Best Dating Rules: A Romantic Comedy (The Best Girls Book 2) (27 page)

“I can’t believe she did it,” said Emily. “She doesn’t seem that mean. Kind of ditsy maybe, but not cruel. Are you sure she was even at the bar that night? I didn’t see her.”

“You didn’t see her?” Spencer asked incredulously. “She’s the one who invited me to go. She’s the one who took the picture of you cozied up to Denning.”

“What picture?” asked Emily. “Nobody told me about a picture, and I never cozied up to Asher Denning.”

Spencer pulled out his phone and showed her a photograph where she was indeed leaning against Asher. She felt a surge of nausea and blinked at sudden tears.

“I don’t even remember doing this. I’m so embarrassed. I wish you’d get rid of this picture.”

“He can’t,” said Steven. “We might need it as evidence some day.”

“Okay,” Emily sniffed. “I guess she really isn’t a nice person. I don’t see why you ever liked her.”

“I didn’t ever like her,” Spencer insisted.

“But you dated, didn’t you?” She pinned him with narrowed eyes. “According to Best Family Dating Rules?”

“Definitely not. I never kissed her. I never bought her anything. I told you that before. That hike we all went on together was the closest we’ve ever been.”

“Really? But she told me—”

“She lies. Why would you believe her over me?”

Anne put her hand on Emily’s arm. “From experience, I’ll tell you it was easier to believe Steven was in love with someone else than it was to believe he was in love with me.”

Emily’s face was scalding hot. Spencer had never used the word love. Grace had said she thought her brother was in love with Emily. But he hadn’t said it. Would he ever say it? Would she believe him if he did? She dared a sideways glance at Spencer. His face was equally red. What did that mean? Did he really love her? Or maybe he didn’t, and he was embarrassed her mom had mentioned it.

Anne broke the awkward silence. “Uhmm... Are y’all planning to go to Sam and Tanner’s wedding? They’re planning a big bash. They’re going to have dinner and a live band and dancing.”

“That sounds so fun. I got my invitation today. We’re going together, right Spencer? I mean... If we’re still dating in six weeks.”

“Of course we’ll still be dating in six weeks,” he pouted. “We can go, although I don’t really dance.”

“Oh,” she tried to hide her disappointment. She loved dancing—all kinds of dancing, not just ballet. She’d hate to sit around while everyone else was dancing. But she didn’t want to hurt Spencer’s feelings, so she didn’t say anything.

Her mind wandered as her mom continued to chat excitedly about the wedding, bragging about her part in playing matchmaker between the two. Her eyes rested for a moment on Spencer. He raised his arms to stretch, and she watched his muscles flexing through his shirt. She felt a familiar stirring as she admired his form, realizing she’d never seen him with his shirt off, although she’d seen him in a tank top. She wondered how his back would look if she could actually see the muscles. What would his chest look like? What would it feel like? Why hadn’t they ever gone swimming before? She should suggest it.

“Emily? Are you in there?” asked Anne.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking... about uhmm... Charlie. What did you ask me?”

“I asked if you’d heard from Charlie this weekend?”

“Well, she called me Friday night. She was a little upset about something that happened with Josh.” She gave Spencer a stern look, and he had the grace to look away.

“Is she still giving Josh the stiff-arm?” asked Anne.

“Yes, but he’s been pretty persistent. She still thinks he’s too much of a player to ever change.” Emily looked at Spencer, raising one eyebrow to get her point across.

“He’s pretty depressed about it,” said Spencer. “He mopes around all the time, and he quit going out to bars altogether. And he evidently follows Grace and Brad around like a lost puppy.”

Emily couldn’t help feeling sorry for Josh, but he wasn’t the first guy to pine for her sister. Maybe she’d put in a good word for him with Charlie, although it probably wouldn’t make a difference.

“But she starts class in a couple of weeks, and she’s pretty excited.”

“I still don’t see why she won’t let me pay her tuition. It’s ridiculous.” Steven muttered as he stabbed at his stuffed chicken breast.

