Break the Rules (The Flanagan Sisters Book 1)

by Claire Boston

  “Got a minute?” Hal asked, poking his head around.

  “Sure.” He was almost finished packing because he hadn’t unpacked much of his stuff in the first place. Staying with Hal was always only meant to be a temporary thing. He could move in with his mother tomorrow.

  “Tanya feels kind of bad about you moving out and about leaving Bridget without a roommate.”

  Jack didn’t care about himself, but he was annoyed about her lack of consideration for Bridget. “I’ll be fine. Mom’s already clearing a room.”

  “But that still leaves Bridget,” Hal said. “We thought it would make sense for you to trade places with Tanya.”

  Jack grinned. “I’m not marrying you, bro.”

  Hal laughed. “No. You move in with Bridget. Take Tanya’s room. You can share the bills.”

  The idea held a lot of appeal, but he was reluctant to suggest it. Bridget would feel trapped.

  Had Tanya considered that? Had she considered her friend might not be ready to take the next step? Or had she only wanted to assuage her own guilt? Jack was pretty sure it was the latter.

  “I’m not sure Bridget would go for it.”

  “You should ask her at least,” Hal insisted. “She might be stressed about how she’s going to pay the bills. It would give her another option to consider. She might not want to ask you herself.”

  So now he was going to be the bad guy if he didn’t make the suggestion.

  Feeling manipulated himself, he sighed. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Jack waited until almost everyone had gone home the next day before he approached Bridget. The less people around to hear the argument, the better.

  “Got a minute?” he asked as he walked into her office.

  “Sure. I wanted to thank you for the work you did while I was away and over the last week. The project’s still on schedule.”

  He’d made sure of it. The last thing he wanted was for Bridget to come back from her days off to find the project at the same stage as when she’d left. He wouldn’t be able to convince her to take any more time off if that had happened.

  “Don’t mention it,” he said. He shut the door behind him and she frowned. “I know you want to keep work and our private life separate,” he began, “but I need to run something by you.”

  Bridget looked to the closed door and sighed. “All right.”

  “Now Hal and Tanya are married, I was planning to move to my mom’s place, but Hal suggested you need a roommate.”

  Bridget’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Hal said that, did he?”

  Jack recognized barely concealed anger when he saw it. “He did. He said Tanya felt guilty about the whole situation and he thought this would be a good solution.”

  “When did he suggest this?”

  “After Tanya told you about their wedding.”

  Bridget hissed. She got to her feet and paced to the window and back again. “I told her not to say anything. She promised me she wouldn’t say anything to you.”

  “Tanya already made the suggestion to you?” he guessed.

  She nodded once, her whole posture stiff and angry.

  “You told her not to say anything so she got Hal to say it instead.” That was pure manipulation. Surely Tanya would have realized how upset the suggestion made Bridget, but she’d had to appease her guilt.

  “It is a practical solution …” He held up a hand as Bridget whirled around, her eyes full of hurt. “I’m just saying. It doesn’t mean it’s the right solution.” He’d known Bridget wasn’t going to be enthusiastic with the idea, but she didn’t need to be quite this upset.

  She collapsed into her chair. “It’s not you, it’s –” She waved her hand around the office, “– this.”

  He understood, or at least tried to tell himself he did. She’d lost her job, credibility, and boyfriend all at once. But she needed to move on. What would it take for Bridget to stop worrying about them being colleagues and embrace what they had together?

  “It could be a temporary measure,” he said. “I move in, help pay the bills until you find someone else to share with, or until the lease runs out. Then you can find somewhere smaller.”

  “What do we say to people at work?”

  “We tell them about Tanya and Hal, explain their impulsiveness and say we’re doing each other a favor. I’ll take Tanya’s bedroom.”

  “We stick to our weekend thing?”

  He didn’t want to have to keep a distance from Bridget if he was living with her, but right now he’d agree to anything to make her happy. “If that’s what you want.”

  She looked away, but not before he saw the confusion in her eyes. Lionel had really done a number on her.

  “Why don’t you think about it?” Jack brushed a hand down her arm before opening the door and letting himself out, hoping she would let her practical side win.

  * * *

  When Jack left her office, Bridget slumped down in her chair and put her head on the table. She could kill Tanya. If her best friend walked through the door she’d have to plead temporary insanity when accused of the murder.

  She’d told her not to tell Jack, had made her promise. She hadn’t considered Tanya would be sneaky enough to work around the promise by getting Hal to do her dirty work.

  Now Bridget had to make a decision. Jack was waiting for it.

  And hadn’t he been so rational and pleasant about the whole thing?

  He didn’t understand what it was like – the looks, the comments, the insinuations. It would happen if he moved in with her, whether they were sleeping together or not. There were always people ready to spread rumors and believe the juiciest gossip. Was she willing to put up with that for the sake of practicality?

  The worm of insecurity that she normally kept locked down, wriggled its way into her thoughts. Once the rumors started, how long would it be before someone began questioning her commitment and her projects?

  The second she made a mistake, if not sooner.

