Breaking His Rules Read online

  Suddenly I felt a pang of guilt shoot over me. I’d need to tell her about Ashton. I knew I would, but I was hoping to put it off for just a little longer.

  “So, I have to tell you, this guy I’m meeting tomorrow is someone who…” Gloria glanced around, a smile on her face as if she couldn’t catch the words and they were scattered around the room on wings.

  “What?” I said. “Oh, is it good or bad?”

  Laughing, she refocused on me. “It’s good…I think. You know, he’s so different from anyone I’ve ever dated. First, he’s in his midthirties and so very funny.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with younger men—”

  “Oh, me either. But he’s funny and makes me smile even when he’s not here. I talk to him all hours of the night, until morning sometimes. He just makes me feel good. You know?”

  “Yeah,” I said, observing the radiant smile on her face. “I do.”

  “So, yeah. I told him I was going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow and he’s bringing someone. He didn’t know who. I just thought…I just want you to be happy again. So maybe one of his friends can make you feel like I feel right now. And you know what else?”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to give up my cookies.”

  I nearly leapt from the chair, because Gloria was my one friend who wouldn’t sleep with her deceased husband until they were married. She was the one who always went to church, paid a tithe, and visited her mother every week in the nursing home, praying by her bedside for relief from her dementia. She was the good girl of us both. Since high school. “What are you even saying right now?”

  “I’m saying I like him. I really do.”

  “Well, I personally think that’s awesome. I really do. And no shade on the cookies. You should let that hair bun down every now and again. I thought you’d had your legs surgically sewn together.”

  “Oh my goodness, look who’s talking. You haven’t exactly been a party girl, either. Not that I blame you. It’s scary out there.”

  I remained silent for a moment, just staring at her. Then I smiled. And her brows popped.

  “What the hell are you saying, Terra Elizabeth Ellis? Did you…have you…?”

  “Listen, I didn’t expect it.”

  “Brit Boy?”

  “Yeah.” I smiled sheepishly. “After dinner Thursday night. One thing led to another…and I invited him back to my place.”

  “I cannot even. Why didn’t you say something? Trying out some of that Harry and Meghan, huh?”

  “You are so crazy,” I said, laughing. “Honestly, I don’t know, probably because it was a thing I don’t think either of us are ready for. He’s a party boy. All the ladies looking at him last night. I could swear some of them knew him. And I’m okay with that…but I got too comfortable. I moved from friendly to intimate, and, to be honest, it’s a little unsettling. Girl, I made him my momma’s pancakes last night.”

  “You made him your momma’s pancakes?”

  “I did.”

  “Girl, you’re in love with that man. You don’t even open your cabinets. You don’t even have ingredients to make pancakes.”

  “I do, you shady heifer. So, he’s too young for me. He and his father have a complicated relationship, and his mother died when he was young. That’s a recipe for one jacked-up dude. And trust me, I know jacked-up when I see it. Thankfully, Auntie Sonja kept me on track with therapy and constant support. It didn’t sound like he had that. At all…But, I’ll tell you one thing, it was very good.”

  Gloria’s expression drifted from concern to a wicked smile. “Far be it from me to slut shame you, girl. If you like it, I love it. And workout, my ass. You got a workout all right. Your skin’s even glowing.”

  “Shut up.”

  “So…I’m conflicted about sleeping with Gary. He’s been waiting for a while. But for one reason or another, I can’t bring myself to close the deal. Do you think…do you think there’s something wrong with me?” I knew where she was going, because all the smiling had drained from her face, even her eyes.

  “Sex doesn’t define us, sweetie,” I reassured her, and reached across to pat her hand. It was my turn to offer support. She’d always been there for me.

  “I just think that something broke…when…”

  I knew she was heading back to the painful place that had plagued her for the last few years. “You aren’t broken, honey. When the time is right, you’ll know and you’ll respond. You just haven’t met the right person. And you’re still working through it yourself. It’s a process. Go with your feelings and know that you are just as strong, just as fearless as you’ve ever been. And know that I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, a crack in her voice.

