The Rules According to Gracie Read Online Free PDF Page B

laughed, her jewelery jangling as she threw her head back. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting a little security in life.”
    “It’s an illusion, Gracie. Nothing is secure.” He shook his head, trying to dislodge the memories of his relationship crumbling like an old building. It had happened so suddenly; at least it had felt that way at the time. Looking back, he saw he’d been in denial for a long time.
    “Maybe that’s because you don’t plan things properly. I plan, I think about all the things that could go wrong, and I make contingencies.” She speared another piece of her dinner and chewed thoughtfully. “I wasn’t always like this you know.”
    “Like what?”
    “Concerned with rules and planning.”
    As he’d suspected, she was forcing herself into a mold. For some reason this admission made his chest ache. Who had made her feel so unworthy that she’d squeezed her life into such a neat, risk-free box?
    “Why did you change?” he asked.
    She shrugged and pushed the remainder of her dinner away. “I made a few mistakes and I realized the error of my ways.”
    “You don’t get to say that and then not provide me with an example.” Color him curious. Gracie didn’t talk much about her past and this was like getting a glimpse at a unicorn.
    “I dated the wrong guy. It caused my family and me a lot of pain. I decided I wasn’t going to do that again.”
    Now that was something they had in common.
    “I figured if I put so much effort into choosing the right career and the right apartment, then I should do the same for a partner.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Hell, I put more effort into choosing an outfit for work than I did into choosing my first real boyfriend.”
    “Don’t you think these things should happen naturally?”
    “In a perfect world…maybe. But what if I left it all to chance and then I ended up alone?”
    She looked genuinely stricken and Des had to resist the urge to wrap his arms around her. He was supposed to be here to help her on her manhunt, not to protect her. Not to comfort her.
    “You would never end up alone, Gracie. You’re gorgeous and any guy would be lucky to have you.”
    Her lip trembled for a moment before she plastered a slightly too-wide smile on her face. “I’m done with dinner, what’s next?”
    “Music.”
    Standing, he extended a hand and she took it, her delicate fingers intertwining with his. A short walk from the food area a band played jazz music.
    “And dancing.” He led her to an empty space near the band, where a few people were moving to the music.
    “Oh no.” She pulled back, digging her heels in and leaning away from him. “Rule number four, no dancing .”
    He swayed his hips in time to the music and pulled her close. Someone nearby cheered. “I’m in charge tonight and there will be dancing.”
    “Hell no, I don’t dance for anyone.” Her eyes were wide, pure terror rolling off her in waves. “Besides, there’s no way I’d meet a guy on the dance floor.”
    The fact that Gracie Greene didn’t dance was a crime against humanity. Every single curve on her body looked as though it was made for music, for sambas, for jazz and gyrating. Releasing her hand, he watched as she shrunk back into the crowd, but he kept going, the beat running through his body.
    Dancing was a part of his life in the most fundamental way. He’d grown up watching his Sicilian grandparents dance at every family function, every wedding, every Christmas. Dancing could convey all of the emotions that he couldn’t string into a sentence. His body communicated better than his mouth ever could.
    More of the crowd joined in, but he kept his eyes on Gracie. Her luscious, cherry-colored lips were open, her eyes wide as she watched him. She inched closer, sticking with the group, but as more people moved to the music she gained confidence. Enveloped and concealed by the throng, she came back to him, but resisted dancing.
    “The dance floor is a