Breaking the Rules by Hb Heinzer Read Free Book Online Page B

me what this is to you."
    While Carly tried to formulate an answer, the server returned with their meals. She pushed a piece of squash from one side of her plate to the other and back again over and over, avoiding eye contact. Every bite of smothered chicken she placed in her mouth caught in the tightness of her throat. Without finishing a third of her dinner, she placed a napkin over her food and pushed the plate aside.
    Adam asked again where she saw them going as they waited for the check. When Carly didn't answer his question, he didn't push. She could tell by looking in his eyes that he was just as conflicted as she was. They weren't the brilliant blue they had been this morning. They were a dull gray tonight.
    In a punk move, Carly decided to answer him as they walked through the crowded restaurant toward the exit. "I want this," she said quietly. The thought of saying it while she had his undivided attention intimidated her.
    "What was that?" Adam stopped in the middle of the aisle, and a server carrying a large tray filled with food nearly mowed him down. Carly had to pull Adam out of the way before they caused a scene in the packed restaurant.
    She wasn't ready to say it again, so she nodded towards the door. Once they were outside, Carly wrapped her arms around Adam resting her head against his chest. "I don't know..."
    Carly realized she was becoming everything she hated in most of her female friends. She felt weak. She was being manipulative. Most of the time, she lacked any sort of filter that would stop her feelings from spewing out of her mouth. Until Adam.
    Carly took a deep breath, "I want to see what happens," she said. The light returned to Adam's eyes at her hopeful words. She was going to get what she wanted. "But there's one condition."
    "A condition?" Adam repeated. He kissed the top of her head again as he held her, "Name it."
    Her emerald eyes rose to meet his for the first time since dinner. "Well, I don't know if you're a good kisser or not," she said mirthlessly. "How can I make a decision without all the facts?"
    "I guess we'll need to rectify that situation," he said as if he were in negotiations on a project bid. Without considering that they were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, Adam gently leaned down until his lips met hers. She hesitated briefly at the feel of his slightly chapped lips softly brushing hers before parting her lips in invitation. Adam captured her lower lip between his teeth slowly releasing it before probing his tongue deeper into her mouth. When she moaned in pleasure against him, he pulled back, staring into her eyes for a nearly uncomfortable amount of time.
    "That," Adam breathed against her ear, "was just a warm-up. I'll give you a real kiss when we get home."

Chapter Four
    It would have been a discredit to call Adam an excellent kisser. The truth was the kiss he called a 'warm-up kiss' was better than any Carly could remember. Without question, it was the best first kiss she had ever experienced. Adam kept his promise that he would give her real kisses when they arrived at her apartment. There were many, many kisses, and each one seemed better than the one before.
    “ When do you fly out?” Carly asked. Now that they had decided to see where things went between them, she felt the need to steel herself for his departure. She would have much rather stayed nestled against him in silence, but she needed to know.
    Adam pulled her into his lap. “I’ll head out about five.” He said burying his face in Carly’s long waves. “I have two meetings in the morning, but then I’ll come back here. Do you work tomorrow?”
    Carly shook her head, grateful that tomorrow was her last day off for the week.
    “ Good,” he said relieved. “Want to catch a matinee before I go?”
    Carly smiled , knowing that he was trying to fill his remaining time here in the city by spending it with her. She nodded.
    ***
    Thanks to the weight of having any sort of label on what they were