by Taylor Hart
Rule #1-Don't Fall for Mr. Wrong
Rules of Dating, Christian RomCom
Taylor Hart
Bella Grace
Contents
Copyright
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Also by Taylor Hart
About the Author
Copyright
All rights reserved.
© 2022 ArchStone Ink
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. The reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form whether electronic, mechanical or other means, known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written consent of the publisher and/or author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This edition is published by ArchStone Ink LLC.
First eBook Edition: 2021
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the creation of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
“So you’re the unexpected girlfriend?”
Sara held back the look her brother told her could kill a man in less than three seconds. She didn’t know this guy. She gave the rehearsed answer. The appropriate answer. The answer everyone expected. “We’re waiting to see what happens when he gets back from South Africa.”
The man lifted an eyebrow and his whole face stretched into a wide smile. He leaned forward, conspiratorially. “Sara, you don’t need to be nervous around me. I am Jonathon’s, Uncle Joe. The same uncle that Jonathon’s mother wants to skin and roast for Sunday dinner right now because she blames me for letting her son get attached to you.”
Sara could feel the red spots forming up her neck. “Oh.”
He took a step back. “Hey, don’t you worry about that. I’m not. Jonathon tells me you are important to him, Sara. Very important to him. I’m glad you came to see him off. And, I know that a year sounds long. But going to Africa and helping those people has always been important for Jonathon.” He wagged a finger at her. "But, you’re important to him, too.”
Even though she liked hearing that she was important to him, she didn’t want to be the unexpected girlfriend that his mother didn’t like. She really didn’t want to be that. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”
Uncle Joe studied her and then let out a loud laugh, like she’d just said something funny, really funny. He clapped his hand down on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sweetie.” He turned and nodded at Jonathon, who was dutifully hugging everyone goodbye. “You young kids will be all right. Like I always say, you never know when true love is going to hit, all you can do is hang on for the ride.”
His words of reassurance didn’t reassure her. Not one, single bit.
Uncle Joe laughed. “Chin up, girl. He’ll come back for you and then you’ll live happily ever after. I’d bank on that.” He laughed again and moved for the bathrooms. “Excuse me.”
Jonathon’s mother slowly walked past, an angry warning look pointed at Uncle Joe and then she swung it to Sara.
Panic surged in Sara’s chest. Why did the woman seem to hate her so much?
She moved toward the drinking fountain. She couldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be here. What was she doing here? Falling in love a month before he left for Africa for a year was just dumb? It sounded like something from one of those faith based movies her best friend liked to watch on Netflix. Sara lifted her head from the drinking fountain and carefully wiped her mouth to make sure her lipstick stayed in place.
“Sara?”
Jonathon.
She turned slowly.
A slow grin touched his darkened brow and the slow burning embers of his brown eyes melted into her.
Her heart skipped into a staccato rhythm and all of her doubts instantly disappeared. She moved into his arms.
He held her for a long time, then pulled back and gently brushed his lips to hers.
Fire burned through her and she wanted to kiss him, again, but … it really wasn't the venue for that.
“I’m really glad you came to see me off. And I'll be back before you know it." He leaned in, putting his forehead to hers.
Her eyes moisted with tears. A hundred thoughts washed through her. The first day she met him at that sandwich shop. The way he’d looked in the moonlight when he’d unexpectedly shown up on her porch and asked her to dinner. The way he’d looked when he’d kissed her for the first time. She would not cry. She would not leave him with an image of her falling apart. She would not do this to herself. “I'm going to miss you so much."
He kissed her, again, then pulled her close to him. "Me, too."
She couldn’t control the rapid blinking of her eyes.
He pulled back. “It's funny because I've wanted to go to Africa for so long, but now …" He laced their fingers together. "How come now I'm doubting everything?”
She tried to quell the turmoil that rose and fell inside her chest. She wouldn't take away his dream. “All good things are hard, right? It will be worth it.”
He let out a long breath. "I guess." He blinked and shook his head. "You just kinda came out of nowhere and changed everything in my life."
