Page 32 of Unwritten Rules

“BDE? What the fuck is BDE?”

“Big dick energy, Mils. Have you been living under a rock? Anyway, thirdly – I hope you didn’t hit pause on sexy times to take this call, because if you did, I don’t think we can be friends anymore. I’m not even kidding!”

Unable to contain myself any longer, I erupt into a fit of laughter, barely able to speak.

“I’m winding you up, Els. I’m staying at his place and taking a bath in his bathroom, alright? The rest was your brain kicking into overdrive.”

“Well, Jesus. You can’t blame me for jumping to conclusions. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the unrequited love of Mila DeMarco’s young life.”

I scrape my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head and then step into the hot bath, lowering myself slowly underneath the bubbles while scowling at my phone on the counter as though Eliza can see my face.

“No need to test your dramatic tones on my ears. I already know you’re the ultimate drama queen.”

She giggles, knowing straight up that’s entirely untrue. Eliza is an unbelievable actress, but in her personal life, she’s utterly drama-free. Allergic to drama, as she always says.

“Well, answer me this then. Why did you transfer to Walden-Forbes if not for the beauty of a certain English professor’s face and the pull of his BDE? Hmm?”

I lean my head back against the smooth marble, my brain frantically flipping through reasons I can offer her that don’t hint at the truth behind my flight from the city, finally settling on one that isn’t a lie.

“London is lonely without you. And without him. Walden-Forbes was easier to transfer to than a school in New York. Plus, with my nephew arriving any day now, I wanted to be close. In case my brother and Liv need me.”

Close enough to visit, but far enough that I won’t have to see his face.

“Oh, Mils. I’m sorry. I miss you so much. I promise I’ll be better at calling and Facetiming. I—”

“Stop it. You’re a busy woman. I just wish you’d let me help you…”

I try one last time. Maybe this time she’ll accept the offer.

“Okay, I have one question you need to answer, and I’ll consider letting you help financially. But only if your answer is no.”

My heart leaps in my chest, and I sit forward, sloshing water over the sides of the tub. It splashes unceremoniously onto the black-and-white tiles of Nate’s ensuite.

“Hit me.”

She chuckles down the line. “I know what you’re about to say, Mils, but I’ll ask the question anyway, just for shits and giggles.”

I furrow my brow in confusion whilst waiting for her to speak again.

“Have you checked out all of that glorious BDE in those sexy-ass too-tight, leave-nothing-to-the-imagination pants he’s so fond of?”

My shoulders slump in defeat, and my head falls back against the marble tub once more with a soft thud. Els giggles softly over the line, knowing full well that she’s got me there.

The man is just too damn gorgeous for words. It would be eye abuse to not let my peepers check out all of his fineness!

“Well, the answer was never going to be no, was it?”

CHAPTER 11

NATE

Upon finding Wetherby asleep in his cottage nestled by the grove of oak trees I’d loved playing hide and seek in with my mother as a boy, I mentally mapped out my jog and set off for the Lake House.

While I’d lived here, my favourite route had been this one, taking me past Wetherby’s cottage, through the grove and further into the woodland beyond. And despite not having run here in eight years, my feet easily move in the direction of the lake on the estate’s property.

With muscle memory in full effect, I allow my mind to wander to the Hellcat sharing my bed tonight.

Fuck, you’re playing with fire, Hawthorne!