Page 29 of About That Rule

Her hands were on her hips, her eyes narrowed. “It goes without saying you’re acting like an idiot.”

The bartender interrupted them to see if they wanted another drink. Without taking his eyes off her, Nate handed his credit card to the bartender and asked him to close out both their tabs. The bartender must have sensed the tension because he didn’t say much, but she heard him call out to their waiter.

“We’re leaving,” he told her through a clenched jaw.

That was it. Two demanding words expecting her to follow his lead. He must have bumped his head on something earlier in the day if he actually believed she was going to up and leave all because he had a piss poor attitude.

“No,” she said flatly, her hands still on her hips and nose in the air.

Nate leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I don’t remember it being a question up for debate. Meet me out front.”

Goosebumps traveled all over her body at his warm breath on her skin and bossy declaration. He took a step back, signed their tab the bartender left on the bar, and walked away. Samantha was transfixed. She had never been into a man who was challenging and possessive. The way things were progressing with Nate, though, she was blushing, and excitement coursed through her.

She shook her head to get back to reality.

Sexy as Nate was, she wasn’t a doormat.

This new game they were playing was dangerous. There was no way she was asking how high just because he’d ordered her to jump. Maybe in his past women did whatever he asked—or demanded, she corrected herself—but not this time.

Keeping her head held high, she marched back to the table.

Charlotte gave her a look like she’d seen the whole interaction. “Where’s Nate?”

“He left.” She sat down, drinking the rest of her wine. She wondered if Roberto had taken note that she hadn’t come back with another drink, but when she turned to him, he was fawning all over Tina.

Rafe finally pulled his attention away from staring at Charlotte. Their cuteness she normally loved, but Samantha had about had it with anything having to do with husband and wife. “I can’t believe he didn’t say goodbye.”

“Jet-lag,” she assured them. While her heart was racing, screaming at her to meet Nate out front, she wasn’t budging. He didn’t get to flip out and order her around to get what he wanted.

Especially since she doubted either of them actually had a firm idea on anything going on between them.

The only thing she imagined they would agree on was things were swiftly changing whether they liked it or not.