The Rules Regarding Gray Read Online Free PDF Page A

patio.”
    “I like how you entertain,” he commented as he looked down at her.
    “I like how you help in the kitchen.” She glanced up at him, smiling.
    They worked side by side—she finely cutting up the herbs, peppers, and garlic and handing them off to him, and he crushing and mixing it all together. They spent that time silently working. He couldn’t stop waiting for the subtle scent of her perfume, and every time she leaned close to him to scrape something into the mortar, he’d inhale deeply.
    She occasionally glanced out to the patio where Ian was lounging poolside on the large rattan sectional sofa with its white cushions. Jasper could tell she was annoyed by her pursed lips, flared nostrils, and the slight shake of her head when her focus would land on him. But she said nothing about it, and when they carried the mortar out and the plate with the steaks, she still said nothing, but she glared at Ian. Ian shrugged his shoulders, dismissing her veiled irritation.
    “How about you get your lazy ass inside and grab the plates and silverware.” Jasper nudged Ian’s leg, and then he carried the plate of meat to the grill and helped Gray get the steaks on. Within ten minutes, they were seated around the large rectangular table with Ian at the end and Jasper across from Gray. It was small talk while they ate.
    “Do you have a girlfriend, Jasper?” She took a sip of her wine while she waited for him to answer.
    He glanced at Ian, and they exchanged a look that more or less meant the question was ridiculous. Of course, Gray wouldn’t know that, and he chuckled quietly, contemplating how exactly he wanted to broach this subject with her to avoid looking like an asshole.
    “Jas isn’t really the dating sort,” Ian stepped in. “Don’t get me wrong, he likes fucking just fine, but relationships are overrated in his mind.”
    She turned to him with an amused expression on her face. “Is that so?”
    He hummed, but it was more a nervous response than anything, and if he were pale enough to blush he was quite certain he would. “Just seems to work better for me to keep things casual.”
    “Why is that, may I ask?” She leaned forward, eager to perpetuate this even though he was desperate to change the topic.
    He shrugged, but of course that didn’t satisfy Ian who didn’t understand the meaning of the verbal filter.
    “Probably has to do with his shit childhood and his even shittier parents. Can anyone say abandonment complex?” Ian commented sarcastically.
    When Jas looked up to see concern in Gray’s eyes, he looked away. He didn’t like this kind of attention being focused on him, and when his eyes returned to the table, he glared at Ian.
    “What?” Ian snapped defensively. “It’s true.”
    Gray scoffed in annoyance and pinned Ian to his seat with her glare. “That doesn’t mean it’s for you to say. If he’d have wanted me to know that, he’d have told me himself.” Her words were pointed as she stared at Ian, and the defense in his expression finally calmed, and he smiled at her sweetly. She did have an interesting way with him.
    Gray’s gaze eventually returned to Jas. “I’m sorry.” She smiled. “You’ll have to excuse your best friend. I’ve come to understand he can be a bit of an ass.”
    He laughed at that one. “No need to apologize. I’ve been dealing with his assness most of my life.” He studied her, contemplating whether he wanted to delve into this or not. For some reason he wanted to. He eventually took a deep breath, and when he spoke it was directly to her, and he leaned in toward her in the same way she was leaning toward him. “It’s not that I’m opposed to relationships. It’s just… I guess, I don’t understand that level of … emotional closeness.” At least he’d been told as much by a few women.
    “You don’t desire closeness?” Her eyes were narrow as she studied him, but it wasn’t judgment—just curiosity.
    “No, I do. But what it looks