Breaking the Rules Read Online Free Page B

waved for the waitress. “More Coke over here!”
    â€œOkay. Calm down.” She fanned him, then herself.
    â€œWhew!” He held out his palm in a stop motion. “I’ve got it under control.”
    She placed her hands firmly on the table. “I’m afraid Jason’s going to be disappointed. I have a rule that I can’t date fathers of my students.” She faced Colin.
    He looked her in the eyes and lifted an eyebrow. “Rules are made to be broken.”
    She shook her head and gave a school marm face. “Not my rules.” Then she licked the last spot of dressing on the corner of her mouth.
    Damn woman! Did she know what licking lips did to a man?
    â€œHere’s your Coke and the bill.” The waitress laid down the ticket and walked away.
    He drank his soda. “So, are you seeing anyone?” To hell with being laid back. His chance with Hope stood wide open. It was now or never.
    She took a bite and waited to answer. “Not unless you count my cat, Yoko.”
    â€œYoko?” Jason surprised them, standing next to the table, and sat down. “How’d you pick that name?”
    â€œWell, when I taught fourth grade a few years ago, I had a contest to name my new kitty. We had just learned about The Beatles and the rest is history.”
    â€œMs. Robinson?” A woman stood at the edge of the booth. “Dr. Calaway?”
    Colin stopped eating and wiped his hands on another napkin. “Hi, Mrs. Morales. Nice to see you.” Great. The town busy body checked them out. Colin looked at Hope to gauge her reaction and she tugged her shirt down as she kept her chin in the air.
    â€œMrs. Morales.” She nodded at the lady.
    Who was this woman to her? Oh, yeah. She was in charge of some board group or something, he remembered from the last PTA bulletin he barely read.
    â€œIt’s nice to see you two — eating dinner — together.” She watched both of them.
    Jason piped in. “My dad and I come here every weekend. We just saw Ms. Robinson and invited her to eat with us.”
    â€œHow lovely. I’m picking up a takeout pizza.” She held up the pizza box and shot all three of them one last look before turning away. “Have a nice night.”
    Hope placed her fork down into her almost empty salad. She fiddled with the small gold chain around her neck, stopped and frowned. “I guess that’s my cue I should be leaving.”
    â€œDon’t let her ruin our dinner.” Colin placed his hand on her arm.
    Hope looked down at his hand and back up. “No, really, I’m stuffed and it’s getting late. Can you hand me my purse? It’s on your side of the booth, Jason.”
    He handed it to her. “We usually have sundaes after. You don’t wanna come?”
    â€œThere’s a Marble Slab Creamery next door.” Colin wagged his eyebrows. “It really cools you off.”
    Hope laughed as she slid out of the booth. “I could use some cooling off, but I better leave.” She placed her hand over her trim stomach. “It was fun, Jason.”
    Jason waved as he crammed a piece of crust into his mouth and then ran to the arcade area again.
    Hope took out her wallet and Colin rose behind her. “I’ll take care of the bill.”
    She tugged her purse strap across her shoulder. “Such gentlemen, the Calaways.” She smiled. “Thanks for inviting me to join you.”
    â€œLet’s do it again sometime.” His gaze roamed her body, from her eyes to her toes and back again. The hairs stood up on his arms and a tingling prickled across his stomach. He did not want to lose his chance of getting to know Hope. There was a connection — one he couldn’t ignore because it had been a long time since he felt an initial attraction like this. Her mouth curved into a smile and she pointed at him. “I take that back. You are no gentleman.”
    Colin smirked and