Read Online Breaking All the Rules by Kerry Connor - Free Book Online
Authors: Kerry Connor
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Ashley’s. They’d built it together, creating it from the
ground up. They’d painted the walls. They’d chosen the appliances. They’d
planned the layout. Every inch of the place was ingrained with their sweat and
hopes and dreams—dreams they’d made a reality. No matter what, she could tell
herself she had this place.
She quickly hung
up her jacket and her bag on the hook inside the door and moved toward the sink
to wash her hands and get started. Baking had always made her feel better. She
was counting on it working for her now.
BY THE TIME
ASHLEY ARRIVED a few hours later, Nina was in a much better mood. At least
until she told Ash the details of what had happened with Bobby.
Her supposed
friend stared at her with a combination of dismay and disbelief that said it
all before she even opened her mouth. “You’re crazy.”
“Thanks for your
support.”
“Let’s see…An
amazingly hot guy who has repeatedly given you the best sex of your life wants
to date you. For some insane reason, you say no. Why the hell would I support
that?”
“Because you’re
my friend and you’re supposed to support my decisions even if you don’t agree
with them.”
“I don’t think
that’s true. I certainly haven’t seen it written down anywhere.”
“Guess I’ll have
to get you a new copy of the friend handbook,” Nina muttered.
“Seriously,
Nina. This is a man who not only is unafraid of commitment, he’s actively
pursuing it. We both know men like that aren’t exactly a common breed. Most
women would be jumping for joy.”
“And those women
can now jump for joy that he’s still on the market. They are welcome to him. I
can verify he can make them happy in so many ways.” Memories of last night
brought a wistful smile to her face—and a sharp pain in her chest. “Many, many
ways.”
“So why don’t
you want him?”
“He’s not my
type.”
“Give me a
break. You jump his bones every time he’s in town, but he’s not your type?”
“He’s a great
guy to have some fun with, but even if I was looking for a serious relationship
at the moment, which I’m not, he’s not what I would be looking for.”
Ashley lifted
her hand and started ticking off on her fingers. “He’s steaming hot. He’s
funny. He’s crazy about you. He’s—”
“A Marine.”
“What’s wrong
with that?”
Nina was glad
Jackie hadn’t arrived yet to overhear. “I’m not interested in getting serious
with a guy who’s actively in the military. It’s a rule I’ve always had, and I
never would have had anything to do with Bobby at all if I thought he would ever
want to pursue anything more serious than the casual arrangement we have now.”
“Why not? Wasn’t
your dad in the Navy?”
“Exactly. So I
know what it’s like to be a military wife. You don’t just marry the man, you
marry the military. It’s just as much as part of the wife’s life as it is the
husband’s. When I do get married, I want to marry a man, not an organization.
It’s just not a lifestyle I want.”
“Who said
anything about marriage? He just wants to date you.”
“And for the
last three years, all he’s wanted was sex. That changed, so the dating probably
will too. Besides, what’s the point in dating if it’s not going to go
anywhere?”
“It would give
you time to come to your senses by the time it does go somewhere.”
“I’m in perfect
control of my senses. I’ve always known exactly what I wanted from my life,
both personally and professionally. And I know that I don’t want to get
involved with a sailor or a soldier—or a Marine,” she added. “Case closed.”
“You’re really
going to throw away the chance at something special just because you don’t like
one little thing about him?”
“It’s not one
little thing. It’s an integral part of who he is, and one that tells me it’s
not meant to be. Everybody has someone who’s right for them, and Bobby’s not
right for me.”
Ashley
ground up. They’d painted the walls. They’d chosen the appliances. They’d
planned the layout. Every inch of the place was ingrained with their sweat and
hopes and dreams—dreams they’d made a reality. No matter what, she could tell
herself she had this place.
She quickly hung
up her jacket and her bag on the hook inside the door and moved toward the sink
to wash her hands and get started. Baking had always made her feel better. She
was counting on it working for her now.
BY THE TIME
ASHLEY ARRIVED a few hours later, Nina was in a much better mood. At least
until she told Ash the details of what had happened with Bobby.
Her supposed
friend stared at her with a combination of dismay and disbelief that said it
all before she even opened her mouth. “You’re crazy.”
“Thanks for your
support.”
“Let’s see…An
amazingly hot guy who has repeatedly given you the best sex of your life wants
to date you. For some insane reason, you say no. Why the hell would I support
that?”
“Because you’re
my friend and you’re supposed to support my decisions even if you don’t agree
with them.”
“I don’t think
that’s true. I certainly haven’t seen it written down anywhere.”
“Guess I’ll have
to get you a new copy of the friend handbook,” Nina muttered.
“Seriously,
Nina. This is a man who not only is unafraid of commitment, he’s actively
pursuing it. We both know men like that aren’t exactly a common breed. Most
women would be jumping for joy.”
“And those women
can now jump for joy that he’s still on the market. They are welcome to him. I
can verify he can make them happy in so many ways.” Memories of last night
brought a wistful smile to her face—and a sharp pain in her chest. “Many, many
ways.”
“So why don’t
you want him?”
“He’s not my
type.”
“Give me a
break. You jump his bones every time he’s in town, but he’s not your type?”
“He’s a great
guy to have some fun with, but even if I was looking for a serious relationship
at the moment, which I’m not, he’s not what I would be looking for.”
Ashley lifted
her hand and started ticking off on her fingers. “He’s steaming hot. He’s
funny. He’s crazy about you. He’s—”
“A Marine.”
“What’s wrong
with that?”
Nina was glad
Jackie hadn’t arrived yet to overhear. “I’m not interested in getting serious
with a guy who’s actively in the military. It’s a rule I’ve always had, and I
never would have had anything to do with Bobby at all if I thought he would ever
want to pursue anything more serious than the casual arrangement we have now.”
“Why not? Wasn’t
your dad in the Navy?”
“Exactly. So I
know what it’s like to be a military wife. You don’t just marry the man, you
marry the military. It’s just as much as part of the wife’s life as it is the
husband’s. When I do get married, I want to marry a man, not an organization.
It’s just not a lifestyle I want.”
“Who said
anything about marriage? He just wants to date you.”
“And for the
last three years, all he’s wanted was sex. That changed, so the dating probably
will too. Besides, what’s the point in dating if it’s not going to go
anywhere?”
“It would give
you time to come to your senses by the time it does go somewhere.”
“I’m in perfect
control of my senses. I’ve always known exactly what I wanted from my life,
both personally and professionally. And I know that I don’t want to get
involved with a sailor or a soldier—or a Marine,” she added. “Case closed.”
“You’re really
going to throw away the chance at something special just because you don’t like
one little thing about him?”
“It’s not one
little thing. It’s an integral part of who he is, and one that tells me it’s
not meant to be. Everybody has someone who’s right for them, and Bobby’s not
right for me.”
Ashley
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