Rule Breakers Fall Hardest (The Boys, #6)

by Micalea Smeltzer

“I’m not going to ask you again,” I bite out through clenched teeth. “Take. Your. Hands. Off. My. Wife.”

“Did you have a thing with Cash?”

“What?” “You heard me.” I squeeze her hand a little too hard as I try, unsuccessfully, to choke back my frustration. “Ow.”

“No, I never had a thing for Cash.”

“He wasn’t the brother I was interested in,”

“Roman, then?” She whips around and rolls her eyes. “What difference does it make who I had a crush on years ago? I was a teenager.” “It matters to me,” I bite out, taking a step closer so we’re eye to eye.

Lowering her hand, she spins and continues up the wide staircase. I stay behind, but only because the view is annoyingly nice.

I think I just killed my dad.

“Stop touching my wife, Cash.” Huffing, I roll my eyes at my so-called husband. “Stop being a dick. How about that?” Daire pinches the bridge of his nose. “Excuse me for not liking the way my brother is pawing all over you.”

“You pinky promise like before?” Like before? My stomach tumbles at those words. He nods, holding out his pinky. “I pinky promise.” “No takebacks.” “None.” Finally, she wraps her little finger around his.

“She’s going to be calling you for your tux measurements soon,” I mutter to Daire. One side of his mouth quirks up. “I’ll be waiting for the call.”

My brother has a pet name for my wife? I don’t like that. Not one bit.

Cash has his hand on Rosie’s cheek. And I see fucking red.

“Maybe you really do care about her.” I have to fight the urge to take another swing at him. “What does that mean?” He says nothing, just picks himself up from the floor and turns to Rosie. “It could’ve been us.” And with that, he turns and exits the kitchen.

“Why the fuck is Cash so into you? Did you hook up with him?” She wrinkles her nose. “God, no.” I clench my hands into fists at my sides. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She arches a brow, cocking her head to the side. “Your brother is hot, but no, I’ve never slept with him. Is that clear enough for you?”

“He’s into you.” It’s a statement, not a question. “So?” she counters, kicking her feet up on the island and leaning back on the stool. “I’m married to you.”

“You are so fucking hot and cold, Daire. I can’t read you. I turned him down because you’re the one I always had a big, dumb crush on. Not him, or Roman, or any of your brothers. Just … you. You fucking idiot.”

“I know you hate me as much as I hate you. I thought the stupid crush would go away when you … never mind.”

“But it didn’t. Don’t think for a second I agreed to this hoping it would turn into something real. I know it won’t. So don’t worry about me and my feelings or your stupid rule.

But no, I’m not interested in your brother, even if he likes me. He wouldn’t be you, and I’m not cruel en...

“Growing up, Cash always had heart eyes for you. You were oblivious because⁠—” “Because I was always looking at Daire.”

I ignore his pleas. “Daire, please stop. This is ridiculous.” I make the mistake of tilting forward and reaching for him. The instant I do, he’s swinging his arm back to punch Cash, but he catches my face instead.

“Rosie, Rosie, Rosie.” He chants my name, cupping my face gently with both hands—his gloves long gone from the tussle with his brother. He grazes a thumb around my eye, sending a zap of pain through me. “Shh,” he soothes, ducking closer. “Fuck. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s already bruising.” Daire brushes his fingers ever so carefully over the sensitive skin around my eye. “I’m so sorry.”

Daire sighs, his entire body deflating. “If he wasn’t interested in fucking my wife, I wouldn’t be fighting him.” Peter shakes his head. “Some fights aren’t worth picking. Rosie is your wife. You already won.” He gives Daire’s shoulder a squeeze.

“I don’t know why I feel so territorial,” he admits, lowering his head.

“I always thought you’d be a part of this family.” My chest tightens at the sentiment, and I shift in my seat so I’m facing Peter. “Really?” “I thought the two of you would go the more traditional route, but it was inevitable.” “Me and Daire?” Surely the hit to my head has given me a concussion. There’s no way he means Daire. He laughs quietly. “I questioned it there for a while, when you guys fell out of touch, but I had a gut feeling you’d eventually find your way back.”

“He pity married you, you know.” I roll my eyes. If anything, I pity married him, but go off, sis.

It hurts that girls can be so vicious to one another when we should be on each other’s sides.

They can kiss my ass.

Is it selfish that I want that? A guy who’s obsessed with me? A love that’s real?

All I’ve ever wanted is to love and be loved in return.

Finally, Daire emerges. At the sight of him, my breath catches. His blond hair is damp from the shower and a shade darker than normal. Denim blue eyes fix on me almost immediately. Face serious, jaw set, he stalks toward me. I hold my breath, and my heart thumps against my sternum. What the hell is with the look?

He loops his arm around my neck and pulls me in with so much force I practically fall into his chest, fingers splaying over his shirt. Half a heartbeat later, his mouth descends on mine. Unprepared for the kiss, I freeze the second our lips touch.

Every time he pulls back slightly, I expect him to sever our connection, but he just dives back in, practically devouring me.

He presses a tender kiss to the top of my head as I cling to him, steadying myself. The gesture is far too sweet to have come from the guy who doesn’t like me.

“I missed you, babe.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “Longest game of my life.” What is he playing at? “I missed you too.” “I have a few things to finish up here, and then I’ll see you at home.”

He leans in, and in a hushed tone that’s still loud enough to be overheard, he says, “Be wearing that black lacy set I love so much.” He kisses me again, so quick my head spins,...

A couple more guys exit the locker room, and one of them—Luke—takes an extra-long look our way. It’s not me he’s fixated on, but Bertie. I’ve never heard the guy speak more than five words at a time. He’s a scholarship student, and from what I’ve heard, a bit of a bad boy. But he’s a damn good hockey player.

“I might not know exactly what those girls were saying to you, but I can guess. I wanted to show them you’re mine.”

“I saw how uncomfortable you were.” He curls his hands into fists on the quartz countertop. “I didn’t like that.” “It’s just jealousy.” I shrug, going for dismissive. “They want you.” “Doesn’t matter.” He picks up the knife and chops the stem off the broccoli. “I dragged you into this mess. They might not know that, but it doesn’t matter. They have no right to treat you the way they did.”

The next thing I know, his hands are on my cheeks, tilting my face up so I’m forced to look at him. “Listen,” he says, his face a mask of pain. “I know I’m not the best person at times, but I won’t stand for anyone being shitty to you like that. You and me? We’re a team now. You hear me?” He holds tight, his eyes bouncing between mine. With a sniffle, I nod.

I think I missed her.

“Can I…” I extend my arms. “Can I hold him?” She smiles. “Yes. He’s yours.” He’s yours.

I wait with bated breath for him to cry or scream or try to get away from me. Instead, he settles against me, his tiny hands gripping the fabric of my shirt, and watches me with those eyes that already have the power to gut me to my core.

Rosie stands at my elbow, leaning in and running a gentle finger over his head. “He’s so cute,” she says, her tone full of reverence. “He looks just like you.” I’m racked with nerves, because holy shit, I’m holding my son. Even so, I grin at her. “You think I’m cute?”

I’ve been fighting hard for him, and he doesn’t even know it. Months. It’s taken me months and hours upon hours of work to even get to hold him. Fuck Danielle.

“I knew he was mine the moment I saw him. It was at the beginning of the school year. Classes had just started and I saw … I saw his mom on campus with her husband. She was showing him off to some other professors. It was like gravity pulled me closer. I knew even before I looked at him that he was mine.”

Closing my eyes, I inhale his scent and let the calmness that comes with having him so close wash over me. He smells perfect.

“Look at you.” Rosie smiles at us. “You’re a natural.”