Rules for Dating a Romantic Hero Read Online Free PDF Page B

stood still for a few moments, looking around her, and then began throwing her things into an overnight bag. She found her hands were shaking.
There are problems with Laura. I mean, we all love her, but let’s face it, she’s not a country type.
No, I’m bloody well not. She wanted to open the windows and scream at the departing visitors,
    I’m from Harrow! I got a rosebud duvet set from Marks & Spencer for my tenth birthday! My mum collects coupons! I’m like you! Take me with you!
    She had already finished packing when Nick came in.
    ‘Sorry about that. Cynthia’s daughter’s dog just won a prize at the county fair and I’d promised I’d go and I couldn’t because of today …’
    Laura zipped up the bag.
Is this Marian? Dog or daughter?
she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t. Before today she would have done; they’d have laughed, and Marian would have been added to their long list of little jokes that only they shared. Like shouting ‘SWAN!’ loudly every time they saw a swan (from the film
Hot Fuzz
). Or saying, ‘She sells sea shells on the sea shore,’ as fast as possible whenever they passed a Little Chef in the car.
    ‘You’re not going now,’ Nick said. It was a statement, not a question.
    ‘Yeah, I am. I’ll catch the seven o’clock train. I can be back home by nine, I’ve got work to do.’ She fiddled with the zip again, not knowing what to do next. ‘I guess I’ll see you soon.’
    ‘Laura,’ Nick put his hands on her shoulders and said softly, ‘I mean it. You know I didn’t say that. I don’t know what Rose is talking about. Don’t you believe me?’
    ‘I want to believe you,’ she said in a small voice. ‘The trouble is I don’t. Why would Rose make all that stuff up? “It’ll all be sorted out by the end of the year.” What did she mean?’
    Nick’s face was still right in front of hers. She stared up into his dark eyes, willing him to say something, anything that would explain it.
I’m selling the house. I’m studying for an A Level in Clown Studies and I have to appear in pantomime for the whole of December as part of my coursework. We’ll be engaged by then.
But she knew Nick, and what she loved most of all about him is that he always told the truth. He couldn’t lie, he was incapable of it. The most he’d ever deceived her was when they’d first met.
    Now she looked at him.
    ‘Do you see me here with you at the end of the year? Us together?’
    He paused, and in that tiny, fatal second she knew something was up.
    ‘Yes, of course. I mean, I know we’ve had things to sort out, and that this is a strange time for us, but for God’s sake Laura, yes of course.’
    Laura could feel her heart thumping hard in her chest again. She swallowed. Was this it? ‘Right. So, what do you think needs to happen, then? Do I need to go on a course to learn how to be a proper lady? A bit like your sisters?’
    ‘Don’t be childish.’
    ‘I’m not being childish.’ Laura’s blood thundered in her ears. ‘Nick, can’t you see? This is all wrong. This isn’t how we’re supposed to be. We’ve let all these other things, all these people, tell us what to think and how to be.’ She picked up the bag, bending over so he couldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes, then straightened up, trying to sound calm. ‘I thought things would be different when I came back fr … from the States. But the same old problems keep coming up again. The same … things.’ She tried not to let her voice break. ‘I should go. It’s best if I – look, maybe I won’t come down next week.’
    ‘You can’t just run out again, like you did last time,’ Nick said, his eyes glittering with anger. ‘You’ve got this damned shop now, that should keep you here if nothing else does.’
    ‘I’m so glad you see it like that. As some kind of anchor to tie me here. Nick, I want to be here, but I … I don’t know what’s up with you lately.’
    ‘I wish you’d just trust me.’ He turned