Page 27 of New Rules
The fact that she was so blasé about it did not sit well with me. “Does that happen a lot?”
She turned to face me fully, and then a slow, wicked grin spread across her face. “Not after I punch them.”
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it, and I shook my head. This woman was something else entirely.
Not one to let this opportunity pass, I leaned in close to her, my voice dropping just enough that it was meant for her ears alone. “You seemed to like it when I touched you the other night.”
I pulled back slowly and watched. Her breath hitched—just slightly, but I caught it. The faint flush that crept into her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed either.
She steadied herself quickly, though, and then smiled. Playful but controlled. “Temporary insanity. Obviously.”
Corey lingered nearby, and when I glanced over, he looked…off. Not angry, exactly, but definitely not thrilled, and his mind was calculating, processing.
He finally worked up the courage to say something, though. I watched him move to Tammy and speak low so that only she and I could hear him, though I don’t think I was his intended target.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the camera?”
Tammy sighed. “I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret, but I had only put it up right before the burglary happened and hadn’t had a chance to tell everyone.”
He didn’t look convinced. And something told me this wasn’t just about the camera alone. He still thought they blamed him for the burglary—even if not directly, he was the one to lock up that night.
He didn’t press her, instead going back to his customers and filling their drinks.
An hour later, things had slowed down enough that Corey told her to head home. She was off tomorrow and closing the following two nights, so she didn’t argue.
She was quiet as I walked her out to the parking lot. I wasn’t sure if that was because she was tired or because she was reflecting on the situation with Donald.
“You ever take a few nights off?” I asked.
She snorted, gesturing back to the pub behind her. “And miss all this excitement?”
I grinned and then lowered my voice as we arrived at her car. “Guess I’ll have to give you something else to be excited about.”
I took a step closer to her, slowly leaning down to give her time to pull away. Instead, she defiantly stood there and didn’t move an inch as I bent my head and gently pressed my lips to hers.
God, she tasted just as good as she had the first night. Tammy’s full lips were soft, lush, and addictive. I could spend hours kissing this woman and never tire of it. She opened underneath me, and I slid my tongue inside as I brought my hand up to the side of her neck. I stroked her cheek with my thumb as I wove my other fingers into her hair.
I begrudgingly pulled back because I knew if I didn’t stop myself, I’d have to drive back to my hotel with a raging hard-on.
“Night, Tammy. Sweet dreams,” I whispered before giving her another short, chaste kiss.
I made it to my car and turned back to see her opening her door with her fingers pressed to her lips.
Yeah, she felt it too.
I wasn’t sure if that was good or dangerous.
NINE
RAY
I stepped up to Tammy’s door and knocked.
I had texted to give her a heads-up, but she hadn’t responded, so I was unsure if she’d seen it.
She opened the door with a smirk on her face. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“I brought extra reinforcements today,” I told her, holding up the giant cardboard coffee carrier as well as a bag full of muffins, Danishes, and egg sandwiches.