  “Do you know both your names begin with G? That’s going to be cute as hell on the wedding invites.” I laughed so loud the sound bounced off the walls of my office. There wasn’t much in there to begin with, just my larger-than-standard desk, chairs from Home Goods with a matching couch on the back wall, a display case with my Marvel Funko Pops, and a safe. There wasn’t room for anything else. And I hoped the joke would bring her back from that place, more than anything.

  “For real? We’re doing this now?” She laughed, too, and wiped at the tear that had worked its way down her cheek.

  “Why not? You look unreasonably happy. And you’re bringing him to my house of ill repute. I love it.”

  “And…what are you wearing for the mystery guy? Your uniform is great, but you know…maybe you should spice it up? I mean, I know this isn’t a date for you, but I want you to celebrate your birthday. Jeans and a sweater are perfectly fine, but…” I could tell by her appraising look my standard attire was a no-fly zone.

  “I have a black and silver dress prepped and ready to go hanging in the garment bag at home, fashion police. I’ll change into it tomorrow before they arrive.”

  “Just looking out for your best interests.” She smiled.

  Her heart was in the right place, because I had a tendency to wear all black. Except last night. Last night was…“I’m fine. Sincerely. What time are they coming?”

  “I told him to come at eight.”

  “See, I’ll have plenty of time.”

  “Well, I’ve got to get back to Soar. Oh, and tomorrow I fully expect champagne. Go into your private stash.”

  “Fine,” I said, and groaned. Gloria was one of the only people who knew I was a near miser when it came to my liquor.

  Gloria stood, grabbing the ankle-length brown cashmere coat off the back of the chair to slip it on before heading for the door. “I really do appreciate everything you’re doing—both the date and not dressing like you’re in mourning.”

  “Yup. Anything for you, chickee.”

  Her laughter was loud over clinking bottles. Dom was probably finishing up.

  When she closed the door behind her, I thumbed the stone on the necklace. Believe, huh?

  Chapter 9

  Ashton

  The weekend came and went, leaving me in a sour mood Monday morning. Why, pray tell? Because I was being given the old hit it and quit it. I left work early on Monday—at closer to two than five. I wasn’t doing any good anyway. I’d barely made it through that last meeting without thoughts of her. Terra the…magnificent. Damn it all to bloody hell. I’d called her about seven times and was on the edge of looking desperate. What was it about the emotionally unavailable that made them look so fucking desirable?

  To top it all off, the lovely Michigan weather took one of its drastic changes. It’d started snowing because, why not? Not one of those beautiful snowfalls that they showed on movies. It was a real Michigan shitshow. It positively bordered on torrential, if that was a thing for snowfalls. It was bound to make my normal work commute from Ann Arbor to my midtown home, the area jus
t before you got to downtown Detroit, a sloppy, dangerous mess.

  Whatever.

  It wasn’t like I would enjoy my drive down I-94 anyway. It was all factories broken up by an airport, then more Detroitness. And of course, my exit at Trumbull Street was blocked due to an accident. I guess I was getting off in downtown Detroit then. Because, yes, it was a great day.

  I made my way, bad mood and all, down the interstate to I-75, then looped around through the stadiums to the main drag, Gratiot Avenue.

  The driver who turned in front of me, probably on a damn cellphone, made me jam on my brakes and slide a few feet, nearly turning sideways on all the slick stuff. Awesome. The prick in the Dodge Challenger, I mean the absolute perfect car for winter driving really, had the nerve to blow his horn at me as I drove by. “Very good, sir.” I waved my middle finger at him and kept it moving down the street until traffic came to a perfect standstill. No one and not a damn thing was moving. It was most likely an accident up ahead.

