Free Breaking All The Rules (Book 1 - Second Chances Series) by Rhonda McKnight Page A

still there?”
    I turned my back to Ethan a bit and whispered. “That’s none of your business.”
    “I’m concerned is all. I know my cousin can be an interesting kind of guy.”
    “Well, I like interesting. It’s better than boring,” I snapped nastily.
    “Are you implying that I’m boring because I didn’t want to move to New York?”
    “I’m not implying –” I stopped myself. What was I doing? I didn’t argue with Terrance when we were dating. I certainly wasn’t going to argue with him now that we weren’t.  “Give Janette my love.” I pushed the end button and  twisted back around in my seat to face Ethan again.
    “Janette’s fine, but I gather Terrance is not.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
    “He’s nervous about the marriage, feeling guilty about the pregnancy and you and also hating the fact that you’re with me. It’s enough to make a preacher’s boy reach for the bottle.”
    I shook my head. “That’s ridiculous.”
    “He’s eating his cake and wanting it too.”
    “Men.”
    “Can’t live with them. Can’t live with them.” Ethan winked.
    I laughed at the play on words. “Just can’t live with them,” I said. “Do you want your ice cream?”
    He stretched like a cat and rubbed his belly. “I’ve got some more room, but can we take it in the living room?”
    “I’ll meet you there.”
    The television was on when I entered the living room with our bowls of ice cream. “I thought I was going to have to watch the football game.” 
    “I won’t bore you. My favorite crime drama is on BBC America.”
    I sat down and folded my legs under my bottom. I could still do that thanks to yoga. “I can’t say I watch British television.”
    “You’ll love this. It’s a psychological thriller. Cop show.”
    Ethan sounded excited. I was not. “I scare easy.”
    “I’ll protect you.” He flashed that million dollar smile that I’d seen on countless magazine covers, blogs and television clips. He was much more handsome in person. I’d never noticed. I guess Terrance was throwing shade.
    “You won’t be here all night.”
    “I can sleep right here on this sofa. I’m very disciplined. It’s yourself you’ll have to worry about.” He winked and shoved a large spoon of ice cream in his mouth. I pursed my lips. Ethan laughed. “I’m messing with you. It’s so much fun. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been with a grown woman that blushed so much.”
    “Blush?” I avoided his eyes by digging around in my ice cream bowl. “I’m not blushing.”
    “You’ve been blushing all day. It started in the tuxedo shop.” He put more ice cream in his mouth. “Don’t worry. It’s a good thing. A sign of innocence and that’s rare.”
    “Are you sure it’s innocence and not naïvety?”
    Ethan squinted. “You would never have survived in New York City for this long if you were naïve.”
    “It’s possible to be savvy in business and not so smart in your personal life.”
    “Are you questioning yourself, because of Terrance or does some other fool have you twisted?” he asked.
    I sighed and put my bowl down. “I’m not questioning myself at all or at least I didn’t think I was.”
    “Well, I know one thing you need to question and that’s making rules about who to date and who not to date, especially that age thing.”
    I pulled back my neck and looked him up and down. “Would that be because that age thing pertains to you?”
    “Nah,” he shook his head. “I’m not the least bit interested in you.”
    He laughed out loud and I joined him. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be. Had I misread him?
    “Seriously,” he continued. “You could miss out on a really nice guy by setting that kind of limitation and you could end up with a real jerk that’s just the right age for you.”
    “Ethan…”
    He raised a hand to shush me. “I said my piece.” He picked up the remote and unmuted the volume. “Let’s