Chapter 10: Rules of Engagement

Veronica and Logan sat on the edge of the pool, legs swaying in the water. The two were laughing and Logan was idly stroking her leg.

"You're kidding. The career aptitude test actually told you that you would make a good retail supervisor? Logan, you'd have people buy the ugliest clothes just to laugh at them!"

Loftily, he replied. "I'll have you know Ronnie, that I would indeed help people make the right fashion choices were I in the position. But the ladies dressing rooms might not have locks on them."

Giggling, Veronica shoved him with her side. "Perv."

"What, like you wouldn't put in a whole new security system to catch more shoplifters?
Logan asked, sliding into the water. Positioning himself between her legs, he smiled wider when she put her arms on his shoulders. "You can be super nosy in retail. And if it was one of those boutique shops, you would know all your client's secrets."

"Further reason for you not to have that job. You're like a seventh grade girl when it comes to gossip."

His eyes narrowed and Logan threw her over his shoulder and flipped her unceremoniously into the water. "Take it back."

Sputtering, Veronica wiped her hair back. "Never." She splashed him, then ducked underwater and swam away.

Logan followed her, wrapping his arms around her waist when she came up for air. Pulling her close, he dipped his head to talk in her ear. "I am so not a seventh grade girl."

"The fact that you just used the term 'so not' proves my point." She laughed, turning in his arms to face him.

Logan's eyes darkened, and he snaked one of his hands behind her head. Kissing her soundly, he sighed as Veronica pushed against him as she reciprocated.

Pulling back slightly, she looked at him appraisingly. "What was that for?"

Logan rubbed her cheek as he looked at her. "I like your laugh. I've missed hearing it."

"I like being able to laugh." Veronica met his gaze and pecked his lips. "But I'm also hungry. You got any food in that big ol' house Mr. Retail Manager?"

Releasing her from his arms, Logan smirked. "I knew you were only here for the food. It's been a good two hours since you've eaten. You might wither away from starvation."

"Exactly." Veronica said, and walked out of the pool, water glistening off of her. Logan's eyes widened and he moved to where the water was deeper. Glancing over her shoulder, she called. "Are you coming? I'm not going to bring you a root beer outside."

Shaking himself free of the previous entrancement, Logan responded. "… Yeah. I'll be there in a minute."

Confused, she looked back. Realizing what was keeping him from leaving the pool, Veronica rolled her eyes. "You've seen me in a suit before. Is there still soda in the main fridge?"

"Don't mock me." The boy glared. "I haven't seen you in that specific suit before. It's a little smaller than what you used to wear. And we're in a different definition, social-wise. Drinks are behind the bar in the living room."

The blonde continued on her walk towards the large building. She paused in the doorway, grabbing a towel. "Since it's partially my fault, I'll bring you that root beer."

He called out once more. "I'll meet you inside in five minutes. Stop being pert, or I won't tell you where the chips are kept."

He walked into the kitchen and found her sitting on the counter with a Skist and potato chips. Reaching around her to grab a glass, he smiled down at her.

"I see you found the chips without my help, Sugarpuss."

Veronica nodded happily. "I do so enjoy the abundance of food-stuffs that your dad keeps around here. Are you felling… better?"

Glancing back at her face, which was covered in a shit-eating grin, Logan sighed as he went to grab a beer. "Yes. And I would appreciate it if you didn't knock my particular ability to do that. Not until you've had the proper experiences with me."

She stayed silent, looking into her glass and swirled the ice cubes around in it. Surprised by her lack of come-back, Logan turned back from the fridge. Walking back over to her, he tilted her face up to his.

"Hey." He said softly. "That wasn't a come-on. I'm not going to pressure you into anything, Ronnie."

"I know. But Logan? I'm not as… experienced as the girls you've dated. It's going to be longer than a week."

"And the girls I've dated haven't turned out to be very good to me." He replied, rubbing her cheek. "Honest- we won't do anything you're not ready for."

She nodded, then jumped off the counter and put her glass down. "I'm going to go get changed. It's getting close to dinner."

Watching her as she went and grabbed her clothes and then went upstairs to the bathroom, Logan ran a hand through his wet hair. He knew Veronica wasn't the kind of girl that did the things he had spread rumors of. But this was the first time that he actually saw the old, vulnerable side of her. Despite her prickly demeanor, he realized that she was still unconfident about sex. Being in a relationship with her was going to be different- he knew that. And as hard as it was going to be, he knew he wasn't going to push.

His thoughts were interrupted by Veronica coming back down the stairs and dropping her bag back on the floor. Looking him dead in the eyes, she stated: "We need to set some ground rules."

There was the take-charge Veronica he had grown accustomed to. "Ground rules?" Logan asked, joining her in the living room.

"Yes. Ground rules. As in 'things to set straight before this goes any further'. I didn't set them with Troy, and he broke the first one."

"The 'don't be an asshat' rule?" Logan joked, sitting on one of the large chairs.

She sat on the couch, facing him. "No. The one about cheating. If you are unfaithful to me, I will leave you and walk away without one look back. Ever."

His jaw dropped, and she put up a hand to silence him. "I'm saying that you ever would. Logan, I've observed you in plenty of relationships. Despite the on again-off again thing you had with Lilly, you're a serial monogamist. So rule number one seems highly unlikely to be broken.

"Second, you will at least be cordial to my friends. I can promise you the same. Dick and I are unlikely to throw you a birthday party together, but I'm not going to throw a drink on him. If you could try harder not to punch Weevil, I think that would be enough.

"Third, the cases I take- what I do. I'm not going to stop doing them, it doesn't matter if you want me to or not. They're a part of me, and don't ask me to give them up.

"Last, realize that I've changed. I'm not the same Veronica that you were friends with. If she's the person you want to date, you're SOL."

Sitting back, she looked at him appraisingly. "That's it. Those are the things that needed to be said. If any of those are a problem, tell me now and we can go back to working on friendship alone."

Head reeling from her checklist, Logan shook his head slightly. "You're not going anywhere, Mars. Just… give me a second to get my thoughts together." She nodded quickly and focused on her fingernails.

"Alright." He said, leaning forward. "Fine. The things you just listed? They're good. But there are some things you need to know."

Observing her wary eyes, Logan began. "Veronica, I want you. All of you. And that includes the cotton candy girl you used to be. You're still that girl, Ronnie- she just grew a backbone. And got hot." He smirked slightly, then continued.

"Weevil and I are not going to become best buddies. I don't like him, he doesn't like me. But restraint will be shown on my part. I'm not asking you to give up anything. Not the cases, not your friends. You're right about the cheating, though. I've never cheated, never will. And the argument goes the same way. If you cheat, I won't look back. It'll kill me, but I won't look back.

"It's obvious that neither of us has had the best luck with relationships. I think the only thing we can do is try with us. I don't have any demands for you. Nothing about you or what you've done makes me not trust you. I can only hope that you feel the same way."

He rose from the chair and crouched in front of her. "Now that we've had that strange, but necessary talk; how much time do you have before your dad sends swat to find you?"

Veronica smiled softly. "About forty minutes. Any idea on what we could do to occupy that time?"

"I may have a few ideas." Logan said, resting his forehead against hers before he met her lips.