Page 97 of The Rules of Dating a Younger Man

Seriously? Jones? “J-O-N-E-S.”

“That’s what I thought. I can’t find a reservation under that name, though.”

“Maybe she’s not checking in until tomorrow?”

The clerk clicked a few more keys, then a few more. “I don’t have a reservation at all. Is it possible she might be staying at a different hotel?”

My heart sank. “That must be it. Thanks anyway.”

“No problem.”

Hours later, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark. I felt like I’d gotten my ass kicked. She’s not coming. I’d told myself I’d moved on, closed the door on that part of my life, but I guess I’d been keeping it a crack open. This slammed the door in my face. And it hurt. It hurt like hell. Even if I knew it was for the best.

I tossed and turned half the night, finally conking out somewhere around two. That’s probably why I overslept the next morning. I grabbed my cell and wiped sleep from my eyes.

9:35.

Shit. I ripped the covers off. I’d told the volunteers I’d be there by nine. And the only other people who had keys were the team leaders. One couldn’t make it until tomorrow, and it seemed Alex wasn’t planning on making it at all. I jumped in the shower for three minutes, got dressed, and ran out the door with my hair wet. Pulling up to the project house, I expected to see everyone milling around outside, but no one was there.

Fuck. Is no one coming?

I checked the time on my phone again after I parked, wondering if maybe I’d misread it earlier. Sure enough, it was 10:15. This wasn’t good.

But the front door was unlocked when I approached. And when I stepped inside, Charlie greeted me. He looked great—clean shaven, clean clothes. It lifted my spirits.

“Hey, Charlie.” I shook his hand. “It’s good to see you. I’m glad you could make it.”

“I told my boss I was coming here this weekend, and he told me to take the day today.”

“Your boss? You got the job?”

He lifted his chin with a smile. “I did, indeed. Thanks to you. I’m going to repay you for the suit and hotel as soon as I’m back on my feet.”

“You are absolutely not going to do that. It was my pleasure. Pay it forward someday, if you can.”

He nodded. “Alright. I’ll definitely do that.”

I looked around, still trying to figure out how the team had gotten in. “Is Jason here? I didn’t think he was coming until tomorrow.”

Charlie shrugged. “Not that I saw.”

“Was the door open?”

“It was when I arrived. But Alex was here before me.”

I froze. “Alex is here?”

Then I turned and caught a flash of blond hair in the kitchen. I immediately forgot my conversation with Charlie, and my feet started moving toward the other room. As I approached, our eyes met.

“Hey.” Alex smiled. “There you are. I was starting to worry.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because you said in the email you’d be at the house by nine, and you weren’t here yet.”

“And you didn’t say you’d be here at all.”

She looked down. “Sorry. It was a last-minute decision. I drove in early this morning.”