“It’s her pride,” explained Anne.

“
Pride
. If you ask me, you Best girls have way too much of it.”

“We should go swimming,” Emily blurted without preamble. Then her face flamed. She couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Spencer without a shirt on, and the idea burst out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Anne and Steven stared at her in confusion, but Spencer smiled, flashing his dimples. “Great idea. I was thinking the exact same thing.” His eyes wandered briefly down from her eyes before he forced them back up again, and she felt a little shock. Maybe he
had
been thinking the exact same thing.

Spencer was having a great day. Lunch had a few uncomfortable moments, but making plans to swim with Emily made everything else worthwhile. Although he wasn’t allowed to kiss her, at least he’d be able to feast his eyes on her body. Of course, this meant other guys could also see her, but hopefully there wouldn’t be any other single guys around. Steven had offered to let them swim at a hotel owned by Gherring Inc.

He’d also decided he had to learn how to dance before the wedding in six weeks. He saw the disappointment in her eyes when he admitted he couldn’t dance. He might be able to fake it if it was only going to be fast dancing. He could sway a bit and watch Emily dance. But Sam and Tanner told him to expect all kinds of dancing, including waltzes and tangos. So he was planning to ask around and secretly take dance lessons. He must really be in love, if he was willing to take dance lessons simply to make her happy.

Who could he ask to find a good dance teacher? Josh and Brad hadn’t lived in town long enough. He couldn’t bear the thought of the teasing that would come from his sisters, so that option was definitely out. He thought of his other buddies. Landon might be a good source—he had a couple of sisters that might know of a dance teacher.

“Yo, Bro.” Landon answered the phone call. “What’s up? You going on the hike this weekend?”

“I’m not sure—I’ll know later in the week. But I was hoping for a favor.”

“Anything... Well, as long as it isn’t illegal. Or if you promise we won’t get caught.”

“Nothing illegal. I just need to learn how to dance so I can dance with Emily at a wedding in six weeks.”

“Sorry, buddy. I’d love to teach you, but my dance card is full.”

“I’m heartbroken. But I’d really like for you to ask around, maybe ask your sisters, and see if they can recommend a good dance teacher. I need to learn everything—even ballroom stuff like waltzes, tangos, whatever.”

“Will do. Can I get back to you this weekend? I’m having dinner with the family Saturday night.”

“Outstanding.”

“YackAtchaLater.”

With those plans in the works he turned his mind to more important matters. He needed to buy an engagement ring. He’d determined it was the only way to convince Emily he wasn’t going to move on to another relationship. His plan to earn money parking cars at one of the local hotels would take up most of his spare time, but he wasn’t getting any alone time with Emily anyway. He should be able to save enough for a good down payment on a ring in four weeks.

His other option was to admit the truth—that she was the first and only girl he’d ever dated. But he’d waited so long to tell her, she might not believe him. Besides, it was embarrassing. And he couldn’t help being pleased at her acceptance he was well versed in physical matters. His greatest fear had been she would suspect his inexperience—that she would judge him as inept. So his ego somehow wouldn’t allow him to insist he was unsophisticated and unskilled. No, his best choice was buying a ring.

“I invited Grace and Brad to come swimming with us. That’s okay, right?” Emily had decided she’d be less uncomfortable parading around in a swimsuit if there was another girl along.

Spencer frowned. “I guess. Is Josh coming, too?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Good. I mean, I feel sorry for the guy, but I don’t really want him ogling you in a swimsuit. I don’t really want Brad ogling you either, but I guess he’ll be busy ogling my sister.” Spencer looked a bit ill at this thought. “I may need to beat him up, either way.”

“It won’t be a problem,” said Emily. “I’m only planning to watch; I’m wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.”

Emily couldn’t suppress a laugh. “Ohmygosh! You look like I just killed a kitten. I’m kidding. I’m going to swim.”

He grinned. “Awesome. Let’s go.”

