Free Bending the Rules by Ali Parker

down at her. "I'm headed out of town this weekend, but on Monday I'll bring Larry in to see you, okay?"
    "Good. If you break your promise, I'm going to throw a fit that will have everyone talking. I want what I want when I want it!" She accented each word, making me smile. She was a firecracker and a half. Some part of me wanted to see her back in her hay day when she was ruling the corner of the world she inhabited.
    "Will do. Let me know if you need me. I'm here for most of the day. I'll stop by a little later and you can tell me all about Larry, okay?"
    "Fine." She pulled her glasses back on and glanced down at her magazine as I released her. The sly smile playing on the edge of her lips was enough to let me know that she enjoyed my company. Now I just needed to figure out who the hell Larry was, and get the guy up to the hospital on Monday morning. Otherwise, things would get more interesting than any of us really wanted them to.
     
    *
     
    "Wait. Who is Larry again?" Jackie gave me an odd look as we hoofed it through the airport. Kendal was supposed to meet us at the gate and might be a little late, but he'd promised he would get himself there.
    "No clue." I dropped my bag on the floor by a row of chairs in front of our gate and sat down. "She said that he was her best friend. I assume he's some skinny guy with no teeth."
    Jackie put her hand on her hip and shook her head. "Maybe he's a dog."
    "What? You think he's a pet?"
    "Why would a woman like Mrs. Delmaz have a man living with her? That doesn't make any sense at all."
    "She didn't seem to know what the hell she was talking about. Poor thing." I waved my hand around. "Forget it. I don't want to dwell on this anymore. I need a break from everything. Whoever or whatever Larry is, I'll find him on Monday and bring him to the hospital to see her."
    "You're sure going out of your way for someone you don't really know. Especially considering that the woman isn't going to remember asking you to do it."
    "You'd be surprised." I grabbed my purse and stood back up. "I'm going to grab a Coke and some chips for the flight. You want anything?"
    "No. I'm good." She dropped down loudly and pulled her legs into the seat with her. "I'll watch out for your handsome boyfriend."
    I smirked, turned and walked toward one of the corner stores just down the hall a little ways. Boyfriend? Was that what Kendal was? I wished.
    After flipping through the magazines and purposing every type of chip they had in the store, I found myself standing in front of the glass case near the register. Condoms. Did I need some? Were we going to-
    "Should I ask?" The sound of Kendal's voice made me jump.
    I turned around and popped him softly in the chest as heat drove up my chest and covered my neck and face.
    "You scared me."
    He leaned around me and glanced down. "You planning on hitting the mile high club?"
    I forced my nerves to settle as I reached out and slid my hands around his waist. "No, but I was hoping that maybe we could get to know each other better."
    "Hmmmm." He leaned down and kissed me quickly before moving back. "I'll get these for us."
    "I'm not being too forward, right?" I moved back and crossed my arms over my chest.
    "Not in the slightest. I love a woman that knows what she wants." He glanced over his shoulder and winked at me. His dark brown hair was getting thick on top, which just left him looking more like a frat boy and less like the distinguished professor he was.
    I didn't respond, but turned and picked out a few snacks. Butterflies danced deep in my stomach and the very idea of him buying condoms had my insides turning to mush. Was I ready for what we were headed into? Yes. God yes.
    "Put those up here too, Dana." Kendal moved back and motioned for me to drop my snacks on the counter.
    "No. I got these."
    "Now." He tilted his head a little toward me and gave me a stern look. Hot.
    "Yes, sir." I moved up and placed them on the counter, making sure to brush my hip by his outer