Best Dating Rules by Tamie Dearen (story books to read .TXT) 📗

and think of a good way to ask her.” He hesitated, “So the other problem is my sisters—in case Emily mentions something about me being here Friday night.”

“You’re really lucky. All the girls but Grace were at a movie.”

“And Grace? Was she out with Brad?”

“Nope, he was working Friday night at the hospital, and Grace didn’t feel like going to the movie. I’m afraid she was here Friday night,” said Connie.

“Ughh! I’m going to have to bribe her, and she’s going to make me pay.”

“Sorry, Son.” Joe laughed. “You might as well get used to it. Once you’re married, it seems they spend all their free time thinking of ways to make you pay.”

“Hey,” Connie said in mock outrage. “Watch what you say, you old shoehorn!”

“Hi, Gracie. You look nice tonight.” Spencer stood in the doorway of her room, wearing what he hoped was a sincere expression.

“Oh boy. You want something really bad, don’t you?”

“Can’t a guy compliment his gorgeous sister without having an ulterior motive?”

Grace rolled her eyes.

“Okay. I need a favor. I need you to back me up in case Emily asks anything about Friday night. I told her Papa and I were tackling a bathroom project.”

“I’m listening.”

“I was actually working, but I didn’t want her to know I got an extra job.”

“Why can’t she know you got an extra job?”

“She... She might think it’s because Mr. Gherring doesn’t pay me enough.”

“Hmmm. Nope. That’s not a good enough reason. I think you should just tell her the truth.”

“Gracie!”

“Forget it.”

“Okay... Fine... I’m working to buy an engagement ring.”

“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!”

“You did not.”

“Of course I did. You’re so gone over Emily. When you’re with her I could absolutely sweep you up in a pan and toss you over the wall, and you wouldn’t even notice. I take it you finally talked about it? You told her you love her?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“Spencer! You haven’t told her yet?”

“I’m waiting for the right time.”

“But when I talked to her Monday night at the pool she still thought you were some player who was bound to leave her for another guy.”

“I told her I wasn’t going to leave her.”

“But she still thinks she’s the last in a very long line of girls you’ve kissed and more than kissed?”

“The important thing is she knows she’s the last—the very last.”

“Why didn’t you tell her the truth? That she was the only one? She’d feel a lot more secure.”

His stomach churned. “It’s too late to tell her that now. I don’t even think she’d believe it.”

“Well, well, well! Are you such a hot kisser she couldn’t possibly believe she was your first?” Her voice rose in laughter.

“Maybe I am. It’s not funny.”

“Oh, yeah—it’s funny. But you’re getting yourself in big trouble because of your ego, brother. You better swallow it, and tell her the truth. If you’re not careful, you’re going to have a great big beautiful ring and no one to give it to.”

“Shut it. Okay? You haven’t told me yet if you’ll back up my story.”

When she smiled at him, he could have sworn she’d sprouted red horns and a forked tail. “Of course I’ll help you, dear brother. We’ll discuss your payment at a later time.”

Emily marched in the Marshall’s front door with a plan. Saturday, after she’d admitted to herself she was in love with Spencer and decided to end the kissing hiatus, he’d missed several obvious kissing opportunities. Either he was finally going along with her earlier no-kissing plan, or he’d lost interest. So tonight, she was going to get him alone and figure out what was going on. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him, stopping just short of saying she loved him. But she wasn’t going to say anything at all until she was positive he was still attracted to her. If Grace was right and he really did love her, then surely he would let her know.

She’d even stepped up her game in an effort to make herself a bit more difficult to resist. She had on a cute short skirt with some heels that made her long legs look even longer. Her top was tight enough to accentuate her slender figure although it wasn’t extremely low cut. Why bother with a plunging neckline when she didn’t have any cleavage to show off? She couldn’t compete with Betty Boobs. She’d even added a touch of mascara and some flavored lip-gloss. So her eyes looked enormous and her lips looked... Well, she hoped they looked irresistible.

She was disappointed when Grace met her at the door. She’d hoped Spencer might answer the door alone, and she might be able to use her allure to steal a quick kiss before dinner even started. Since she decided kissing was no longer against the rules, it was almost killing her not to do it.

“Hi, Emily.” Grace grabbed her arm, pulling her into the apartment. She gave her a speedy once-over. “You look great. Perfect, in fact. Absolutely perfect. Let’s go show you to Spencer.”

Before she could think to protest, Grace dragged her into the kitchen.

“Look, Spencer. Emily’s here,” announced Grace, pushing her toward him.

He turned around from the stove where he was sautéing onions and bell peppers. She was pleased to note his eyes widening as he surveyed her legs. “Hi, uhmm... Hi.”

“Good job, Cyrano.” Grace poured on the sarcasm. “I can see why you’re still waiting for the right time.” He glared at her as she departed the kitchen, her laughter trailing behind her.

“The right time for what?” Emily asked when she left them alone.

“Uhmm, she’s just being Grace. Giving me a hard time as usual. You... You look fantastic tonight. I mean, not that you don’t always look great. But tonight you look even more great.” His voice trailed off to a mumble at the end, his cheeks reddening.

“Your veggies are burning, I think.”

He whipped around. “Shoot! Oh, man! I guess they’ll be okay. Not all of them are burned.” He scraped the