Page 32 of Movers and Fakers

“So, rule number two: when you fall in love with me, don’t hide it. At least not for long.”

The amusement drops off her face.

“If, not when, Prince Charming.” The nickname makes me grin. “I’ll be honest about it. And anything else.”

I dip my chin. “And I’ll do the same.”

She relaxes a little. Seeing her at ease almost makes me hold back my comment.

Almost.

“In the spirit of rule number two—”

She throws a pen at me, smacking me in the forehead.

“Ow,” I protest, but there’s laughter in my voice.

“If you say you’re in love with me, I will make you regret it. You’ve said that nonsense before, and those words should mean something, Hayes. Don’t say it unless they do.”

Her pointed look quiets any teasing from me. A few months back I joked with Aurora that I was in love and that’s why I acted the way I did around her. I’m not in love, but I do want to spend more time with her. As much as she’ll give me.

I hold my hands up in a surrender motion.

“Okay, I won’t say it unless I mean it. You have my word,” I promise her.

She nods once. “Good.”

“Any other rules?” I ask her, and she shakes her head.

“None that I can think of.”

“Two is a weird number—we should make a third one,” I say, my heart speeding up at the one coming to mind.

She gives me a look like she’s fed up with me but gestures to go ahead.

“We should be exclusive until this is over.”

Aurora blinks.

“If you’re okay with that, I think it would be best,” I add quickly.

“I already told you I don’t want to date anyone,” she replies slowly. “So, that’s fine with me. You’re the one with a database of women at your disposal.”

I frown at her word choice. Database is a strong word, but I guess she’s not entirely wrong. Between us, I’m clearly the one who has to give up dating. It’s just that I know what’s going to happen now that she’s seen as my girlfriend. I don’t understand how she didn’t have a line of guys before, but now that she’s got eyes on her, there will be guys who think they can treat her better. And maybe it’s selfish of me, but the thought of some idiot stealing her away when I just got her makes my stomach twist.

“Okay, then we’ve got our three rules,” I say instead of acknowledging her comment. “No kissing. No lying. No dating other people.”

“Should be easy enough,” she mumbles, and opens her notebook.

My eyes fall to her pouty pink lips. Not as easy as she thinks. But I’m a man of my word. I won’t kiss her unless she asks.

I stifle a sigh and open my textbook.

“What do you think the chances are of me suddenly knowing everything there is to know about Digital Logic?” I ask.

Aurora snorts lightly. “Slim. Now, let’s work on inferences and logical truth tables.”

We go over the problem for a few minutes. Again, it strikes me how easy Aurora makes it. She’s a good teacher and clearly knows her stuff.