Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

“That sounds enticing,” he teased as he slipped in past her. “But we really shouldn’t.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

He laughed. “But a guy can dream, right?”

“Spencer!”

“Okay, sorry.” He didn’t look the least bit contrite as he plopped down on her couch. She sat down next to him, eyeing him cautiously.

“How was the shelter?”

“I have a confession. I wasn’t at the shelter.” She held her breath waiting to hear the truth. “I’ve been playing basketball. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was dying for some exercise, but I thought the shelter sounded better.” He turned his face up to hers, staring with dark brown puppy dog eyes. How could she resist him? He wasn’t losing interest; he only wanted some exercise. She loved his fit body, and she certainly didn’t begrudge him the time he spent doing sports and exercising.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me?” He leaned in and stole a kiss.

She jumped up in alarm. “Oh! You can’t do that. I mean, not here. I mean, not on the couch.”

He bounded up and examined the offending couch. “Why not?”

“It’s against the rules. No unsupported kissing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, the first rule is: No private kissing. That’s one Mom gave us back in high school. That means you shouldn’t kiss in a place where you have too much privacy—like here, in the apartment. But then the backup rule is if you do kiss in a private place, you have to be supporting your own weight. You know—standing up. Not sitting or lying down. So... No unsupported kissing. It’s a rule to help you not have to depend on your willpower to stop, uhmm... to stop doing stuff.”

“Exactly how many of these dating rules do you have?”

“You think they’re stupid, don’t you?”

“No, I don’t. It’s just I don’t know the rules. I know you have rules to define what a date is. Are there other important rules I should know?”

She hesitated, aware of the heat radiating from her face. “There’s one that might be important. It’s save the white parts.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means... well... certain parts don’t ever get a suntan, so they’re white. And you save those for your husband.”

It was his turn to blush. “So you haven’t ever... I mean, you’ve followed the rules?”

By now her face must be glowing red. “Yes, I have. And I intend to keep following them. So, if that makes a difference to you, tell me now.”

“It does make a difference.” He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. “It makes you more special.” He rubbed his hands gently up and down her back. “I’m glad to know the rules, and particularly glad you have a nice little tan on your back and your legs.”

“Spencer…” He smothered her protest with another kiss.

“It’s okay, we’re standing.”

She relaxed and reveled in the heady feeling that always overwhelmed her senses when he kissed her. His lips traveled down to her jaw. As her head fell back he moved his mouth below to the side of her neck. Her knees trembled. Her head was dizzy, and she would have slumped without his strong arms holding her weight.

He halted his assault and hugged her close again. “I think I like these rules, just fine.”

“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. “But this borders on unsupported. Don’t you think?”

“I’ll check with the legal department tomorrow if you want. But we’re definitely standing up.”

“I don’t think the purpose of the rules is to encourage you to test their limits,” she chuckled, regaining the strength in her legs.

“That’s how I’ve always treated rules.” He grinned at her. “It’s too late to change now.”

Chapter Seventeen

“So he quit calling you?” Emily was actually surprised Josh had given up. He’d seemed determined to pursue Charlie as long as it took.

“Well, he still calls once a week and leaves a message, but I don’t answer and I don’t call him back. And now he sends me an email every day and a snail-mail letter once a week.”

Emily smiled. That sounded more like Josh. “And you’re still refusing to even consider giving him a chance?”

“Remember, I don’t want advice—only sympathy.”

Emily sighed. “Okay. But I was only trying to clarify the situation.”

“How can I give him a chance? We live across the country from each other.”

“But you could talk to him on the phone,” Emily argued.

“Sympathy only,” reminded Charlie.

“Fine. I do remember how irritated I was when Spencer kept calling and texting when I was in Texas.”

“Exactly. And if you hadn’t moved to New York, y’all wouldn’t have ended up together.”

“And we still probably won’t be together in the end.”

“You’re planning to break up with him?”

“No. But he’s definitely planning to break up with me, in a year or so.”

“That’s ridiculous. No he’s not.”

“No, really, it’s true. We talked about it. He doesn’t want to commit to anything because he graduates in December and he doesn’t know where he’ll get a job.”

“Emily, he’s in love with you. I’m sure of it. Haven’t y’all talked at all about maybe getting married?”

“No, we haven’t. And he’s really gotten into playing basketball lately. The past few weeks, I hardly see him in the evenings. We mostly do stuff on Saturdays during the day.”

“He’s giving up time with you to play basketball?”

“I know, it sounds bad, but he loves to exercise. I’m trying not to complain about it—I don’t want to be a whiny girlfriend. He’s so sweet when he’s with me. And then there’s the kissing.”

“Are you sticking to the rules, Sister?”

“I am, but it’s not easy. I’ve been thinking I need to maybe be more sporty, so he’ll want to spend more time with me.”

“I think he likes you just as you are.”

“But maybe if I could play some sport, we could play together.”

“Okay, why don’t you try racquetball? You get to play inside—you should like that. And it’s got a pretty easy learning curve. You’ll pick it up in no time.”

“If I could find someone to teach me, I could practice