  This shit was getting better and better as I turned down any old side street and saw the bright yellow car that could only belong to her. I brought my car to a stop, the street deserted except for her car and a few others parked nearby. The only other vehicle on the road was a FedEx truck, which had just pulled away from a beautiful old building with modern updates. The name above the black door was lit with the sign for the club, Club Ivy, with a green vine snaking through the letters IVY. I checked my watch, because surely it wasn’t that late. A little after four, thanks to the traffic and snow, meaning I’d been on the way home for just over two hours. Dear lord, why have you forsaken me?

  So there it was: I had choices suddenly. My head said leave her alone. My heart didn’t say anything, it just banged against my chest like it was trying to get out of its cage. My cock, on the other hand, was loud and aggressive. Get out of the car, it cried. Along with the ego thing, because she had actually turned down my second date offer and wasn’t accepting my calls, for God only knew why.

  I parked the damn car and made my way across the intersection, which was actually three streets converging on one. It was around the corner from the Detroit Athletic Club in Harmony Park, so I was used to navigating the tricky streets that were two one-way streets moving into a two-way. I’d taken many drunken nighttime strolls down them to get back to the limited parking.

  I reached the door in one piece and realized that it would probably be locked, since it was late afternoon on a Monday and that I had no idea what I wanted to say to her. Like, Hi…Was in the neighborhood and decided to pop in. Or, Hey, good looking, what you got cooking? No, all of it was lame. Stupid. Much like barging in on a woman who clearly didn’t want to be bothered with my shit. Otherwise she would have left the garage door shut and run out behind me. Like most normal women would. But she wasn’t normal, was she? Not at all. She was actually extraordinary. And it made my balls tighten up into knots. Or maybe that was my gut?

  I stood in front of the large black metal door and knocked. Nothing. Once more. Nothing. Good deal, Ashton. You’ve worked yourself up for no good reason at all. She didn’t come to the door and fall into your arms at—

  “May I help you, sir?” The male voice came from somewhere behind me. It was deep and aggressive, the kind of tone that said unless there’s a good reason to be around, you shouldn’t be.

  I turned around to face him and oh my lord. He was on the other side of six foot four and clearly loved the gym. He probably had to be that way, given the industry he was in and that the folks who frequented bars were usually inebriated assholes. “Hello, yes…Well, I was actually here to see if Terra was in?” Great. I sounded like I’d fallen and smacked my head on the ground. I hadn’t actually practiced talking to other people. Just Terra. I hadn’t expected…I guess I hadn’t even thought about being confronted with another person. I tried hard not to allow the uncertainty of my rash decision to show on my face or in my voice and stood there for his once-over.

  “Hang on a second. I’ll go see if she has a moment to see you,” said the guy who I could only assume had a name like Bruiser.

  Shit. What if he was her boyfriend? Hadn’t thought of that, either. He looked a bit irritated by the whole thing. “Sure. No worries. I’ll be right here.” I stepped to the side to give him access to the door and smiled with a nod. Like an idiot.

  “What’s your name?” Bruiser asked.

  “Ashton Lyle.”

  “Yeah, all right.” Then he was gone, disappearing into the fortress and pulling the door closed behind him. It was as if he magnified the sound of what must have been four locks being engaged. I get it, man. I couldn’t come in until he said so.

  With a sigh, I leaned against the brick of the building and waited. And waited. I waited so long I’d nearly given up and decided to head back to my car, but the moment I moved in that direction, I heard it: the locks being released. Stepping away from the wall, I turned around to face her. I hoped it was her.

  It wasn’t. “She’s free. Come in,” he grumbled.

  “Okay,” I said, disappointment spearing me in my chest cavity. Nope, not her. But I followed anyway. We walked into the space, the heat immediately working on the chill I’d gotten while outside. I took off my wool coat to give the warmth of the bar easier access to my cold bones and walked behind the mountain dude. He was probably from some weird tribe of half humans, half giants. Without giving any warning, he stopped and turned around.

  “She’ll be right out.”