She blinked. "You, too."
The moment felt so intense.
Again, he pulled her into him. “I just—I just feel like I’ve found you, and now I’m leaving and I don't want to.”
The well of emotion in her chest threatened to explode. “I know."
He pulled back. “But, I want to make something clear. I don't want you to feel trapped waiting for me to come back. Listen, I want you to promise me you'll date other guys.”
He’d told her time and again that he wanted her livi
ng her life and having fun. “I don’t want to date other guys.”
“But I want you to date as many guys as you can—so when I get back, they’ll be no doubt that I’m the one for you.” He gave her a glorious smile.
Sara let out a surprised laugh. “Date as many as I can?”
“Yep.” He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “Because, like I said, when I get back, I want you to be ready to start our life together.”
Warm flutters pulsed in her stomach.
Jonathon’s dad put his hand on his shoulder. “It’s time to go through security, Son.”
Sara fought everything she wanted to do—hold him, pull him to her, and wrap herself in the certainty of him. Instead, she took a step back. “I’ll see you on the flip side.”
He took the bag his father held out to him and met her eyes. “Love you.”
The words pierced the center of her heart. "I Love you, too."
He nodded, then moved to security.
The tears she held back would not be contained much longer. She flew to the exit doors. Shouldn’t time pause somehow? At this moment? The warm air swooshed around her as the double doors opened. She tried to orient herself.
He was gone. Jonathon was gone.
The tears broke free and she rummaged through her purse for another tissue.
Later, Sara would realize that she should have been paying more attention to where she was going.
Chapter 2
The pain ripped through her hip and she saw the cement post as she fell.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders and righted her. “Whoa.”
Her feet went back to the ground.
“You need to watch where you’re going.”
Sara tried to calm her pounding heart. "I’m sorry.”
The man bent and picked up her purse. “Doesn’t it drive you crazy that everyone at the airport thinks their life is the most important? Everyone’s so busy getting where they need to go that they can’t even watch where they’re walking.” He flashed her, what was clearly, an agitated smile and shoved her purse into her hand.
Sara clutched her purse and focused on him. Really focused. His angry bloodshot eyes. His bleached-blonde surfer hair that jutted around his face like he hadn’t taken the time to gel it up or comb it down. A rumbled suit. Black cowboy boots. “Are you okay?”
His jaw clenched. “Just do the world a favor and watch where you’re going.” He rushed past her.
Sara watched him stalk through the airport double doors. She bit down on her lip. She could not breakdown right now. She had to get as far away from here as she could.
Two rows up, she found her car. She unlocked it and quickly turned her key in the ignition. She had to get away.
Click, click, click.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” It was the third time this month.
Click, click, click.
She couldn’t stop her tears. “Dang it!” She yanked down the mirror and watched black tears run down her face. She jerked a tissue out of the box and mopped her face.
She tried it, again.
Click, click, click.
Sara slammed the heel of her hand into the steering wheel. Stupid, idiot ranch car that broke down all the stupid time.
She pulled out her phone and noted she didn’t have reception. Stupid, cheap cell phone plan.
Sara got out and hooked up the cables. She surveyed the parking lot for someone that could help her.
A blue sedan zoomed into the space next to her. A woman stepped out, wearing a pin-striped suit and tall black stiletto heels. She pushed a button on her keychain and moved to the back of the car.
“Excuse me. Could you help me jump my car battery? I know how to do it, and it won’t take long.”
The lady lifted her bag out of the trunk and gave Sara an ‘I don’t have time’ kind of look.
“I promise it won’t take long.”
The lady sighed. “I am early. Traffic was surprisingly better than I expected. Go ahead.”
Sara moved to her car hood. “Thank you. If you could just pop the hood and start your car when I tell you to.”
“What’s the problem?” A black, shiny cowboy boot propped onto the concrete curbing next to her.
Sara looked up into the same bloodshot eyes from less than fifteen minutes ago. “You?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Look, if you don’t need my help . . .”
