Page 14 of About That Rule

The bedroom door pushed open, and Nate hollered, “Hurry up and get out here. I’m sick of explaining to everyone how I didn’t design the stupid invitation.”

With that, he went back to the party, not once turning around to glance at her. Some husband he was turning out to be.

Ready to make her grand entrance, she left the bedroom and waltzed into the living room, where about twenty guests were mingling around. People were laughing, eating snacks, and sharing stories about their week. It was the perfect party.

Edison and Tim she had known for years from visiting Nate in the past, so she made her way over to them to say hello. They had both worked for him, so there were bound to be shared stories of how Nate was such a strict boss. It made her smile. She turned to look for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. He had a small patio, so he was probably out there.

“Samantha,” Edison lifted her into a big embrace, “you get more and more beautiful every time I see you.”

“I’m like fine wine,” she said cheekily.

Tim gave her a hug as well. “Looking good, Sammy.”

“I need to come to the city more often if I’m going to get compliments like this,” she said sweetly.

Edison shook his head. “After all these years, Nate still isn’t giving in?”

This was news. Giving in to what?

While she really wanted a glass of champagne, she put it off to badger Edison for more detail. “Care to share more?” She gave him her poutiest smile to make him cave.

Tim let out a deep chuckle. “Please. You and the boss have been dancing around each other ever since we met you.”

“Exactly,” Edison chimed in. “When are you two going to sleep together already?”

“And if it actually isn’t happening with Nate, go to dinner with me.” Tim put his hands together like he was pleading with her.

“Absolutely not.” Nate had found the perfect opportunity to join their conversation. His hand rested on the bare skin of her lower back, giving her an electric chill. Nate touching her was sensory overload. Topping it off was how much she enjoyed it. “Leave her alone.”

“Told you,” Edison mumbled as he grabbed Tim’s elbow and shuffled them away.

Standing alone in a corner of a party was not how she imagined her Saturday night.

“You owe me a drink since you chased off the two friends I have here.” She moved so they were face to face.

The glare he had shot his friends didn’t soften when he looked at her. “Tim was trying to sleep with you,” he clipped.

“And if you didn’t shut him down on that subject, I would have. I wouldn’t sleep with one of your friends.”

His hand reached out, and his fingertips gently traveled up her arm. “What is this dress?”

There went more chills. His touch was addictive.

“Trina Turk,” she blankly named the designer as she struggled with how much she loved his hands on her.

She looked up at him, and he gave her a sinister smile—one she has never said no to in the past because it meant they were going to have fun or cause trouble, possibly both. Now, though, it was promising trouble.

“How angry would you be if I ended the party?”

“Depends,” she sauntered back. “Are you going to give me another option for entertainment?”

“Party’s over!” he yelled, never taking his eyes off her. All the noise stopped, and he shouted out again, “Party’s over. I know it’s only ten, but feel free to take the champagne with you.”

“I paid for that,” she protested.

His eyes darkened. “I promise I’ll make up for it.”

Oh boy, how she was loving every second of Nate changing the dynamic. Something was simmering and with the look Nate gave her, it was about to explode between them. Samantha was burning up waiting for everyone to leave. Why did it feel like it was taking forever? She had no idea what to expect, but she wanted whatever Nate was going to give her.

One by one, all the guests took their time saying their goodbyes and leaving with bottles of her champagne. It didn’t matter. Samantha was seconds away from pushing them out the door. It was like every single person wanted to hug them before they left.

Nate and Samantha stared at each other the entire time, regardless of the people who stopped to talk to them. Their guests must have sensed the buzzing chemistry coursing through them, because in another ten minutes, everyone was gone.

Finally, it was just Samantha and Nate.