Breaking Emily's Rules. Heatherly Bell

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      Here was the problem, because there was a problem with every handsome man from here to Poughkeepsie. Of course he was married, probably with a wife and kid at home. She’d call that strike, one, two and three. If this guy was single, then Emily was the tooth fairy.

      A veil went over his eyes and he stopped smiling. “New in town. And I don’t like bars.”

      “You’re married.”

      He stopped moving, like she’d slapped him. “I would be at home with my wife if I was married. And we wouldn’t waste time dancing. Or if we did, it would be the horizontal kind.”

      Emily cleared her throat and tried to dispel the image of Stone dancing. Horizontally. “So you think we’re wasting time here?”

      “Not if I do this right.” He grinned and twirled his finger in a strand of her hair like he had every right to do it.

      She stared at his finger like she would cut it off, but this seemed to have no effect on him. “What don’t you like about bars?”

      He was probably an alcoholic and it was too hard to be around booze. Stone was up to bat, unaware he was about to strike out.

      “People. Noise.” He threw a glance in the direction of the band.

      “That’s music.” She glared at him.

      “If you say so.”

      “Where did you learn how to dance?” For a man who hated country music, he knew his steps.

      His eyes closed for a brief second. “Long story. Let’s just say it involved a dare, a G-string and a six-pack of beer. I’d rather not say any more. What about you? Looking for something? Or someone?”

      “What makes you think I’m looking for someone?” Heavens, her shield had slipped.

      “You’re kidding. Every guy in this place has his eye on you.”

      Not possible. She whipped her head around, wondering which one of them had fooled her. Stone, at least, was obvious. “No, they don’t. I went to school with half of these guys. They only want to dance with me.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “And you. What about you? Who gave you subtlety lessons, because you should really get your money back.”

      “Hey, I’m only trying to protect you. From the others.”

      Emily managed to crack a smile. “My sister and I come here whenever we want to dance. That’s all.” She wanted to spell it out for him because he didn’t look like the kind of guy who was used to hearing the word no from a woman. “And do you have to look at me like that?”

      “Like how?”

      “Like I’m a steak and you’re not a vegetarian.” Maybe if he’d stop looking at her like she was a T-bone, she could stop sweating. Already, a trickle had slid down the inside of her thigh straight into her boot.

      “True, I’m not a vegetarian. But I don’t bite unless I’ve known you for at least a month.”

      Someone get her the smelling salts. “A whole month?”

      “Yep,” he said with a grin as the song ended.

      The longest dance in history had ended. Time to get Molly home. Besides, if Emily didn’t get out of his arms, the rest of her resolve might weaken. Maybe all she needed was one night with a man like this to help her forget the way Greg had humiliated her, and this guy would do it, no question about it.

      Too bad she wasn’t that kind of girl. Rules were in place for a reason. “I need to get my sister and get her home.”

      “Are you sure?” He lifted her chin so it was inches away from his lips, and his warm breath reached her.

      She wasn’t sure of anything as she stared into those eyes. They were kind eyes, and not the eyes of a man on the prowl, which made him all the more confusing. She could kiss him, if she was a different woman. If she wasn’t Emily Parker, currently researching her family tree, and if she was willing to forget who she was for a second, she could. Maybe. Might even let him kiss her. In another life.

      It wasn’t going to happen tonight. Emily pivoted out of his arms and turned in time to see the back of Molly’s head.

      Leaving the bar with Thomas.

CHAPTER TWO

      “MOLLY!” EMILY HEADED after her sister. No way would this happen under her watch. Molly had obviously had too much to drink and ignored her promise. Either that or she’d lost her ever-lovin’ mind.

      A man was the last thing Molly needed right now. She used men to distract her from the real work she had to do on herself. Sooner or later Molly would have to face the mess she’d left behind.

      Emily stomped through the couples on the dance floor, and they parted like the Red Sea. She thought she heard some of their whispers:

      There she goes, and she’s mad. Boy, I tell you, she almost looks like Molly right now.

      I mean, there’s no way you can keep it inside for so long. Before you know it, blast, you’ve got a disaster on your hands.

      Yes, sir, Emily’s about to let someone have it. Should we go watch?

      She threw open the bar’s side door and spied Molly about to get into Thomas’s car. A few quick purpose-filled strides and Emily stood next to Thomas’ old beat-up Ford.

      “Where are you going, young lady?” Emily grabbed Molly’s arm.

      “She’s going home with me.” Thomas bowed. The smell of tequila nearly knocked Emily off her feet. He sure wasn’t driving her sister, or anyone else.

      “No, she’s not. She promised me. Right?” Emily pulled at Molly on one side, and Thomas pulled on the other.

      “Sorry, mister, but I have a sister.” Molly swayed a bit to the right, demonstrating her own level of intoxication.

      “Why you gotta be such a killjoy?” Thomas tapped Emily’s shoulder hard enough to make her wince. “If you don’t want to have any fun, that’s your business. But don’t ruin it for Molly.”

      “You should take your hand off her right now,” a voice said from behind Emily.

      Emily turned. All the planes of Stone’s face were set in hard lines, his jaw rock hard. He looked different. Still dangerous, but in a whole other kind of way.

      “What did you say, buddy?” Thomas sidled up to Stone, clenching a fist in the air.

      “The lady is not going home with you. And you’re not going anywhere until you sleep it off.”

      “That’s right. Thank you.” Finally, someone had come to her aid instead of the other way around.

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