She cut him off. “I don’t need your help. I wouldn’t want you to think that my life is more important than yours.”
He let out a soft sigh. “Sorry, I was in a hurry, but it didn’t matter. I’m not leaving, anyway.”
She glared at him.
He surrendered. “Ah, you’re going to hold a grudge? Let’s not forget, I did catch you before you fell.” He moved next to her. “What’s the problem?”
Anger churned into her gut. Sara didn’t need this guy's help. And she really didn’t like someone thinking she couldn’t take care of herself.” Sara finished putting the cords into place and turned to face him. “If you didn’t notice, I’m doing just fine.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
He walked away.
Sara finished getting everything into place and motioned for the woman to start her car. She tried it again.
Click, click, click.
“Dang it!” It should work.
The woman tapped her pointy-heeled toe and checked the time. “Do you think you should chase down that man?”
Sara repositioned the cables. “Umm—no. I think it’ll start.”
The woman pulled her lipstick out of her purse and puckered her lips. “Why didn’t you accept his help? He seemed so willing.”
Sara really didn’t want to talk about this. “Oh, he was a jerk earlier. He’s just trying to make himself feel better.”
She got back in and tried it, again.
Click, click, click.
The woman sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to get going. Good luck.”
Sara undid the cables and shut the hood.
The woman waited. “Here’s some free advice.”
Sara ran the mental calculations of what a tow and a new battery would cost. She didn’t want advice. “Uh-huh.”
The woman gave her a sad smile. “When people try to do nice things to redeem themselves—let them.”
Sara watched her walk away. Whatever. She didn’t have time for this.
Moving to the concrete curbing next to her car, Sara sat down. She pulled out her phone and thought about calling her father. She pictured his long, lean face. It’d been leaner since he’d started his treatments. She hovered over his number and then put her phone down. There was always too much to worry on the ranch and she couldn’t burden him with her problems. She had to take care of this by herself.
A red truck pulled into the parking spot next to her.
Sara stood to move out of the way.
The window rolled down and his messy hair leaned out the window. “Need my help yet?”
Chapter 3
Beau didn’t know why he was trying to help her. She’d made it clear she didn’t want his help. Granted, he’d been a little off his game. The past seventy-two hours had been a nightmare, but still—he’d been rude.
She glared at him. “No.”
He got out and rushed around the truck.
Putting her hands onto her hips, she glared at him like she was squaring off for a fight.
He suppressed a smile and took in her outfit— red silk shirt, black pants, heels. Pretty dressed up. But she looked younger than an executive type.
She glared at him, her voice low and controlled. “I already tried to jump it.”
Quickly taking the cables off of her shoulders, he tsked his tongue. “Are you always this rude to people trying to help you? Or do I just bring out your good side?”
Beau could feel the anger on his back as he hooked his truck up to her car.
“Did you catch the guy that
I bumped into back there? He wasn’t exactly Mr. Sunshine.”
Beau ignored her. He got into his truck and started it. He got back out and stood next to her. “Let’s let it run for a little bit.”
She pursed her lips together and looked away from him.
Beau didn’t mind the silence. The last thing he wanted was to get involved in the details of this woman’s life. He was just doing what he knew he should do—help someone out who needed it.
Finally, she quirked her head to the side and looked at him. “I’m sorry. It’s been a rough day.”
He raised an eyebrow in question but put his hand out. “Yeah, me too. I actually got in early this morning and they didn’t have my luggage, so I was coming back to get it. I’m Beau Hennings.”
She shook his hand.
For a few seconds they just stared into each other’s eyes.
Dang, he felt some kind of connection to this woman. “What was your name?”
“Oh, sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m Sara Fairbanks. I—I just hate being…”
“Saved.” He filled in for her and couldn’t help but smile by how flummoxed she seemed.
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah.”
He didn’t know why he wanted to tease her. “You play a good damsel in distress?”
She squinted her eyes. “I try.”
He let out a light laugh, which surprised him.
