Safe Bet (The Rules #4)(51)

Her words stick with me the rest of the night. I’m floored that she told me such a private detail about her life with Drew. More than anything, I can’t help but compare her situation with mine.

Is she right? Does it really matter how we met? She and Drew are proof of that, if her story is true. And why would she lie to me about something like that? Look at how much in love they are. Maybe someday I could have that kind of love, too.

With Wade.

Luckily enough, paparazzi are waiting for us when we exit the restaurant, and all of us pose like one big happy family. There is no denying that Drew and Fable are together. They hang onto each other like they never want to let go, and the way they gaze into each other’s eyes…ugh. And swoon.

Wade is perfect too. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and hauls me in close, both of us beaming as the photographers keep taking endless photos. The corners of my mouth start to quiver, I’m smiling so much, and I can’t wait for it to be over. We give them a two-minute photo opp before Drew’s yelling that’s enough, it’s time for us to go.

So we do.

I’m quiet when we drive back to Drew and Fable’s house. Owen and Chelsea are riding with us, Owen and Wade talking nonstop while I sit in the passenger seat and stare out the window at the city lights as they pass by. My mind is full of outrageous thoughts, all of them dealing with Wade. I want to talk to him. Tell him how I feel, though I’m still a little unsure about that.

I start scrolling through my phone, looking up articles about myself and Wade and the Naughty Nanny story. I stop at one particular article, going completely still when I read what’s written.

Some local gossip blog claiming that Drew and I are still together, and Wade is nothing but a distraction from the real story. All the details remind me of that rude reporter who approached me after the game.

Wade suddenly rests his hand on my jean-clad knee. “You’re quiet,” he murmurs. “What’s going on?”

I glance up to meet his gaze. “I think I found the article written by that jerk reporter.”

Wade’s expression hardens. “What did that asshole say?”

“Nothing much that hasn’t already been said.” I glance down at my phone screen once more. “It’s a local blog.”

“With a huge reach?”

“Not really. Not that I can tell.”

“Then it’s no big deal.” He says it so easily I can almost believe him.

“You really think so?”

“If we don’t let it bother us, it can’t bother us.” He smiles. “After all, we know the truth, right?”

His easygoing attitude is the complete opposite of his anger from just a few days ago. And I prefer it. He’s right. We shouldn’t let it bother us. Who cares?

Besides, we know the truth.

He’s still smiling at me. “You had fun tonight?”

I nod. “Definitely.”

“Mind if I stick around the house for a while and talk with Owen?”

“Of course, I don’t mind. Though I’ll probably just go to bed. I’m exhausted.” I yawn right after I say that, covering my mouth with my hand.

“Right. I’m pretty tired too.” The secret smiles we share have everything to do with the reason why we’re so tired. We kept each other up most of last night. And while I’m all for a repeat performance, I really do need to get some sleep. It’s back to work with the kids tomorrow and they run me ragged even after a full night’s rest.

“Maybe I’ll sneak into your room later,” Wade says when I don’t respond.

“You want to sneak into my bed?”

“Only if you don’t mind.”

With him, I’d never mind.





It’s past one in the morning before I’m finally headed upstairs to Sydney’s room. All the women and children immediately went to bed. Drew joined Owen and me at first, the three of us shooting the shit and talking about football. But after a while, the old man got tired and left us alone so Owen and I could talk. And it was good. I told him everything that had been going on these last couple of months, and he filled me in on his life too. Not just the general, happy-type stuff, but all the bullshit too. All the hard stuff.

The real stuff.

When I could barely keep my eyes open I realized I needed to get some sleep. Fable had offered me to stay in one of the other guest rooms when we first got back, though she winked at me when she said it. I think she knew I planned on sleeping with Sydney tonight, and that was her way of giving me permission.

Not that anything’s going to happen tonight. I’m too damn tired. All I really want to do is sleep.

I sneak into her room just like I told her I would, closing the door softly behind me. I shed my clothes and shoes until I’m in just my underwear, setting my phone on the bedside table just before I pull the covers back and slip into bed with Sydney.

She stirs in her sleep, but otherwise, no response.

Pulling the covers over me, I scoot closer to her, drawn in by her warmth. She’s downright hot and so soft. Plus, I don’t think she’s wearing much, which is a bonus. I slip my arm around her waist and snuggle her close, spooning her from behind. She has on a tank top and a pair of panties. That’s it.

All thoughts of sleep fly right out the window, my exhaustion gone. Maybe we can mess around for a little while. I let my hands roam, one cupping her right breast when I feel her shift, her perfect ass brushing against my front, making me hard. She’s awake.