  But maybe people knew her better here than they had in her last job. Maybe people would ignore the rumors and give her the benefit of the doubt. She just didn’t know.

  Bridget visualized the spreadsheet she’d made up last night. She could manage on her own for the rest of the month. The bills had been paid and nothing was due. This morning she’d asked a few people at work if they knew of anyone looking for a place to stay. She’d explained about Tanya and received some pity but no one knew of anyone.

  Bridget closed her eyes. What would it be like living with Jack, even if they did have separate rooms?

  It would be difficult if they were continuing their weekend deal. She was honest enough to know having Jack around every evening would be like having chocolate within arm’s reach that you weren’t allowed to eat. The thought of having him there every night was appealing as hell.

  Which was another reason to say no.

  She sighed. She had to make a decision. It wasn’t fair to get Jack to move to his mother’s and then move again to her place if she agreed to his suggestion.

  Jeremy stuck his head around the door. He opened his mouth to say something and then he frowned. “You all right, Bridge?”

  He’d be the perfect person to ask. She took a deep breath. “No, I’ve got a bit of a problem.” She told him about Tanya moving out and how Jack needed to find somewhere else to stay. “I thought of suggesting Jack take Tanya’s old room, but I’m worried about what people might say.”

  Jeremy pulled out the other chair and took a seat. “The Lionel affair.”

  “Yep. What do you think? Is it a bad idea?”

  Jeremy rubbed his chin. “It’s been a couple of years. Everyone here knows how capable and dedicated you are. It might not matter. Particularly when it’s just a favor and you’re not sleeping with Jack.”

  Bridget didn’t address that comment. He didn’t need to know. “You don’t think people will talk?”

  “People will always talk, Bri
dge. Not many people will listen to them though. You’re tough enough to ignore the few.”

  Was she? She wasn’t entirely sure.

  “You’ll be fine,” said Jeremy. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you about next week’s training session. I’ve got a thing I’ve got to go to. Could you run the training without me?”

  Bridget hadn’t run any of the emergency response training sessions by herself before, but she had all the qualifications now. “Sure. Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be at the team-building session on Tuesday.”

  She’d forgotten that was next week. Jack had arranged it while she was away. She might have to put in some extra time on the project this week to make up for those days.

  “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jeremy left and Bridget swiveled her chair around to face her desk.

  If Jeremy didn’t think it would be a problem, and he knew how bad the Lionel affair had been, perhaps it would be all right. She’d consider it some more tonight, maybe give Carly a call. Carly always knew what to do.

  Chapter 13

  When Bridget got home, the house seemed quieter than usual. She walked through to the kitchen, and as she passed Tanya’s room she stopped and stared.

  It was empty.

  Tanya had used her day off to move out.

  In the bathroom they shared, Tanya had cleared out her shelves of beauty products, leaving just Bridget’s things: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and can of mousse. In the living room, the cushions and paintings Tanya had bought were gone, as were the stools from the breakfast bar.

  Her phone rang and seeing it was Tanya she answered it.

  “Hey Bridget. I moved out today.”

  “So I see.”

  “Oh, are you home already? I didn’t think you would be. I just took a few things. Hal’s place needs a woman’s touch.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t take a sofa and half the kitchen table.” They’d bought them together.

  Tanya laughed. “Don’t be silly. Hal’s got those things. You can pay me my share of the sofa and table when you have it.”

  Bridget let out a long, slow breath. It was another expense.

  “Is there anything else you need to take?” she asked.

  “Not as yet. I didn’t want to leave you without any dishes so if you tell me when you buy yourself a set, I’ll come and pick mine up.”

  Of course. Tanya had brought a lot of things with her when they’d moved out together because she’d had a big twenty-first birthday party and people had given her things for her house. Which meant on top of finding someone to share the bills, Bridget would need to buy dishes and silverware. Anger and frustration simmered in her stomach.

  “Why don’t you give your key to Jack?” Bridget suggested. “He can give it to me in the morning.” Right now she didn’t want to see her friend.

  “Oh, is he moving in? I knew you’d ask him once you stopped worrying.” Tanya sounded delighted.

  That was the last straw. Her anger bubbled out. “I haven’t made a decision yet,” she said. “But how dare you go behind my back that way? I trusted you, Tanya. You promised me you wouldn’t say anything to him about it.”

  “I didn’t. Hal did.” Tanya defended herself.

  “Don’t pretend you didn’t ask Hal to say something. I know you did. That’s as bad as telling Jack yourself.”

  “Bridge, don’t be mad,” Tanya wheedled. “I know how much you care for him. It’s the perfect solution.”

  “For you,” Bridget said. “Did you even consider my feelings while you were convincing Hal to talk to Jack? Or did you only think about how much easier it would be for you?”

  Tanya was silent.

  “That’s what I thought.” Bridget hung up before she said something that would truly end their friendship. Right now she wasn’t sure whether that might be the best for both of them.

  With a sigh she placed her phone on the table. The living room was rather bare now without all of Tanya’s finishing touches. Bridget had never bothered with knick-knacks because Tanya had enough for the both of them. But now the house was soulless.

