The Rule Book

by Sarah Adams

“You weren’t even close to easily replaceable to me.”

Like staring staring. His eyes unashamedly run over every inch of my pink-bikini-clad body.

“Stop thinking so much and have some fun with me, Nora.”

“Because smoothing away any part of your gorgeous body would be a travesty.” Oh my.

“Derek. Can I ask you a personal question?” “Anything.” He kisses my other collarbone, making it very difficult to focus on my words. “Is that a letter N tattoo on your arm?”

“Yes,” he says simply. Huge monarch butterflies launch through my stomach.

He studies my lips and I think I’ll remember this moment and the way the sun feels and the waves break and the look of utter affection I see in Derek’s eyes for the rest of my life.

“Yes,” he says. “I got it for you.”

“The week after we broke up. Or more specifically—the day after you saw me kiss that woman outside my apartment.”

“Because regardless of how it ended, I needed a way to prove it existed.”

“I was scared of forgetting what we had. The tattoo was a way to admit to myself that you were important to me and would always be a part of me no matter how much time passed.”

Probably because this is not a sweet kiss. Not like the accidental brush of lips we exchanged in Derek’s kitchen. From the second his mouth covers mine, it’s consuming. It’s years and years of longing, and missing, and needing.

I wanted her. Still want her. Will likely spend forever wanting her.

“Because I regret ever letting you go in the first place.”

“Because I’m not convinced that what we had is really over between us. Because when we kiss, it feels right. Because when you smile at me my world feels whole. And I want to use this week where you’re not my agent and I have no other obstacles in my way…to woo you.”

“Nora. What do you want? Do you want to try us one more time while we have the perfect excuse to do it? Or do you want me to forget I ever said anything, and we can do as you suggested and double down on the rules? Either way, you’ll still be my agent when we get back to L.A. Your answer has no bearing on that.”

“That look was the result of me wanting to rip your clothes off with my teeth and do very dirty things to you right here on this table when you talk like that.”

“You look edible in this pink.”

“You were rolling a bright pink suitcase, wearing tennis shoes, black leggings, and a white hoodie that said Sesame Street is my happy place. Your hair was darker then, and you wore it in a ponytail. I remember you smiling over your shoulder, and even from twenty yards away you stopped my heart.”

Everything about her is perfect.

“She’s my wife. And if it were up to me, I’d have you bleeding all over this bar right now for laying a single finger on her that she didn’t invite. When I let go of you, you’re going to apologize to her. And then you’re going to leave this bar, and if you ever treat another woman like that again, I will know, and I will hunt you down…and for legal purposes, I’m not going to tell you what I’ll do to you. But I’m sure your imagination can fill in the blanks.”

He’s powerful clothed. He’s unearthly naked. My skin warms and tingles as every cell in my body reaches for him.

“I only lost because I want to show you in a physical way that I’m intentionally and completely vulnerable to you, Nora. That I’ll gladly lose to you every day of my life—because for me, the prize is just being near you.”

“And the first day I saw you again in the conference room, I was livid”—he growls that word—“that you were still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life.”

“I’m at your feet, Nora. If you want me, I’m yours.”

“I don’t want to rush. Tonight I just want to savor you.”

“Thank you for loving me back then, Nora.”

“It was the right thing for us to have time apart, but god, I’m so lucky that we still ended up back here somehow.”

“I’m sorry I said I couldn’t be your friend. It was only because I didn’t trust myself to not want this if I got close to you again.”

“Where the hell is Nora?” Nathan asks with something close to a glare. Like maybe I forgot her in the car or something.

“I didn’t go on the honeymoon with you as a favor. I stayed married to you because I’m selfish and I was glad to find any excuse I could to be near you as much as possible. So no…I don’t want an out. Do you?”

“I watched every single game you played with Colorado. I’ve also gone to every home game you’ve played for the Sharks. Not because I loved the Sharks—because I loved you. Every. Single. Day.”

But I’m not afraid anymore, and I want you to know that I’m so completely in love with you.”

“I don’t want an out. I want this—me and you—for real if you’re up for it.”

“You’re a gemstone. Rare and unique and vibrant. And anyone who can’t see that doesn’t deserve to have you in their life.”

“If it wasn’t obvious before, I love you too. I love you more than you love cereal on ice cream and more than the sun loves to fry your pretty skin.”

“You deserve the whole world, and I’d try to give it to you, but I think you’ll enjoy fighting for it yourself more.”

“You’re so lovable, Dere-Bear.” “That’s honestly such a bad nickname.”

“And maybe we could even…coordinate a calendar schedule.” I moan theatrically. “You’re so dirty.” “You haven’t even seen the beginning of it, Ginger Snap.”

“I’ve missed you all these years, Nora. My friend. My love.”

PENDER, LET ME SEE THAT TIGHT END.

“First, her name is Nora Mackenzie Pender now, but don’t be mistaken. She might share my name, but she owes her success to no one but herself. My role in her life has nothing to do with how hard she’s worked for years and years to get where she is now. And I swear to god, anyone else who dares question my wife’s integrity or work ethic is going to have to deal with me, but more terrifyingly, you’re going to have to deal with her. Don’t be fooled, she can be ruthless as hell.”

“I could never bring myself to get rid of it. And now I know it’s because we were always going to find our way back to each other.”