Rule Breaker (Deep Cove MC #2)
Chapter 1
ONE
Madeline
The hanger breaks in half in Cara’s hands before she flings it toward the trash bag, missing it by a mile. It ricochets off the wall and clatters to the floor.
“Close,” I say, picking it up and dropping it into the garbage.
“It had one job,” she shoots back. “Remind me to buy you new ones. These aren’t going to cut it.”
I’m sitting cross-legged on the floor of my new bedroom surrounded by half-emptied cardboard boxes.
I tug open the flaps of the box labeled “Books the drive wouldn’t be that bad… ”
“A two-hour drive twice a day sounds like torture. Not to mention a crying baby in the next room,” I tease lightly, nudging her shoulder. “I love my sweet Goldie, but no. It’s time, Cara.”
Cara nods, but the crease between her eyebrows stays put. “I just…I don’t want you to feel like we don’t want you with us, or like you have to move out to prove something.”
“I know.” I hang another blouse, lining up the hangers with precision. “I’m just…stepping out. A fresh start. I was lucky to land this job. And it’s close enough that I can come back to Vancouver every weekend, I promise.”
“Every weekend?” she presses, sounding skeptical.
“Every weekend,” I repeat firmly. Because if driving back and forth on the highway until my car dies is what it takes to keep her from worrying herself into a frenzy, then that’s what I’ll do. Besides, there’s no way I can handle not seeing my niece at least once a week.
Behind us, Ryan chuckles, rocking a sleepy Marigold in his arms. “She’s moving to Deep Cove, Car, not to Morocco. She’s close enough that we can guilt-trip her into Sunday dinners.” He winks at my sister and then looks at me, one eyebrow raised. “So, do you know much about your new boss?”
I shrug. “Bosses. There are three Winters brothers. Four if you include the one who doesn’t work for the company. And to answer your question…not really. Just what everyone knows.”
And everyone knows Cove.
The brand is everywhere—Instagram reels, glossy magazines, billboards downtown. Half the people I know own something from their line. I’ve scrolled through their outdoor luxury apparel website enough times to know the Winters brothers are more than just businessmen; they’re local celebrities.
“They’re sharks in the boardroom,” I admit, tugging another shirt free from my suitcase. “At least that’s what I’ve heard. Ruthless. Demanding. And…”
“Incredible to look at,” Lottie adds.
Ryan laughs. “Sounds like a lethal combination.”
“Perfect combination,” Lottie says slyly, her eyes flicking to mine. “Don’t tell me you haven’t googled them.”
I feel a heat crawl up my neck. Guilty. Of course I did.
Four brothers, each drop dead gorgeous. But that’s not something I’m going to admit out loud.
Besides, it doesn’t matter. Proving myself at Cove is my only focus, and I’m determined to show up, do the work, and remind myself every day that this is what I’ve been working toward all along.
Too many girls my age get sidetracked by relationships and I refuse to be one of them.
“I’ve done my research,” I say primly.
Ryan smirks, but he lets it go. He has always watched out for me in a way that feels steady, like he decided a long time ago that I was part of his responsibility. He’s been more of a role model to me over the years than my own father has ever managed to be.
“Madeline is going to be fine.” He looks from my sister to me, patting little Marigold’s back. “Since when has she ever cared more about men than work?”
“Exactly.” Pushing an empty box aside, I walk over to my dresser and take a sip of the coffee Lottie had brought. “Besides, there is no way a Winters brother will be interested in me. I don’t know why we are even having this conversation.”
Ryan tries and fails to hold back his grin. “Exactly what your sister thought about me.”
Cara chuffs, shooting him her best eye-roll.
We all know Ryan persistently pursued her for months before she finally agreed to go out with him.
After a year of dating, they were engaged.
Six months later they got married in Hawaii.
Marigold followed a little while later. They let me live with them while I was in college then convinced me to stay after graduation so I could be closer to family.
I’m grateful to them, but it’s probably past time for me to move out.
“Just don’t work too much,” Cara says, handing me a hanger. “You need a life too.”
“I’ll drag her out of the house if she starts nesting with her sticky notes,” Lottie teases, grabbing a sweater from the pile on my bed and putting it on a hanger.
I roll my eyes as Marigold lets out a tiny wail in Ryan’s arms. He kisses the top of her head before handing her over to Cara to feed her.
Lottie helps me unpack and put away my clothes while Ryan sets up my TV—even though I told him I can do it myself. When Cara is finished feeding Marigold, she changes her diaper before handing her over to me to say goodbye.
“How can you leave this face?” Cara asks, making one last attempt to guilt me into staying. “She’s going to miss her Auntie Madeline. I haven’t had the heart to break the news to her that you won’t be there for bath time.”
Marigold looks up at me with big, blue eyes and smiles. God, I’m going to miss her.
“Good luck at Cove.” Ryan wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “If you need anything, just call. You know we are always here for you.”
“You better,” Cara agrees, kissing me on my cheek. “I love you, girl.”