Broken Rules (Quick Silver Ranch #1)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

B ecca Dalton threw her suitcase and the check-in packet on the colorful quilt in her cabin at the Quick Silver Ranch and dug out her sneakers. The concierge had been insistent that she read and sign several forms—probably all kinds of release of liability paperwork— but she managed to persuade the very persistent, determined woman to give her a couple of hours to settle in by swearing up, down, and sideways, that she’d turn in the paperwork after she read it in the quiet of her room.

Even with the promise of wading through that packet, she needed to get outside. Now.

Dispensing with her high heels in favor of the sneakers, she didn’t even want to stop to change clothes or take her hair down instead of leaving it in a bun. She strode from the cabin that would be her home for the next nine days and found one of the walking trails she’d been told about when she arrived. The fresh air brushed her skin as she briskly walked.

Birds chirped in the trees, and the leaves rustled in the light breeze. She didn’t have a clue where the trail led, and at this point, she didn’t care. Slow down. Her steps slowed. No need to be in a hurry here. Becca stopped and took a deep breath.

Scents came to life. Clean air, not city air. Her shoulders relaxed as the tension melted away.

Life had thrown her too many curve balls, and she needed a break. Too much had happened just in the last few days. She’d not only found her fiancé, Alan, in bed with her boss, but he’d been lying about his sexual orientation and using her for cover. She called her wedding off, quit her job and interviewed for her dream job.

Becca wasn’t sure if she should celebrate or cry. Nothing made sense anymore, including this trip her best friend, Angie, convinced her to take. Hell, Angie had paid for it, saying it was a pre-wedding present.

This trip would be a chance for Becca to find herself and start over.

But at a dude ranch located no more than a two-hour drive from San Francisco? She chuckled in spite of her mood. Angie had told her to take a romantic trip with Alan.

Now, that wasn’t possible. Hell, he wasn’t even the outdoorsy type. He couldn’t stand the sight of an ant in his apartment, and his skin was whiter than a vampire’s.

Her fingers slipped inside the pocket of her designer suit. Damn, no cell phone. Rules to ensure privacy, she was told at check-in.

Becca took a deep breath. Being unplugged was probably a good thing. She wouldn’t have to deal with texts from her mother, and Alan couldn’t call to beg for forgiveness or offer explanations.

Not that she’d forgive that lying, cheating rat. It was bad enough he’d cheated on her—and with her boss, no less—but the utter depths of the lies compounded the betrayal.

The best thing was the phone call she received right before turning her phone in. She’d landed the job she’d interviewed for. She really wanted to talk to Angie and convince her to join her at the ranch. This week would be so much more fun if she had a friend with her.

She took another deep breath and let it out. This was her time to chill out, explore nature, and not worry about anyone or anything. When was the last time she did something like that? College, maybe?

When a strange noise caught her attention, she slowed her steps as she continued to follow the path when it turned. A neigh. She now recognized the sound, and as she cleared the trees, she spotted the horse.

A wishful sigh escaped her. She’d always wanted to learn how to ride. Her mother refused to let her when she was a child, and now, as an adult, she hadn’t made the time. Maybe this week she could make it her priority.

Her gaze switched from the horse to the man next to the animal.

Oh my! What a man. Her gaze roamed over him, taking in his semi-short midnight hair, past broad shoulders, to ass and legs encased in denim, all the way to his black cowboy boots. Reversing course, she settled on his large hands and long fingers as they stroked the mare’s neck in such a loving way. Almost as if he was caressing the animal’s skin, letting the horse know he’d take care of her, and she was safe.

What would it feel like to have those hands on her body, her breasts, to have those long, strong fingers in her pussy, pumping them in and out, bringing her to climax?

Need rose in her. Good. She wasn’t dead. Heck, she wasn’t even broken-hearted. Alan hadn’t broken her heart, only bruised her pride, and shouldn’t that tell her something? Maybe all along she’d known Alan wasn’t the man for her. After the break-up, she realized she’d never really been emotionally invested in their relationship.

The man’s voice was low as he spoke to the horse, but there was something familiar about his deep timbre, as if she’d heard it before. Without thought, her gaze traveled again to the finest ass she’d seen a long time, the faded denim caressing him when he shifted his stance.

“Would you like to meet Rose?”

Her heart jumped, and her head snapped up. Darn if he didn’t look familiar. But she couldn’t place him.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said, willing her racing heart to slow down.

He turned his head, and she noticed a hint of stubble, a slightly crooked nose, and thick lashes any woman would kill to have. His raven hair had a wind tossed look to it. And as his blue eyes locked on her, her nerves tingled, and her nipples hardened. She’d never had a reaction like this to a man before, not just from one look.

“Hop over the fence, and I’ll introduce you.”