  “Thank you,” I said to what turned out to be his retreating back. He had left me at the bar area. It was all black marble and glass, towers of cocktail and wineglasses neatly stacked against the wall, and in the middle a massive supply of booze. In the middle of the floor, there were some boxes that must have been left there earlier, because Bruiser picked up one and took it with him as he disappeared into a room just on the other side of the wooden dance floor.

  The place was nice. Whoever owned it must have been into the contemporary mix with old-school exposed brick and classic styling. Nice, indeed. It suited Terra as well. She was very much that same type of mix.

  “What are you doing here, Ashton?”

  The voice came from nowhere and everywhere, thanks to the vaulted ceiling. “Well, that’s a wonderful greeting. Let’s just say the storm blew me in.”

  “Really? That’s what you’re going with?” She started walking over to me, coming down some stairs along the back wall. A headband pushed her hair back from her face, and those miles of legs were encased in fitted black denim. Black boots rose to above her knees, with strings that must have wound up the back of her legs. The tassels bounced against her calves as she walked. One shoulder was exposed in her white long-sleeved shirt. Goddammit, she looked fantastic. I tried hard to keep my eyes off her breasts, but I was pretty sure she wasn’t wearing a bra. An image barged into my brain of her on the balcony and those honey-colored nipples of hers peeking up at me as I labored over her writhing body.

  “Yes. I’m going with that. Along with the fact that I nearly rear-ended some jag off on Gratiot and turned down this street to ensure I didn’t end up in jail for vehicular homicide. Then I saw your car outside and wondered if I could steal you away for the evening?”

  She closed the distance between us and took a seat on one of the black leather barstools. Leaning back, she turned to face me and rested her elbow on the bar. Sitting like that, she reminded me of the day we’d met. Then other things barged into my thoughts: her breasts in my hands, mouth on her pussy.

  “No, you may not. I am actually at work after playing hooky one day last week. Or did you forget?”

  The smile playing with her lips let me know she wasn’t as pissed as her words sounded. Maybe she was remembering Thursday night, too. “How could I forget something like that? Well, if I can’t, can you serve a poor sap a drink right now? Or will your boss get angry?
I won’t look like I’m here loitering at least.”

  Terra glanced over her shoulder, as if she was wondering whether anyone was behind her. I glanced in the same direction. I wasn’t sure if Bruiser was her boss or not, but somehow I’d pegged him as a bouncer. Not the businessman type at all. “I guess. We can serve anytime. But I’m not giving you any discounts since you barged in on me. Got it?”

  Her eyes lingered on my face, then shifted down my body, hesitating as if she was pleased with what she saw. I was glad that I had worn an impeccable suit paired with my dark gray wool coat. “I do.” I let the words settle for a moment before moving forward. I felt like kissing her, but instead I leaned in as close as I could, my hands instinctively going to a lock of hair that was curling away from the rest, and moved it into the delicate mass of hair. “Crystal clear,” I whispered.

  She moved away as if she’d been shocked and stood from her seat. “Sit down, Ashton. I have to finish with inventory, so I can’t be fooling around with you all night.”

  I didn’t, and instead stood there watching the incredible view of her from the back and learned all about those sexy-ass boots she wore, the wedge heels covered in suede and making her strong thighs tighten and release as she walked. Her ass was pure art. I stared until she disappeared behind the bar and returned to me. She ran her tongue over her lips and I dug my heels into the floor to keep from following her behind that bar and taking her on the spot. Something about her made me feel as if she was mine. “I’ll take a Dalmore neat, if you have it. If not, Maker’s Mark. I find that Dalmore is not readily available—”

  “Coming right up,” she said, as if I’d asked her for Johnny Walker Red.

  “Your boss has a great liquor collection, if he has that. I’ve searched all over bloody Detroit for it and can never find it.”

  “Two questions,” she said as she completed her walk around the bar. “Who said it was a he?”

  “Assumed. And I already know what that makes me, thank you very much. And what is the second?”