Against the Rules
Copyright © 2020 Isabel Lucero
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written consent of the author except where permitted by law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events depicted in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks are not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
If you have obtained a copy of this book without purchasing it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please delete the file and purchase a copy legally. This novel is for your enjoyment only and may not be resold or given to other people.
Published by Isabel Lucero
Cover Design by Robin Harper at Wicked by Design
Formatting by Isabel Lucero
Edited by Kay Springsteen
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Epilogue
Preview of On the Rocks
Also by Isabel Lucero
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1
“To the last weekend you have before school starts!” Royce says, raising a shot glass.
“To the last time you won’t be having to grade papers over a weekend!” Cill adds, holding his own glass.
“Fuck it. To just getting drunk and having fun,” Midge says, then tosses her head back and downs her drink.
I crack a grin then swallow the amber liquid Royce poured.
My brother Royce is working behind the bar at King’s Tavern—the place he owns. Between him and Cillian pestering me to come out with non-stop texts and phone calls, and then Cillian’s last-minute drop-in at my house, I caved and decided to have a good time.
Midge and London—Cillian and Royce’s girlfriends, joined the fun, but they’ve been coming to King’s Tavern on Saturdays for a while now, so it’s nothing new to them.
“All right, that’s only one shot for Elijah, and he hasn’t even finished his first drink yet. We need to get at least two more shots in him, or three more drinks,” Cill tells the group.
“Are you trying to get him drunk?” Midge asks.
“Uh, fuck yes! I can’t remember the last time I saw Elijah drunk. He’s always Mr. Responsible. You gotta let loose, man!” he says, shaking my shoulder.
I guess it has been a while since I’ve allowed myself to have more than one or two drinks, especially out in public.
I finish my drink and push it across the bar. “Fine, get me another.”
“Hey, Royce!” Cill yells, getting Royce’s attention.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I pull it out and check the screen. As soon as I see that it’s Lorraine, I slip it back into my pocket.
“Girlfriend?” Midge questions with a smirk.
“Not even close,” I reply with a small smile.
Lorraine was the last woman I slept with, and it’s been a couple months since then, so maybe tonight I’ll call up one of my go-tos, as I refer to them.
I get how that sounds, but I’m used to being a bachelor. After Jenn left me, I decided maybe a relationship just isn’t what I’m supposed to have. There’s tons of female staff at the college who are interested, so I have a good selection of women I go to when I’m needing some physical attention.
They understand what it is. Well, most of them. There have been a couple who’ve tried escalating things into a relationship, but I don’t feel passionate about them in that way. A night together is good for me. Maybe another night or two down the line, but that’s about it.
Some women are fine with the no-strings-attached thing, but Lorraine, for example, is one who keeps trying for more.
“Hey, there’s a chick who keeps staring at you,” Cill says, coming behind me and draping his tattooed covered arm over my shoulder. “She’s by herself at the other end.”
I glance down the length of the bar and spot her instantly. She stands out against the crowd. Her thick, curly hair flows past her shoulders. Her full lips shine from whatever gloss she coated them with, garnering my attention. She’s wearing an olive-green T-shirt that looks amazing against her mocha colored skin, but there’s an innocence in her face that keeps me from heading straight to her.
“Dude,” Cill deadpans. “You’re seriously not gonna go over there?”
“You wanted tonight to be about getting drunk, and I agreed to come out. I didn’t agree for you to play cupid.”
Midge walks up. “Who are we talking about?”
“Your boyfriend is trying to play matchmaker in a bar.”
She laughs, looking up at Cill who just shrugs. “Who’s the girl?”
Cill tells her who it is, and Midge does her best to glance in that direction without being obvious. “Oh, she’s cute!”
“She’s been staring at him for like thirty minutes,” Cill adds.
She shrugs and changes the subject. “Let’s get another shot.”
Now that I know she’s there, my eyes keep traveling in her direction. She catches me and gives me a tiny little smile as she pushes her hair behind her shoulder and leans forward, resting her arms on the bar.
I get a small glimpse into the ample cleavage she has, and my cock twitches when she bites down on the side of her bottom lip.
After I swallow down the shot Midge ordered for all of us, I start thinking it might not be such a bad idea to venture out of my go-tos.
Royce makes his way back to our end of the bar and
