Read Online Against Her Rules by Victoria Barbour - Free Book Online Page A

feeling all too well,” Cam said. There was no mistaking that he
meant that for her benefit. His eyes never left her.
      “Now
gentlemen, I think you’re being hard on us females. Of course we want honesty.
Just sometimes the answers make us discover something about you men that we
didn’t realize before. Better to find out early than waste time.”
      “See?
Sage advice.” Asher reached out and put his arm around her. “That’s why I love
you, my sweet. Always putting things in perspective.” He would have kissed her
mouth had she not reacted quickly and turned her cheek.
      Cam
was studying the interaction intently. “So, Ted,” he said purposefully. “How long
have you been coming here?”
      “Three
years, isn’t it?” the rocker replied, looking at Elsie.
      “I’m
not sure. But I think you’re right,” she said. She didn’t like where this line
of questioning was going.
      “Do
you always come by yourself?”
      “No,”
Elsie jumped in.
      “Yea,”
Asher said at the same time before noticing Elsie. “Yea, I bring some ladies
here from time to time. But other times, I come by myself if I need to get
away. Love the privacy, you know. The air. The people aren’t crazy. In fact, no
one has ever asked me to sign anything in all the time I’ve been coming here.
Great people, really. Elsie here is just the best of them.”
      As
if it couldn’t get more uncomfortable, Elsie looked just in time to see her
mother coming with two heaping plates of food. She would have tried to mouth Help
me if both Cam and Asher weren’t looking at her.
      “Good
morning, sweetheart,” her mother said in a voice about as genuinely sweet as
aspartame. “Should I bring you a plate as well?”
      “No,
that’s fine, Mom. I have some work to do.”
      “Oh,
don’t be silly,” her mother insisted. “You need to eat.”
      “Yes,
stay,” Cam said, still scrutinizing her.
      “It’s
unanimous,” Asher said, scooping a spoon of beans into his mouth. “God, we
haven’t had breakfast like this together in some time.”
      She
kicked him under the table. This wasn’t the first time she’d realized that
while he had a pretty face, Asher could be rather dumb. He wanted their
relationship kept as quiet as she did, but sometimes he needed a gentle
reminder.
      She
had to find a way to take control of the conversation. “Cam, what was that you
called Asher a second ago?”
      He
grinned. “Ted.”
      Asher
turned red. “Good thing you can keep a secret, luv. That’s the name my dear
mother saddled me with. But Scott, I haven’t gone by Ted in quite some time.
Had it legally changed, you know.”
      “Ted.
Teddy. I like it,” she said. “Very down to earth.”
      “Very
mundane and ordinary. And totally forgettable,” he said.
      It
was at times like this that she was reminded why she had been willing to put up
with Asher - Ted - for the past few years. Deep down inside he was like a lost
puppy, always looking to be liked. And remembered. He did mean well. He just
happened to be caught up in the world he’d created for himself. She genuinely
liked him. She just didn’t want him any more. Now that he was sat at the same
table as Cam she could see why she was drawn to the Scotsman in the first
place. He was Asher’s opposite in every way.
      Cam
was tall, built like a gladiator, and had a roughness to him that was
surprising once you realized he made a living sketching. He was not your
typical artist. Whereas Asher was your stereotypical rocker/songwriter. Pale,
thin, pretty, with a mainstream manufactured tame punk look. Asher had a way
about him that brought out a woman’s motherly instincts. You wanted to protect
him. He was hard to say no to for that very reason. Cam, on the other hand,
made you want to beg him to protect you. He looked like he wrestled polar bears
for sport. Of course, he could also send you running for the hills, as if your
very sanity depended on being far