Against Her Rules by Barbour Victoria

Author:Barbour , Victoria [Barbour , Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Against Her Rules, scotland, Fiction, Romance, romantic fiction, Bed & Breakfast, Atlantic Canada, Victoria Barbour, Newfoundland, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Victoria Barbour
Published: 2013-06-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Pulling into the driveway leading to the inn, Elsie was shocked to see a half dozen extra cars in the lot. She hadn’t been expecting any new guests. As they got closer she saw that they were all occupied with one person per car. Her gut instinct told her this was not a welcome sight.

Her mother, father, Ida and Asher met them just inside the door.

“It’s not as bad as you’re going to think it is,” Asher said before the door had a chance to close.

“Shut up,” her father said. “This is all your fault.”

Elsie felt an impending sense of dread creep up her back and into her head.

“Those cars outside,” she said. “Paparazzi, right?”

“No dear, they’re photographers for the tabloids. And they’re very rude,” Ida said. “I caught one trying to sneak in the side door, but I gave him a good whack with my cane.”

“Well, it was bound to happen at some point,” Elsie said, trying to stay positive. “You can’t have celebrities here and never have them followed. And given your recent exploits, I’m guessing you’re big news.”

The room went silent.

“What?” she asked, looking around.

“Why don’t I get you a cup of tea,” her father said, at the same moment her mother told her to sit down.

“Tell her,” Ida said, glaring at Asher.

“First off, let me say that this is not,” he glanced at her father, “not my fault.”

Cam was looking out the window. “For Christ’s sake, what is going on?”

Asher took a hold of her hand. “They don’t know I’m here, Elsie. At least I don’t think they do.”

“Then what...” Realization dawned on her. She blanched. “Are they here looking for me?” She stood, pushing Asher away. “Why would they be looking for me, Ash?”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, there’s been a lot of speculation around London about who I’ve been seeing. You know what these rags are like. Nothing better to do. But Anna got spooked. She was afraid someone would leak her name. So she...” He took a step backward. “She left an anonymous tip that, well, that it was you, basically.”

Elsie was not violent by nature. Even when Lynette Andrews challenged Elsie to a fight behind the school over some boy Elsie had dared speak to at a high school dance, Elsie refused. She just let Lynette smack her until the other kids intervened. But now, for the first time in her life, a murderous rage settled on her.

She lunged for Asher. “I’m going to kill you!” she roared.

“Elsie,” her mother shouted, as Asher dashed behind the reception desk.

“No. I’m going to worse than kill you. I’m going to maim you. And then I’m going to... I’m going...” Rage clouded her vision and left her incapable of speech.

Cam wrapped his arms around her to keep her from getting her hands on Asher.

“Shhh,” he whispered. “We’ll figure this out. We’ll find a way to make this go away. Just breathe.”

Elsie wasn’t aware that she was on the verge of hyperventilating, but that explained the spinning room.

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