Breaking the Rules
By: Melinda Dozier
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Published: July 8, 2013
Genre: Romance
A forbidden love affair in the past has led Hope Robinson, a middle school principal, to Harbor Bay, Florida, where she commits herself to play by the rules. This can be difficult for a perpetual klutz, who—even strapped in a cast—has to uphold a competent attitude at all times.
Luckily, she has Dr. Colin Calaway on her side, a widower and father of a student, who is ready to give love another try. When Colin convinces Hope they should explore the connection between them, a steamy romance develops, though it could destroy them both. They must decide if their jobs—and their hearts—are worth the risk.
Her mouth fell open and she touched her parted lips. “Are you kidding me?”
He shook his head and backed away. “It’s all yours.”
At the closest table to the stage, he sat in a chair and watched Hope stroke the baby grand piano next to her. Her fingers caressed the keys, then she glanced around the room. Looking back at him, she mouthed, “I can’t.”
He mouthed back, “Yes, you can.”
She giggled and bit her lip. Squeezing her eyes shut, he saw her take one of her yoga deep breaths. She sat down at the piano bench, her fingers outstretched on top. After a few more breaths, she looked more at ease. Colin smiled. He couldn’t help himself. She looked like she actually belonged on that stage.
Tucker brought over a beer and gazed at Hope on stage. “She’s a looker.”
“I can’t wait to hear her.”
“Let me get her started, then.” Tucker headed to the stage and stood in front of the microphone. When he nodded at Hope, she nodded back in acknowledgement and then he announced to the seven or eight people in the audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an impromptu performance. Give it up for Ms. Hope Robinson.”
A few claps sounded, and then Colin heard the keys of the piano. A soft tune that complemented this soft Hope. Smiling, he took a sip of his beer and relaxed. She actually did this, no qualms, no major retorts, just a simple, “okay, I’m in for it” attitude that turned him on even more.
So far, he’d seen two sides of Hope. There was the Ms. Robinson side, the principal who was all business, straight and narrow. Then there was the fun Hope—his friend, damn it—who laughed at his jokes, relaxed and open. Up on the stage, Hope turned into yet another person. An artist. Soft. Gentle. Almost pure. And she was really talented. So much so that he closed his eyes and imagined she played to him, and only him … and okay, he couldn’t help himself. She was naked. A man could dream, couldn’t he?
The tune was nice, somewhat jazzy with a touch of classical. He was no music connoisseur, but he knew when music sounded good. Opening his eyes, he saw her lean into the keys, feeling in her touch, her eyes closed and her head moving. This Hope was a sensual one. He wanted her to play him like she played that piano. Stroking, with a tenderness that only she knew, telling a story with the sounds.
Shit. This friends bit wouldn’t pass. If he couldn’t convince her otherwise after today, he would have to ignore her completely, or else he would go crazy. And he didn’t want to ignore her. He wanted to take this to the next level, and by God, he would kiss her again by the end of the night if it killed him.
Melinda Dozier lives in Guatemala, Central America, with her husband, three boys and German Shepherd. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they’re grown.
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