Breaking All My Rules by Trice Hickman Page B

ass had the nerve to slither up to our table while he was on a date, and then lie about it.”
    â€œWell, he did eventually come clean and admit that she was more than a colleague.”
    â€œYeah, but only after you busted him for trying to front. Deceitful bastard!”
    â€œI’m sorry I mentioned his name.”
    â€œThat makes two of us. And while we’re on the subject—”
    Erica cut her off in mid-sentence. “Before you say another word or ask again, I’m over him for real. I just get lonely sometimes. But I’m not walking back across that bridge. He’s clearly moved on, and I need to as well.”
    â€œWhen, Erica?”
    â€œNow.”
    Ashley sucked her teeth and sighed again. “How can you do that when you won’t even make time to clear your schedule for a date, or go out someplace where you’ll meet someone?”
    â€œI told you about everything that’s going on at Opulence and the deadline I’m under for Fashion Week. I need to take care of business first. Then I’ll worry about finding a date.”
    â€œAt the end of the day everything is going to work out just fine. The swag bags will be a tremendous hit, you’ll get beaucoup orders from coast to coast for Paradise, which will become the hot new must-have beauty item, you’ll be featured in a national magazine that’ll have a big picture of you cheesin’ in front of Opulence, and guess what?”
    â€œWhat?” Erica asked excitedly, thinking about all the great things that were about to come.
    â€œAfter all the accolades and frenzy, you’ll end up doing exactly what I know you’re doing right now, which is sitting behind that big ol’ desk in your home office on a lonely afternoon, all by yourself, with no one to share your accomplishments with except your spreadsheets.”
    There was a brief moment of silence.
    â€œOuch, Ash. That really hurt.”
    â€œIt was supposed to. You need tough love, and I’m going to give it to you because I love you.” Ashley paused before she said her next words. “Please don’t live a life full of regrets. You’re much too brilliant and fabulous to fall into that trap.”
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    That evening, as Erica sat on her couch, eating a bowl of mint chocolate-chip ice cream all by herself, she thought long and hard about her life, and it occurred to her that she didn’t like being alone. During the day, when she was out and about at Opulence, attending meetings, running errands, or hanging out with friends, she was surrounded by liveliness and fun. But when she came home to her castle of a row house in the trendy Dupont Circle neighborhood at the end of the day, there was nothing. No one to talk to. No one to laugh with. And no one to hold.
    â€œI’ve got to make a change,” Erica whispered aloud. She rose from the couch and dumped her ice cream down the sink before heading upstairs to her bedroom.
    After a quick shower she was in bed, setting her alarm clock. She knew that change could be unpredictable and full of ups and downs, so if she was going to start a new journey, she needed a good night’s sleep to prepare for it. She turned onto her side and snuggled her head against her fluffy pillow as she drifted off into dreamland, envisioning a new life for herself and the beautiful Great Dane, whom she hoped would be a part of it.

Chapter 10
    E rica rose from bed before her alarm had a chance to make a sound. She was glad that on this predawn Monday morning, her excitement, rather than a wretched nightmare, had called her from her slumber. In fact, she was so eager for the day to begin that she practically leapt out of bed. Starting off the day with hope instead of night sweats was a welcome change.
    Erica had been secretly excited about today since last Friday afternoon, but she’d refused to acknowledge it or give in to the emotion until her phone conversation with