Page 15 of Ranch Rules

Chapter Three

Natalie took a coupleof deep, steadying breaths and schooled her expression not to betray an ounce of her feelings before she trusted herself to turn around. Before she could decide what to say, the door opened and Nate poked his head into the office.

“You just about finished up in here?”

“We are. I was just waiting to talk to Miss Natalie about the rest of her arrangements. She’ll need some gas to get back home.”

“I’ll have Justin get on it,” he answered.

“Wait.” Natalie took another deep breath, hating herself for what she was about to say even before a single word was spoken. “Could you... could you come in here, please?”

Nate obliged, stepping in and softly closing the door behind him without a word.

It was all she could do to maintain her neutral expression with both pairs of their eyes on her. She had completely forgotten that she was still naked from the waist down, or she never would have asked him to come in. But if she reached for them now it would betray the fact it had slipped her mind in the first place and she’d lose her composure entirely.

“I don’t suppose staying is an option?”

Both men traded looks before looking back at her. “Of course you can stay.” It was Thomas who answered. “Your room has been paid for. But you would need to read our contract and sign it first.”

She swallowed hard, trying to work her throat past all the objections she had. “May I see it, please?”

Nate walked toward the desk, moving around it and removing a manila file folder from the front drawer without giving her so much as a smirk. It was almost as though he was used to having half-naked, red-bottomed girls in his office.

She realized with a start that was probably exactly the case.

He put it on the desk with a flourish and without a word to her he began walking from the office. “Let me know what she decides,” he said to Thomas before closing the door behind him.

Her gaze went to Thomas, but he stayed silent. When she’d decided that he was going to stay that way, she flipped open the folder.

Contract for Guests at Discipline Ranch:

At the ranch, we operate by a series of rules regarding expected behavior, and consequences to follow if these rules are not upheld. They include but are not limited to:

Be respectful (this includes speaking in a respectful tone, not rolling eyes, etc.)

As she read, Natalie realized she had technically broken another rule only minutes earlier. Squelching the desire to repeat the eye-roll now that she knew it was a no-no, she continued to read.

Be obedient. If you disagree with the task given to you, you may discuss it in a respectful manner, but ultimately the decision rests with the liaison in charge of your stay and you will submit yourself to their ruling or face the consequences.

You will strive to work hard daily at your assigned task.

Though the contract was far from the longest she’d ever read, as her eyes continued to scan she felt herself getting bleary-eyed. It had to have been written by a lawyer fresh out of law school, she thought as she hid a smirk. She had spotted a few errors already, though she had every intention of keeping that to herself. The words swam together until she reached up and rubbed her eyes, forcing herself to keep going.

Self-control... safety... honesty... any deviation from these express ideas will result in immediate punishment in the form of bare-bottom, over-the-knee spankings, with hand or implement as determined by the liaison in charge of your stay.

Finally, she looked up, satisfied that she understood all that would be expected of her. She found the entire concept medieval and horrifying, but she could follow these so-called rules and get through the next few days until her time ran out. Unless...

“What do you think?” Thomas broke the silence.

“It’s... interesting.”

“Hmm, funny, I thought as a lawyer you’d have more insight than that.” He cocked his head to the side as he studied her.

Natalie got the distinct feeling that he knew there were things she wasn’t saying, which instantly defied the honesty clause. Good thing he wasn’t a mind reader, or he’d have proof. She fought back a blush and forced herself to maintain eye contact. “It could use a few alterations. You might want to have a more seasoned lawyer give it a look, when you have the time.”

He gave a somber nod. “Well? What’s it gonna be?”

She hesitated, thinking through her options. The truth was she wanted to stay as much as she wanted a hot poker to the eye. But considering having to tell Mr. Dawson that she had left after what he’d told her was even worse than the poker—if only slightly more so. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to, ah... tell my boss I was here for the entire stay? If he asked, I mean?”

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