1NOAH

Echo shifts, and the cold rush of air against my skincauses my eyes to flash open. The Colorado State ParkRanger for the Great Sand Dunes wasnt kidding when he saidtemperatures drop overnight. I stretch the muscles in myback then turn onto my side in order to touch Echo again. Mypalm melts into the curve of her waist.

Shes curled in with her back to me, and shes tuggedthe blanket tight to her neck. Her tank top no longer providesprotection against the elements. Last night was hot, in moreways than I can count, and the cover wasnt required for anyof our activitiesneither for the sleeping nor the kissing.Without a doubt, this has been the best damned summer ofmy life.

Outside the tent, birds chirp, and off in the distance anengine sputters to life. Gravel cracks as a car leaves thecampground. Echo releases a contented sigh. Shes gorgeousin her sleep. Her red curls flow over her shoulder, and a fewstrands cover her face.

Weve got one week before we have to return toKentucky. College orientation is starting, and my place ofemployment, the Malt and Burger, will reopen after beingclosed for renovations. Ill no longer be a burger-flipper.Instead, Ive entered management, where Ill be teachingother assholes how to flip burgers. Whod have thought Idbe the responsible type?

2My hand wades through the mess of clothes nearEchos head, and I dig out my cell. Seven in the morning.

Good and damn.

GoodEcho slept through the night again without anightmare and damn, she needs to wake up. Ive got apromise to keep to a nine-year-old.

I lean down and press my lips to Echos shoulder whilemy finger teases the strap of her tank. A disgruntled groanslips from her throat, and I chuckle as she halfheartedly swatsat my hand. Go away. Im sleeping.

My nose brushes the hair away from her ear. Her sweetscent overwhelms my senses, and my mouth waters. Imabout to trash my intention of seducing her awake andreplace it with plain seducing, but theres one lesson Ilearned quickly at the start of our road trip: Echos not amorning person.

I gently nip her earlobe. While mornings arent herthing, shes definitely a night girl. I promised Jacob Id videochat with him today. You wanted to shop for a new dress,and we have one more stop before we hit Denver.

Jacobmy younger brother.

I spent the past three years of my life plotting andscheming to gain custody of him and our youngest brother,Tyler. This spring, after experiencing one of those life-alteringmoments you see in the movies, I walked away from the

3custody battle and gave my brothers the life I could neverprovide. I shattered the fucked-up remains of my heart in theprocess. But Echo, being a damned magical siren, gatheredthe pieces and has slowly sewn them together.

I take it back, Echo mumbles into the pillow. She failsat pulling the cover over her head when I pinch the blanketwith my fingers to keep it in place. I dont want a new dressfor Denver. You take the keys and go chat with Jacob.

Echos been invited to an art showing, and this one hasher on edge. If I had to guess why, Id say shes tired of thesame pretentious jerks acting like they know everything. Ivebeen over this nonsense since our second week, but Echosinto it, and Im into Echo. We need to map out the rest ofour trip so I can call ahead and get shifts. I need cash if youwant to stay in a hotel again.

I worked at the Malt and Burger for two years inLouisville, and thanks to their employee travel program, I cantake swing shifts at sister stores throughout the nation. Gasand food on this trip hasnt been cheap, and then I sent achunk of money to my best friend, Isaiah, for a deposit on anapartment.

Ive got money. Echo nestles in like its three in themorning instead of seven, and damn if she doesnt look sexydoing it.

Even with the slump shes hit this past month, Echo didwell earlier this summer by selling her paintings at galleries. I

4agree she could finance us, but the only thing I have left is mypride, and Ill eat shit before anyone rips that from me.

Im earning my way, I say. If you dont come withme today, well end up going through Kansas again.

She wrinkles her nose but has yet to open her eyes.Its a large country, Noah. We can live without seeing Kansasagain.

If you wake up and come with me, well have plenty oftime to plan a new route.

Know what I havent had plenty of in two years?Sleep. Nowshhhh. Im nightmare-less, and youre ruiningmy streak.

Echos been nightmare-less for seven days. Its a bigmilestone, for both of us. Echo...

Please, she whispers in this sensual Southern drawlfull of the cracked grogginess that drives me crazy. Prettyplease?

Everything inside me softens. Hands down, this girlowns me. I gave up caring this past spring how fucked I ambecause of it. Five minutes.

An hour.

Ten minutes, and well stay in a hotel tonight. Werevisiting Colorado Springs for the next two days before we

5drive to Denver. Its our last sightseeing trip before goinghome. Until this point, Ive been adamant we camp.

Accepting her silence as consent to the deal, I hook anarm around her and draw her into my body. Echo flips,resting her head on my bare chest, and I dont miss theunrepentant smirk. Her breath tickles my skin, and thethought of seducing her creeps back into my brain. I shovethe impulse away. I made a deal and Im a man of my word.

With the soft sound of her even breaths and her bodymolded to mine, my eyelids grow heavy. I battle the urge tosleep along with her. This summer has brought a sense ofpeace I havent experienced since I was fourteen, since thenight before my parents died.

A herd of footsteps race past the tent, and secondslater a small kids voice yells, Hey, wait up.

I force my eyes open. Come on, baby. Its time.

Youre mean, Noah.

The blanket falls off her arm as I slide a finger down hershoulder. Goose bumps form along her skin at my touch. Shemay be cranky, but shes responding.

A deals a deal, I remind her.

I changed my mind. Id rather sleep. With her eyesstill shut, she hunts for the cover, but I kick it off. She pressesher lips together. Im serious. Youre the meanest person Iknow.

6I kiss her neck then blow on the skin, pleased with thesmile shes fighting.

Does that feel mean? I ask.

Horribly. She giggles. Its torture.

Echo rolls onto her back, tossing her arms over herhead, and flutters her emerald eyes open. Her red hairsprawls over the array of pillows, clothes and blankets. Myheart warms when I spot the spark in her eye.

I love her. More than I thought I was capable of, and Iwould sacrifice my life for her happiness.

She sucks in a breath when I caress her face. Its a slowmovement, one that memorizes her skin. Weve beentraveling since graduation in June, visiting art galleries,exploring the country and each other. But there are someplaces that we havent been, and while Im fine with waitinguntil Echos ready, theres that span of time when she looksat me and I kiss her lips where I wonder: Will this be our firsttime?

Echos phone rings. She blinks repeatedly then boltsupright. Crap.

Its a miracle her cell has power. Shes had a bad habitthis summer of not plugging it in.

Echo tosses my shirt at me before grabbing her cell. Iforgot to call Dad last night, and hes going to be ticked. Shedrops her voice so she can mimic his pissed-off tone. I

7thought you were going to be responsible, Echo. You saidyoud call every other day by seven. She returns to hernormal voice. Just crap. Will you please put your shirt on?

Your dad cant see Im shirtless. Because shell gored-faced and stutter if Im not fully clothed while they talk, Islip the shirt on and unzip the tent. Dont forget to tell himIve been respectful.

I glance over my shoulder to see her answering smilefreeze. The cell continues to ring, and Echo holds it in herhand, staring at the screen. Her face is void of color, and herbody begins to tremble.

Baby?

Nothing.

I edge closer and run my hand through her hair.Echo.

The cell stops ringing, and Echo turns her head in amovement so slow that its painful to watch. The eyes thatwere full of life moments before are now wide and terrified.It was my mom.

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ISBN-13: 9781460341438

Breaking the Rules

Copyright 2014 by Katie McGarry

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