Breaking the Rules Read Online Free PDF Page A

apologize.’
    Geo wore a shamefaced expression, and she slowly walked across the hall, pushing back her long blonde hair, shaking her head regretfully. ‘I’m sorry, M, really sorry. I shouldn’t have accused you, shouldn’t have paid attention to Alice. She is a bit of an old busybody, I suppose. But I’ve been perturbed about Dax and our relationship. I think he’s lost interest in me, and I really do care about him.’
    ‘Apology accepted, Geo. Are you in love with him? Is that what you’re saying?’
    ‘Yes, I am. And I thought he felt the same. Now I’m not so sure. Has he said anything to you? About me, or us ?’
    M shook her head, and quickly changing the subject she asked, ‘Did you knock something over when you came into the house? I heard a crash, like metal hitting a hard surface.’
    Geo nodded and gestured towards the wrought-iron coat stand. ‘I walked slap-bang into that, and I reckon it woke you up, right?’
    ‘Yes, it did, and then I heard a fainter sound of something metallic hitting the floor. What was that?’
    ‘My flashlight.’ Geo began to laugh unexpectedly. ‘I’m an idiot, creeping into my own house like this, walking into the hat stand, dropping a flashlight, and wondering, somewhat worriedly I might add, if I was going to catch you and Dax in a hot clinch in your bed. And wondering how I would handle that. ’
    M joined in her laughter, and stood up. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’d like a cup of tea, or hot milk, or something like that. What do you fancy?’
    ‘To be honest, a vodka. How about you?’
    ‘That sounds great…it’ll help to calm me down.’
    Geo glanced at her swiftly, frowning. ‘I really frightened you, didn’t I?’
    ‘Yes. Absolutely. I knew someone was here in the hall. I was prepared to knock him down and get out into the street.’ She patted the old Louis Vuitton shoulder bag. ‘I stuffed this with a few essentials, like my phone and wallet, as well as the door key, just in case I had to run.’
    ‘That was smart of you.’ Turning, Geo walked towards the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, ‘Come on, M, let’s have that drink. I think you might need it more than me. You’re as white as a sheet.’
    Geo moved around the kitchen swiftly, taking a bottle of vodka out of the freezer, then filling a glass bowl with ice. As she arranged these items on a tray and went back to get a lime out of the refrigerator, her thoughts settled on M for a few moments. She liked her tenant, or ‘paying guest’ as M preferred to call herself, and she was filled with chagrin for having even considered the idea that M might be having a relationship with Dax.
    How truly stupid she had been to think such a thing; even more stupid to have crept into her own house at such a late hour, expecting to find them together. She must use much better judgement in the future; certainly she must question Alice Foley more carefully whenever she called her in New Jersey. Her next-door neighbour meant well, but she had jumped to silly conclusions earlier this evening.
    Taking two glasses out of the glass-fronted cabinet, Geo stole a surreptitious look at M, who was sitting at the kitchen table, lost in her own meandering thoughts and looking forlorn.
    There was no question in Geo’s mind that M had beenfrightened to death when she had crept downstairs clutching the umbrella. The girl’s face still remained pale—was almost translucent—and apprehension lingered in those dark eyes. Poor kid, Geo thought, she has enough problems without me adding to them, scaring her when she was asleep.
    Geo was a smart and intelligent young woman, and at twenty-eight she had lived life to the hilt; she’d seen enough to have certain insights into people. And she had recognized right from the start that M, full name Marie Marsden, had class, came from a good family, and had obviously had a superior upbringing. She had impeccable manners, a cultured, rather beautiful speaking voice, and