Breaking the Rules

By Rebecca K Watts

Never in Eric James’s wildest dreams did he think he’d run into her, his sister’s best friend, and a kid much too young for him to have a crush on. Back then four years made a big difference but not anymore, not when she’d developed into an amazing woman.

After a failed relationship Astrid Holmes decided she needed to set some ground rules for her life and to save herself from heartache. Rule 1 no married men, Rule 2 no coworkers, and Rule 3 definitely no more white men. Her last experience had left her drained.

Just one night, that’s all she’d give him. Get it out her system, get over her heartbreak and move on. That is until Astrid interviews for a job and Eric ends up being her boss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Passionate Writer Publishing
• Release date: Jun 15, 2015

Book preview

Breaking the Rules

by

Rebecca K. Watts

Ebook Edition

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

AFM Romance

Copyright © 2015 by Rebecca K. Watts

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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AFM Romance

Never in Eric James’s wildest dreams did he think he’d run into her, his sister’s best friend, and a kid much too young for him to have a crush on. Back then four years made a big difference but not anymore, not when she’d developed into an amazing woman.

After a failed relationship Astrid Holmes decided she needed to set some ground rules for her life and to save herself from heartache. Rule 1 no married men, Rule 2 no coworkers, and Rule 3 definitely no more white men. Her last experience had left her drained.

Just one night, that’s all she’d give him. Get it out her system, get over her heartbreak and move on. That is until Astrid interviews for a job and Eric ends up being her boss.

Breaking the Rules

Rebecca K. Watts

Chapter One

Astrid Holmes beamed as she settled into the firm material of her chair. Finally, after a year of waiting she and Charles were on a date without her looking over her shoulder. Though he and his wife were legally separated, being with a married man never suited her.

He’d come through on the promise he’d made to her. The moment the divorce was final, he’d take her out to celebrate. And, there they were.

Charles flashed Astrid his winning smile with the dimple in his left cheek as the waiter filled their glasses with more wine and walked away. That smile, the same one which caught her eye at the company picnic a year earlier. He’d been a guest of one of her male coworkers. Charles had charmed his way into her heart.

Did you enjoy your dinner? He asked placing his napkin on top of his empty plate.

Yes. Thinking about being in his arms later, she added with a sultry low voice. But, I prefer my company better.

About that. He adjusted the red and black tie he’d chosen for the occasion. Another thing she admired about him. The man can dress. Now that my divorce is final, I think I need to take some time for me.

Astrid’s smile faded. Meaning? The slow sound of a warning began deep in the crevices of her mind but she forced it away to focus on where this conversation was going.

I’m newly single. I think I need to enjoy being single for a while.

Single? We’ve been together a year.

Have we? I considered us great friends, he said smugly. I never meant to hurt you. But, I started going to counseling to work on me. We should have never gone down this road while I was dealing with this.

She wanted to take her glass of wine and pour it on his head. This was the same man who’d pursued her for months. He’d broken down her rules of never dealing with a married man, promised her he was different and now he’d turned into everything she’d feared.

I can’t believe this.

It’s nothing to do with you. You’re an amazing woman, but I have to do this for me.

Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach. For years she’d been the person there for him and now she was pitched to the side.

Then what was all of this? She waved her hand around the elegant restaurant. Her voice went up an octave and she knew she was causing a scene but at this moment she didn’t care.

I want us to still be friends. Nothing wrong with taking a friend out to eat.

She glared at him. Balled her fists tight and then released them. It did nothing to alleviate her tension. You know what? I have enough real friends. I wouldn’t wish a man like you on my worst enemy. You came in my life with all these hopes and promises that I now know was nothing but lies, she breathed out, willing the tears she felt forming to not fall.

It’s not like that. He shook his head.

Really? You didn’t just use me for a year as a buffer to get through your divorce?

He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it.

Astrid stood. No way was she sitting there with him any longer. She grabbed her clutch purse off the edge of the table and rushed out of the front door. Leaving him and his lies behind.

It was time for a change. Some new rules in her life and she’d start with no married men no matter if they are legally divorced and not living together and number two no white men. For some reason the pain seemed worse coming from him than it had with the black men in her life, then again none of the relationships had lasted more than six months. Still—she’d find her a nice black man and who knows…maybe he would want to even marry her, instead of using her.

*****

Astrid nervously wrung her hands together as she waited for more people to show up. The meeting room was smaller than the others but still accommodated up to forty people. How in the world did she let her friend convince her into doing this? Oh yes. She needed the money. In less than a month she’d been dumped and downsized from her job.

She scanned the room, taking in the pink-and-black themed A.C. Secret Things bridal shower decorations for the hundredth time. The assortment of adult toys lay on the counter, no differently than flavored candy. Astrid was far from a prude but being a consultant for a couples party made her nervous. She’d just gotten used to the all women parties, but as times were changing, more and more men were joining in on the fun.

The problem was this wasn’t supposed to be her event. In fact, nothing about the entire thing was her idea. Casey had to cancel at the last minute for a family emergency, and the next thing, Astrid knew she’d been thrust an all expenses trip to the Dominican Republic. The trip was due to Casey winning a drawing from A.C. Secret Things, and the other was being picked to host a party for a couple she’d connected with online. Well, not she, but Casey set it up.

Astrid shook hands and welcomed people into the room. Please enjoy the refreshments and feel free to mingle about. We’ll be getting started shortly.

The maid of honor stood next to her, passing out name tags to help her along. It would be beneficial for the games later on.

Hi, I’m Astrid. Thank you for coming. She smiled at the group of women who entered.

As the next couple arrived, her eyes widened and she felt queasy. In walked Eric James, her childhood friend’s brother, her tormentor for most of her childhood years and her secret crush. His over six foot tall and broad frame, sandy brown hair, and winning smiling nearly undid her. Attached to him was a supermodel or at least she looked like one—perfect brown hair, flawless skin, insanely thin, and beautiful smile.

Astrid smoothed down the front of her polo shirt as feelings of inadequacy set in. Why oh why had she chosen today to pull her hair up in a ponytail? She could have let her natural curls flow freely. So what if the humidity would have taken over and added a bit a frizz to it. The style would be much better than the hap hazard ball on top of her head.

A questioning look appeared on Eric’s face as he tilted his head to the side. Astrid?

Hey. Her stomach did flip flops.

You know her? the woman asked in a Russian, or some eastern accent that Astrid couldn’t be sure of.

Yes, it’s my sister’s best friend. His hand went for Astrid’s curly hair.

Oh hell no. She ducked just in time before he rubbed the top of her head as if she were some sort of a