3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
T yler started to rise before he dropped back into his chair. He couldn’t go after her. Not until he and Jared talked.
A part of him was ecstatic she was alone on this trip. It meant he didn’t have any competition for her time, but complications remained.
The ranch was meant for couples; Becca was here alone.
His gut tightened. If Jared wanted her to leave, there wasn’t anything Tyler could do.
“Oh, my,” Emma, one of the guests, said. “The poor thing.”
“It’ll be okay.” Tyler forced a smile. “I’ll go talk with Becca in a bit, and we’ll get this straightened out.”
Still, Tyler barely held his impatience in check as dinner ended and dessert was consumed. Finally, the couples began to wander off.
“My office, Tyler,” Jared said before striding out of the room.
Tyler followed his business partner. Becca being here alone meant a long conversation with Jared.
How’d this slip through the cracks? Their website was exceptionally clear that the ranch was for couples only.
Even so, he wanted Becca to stay so they could pick up where they’d left off in college.
“This isn’t supposed to happen,” Jared said, closing the door behind Tyler and running his free hand through his brown hair.
“I know.” Tyler and Jared had safeguards in place, but somehow they failed. If Becca was here alone, would she be interested in pairing with him? His dick liked that thought. They’d played around a bit back in college, but was she even into what he’d grown to love? Tyler rubbed his chin. “I’ll go talk with Becca. It’s not like we can’t handle a single person wanting to take advantage of a regular dude ranch.”
“True, but we’re an adult ranch. What happens if she wanders upon another couple? Or into one of the special cabins? Or a classroom?”
“The special cabins are locked for a reason. The classrooms, we control them.” Tyler tried to make light of the situation because Jared had a right to be concerned. When they went into this business five years ago, they’d agreed the ranch was for couples only.
Fully consenting couples.
“As for seeing another couple, some might like it, but Becca might not. I’ll explain to her and let her make her decision.”
Jared stared at him.
Tyler took a breath, knowing he needed to explain better why he wanted Becca to stay. “I know Becca. We went to high school and college together.” He wasn’t going to lie or conceal anything from Jared, they were as close as brothers. “And we were lovers.”
“I see.”
“I know we have a hands-off policy with the guests, but—”
“You want her.”
Tyler nodded.
Jared blew out a breath. “Go and talk to her. Tell her about the adult activities of the ranch. She hasn’t turned in the paperwork in the check-in packet. Make absolutely sure she understands it completely, thoroughly. Then, if she wants to stay and be with you, we can make an exception. In the meantime, I’ll talk with the intake staff. They should have caught this.”
“Thanks.” Tyler relaxed. “I know this is unusual for us.”
“Yeah. I only want what is best for the ranch.”
Tyler nodded.
“But if she wants to leave, you have to let her go. We’ll give her a full refund.”
“She’ll stay.” He felt confident she would. There was still a sexual attraction between them. He’d felt it at the stables, and he was sure she had too. But Jared was right about one thing: He couldn’t pressure Becca into staying.
No matter how much he craved her.
***
“Angie, I’m going to kill you,” Becca muttered, back in her cabin. On the table in front of her were the contents of the packet she’d thrown on the bed. A book about the ranch with a map of the grounds and a list of activities. And several forms: NDA, release of liability, and declaration of consent. Is this what Angie’s cryptic comments about ‘activities’ meant?
Adult activities. Activities meant for couples.
She jumped to her feet and began pacing. Why had Angie sent her to an adult ranch? Had she known the activities were sexual?
No, that didn’t make sense. Did Angie think this place would loosen Alan up? And why insist that I come alone after the breakup?
Damn, I need my cell. Maybe the ranch house had a phone she could use.
Couples only. Becca wouldn’t have come if she’d known. All Angie told her was that it was a dude ranch. Angie wouldn’t have sent me here alone if she’d known it was couples only. Would she? Becca knew her best friend. I told her I didn’t want to go to the ranch. But nooooo; she insisted. “It’ll be fun,” she said. “Relax. Recharge. Embrace the new start and new job.”
God, she’s devious.
The two of them got a bit drunk when Becca called off her engagement, and they’d talked about sex and fantasies. Angie told Becca she needed to relax, let Mother Nature take control, and have fun with a nice cowboy on the ranch.
Short-lived excitement sent shivers over her skin. She didn’t have a partner.
A twinge of sadness flowed through her.
What about Tyler? What was he thinking? She was here alone, all alone. Does he think I did it on purpose? That didn’t make sense. She hadn’t even known he’d be here.
But now a crazy idea popped into her head and her core clenched.
How would Tyler feel if I ask him to be my partner this week? No, that wasn’t possible. She paced from the fireplace to the patio doors. She’d read about the variety of activities, and her body still felt aflame with the possibilities. As each one flashed through her mind, the man standing in front of her wasn’t Alan.
It was Tyler. Strong, capable, great-in-bed Tyler.
Becca rested her head against the door, frustrated emotionally, mentally, and now physically.
Why is this happening now? Would it be a bad idea to ask Tyler?
Her mind didn’t know, even as her body heated.
What were the risks? Rejection for sure. Disappointment, maybe.
Elation if he said yes.
Her mind played through all the possibilities.
Tyler was one of the owners, and she’d bet money there was a rule prohibiting him from getting involved with a guest. Hell, this whole thing was set up for couples in a relationship, not for once-upon-a-time lovers.
Her choices were limited.
Actually, there was only one—leave. Her body wanted her to stay, but her mind was aware of the risks. It was better to play it safe and leave. Becca went to the window and looked out, her guts churning.
Isn’t that what I always do? Play it safe? She’d done it with Alan. Look where that got me.
Indecision kept her from going into the bedroom and packing.
Then a knock on the front door pulled her out of her thoughts. Crossing the room, she opened the door.
“Hi,” Tyler said.
Her insides melted at seeing him there, heat rose in her cheeks.
If he only knew what I’d just been thinking… Liquid fire flooded her body, and her nipples grew hard. It wasn’t fair that he could do this to her after all this time.
“Come in.” She left the door open and retreated, sliding her hands into her jeans pockets.
He closed the door with a quiet click even as she paced around the room.
“I didn’t realize… I mean… Oh, hell.” She waved her hands in the air as she tried to explain. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”
“You don’t have to.” He crossed the room and stopped in front of her.
The heat coming from his body singed her skin. “It’s couples only. I didn’t know about the adult part either until I read the rules just now.”
“It is usually couples only. But you do have a choice in the matter.”
“I don’t see how.” She tilted her head and stared at him. Does he want me to stay?
“We do have regular dude ranch activities. I’m sure you read that in the brochure. I can teach you to ride, if you decide to stay. I can be your guide for the week.”
“That might work.”
Who am I kidding? Yes, it would work, but it would also be torture. He was asking as a friend, not as a lover.
An unwanted, disconcerting feeling overwhelmed her. Even after all this time, she still had a compelling attraction to Tyler. It gave her more proof that marrying Alan would have been a big mistake.
“Or,” he continued, “you could participate in all the ranch has to offer. With me as your partner.” He stood there, not touching her, apparently giving her space. “It’s your choice, Becca.”
What do I have to lose? She wanted to feel like a woman again, and Tyler could do that for her, if he was willing.
“I want you to know before we do anything that I’m not on the rebound. My ex-fiancé and I were never intimate.” Her gaze met with his. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding when he didn’t respond.
I want to stay . Her mind was made up. She stepped closer. “Yes, I’ll be your partner.”