Hop over? Yeah, right. “How does one hop over this fence?” She gazed at the wood railings, then looked down at the work suit she hadn’t taken the time to change out of.

Her breath caught in her throat when he strode over to her.

He laughed, making her shiver. “It’s easy. Put your left foot on the lower board.”

Becca did as he said. His tone softened, becoming almost intimate. “Now stand up and throw your right leg over the top.”

“Isn’t there another way?” Her throat tightened as she looked around for a gate.

“This is much more fun.” He moved closer to the fence. His woodsy scent mixed with pure masculine heat. “I’ll help you.”

Swallowing at his nearness, she pulled herself up and threw her leg over. She squealed when his hands closed around her waist, and her fingers dug into his shoulders as he lifted her over the fence.

“There. Wasn’t that better than walking around?” He set her on her feet, amusement in his voice.

She tilted her head back and gazed into his twinkling blue eyes. When he chuckled, her body went on high alert.

She knew that laugh! Tyler Carson. The bad boy of Jackson High and her college lover.

Her knees weakened and her heart pounded.

Oh my God. This was the last thing she expected. Although they’d parted on good terms, she hadn’t seen Tyler in years… and he still looked good. She kept her gaze on his face. Was he as surprised to see her as she was to see him? She couldn’t tell.

Becca caught herself before she checked her hair. Tyler had seen her tousled after making love to her for half the night. And while that was years ago, she didn’t think she’d changed that much.

I wonder if he’s still single. Tension coiled in her gut. That didn’t matter because she wasn’t here to start a new relationship. She didn’t need the heartbreak. But the memory of his touch called out to her, and she wanted to answer that call. How would she survive a week with him around if her body was already out of control with just a look and a touch?

***

Tyler Carson couldn’t prevent the grin spreading across his face. He was aware new guests were arriving at Quick Silver Ranch today but seeing Becca was a surprise.

A pleasant one. He had just lifted the woman he should have never let go over the fence and back into his life.

He hadn’t seen her since he left San Francisco for Humboldt State. Several inches shorter than his own six-foot three frame, Becca still packed a punch to his libido. When he lifted her over the fence, she weighed next to nothing. The average newborn filly weighed more than she did.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been alerted to her presence when she walked into the paddock. Leaves and branches had crunched under her shoes. He’d been surprised since most guests didn’t venture out to the stables to go for a ride, at least not until the second or third day of their stay.

He was still holding her waist when he caught the scent of jasmine and his cock hardened. The reaction caught him off guard, and he knew he needed to let her go before he did something foolish.

Like carry her into the stable, throw her into a freshly bedded stall, and thrust himself deep into her pussy.

He remembered how good that felt, even after all this time.

Behave.

Then it smacked him like taking a hoof to the groin: Becca was a guest, and that meant she was off limits. Besides, this was a ranch for couples—no one came solo.

Fighting his instincts, he released her and stepped back. “It’s been a long time, Becca.”

Too long.

“Good to see you again, Tyler.” She ran a hand over her hips, and he took note of the business suit, sans jacket, she was wearing.

“You do remember me.” That pleased him in ways he couldn’t name. He sauntered to Rose as if he didn’t have a care in the world, even though he wanted to remove the hairpins holding Becca’s light brown hair and watch it tumble around her shoulders. His lips tingled with anticipation of tasting her rosy-red mouth.

No, don’t think like that. Off limits, remember? There were rules he had to obey.

“How could I forget the bad boy of Jackson High, the captain and quarterback of the championship San Francisco State football team?”

Not to mention we were lovers. Everything else she said was true, but she left out their college romance.

Then again, since the ranch was for couples, I wonder if her guy even knows about me? Maybe she doesn’t want him to know.

He glanced at her left hand. No ring, but she had to be here with someone. Single people were not allowed at the ranch.

“Have you been around horses before, Becca?” He craved to hold her close. Tyler looked toward the sky. He shouldn’t be thinking this way. There had to be a man waiting for her, or she wouldn’t be here.

“Not unless you count a pony when I was ten.”

“When you’re ready, walk around her head to stand here.” He’d let her make the decision to approach. “I’ll introduce you to Rose, Becca.”

Why do I keep saying her name? Maybe because somewhere deep inside he couldn’t believe she was here? He wanted nothing more than to remind her of the fact he was her first lover.

Reining in his libido, he fought to remember why people came to the ranch.

Her dark blue suit looked out of place. Dressed for success, his ex would have said. Another reason he should keep his distance. She looked polished, professional, a far cry from his Becca in college. She looked like a city woman now, and city women were not for him.

When she walked around to him, her heat soaked into his skin and Tyler inhaled jasmine again. She’d loved jasmine shampoo when they were together and apparently still did. Memories rushed back, and he let them soak into his psyche, reliving the good times they had together.

