Free House Rules by Rebecca Brooke Page A

my parents did each other when they met.
    “. . . knew she’d be back in a few days to pick up her car. I decided to make that day as memorable as possible. That way, when I wanted to take her out again, there would be no way she’d tell me no.”
    “This is supposed to be my story.” Mom gave Dad the fake pout that always got her anything she wanted.
    “Then please continue, my dear. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Most people would take his comment sarcastically, but that was the exact opposite of how he meant it. He genuinely wouldn’t want to upset my mom in any way. According to my dad, the sun and moon rose and set with her.
    She winked at my dad and continued. “As I was saying, he let me leave, promising my car would be ready in a few days and that he’d give me a call when I could pick it up. About three days later, I got the call. When I arrived, Malcolm stood outside leaning against the driver’s side door. He handed me the paperwork and the keys. I looked down to make sure everything was in order, when I noticed that there were no payments listed. When I told him there was a mistake, he completely denied it and turned to the payoff page which showed the car had been paid in full. I threw my arms around him and before I knew what was happening our lips were locked in a kiss. I felt the—”
    “Tingle all the way down to my toes,” Ashton finished, cringing. “We get it. None of us want to hear that part. Move on, please.”
    He was right. I definitely did not want to hear about my mom sticking her tongue down my dad’s throat. There were some things you couldn’t force yourself to forget, but I tried to keep those thoughts at the back of my mind.
    “Please, Ashton.” She rolled her eyes and continued. “Anyway, that night he took me to dinner. We spent the entire evening talking, getting to know one another. One date and I was hooked. The rest is history.” She gestured over at me with her eyes still on Elena. “Now you know why I think there is still hope for Miller. One day he’s going to meet the woman of his dreams and fall head over heels for her, like his father did.’
    “That sounds exactly like Miller.” Elena smiled. “Now we need to keep helping him look for her.”
    “Yes. Anyone working on the show?”
    “Let me—”
    “Goddamn it. Drop it,” I snapped, fed up with the conversation as a whole. Was no one listening to me or what I wanted?
    Mom bristled beside me. “Drop it?”
    “Yes! I’m done with this conversation. I don’t want a girlfriend, or a wife. I want to live my life the way I choose, without everyone interfering.” I jumped up from my seat, grabbed my coat, and turned for the door. A home-cooked meal wasn’t worth the aggravation.
    “Miller, you better turn around and get your ass in my office before I drag it there.” The low tone made it clear that ignoring him was not an option.
    With a groan, I tossed my coat back down and stormed down the hall to his office, ignoring everyone else in the room. Some days it felt like hewas two different people. There were times he was my dad: the loving man who raised me, giving me and my brother everything we needed. Then there was my father: the head of the family business, who expected us to take over for him and do as he said, no questions asked.
    Right then, I knew there no point in trying to avoid the fight.
    Tonight I was dealing with my father.
     
     
     

CHAPTER 7
    Miller
     
    Standing at the window, I waited. No doubt my father was trying to console Mom and Elena, even though they were the ones who had pushed the issue. And now he was going to rip me a new asshole for standing up for myself.
    Figures.
    The door slammed behind me, rattling in its frame. Years ago I would have jumped out of my skin at the sound. Younger and weaker, I would have been scared shitless of my father’s wrath, but now it served as a reason to be even more pissed off.
    “Whose house do you think you’re fuckin’ standing