Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, my lovely readers. I honestly forgot that I needed to post a chapter. My bad. Anyway, here's the new one! We're getting into some fun stuff now! Hope you enjoy! And as always, don't forget to review!

Chapter Fourteen

The two fans whirring in her room at their highest setting were doing absolutely nothing to cool her off enough to fall asleep. The Georgia heat was way too stifling, and no matter how many times she flipped her pillow over to the cool side, she just could not settle comfortably. She contemplated pulling some of the frozen goods from her freezer and lying atop them. However, the idea of having to eat all those unintentionally cooked fruits and veggies was not what she wanted to do the next day.

After flipping her pillows another time, Eva finally sat up, stretched out for her laptop, and turned on a movie. Watching a movie definitely beat staring out at the darkness in her room.

As the screen flashed brilliant colors in front of her, Eva's mind drifted off from the film playing in front of her. She started thinking about the conversation she and Taylor had a couple weeks ago.

"So how's everything going with your boy toy?" Taylor asked as Eva made dinner.

"It's going pretty well. It's a lot like having a boyfriend, but less maintenance."

"I'm happy for you, Ev," Taylor said. "You've finally found a guy that's not a colossal asshole like that last one."

"He's not my guy, if that's what you're getting at. We're just sleeping together," Eva assured making Taylor snort into her drink. "What's that supposed to mean?" Taylor only shook her head and took another swallow of her drink. "Seriously, tell me."

"Fine," conceded Taylor. "I know you're new to the whole fuck-buddy thing, but you should be cautious. If the two of you are only sleeping together, then one of you will start falling for the other. I know it's against one of your precious rules, but it's bound to happen. It's just a matter of time as to who will start crumbling first. And when it does, someone always gets hurt. You are my best friend, so I'm really hoping it's not you."

And Taylor's words resonated with her. Eva was no stranger to sex and all the mechanics and emotions that were involved, but she had a sinking feeling that Taylor was right about her and Shane. She just really hoped it wouldn't be the case.

Hers and Shane's unattached relationship had been working really well for them over its course, except for a few slight hiccups.

Because this was her first time doing something like this, there were still things she had to learn. For instance, one of the early times Shane had stayed over at hers and Taylor's place, Eva had woken early and began to make breakfast. As soon as the bacon hit the griddle, Shane was walking into the kitchen yawning and scratching his balls.

"What're ya doin?" he had asked after taking a seat at the island.

"I'm making omelets," she answered chipperly. "How would you like yours?"

"Um, Eva," he started, drawing her attention. She had turned to him after plating their omelets. "I 'ppreciate the hospitality, but this is gettin' into datin' territory, Rule Number Four."

Eva felt embarrassed, her cheeks heating up. "Oh, um, sorry. I didn't think-"

"Nah, it's fine," he said around a mouthful of bacon. "Just try ta'void it in the future."

And she tried her very best. The next slip up, however, was not too far behind.

That same weekend, Eva and Shane had been getting dressed after a long bout of intense fucking when she suggested they head to the bar.

At that, Shane immediately shot her down. His response was that was something girlfriends would say, and she was crossing a line again.

"Oh, um, OK then. I guess I'll see you later." After that, Eva just walked out his house and headed to her own home.

Later that night, Taylor had come home asking why Eva hadn't answered any of her texts or calls.

"My phone never went off. You're sure you called?"

"Yeah, I called like six times because the house key fell off my key ring, and I wanted to make sure you'd be home."

"I swear you didn't call." Eva stood up and grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter digging through for her phone. She didn't find it even after dumping all the contents out. "That could be why I couldn't find it." Using a phone locator, Eva and Taylor found that the missing phone was currently somewhere near Shane's house. Problem with that was she couldn't just show up unannounced. It was one of their rules, and she had already broken one today according to Shane. But, she did need her phone. Fuck it, she thought.

The drive back to his house was quick. She pulled up to the curb and did a quick scan of where she had parked earlier and the walkway up to his house. Nothing. Next, she walked up his porch to the door and rang the bell. She could hear someone inside walking to the door, and she was greeted by a sweaty, out-of-breath Shane.

"Eva, what're ya doin' here?" he asked, looking irritated.

"Sorry to bother you, but I-"

"Didn't we agree no surprise visits?" he said irritatedly as he interrupted her. "I've gotta girl over right now. Ya keep breakin' these rules, and I don' think this thing's gonna work out."

She was shocked she was being scolded by him. She was immediately self-conscious and uncomfortable standing before the half-naked man she had been sleeping with as he yelled at her for doing something that made him unhappy.

"I'm sorry, Shane, but I left my phone here. Would you mind grabbing it for me?"

Shane immediately looked apologetic for reprimanding her, so he quickly moved through his house, finding his phone, and bringing it back to her. With her phone in hand, Eva walked away and sped off back home.

After that incident, Eva didn't speak to Shane for a week, screening his calls and texts, avoiding the cafe which they both frequented. She didn't see him again until she'd run into him at the grocery store. He had apologized profusely to her, admitting that he should not have talked to her the way he had. She forgave him, especially after he followed her home and fucked her into the wall.

All that was minor compared to the most recent rule breaking. It was yesterday after their most recent sexcapade. They were both drifting off into sleep: she on her side curled toward the window and he spooning her. In that quiet moment, as he held her while they both fell asleep was that she was falling for the sexy, womanizing deputy. And that wasn't good.

Right now, as that last thought floated into her mind, Eva knew she had to do something about it. The smartest option was probably calling it off with him, but she really didn't want to. Instead, she decided that to stop developing any feelings for him, she should probably branch out and look for other men to entertain her.

Tomorrow, she vowed, I'll go out and find me another man.