Page 1 of Broken Rules

Chapter One

BeccaDaltonthrewhersuitcase 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 onehop overthis 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.

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