“Rose is a beautiful horse.” Her voice was soft with a tiny bit of hesitation in it.

Forcing his mind back to his task, Tyler reached down and snagged her hand. Still as soft as ever. “She’s a beautiful four-year-old with impeccable bloodlines.” Becca trembled beneath his touch. Was she afraid of the horse or him?

Lifting her hand, he placed her palm against Rose’s withers and kept his on top of it. “Stroke her neck with easy, gentle movements. Like this.”

Rose snorted, and Becca flinched against him, jerking her hand free.

“Easy.” His arms automatically slipped around Becca’s waist, anchoring her to him. She fit perfectly against him. So few women did.

“Did I scare her?”

“No, she liked it. She only snorted. Go ahead, pet her again.” Keeping her anchored against him, he watched her raise her hand and run her fingers over Rose’s coat.

His cock pulsed, remembering those same fingers stroking him, up and down, varying the pressure as she went from base to tip.

Damn, this isn’t good. He shifted his stance. The last thing he needed was for her to feel his hard-on.

“She’s very soft.”

“I groom her every day. It keeps her coat shiny and smooth.”

“It must be nice to have your hair brushed every day.” There was a wistful tone in her voice.

I’d brush your hair every day, if you wanted.

But he didn’t say that. “Rose likes it.” His gaze took in Becca’s hair, pulled into a severe bun. He wondered if her hair was as long as it had been in college—or was it longer? When they made love, it would brush against his skin.

He released her waist with his left hand, then stopped himself. He almost reached up and removed the pins to see, but at the last second stopped himself. What am I doing? Why was Becca effecting him this way? There had been beautiful women on the ranch before, but he’d never been tempted to make a pass at any of them.

Even when they indicated they were open to having him as a lover. With every ounce of strength, he released her and stepped away.

“Who would I see about taking riding lessons while I’m here?” she asked.

“I can teach you.” Oh yeah , his cock shouted in approval. He’d teach her to ride all right. “After dinner tonight, we’ll set something up.” He was digging himself one hell of a hole, but maybe after meeting her partner that would cool his libido. “Speaking of dinner”—he glanced at his watch—“I need to put Rose back in her stall and clean up.”

“Of course.” She slid away from him, and he missed her already. Get a grip.

“I’ll help you back over the fence.” It would be smarter to have her walk through the stable area, but she was wearing sneakers, not really great for the stables. He escorted her to the fence and helped her climb back over.

“Thank you, Tyler.” She tilted her head as she looked up at him. “It’s good to see you again. I’ll see you around.” The sway of her hips as she strode away made him want her even more.

“It’s impossible,” he muttered.

***

Becca thought about Tyler as she made her way back to her cabin. What were the odds of running into him? Astronomical, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about how delicious he looked.

More filled out than their college days, more handsome, more muscular, and damn, if he still didn’t make her panties wet. She’d forgotten how much Tyler always did that to her.

Yes, finding Alan in bed with her boss had been difficult, as was calling off the wedding and quitting her job. Still, that incident set off a chain of decisions she’d procrastinated about for too long.

She’d suspected Alan wasn’t the right man for her for the last eight months, but she’d gone along with the engagement party and the wedding planning to avoid making waves with her mother. The expression on Alan’s face when she walked in on them didn’t come close to her shock and disbelief, followed by anger, followed by a mixture of numbness, comprehension…

And relief.

The scene played out in her mind like a badly written movie script. Alan’s stunned expression, Rupert fumbling to cover himself. Staring at Alan, then Rupert. Taking off the engagement ring and putting it on the dresser. Hearing herself tell Alan she was relieved to finally understand why he wasn’t interested in sex with her. Then there was the almost unnatural calm that followed the jumbled emotions she still couldn’t sort out. “Go live your life and be your true self, Alan. If you’d been honest, we could’ve been friends.” She turned and left the room, still surprised her legs hadn’t turned to jelly. The doorknob turning as she opened the door to leave the apartment. “And Rupert, bag of shit that you are and always will be, I quit.”

Becca blinked when she found herself standing in front of her cabin. She’d been so lost in thought she didn’t realize she’d walked the whole way back. Today was a new start. That meant not thinking so much. Thinking too much was what spun her into the engagement to Alan. Her brain wasn’t exactly doing a great job with men, so maybe she should follow her body.

Tyler. Her body tingled. Yes, they’d been lovers in college and had fun together, but then went their separate ways. Now? They were different people, but she still desired him and his touch and nearness still weakened her knees.

She glanced at the clock. An hour. One hour to get ready for dinner. In that time, she would have to make a choice. Follow her mind, which told her she was on the rebound, or follow her desires?

This won’t be easy.