  She opened the kitchen cupboards and wrote down what she needed to buy. It would have to wait until her next pay day, and then she would have to choose the most important things.

  Did Jack have any of this stuff?

  She shook her head. She hadn’t made a decision about that. With that in mind, she called Carly.

  “What’s wrong? We only spoke yesterday,” Carly said as she answered.

  Bridget sighed. “Tanya got married and moved out.”

  “What?” The disbelief in Carly’s voice made Bridget laugh.

  “She and Hal went away for the weekend to celebrate their engagement and eloped. She’s moved her things in to Hal’s place today and I’ve arrived home to a half-empty house.”

  “That was quick,” Carly said.

  “Yeah. She always charges ahead when she’s got a plan,” Bridget said.

  “So what do you need from me?” Carly asked. “Do you need some furniture? I can transfer some money into your account.”

  “No,” Bridget said firmly. “I’m after some advice is all.”

  “That doesn’t come cheap,” Carly joked. “Hit me.”

  Bridget explained about the Jack solution. She didn’t need to voice her concerns about the Lionel affair because Carly already knew all about that.

  “Is he worth the potential heartache?”

  The question made Bridget stop. Not once had she wondered whether Jack was worth it, whether what they had started between them might actually be really good. She wasn’t certain she trusted her judgment about men.

  She did enjoy spending time with him when she wasn’t worrying about what other people might think. Even at work they had a good rapport.

  “Birdy?”

  Bridget smiled at the childhood nickname. “I’m still here. I don’t know. I’ve been too busy worried about the work consequences to think about it.” But perhaps that was the key to her decision.

  “Mama once said Papa had three traits that made her know instantly that he was the one for her,” Carly said.

  “What were they?”

  “He made her laugh, he had a kind heart, and he made her blood heat.”

  Bridget smiled. She had some memories from when her father was still alive, of the music and laughter that filled the house.

  “He does make me laugh,” she admitted.

  “Is he kind?”

  He’d given her those days off, he’d noticed her hard work, and she’d seen him working with others on site to help them. “Yes.”

  “So that leaves the third point, which I don’t need to know about.” Carly laughed.

  There was no question he made her blood heat and her heart pound.

  Should she allow herself to explore what they had between them? Should she ignore all of the rumors when they came her way? Was she strong enough for that?

  “Thanks, Carly. You’ve given me some things to consider.”

  “Anytime, little sister.”

  Bridget hung up and sat on the sofa with her knees pulled up underneath her while she thought things through.

  Finally she picked up her phone and entered a number. “Jack, can you come over so we can talk?”

  * * *

  Jack knocked on Bridget’s door. There was a little bundle of nerves in his stomach that fidgeted while he waited. He wasn’t sure what to make of Bridget’s request to talk. She sounded so serious.

  Was she going to break up with him?

  He hoped not. He enjoyed spending time with her and the weekend deal was better than nothing.

  The door opened and she stood there in a bright red dress which showed off her curves. Her toenails were painted red today. She looked sensational.

  “Thanks for coming.” She gestured him inside and took him into the living room.

  As he walked past Tanya’s room he noticed its emptiness. “Tanya doesn’t wa
ste much time when she decides on something.”

  “No, she doesn’t.” Her tone was aggravated. “Do you want a drink?”

  Jack risked stepping closer, touching her hand. “I just want to know what’s bothering you.” He had a fairly good idea but he wanted it out in the open.

  “Have a seat.” She pointed to the sofa but remained standing after he sat. She hugged herself, opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it again.

  “Bridge, just say what you need to say,” he said gently, his nerves still swishing inside him.

  “This has happened so fast,” she said. “When we met and I didn’t know you were my boss, I was so excited. I’d met someone who seemed like such a decent guy and he liked me back.”

  “I felt the same way.” And every day the feeling grew.

  Bridget perched herself on the arm of the sofa opposite. “I was so gutted when Anthony introduced you, when I realized you were my boss, that we couldn’t explore what was between us.”

  Jack didn’t speak, didn’t want to interrupt her.

  “But Tanya and Hal kept pushing us together and I couldn’t ignore the attraction. The weekend deal was a reasonable alternative.” She stood up again, pacing. “But the idea of you moving in … that’s on a whole different playing field. There will be speculation at work, gossip will spread, and whether it’s fair or not it will affect me more than it will affect you.”

  He didn’t deny it.

  “So I need to know two things if you’re going to move in here.”

  The first spark of hope fired in Jack’s chest.

  “That you will stick to whatever reason we give management about the move and you will defend it when necessary.”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  She stopped pacing. “And I need to know whether you think what we have is worth it, that this isn’t just a fling for you.” She stared him straight in the eye, defiant with a hint of vulnerability.

  Jack was across to her in two steps, his arms around her. “Bridget, you are most definitely worth it. I hate that this is an issue, that neither of us are in the position to find another job, that you’ve been treated so badly in the past. I want to explore what we have and see where it leads.”

  Her eyes were uncertain.

  He kissed her gently. “Bridget, no matter what decision you make, I will respect it and stand up for you.”