Ok that's what I was thinking probably. Would they still think next February was "too soon" or suspicious looking? Just miss my boyfriend!
It's entirely up to the immigration officer if they think it's too soon or not. A genuine visitor should not spend more than 6 months in the UK in a rolling 12-month period, but it's up to them as to whether they believe you are a genuine visitor or not.
If you were in the UK for 6 months from February 2014 to August 2014, you shouldn't try to enter the UK again until February 2015, so that you will have only spent 6 months in the last 12 months in the UK.
A general rule of thumb would be to spend as much time out of the UK as you did in the UK - so if you were here for 6 months, you should wait another 6 months before coming back. Or, if you were here for 3 months, then wait at least 3 months before coming back.
So, you ought to be fine to come back in February, but I wouldn't try to return before February.
When you come back though, I would make sure you have as much evidence of ties to the US as possible, to show that you will definitely leave the UK at the end of the trip - ties such as a return ticket, a job and a home to return to, and enough money to support yourself for your entire trip without working.
I wouldn't recommend travelling through Ireland as it can look like you are trying to find a work-around to the UK immigration rules. If you are considering trying to move to the UK in the future, I would play by the rules and do everything by the book - you don't want your desire to visit your boyfriend now cause any future visa applications to be jeopardised.