Breaking All The Rules (Book 1 - Second Chances Series) by Rhonda McKnight Page B

but I’m not sure what the point is when he designs such amazing stilettos.” I smiled and put my foot down. “I thought you liked my heels.”
    “I do, but hey, we’re shopping. I’m a practical guy,” he said and then mumbled, “I’m not trying to carry you all day either.”
    I laughed. “Don’t worry. My heels are an extension of my legs.”
    He shook his head and started the engine. “They’re your feet, babe. Address please. I like to use my navigation when I’m in riding with a pretty lady. Cool points stay up if I don’t get lost.”
    I gave him the side eye and then nodded toward the navigation system. “You must wear out the computer on those things.”
    He chuckled. “She’s got jokes this morning. This truck stays in Garrison, so not many women have been in it.”
    I wasn’t taking that bait. It was too early to talk about his love life. I read off the address and watched as he programmed the fancy buttons on the dash and we pulled out of the driveway. “It’s amazing the technology we have now. I’m waiting for the day when the Jetsons reality comes to fruition. You know, cars driving themselves.”
    Ethan shrugged. “I’m sure they’re working on it, but I won’t buy. I personally love to get behind the wheel of a car.”
    “I wish I felt the same. I dread it,” I said, anticipating impending nausea. I’d forgotten to pick up  motion sickness meds yesterday. 
    I noticed his eye knit over his brow. “Car travel is kind of a weird phobia. I remember you were in college when you finally passed the driver test. Terrance was relieved. He was sick of being your personal driver’s ed. teacher.”
    “And he was a horrible teacher,” I said.
    “I couldn’t wait to get my license. Driving was a rite of passage. Why so late for you?”
    I propped an elbow on the window frame and rested my head against my fist. “I don’t know. I’ve always been car sick for as long as I can remember. I wasn’t looking forward to driving.”
    “Some people are like that,” he said. “You ever try to figure out why?”
    I shook my head, feeling suddenly claustrophobic about the conversation. “You don’t mind if we change the subject.”
    Ethan nodded and silence filled the car. I sensed he was giving me time with my emotions, time to get used to the ride; time to decompress from the tense morning with Janette, but it wasn’t long before we began chatting again. Ethan shared fantastic stories about life in African villages where he had gone to build homes and schools. The most interesting part was about how he slept in structures that were a little more than tents and they had water shortages and no electricity for large hunks of time during the day.
    “Sounds like a different world,” I said, trying to imagine what it must be like.
    “In some respects it is, but the people want the same things we want here. Water, jobs, medical care. A house to come to at the end of the day and safe, clean schools for their children. Human needs and wants are universal.”
    “I guess I never thought about it. The work you do is so deep and important. I’m starting to feel self-conscious about the fact that I help people plan the most excessive day of their lives.”
    “Don’t compare it. What you do is important. Those memories of the wedding day last forever. Just because it’s not life saving doesn’t mean it’s not life changing.”
    I bit down on my bottom lip and stole a peripheral glace at him. “That was deep.”
    “I’m a deep guy.”
    “Not your average jock.”
    “I try never to be average.” He laughed heartily.
    “I’ve always known that.” Those words were meant to stay in my head, but they escaped my mouth.
    Ethan paused a moment and then asked, “How could you? I was still a kid when you graduated from college.”
    “But I could tell you were mature. I remember thinking how nice it was that you turned out so great after your mom left you to –” I stopped myself. I wanted to