Wrong (Breaking the Rules) Read Online Free PDF Page A

involved with her various social groups.”
    “So you’re a New Yorker like me? I knew I liked you,” I teased, winking at her. She giggled again and sipped her wine.
    “Jordan, what were your plans before you were thrust into running your dad’s company? I’m assuming that’s right considering you mentioned your father passed on.”
    “You’re right about that part. Actually, I always looked up to my dad. Jackson and I wanted to be just like him. Both of us went to college wanting to help him with his company. Jackson is the true architect at heart, and I’m more of a businessman. Even though I majored in architectural design, I took all of my electives in business.”
    “Did you go to Columbia?”
    “No, I didn’t,” I said shyly.
    She smiled at me. “CUNY is a good school too. No need to be embarrassed.” Now I really was embarrassed because I certainly didn’t go to The City University of New York.
    “I didn’t go there either. I went to school out of state,” I muttered, trying to drop the subject. Pepper was used to being the smarter one of her peers. She already had me pegged as a dumb tough guy who’d inherited Daddy’s company. Why change the stereotype now?
    “Jordan, you’re killing me. Tell me where you went.”
    “Princeton.”
    “Get the fuck out of here. No really, tell me where you went.”
    I just stared at her while she let it sink in. Her mouth hung open but she was smiling a really goofy smile, which made me laugh. So she had a thing for smart guys? Oh, I could be smart.
    “Top five of my class.” Now she was laughing.
    “Jordan, you continually surprise me. I’ll give you that.”
    When our dinner arrived, we chatted easily about college life. I discovered that she hadn’t done the whole sorority scene—no surprise there—and that she’d met Andi her freshman year. She told me about the recent drama she’d been through trying to keep Andi on the right path after her breakup with Bray. I’d learned a little bit about that this afternoon when Jackson and Bray almost beat the shit out of each other over Andi. Pepper also said that Andi and their roommate Olive were her only friends. She seemed embarrassed about that. More time for me, I thought selfishly.
    After a bottle and a half of wine between us, conversation was flowing effortlessly. Pepper was incredibly intelligent, and it was nice talking with a woman who actually understood everything I had to say. She seemed equally pleased.
    When the server brought us our check, she tried unsuccessfully to take it from me.
    “Jordan, let me pay. It’s the least I can do since you stepped up to do the sponsorship.” I smiled at her and shook my head.
    “Pepper, this is a date. The man always pays on a real date.”
    She huffed at my macho attitude. After leaving a wad of cash on the table, I led her out of the restaurant and back to the valet area. We were quiet while we waited for them to retrieve the car.
    Once back in the car, she spoke. “Thanks for dinner, Jordan. I actually had a nice time.” She said it like she was surprised.
    “Not all of your dates are that fun?” I joked, chuckling. She was silent and just shook her head, looking out the window. I reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it.
    Finally, she decided to elaborate. “Would you believe I’ve never been on a date before?”
    I nearly crashed the car as I looked over at her in shock.
    “What? You’re kidding, right? Pepper, you’re a freaking knockout. Don’t tell me you don’t have the guys falling at your feet.”
    “No. There were a few suitors, but I always declined their offers. I would have declined yours too, but you tricked me into it.”
    I laughed, proud that I had done the impossible. “Pepper, let me take you on a real date. Tonight was mostly business. I want to have a night that’s mostly pleasure.”
    She started to pull her hand from my grasp but I just gripped her tighter.
    “I’ll think about it, Jordan.”
    I’ll