“Well, I’m a plus-size model, so the stereotypes that you’ve probably heard don’t really apply to me.”
His eyes drop down to my body and I start to heat from more than just the kitchen as he peruses my curves.
I like the attention. I missed having his eyes on me, having him close by. I should be used to people staring at me or ogling me being a model, but it’s different when it’s Rule doing it. I don’t feel like a piece of meat or like another model. I feel truly beautiful.
No one has looked at me the way that he does. If they had, maybe I would have given dating or boyfriends a chance. It never seemed worth it though. I was always traveling, always so busy, that I never wanted to add anything else to that mix.
Rule would be worth it though.
I can feel it.
“Can you text Arlowe and let her know that I can’t meet her for dinner?”
“Sure.”
He takes out his phone and I watch as he types out a short message.
“I wish that I could see her more. Can she come over here? Is that safe?”
“I’ll arrange something. I’ll have to have Wesley or one of her brothers bring her over. That won’t look so suspicious or out of the ordinary.”
“Thanks.”
He nods, shoving his phone back into his jeans pocket.
“Where are your plates?” I ask him as I move to drain the spaghetti.
He grabs two from the cupboard next to the stove and I nudge him out of the way to grab the garlic bread from the oven.
“Dig in,” I tell him with a smile.
He waits for me to fill my plate first before he does the same and I follow him over to the small kitchen table.
“Did you just move in here?” I ask him as he takes his first bite.
“Yeah, a few months ago when I moved to town.”
“Is that why you don’t have much in the way of furniture?”
“Kind of. I went from living in a small apartment with Wesley to this place. I just haven’t had the time to fill it.”
“How’s Wesley? I haven’t talked to him in a while.”
He smiles as he thinks about his friend, and it’s obvious that they’re close.
“He’s good. Happy to be back on the ranch.”
“I’m sure. I was always a little surprised that he left and joined the military. He seemed to love it there so much.”
Rule shrugs and we both eat in silence for a minute.
“Where are you from originally?”
“California.”
“Really? Where at in California?”
“Santa Monica.”