The pool was practically deserted on a Monday night. “This is beautiful!” said Grace. The area surrounding the pool had planter boxes with lush greenery and the pool itself was made to simulate a lagoon, complete with a waterfall. They claimed four lounge chairs and the guys immediately stripped off their shirts and made for the water. Emily had always been a bit modest, but Grace had no such qualms. She pulled off her outer dress to reveal a cute red bikini and raised her eyebrows at Emily as she stood awkwardly by her chair.

“Come on, you can do it. You’re worse than Hannah.”

Emily turned her back to the pool as she shed her shorts and shirt, tugging and pulling to make sure everything was in place. She wasn’t as amply endowed as Grace, and she hoped Spencer wouldn’t be disappointed. She had on a two-piece suit, but had added a pair of short black board shorts over her swimsuit bottom. Convinced she was as secure as she could be while swimming, she turned around and headed to join the others in the pool.

Brad was talking to him, but Spencer couldn’t concentrate on his words. He had watched Emily slowly divesting herself of her garments with her back to him, and it might as well have been a striptease. And now, he was waiting for her to turn around. He must have been holding his breath, because when she turned around, he released it and almost passed out. She looked like she belonged in a James Bond movie. Her legs were long and slim, yet she was firm and muscular from years of dancing. She’d unbound her long brown curly hair, and it fell across her shoulders and down her chest. Doubtless, she was attempting to use her hair to obscure his view of her slim torso, but the hair and the flimsy material was an ineffective shield. She glided, as she always moved, smooth and floating, mesmerizing, to the side of the pool and dipped a single toe into the water.

He felt a slap on the back of his head. “Put your tongue back in your mouth.” Grace laughed.

His face heated at having been so thoroughly exposed in his frank admiration. But the hotness in his face was nothing compared to the fire that burned in the rest of his body. Why had he thought this would be a good idea? Now, he wanted to kiss her more than ever. And not only kiss her lips, but kiss every part of her. He swallowed convulsively. This was like torture, pure agony, to see her and not to be able to touch her. He tried to think of a way they could elope. Perhaps next week...

Emily’s face flamed as she moved toward the pool. Spencer was staring at her, and not in a casual way. He was gaping. She made an awkward attempt to move her hair to cover her chest. She gingerly tested the water, relieved the temperature was comfortable. She hurried to slide into the water and moved to join the other three, relieved at the protective covering of the pool water.

Grace suggested a game of chicken fight. The girls would sit on the shoulders of the boys, trying to push or pull one another off their shoulders. Emily was really glad she’d shaved again right before coming, since Spencer had to hold onto her legs to help keep her secure. She soon became engrossed in the competition and forgot to admire the strong broad shoulders she perched on. She and Spencer had a height advantage, and the first few attacks, she managed to easily leverage Grace from Brad’s shoulders. There was a lot of laughing and screaming and splashing involved.

Spencer thought the guy who invented chicken fight was a genius. He loved this game. Even when he was relegated to the deeper end of the pool to even out the height advantage, he didn’t mind a bit. He had Emily on his shoulders. Her enticing thighs were clutching against his cheeks. He had his hands on her legs, caressing her smooth skin. And it was perfectly acceptable. It was merely part of the game. He wanted to play this game forever. Every day. He swallowed some water as Grace pushed Emily over, her tightly clamped thighs pulling his head under the surface. He didn’t care—it was worth it.

Emily was becoming weary, but Spencer seemed indefatigable. Even when Grace called out she was ready to give up, he slipped underneath her and lifted her out of the water with ease. He must be amazingly strong. He carried her on his shoulders to stand next to Grace who was treading water next to Brad, arguing about the score of the game. She suddenly became acutely aware of Spencer’s fingers on her calves. His fingers shifted slightly as if adjusting his grip, and then slid along the length of her shin sending shivers up her entire spine. She realized her thigh pressed so intimately against his cheek she could feel the roughness from the beard that had but a few hours of growth.