Page 51 of About That Rule

CHAPTER20

THERE WERE TWOweeks left in their marriage, and thoughts of it consumed most of Samantha’s day. Even while she was flying across the country for another one of their scheduled visits, there was an emptiness inside her. Their new relationship status was sure to implode on them, and the worst part, was even though they knew it, they weren’t in the slightest prepared for the pending destruction. Every other visit, there were highs and lows. When they took out the required court-order, would they be able to go back to normal?

Did she even want to go back to normal?

Not to say his dick was a game changer, but after they had sex, it seemed impossible to forget. Like, what kind of man was able to deliver that many orgasms? Of course, Nate was sexy as hell, smart, and goal-oriented, but now she knew he was also a beast in the bedroom.

No way was she ever going to forget that last part.

The marks from his mouth and the bruises on her hips from how passionate they were together had just recently disappeared. Kind of sad because she’d loved the memory on her skin, but it didn’t matter. Nate had marked her, and now she had to deal with the aftermath.

Her plane landed with turbulence, and it was like a foreshadow of all the questions running through her head. They were wild and shaky about her future with Nate. Once she was off the plane and had her bag, she went outside to catch a taxi to Nate’s place. He had a work meeting with a new client so he couldn’t meet her. Which wasn’t a big deal. In fact, this was more like when she would visit before they’d gotten hitched. She wondered if he’d scheduled the meeting just to get them back on the friendship track.

After the twenty-minute drive, Samantha arrived at his apartment and went inside. The first thing she noticed were the yellow roses. That was new. She laughed, prepared to tease him for his Martha Stewart décor when he got home—until she read the handwritten note next to floral arrangement.

Sorry I couldn’t get you from the airport—this client is like a needy child. I promise to make it up to you.

This was yet another change. So much for Nate putting them back on the friendship track.

He’d never done romantic gestures like this before. She liked it. She leaned in to sniff the flowers, smiling the whole time. Her phone rang. It was Charlotte.

“Hey, sis with a different mister and miss,” she answered her cell.

Charlotte laughed. “I like that one. What are you doing tomorrow? I was going to see if you wanted to grab dinner. I could see what Gabriella is doing too. Maybe a girls’ night?”

“Sick of the old ball and chain already?” Samantha teased.

“Doubtful. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of him.”

While Charlotte said the words about Rafe, Samantha was green with envy. She was so thrilled her friends were happily married, she just wished she could say the same for her and Nate.

“But that doesn’t mean I just forget about my friends,” Charlotte added before giggling. “I pretty much had to demand Rafe and I have a monthly night with friends that doesn’t include each other. It was kind of sweet this morning when he was stomping his foot about it.”

Samantha couldn’t contain her laughter. “I seriously cannot picture Rafe stomping around.”

“You’d be surprised,” she said coyly. “He doesn’t like it when he doesn’t get his way.”

“Is that just a general male thing?”

“Maybe. I’m also a grump when things don’t go my way, so who knows.”

“Yikes. Is now not the best time to tell you I can’t do a girls’ night this weekend?” Samantha responded with a joke.

“Are you serious?” Charlotte groaned. “What are you doing?”

“Currently, I’m standing in Nate’s living room,” she said, treading lightly. Not that it made a difference. Her friend wasn’t going to easily drop the subject of her current location.

Charlotte hummed. “That’s interesting. You’re at Nate’s house. What is this, like, the fifth time in the past few months? Is this for a frequent flyer reward or something?”

Samantha was about to defend herself but Charlotte kept talking.

“Is this the same Nate who dragged you out of my wedding reception, never to be seen again that night?”

“I can explain. It—”

“And isn’t this…” Charlotte interrupted her, “the same Nate we grew up with? The same Nate you swear you’re only friends with?”

“Yes!” Samantha exclaimed. “Yes to all of it! It’s not a big deal, I’ve just been visiting a bit more.”