, so it might as well be her. “Go ahead. Talk.”

  He bent and scratched Jasper’s head before he said, “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t understand.” She moved to the couch.

  “I shouldn’t have talked to you as I did,” he said, remaining by the door, Jasper at his feet. “I should have said no to Denise the other day when she asked if I would pick you up. But in my defense, I didn’t know it was you at the park.”

  “So, if you had known it was me, you would have said no?” She hugged one of the pillows on the couch. She wasn’t sure where his remorse was coming from, but she had a sneaking suspicion her soon-to-be-goddess-please-ex-husband was at the heart of it.

  His chuckle lightened the mood a fraction. “No, I would have still said yes.”

  “Then what is all this about, St. John?”

  “Look, Shannon, you’re married, and I don’t… Listen, name something, and I’m sorry for it.”

  “I get it. You can stop with the apologies. Does this sudden wave of guilt have to do with you seeing Justin tonight?”

  “In part. May I have something to drink? Water, anything?”