Page 29 of Broken Rules

“It was probably the only time I was grateful for my mother calling me.It gave me a chance to push Randall off.I grabbed my phone and screamed at my mother to call the police.”

“And did she?”

Becca’s eyes filled with anger and disappointment.“She demanded I give the phone to Randall.I did, thinking she’d tell him to back off.He placed the phone on the table and tapped speaker.”Her body shook.“My mother told Randall he couldn’t fuck me, but he could check to see if I was still a virgin any way he wanted.”

“Son of a bitch.”Damn.Her mother was a piece of work.It was a good thing he didn’t hurt women, but he damn sure wanted to hurt that woman.As for Randall, Tyler’s decision to have his friends give him a talking-to was cemented.

“I was so shocked by my mother’s words that I wasn’t prepared when Randall forced me back on the bed.”She paused and took a deep breath.“Something inside me broke in that moment.I screamed at the top of my lungs and startled Randall.So I pushed him off, pulled my ripped shirt together, and ran out of his apartment.

“Shit.”He could picture her outside, trembling and afraid, half-dressed.

“That’s how I met Angie.I ran to a nearby coffee shop.She was coming out and asked me what was wrong.I could barely get the words out.Angie realized at once what had happened.She loaded me into her car and took me to her apartment.She was my angel that night.”

Tyler made a mental note to thank Angie somehow.She saved Becca.

“The next day, Angie and her boyfriend went with me to my mother’s house.I think it helped she was dating a guy who worked in construction, and she brought her two huge older brothers with us.They helped me pack my belongings.The whole time, my mother raged at me that the night before was all a misunderstanding.I told her it wasn’t and walked out.”

“You moved in with Angie?”

“Yes.For the longest time, I couldn’t stand to be alone.”

“I’m so sorry this all happened.”He gathered her close, wanting so much to do something more.But what could he do?

“I’m not done yet.I showed up for work the next day, and that’s when I found out my mother had secured the job for me.All of a sudden, I was enemy number one at work, and then I was called into my supervisor’s office.Randall stood there and accused me of sleeping with him to get a better position and that the only reason I had the position was because of my mother.”

“That is unfair.”

“Yes.But I was so tired of everything, I quit my job and walked away.If it hadn’t been for Angie, I don’t know what I would have done.”

“When I meet Angie, I’m going to give her a big hug for taking care of you and for sending you to me.”Becca’s head rested on his shoulder.He held her close, wanting to take all her pain away.

“She’s my best friend for a reason.Needless to say, I found a new job and began working my way up.And last week, my dream job as head of catering at the Palace Hotel became available.It’s always been out of my reach.But now it’s mine.”

Becca had always talked about how the Palace Hotel was one of the best places to be for job growth.I can’t stand in the way of her happiness.This was a one week deal, and he needed to remember that.“What about the ex?”He really didn’t want to ask, but he needed to know.

“Alan?I already told you about him.”She relaxed against him, letting him take her weight as if she was exhausted from all the talking.

“Tell me how you acquired your battery-operated boyfriend.”He wanted to lighten the mood and get her mind off her mother and her past.

Becca laughed, and Tyler’s heart lightened.“Angie, of course.She introduced me to an adult store.She helped me understand it was okay to have sexual needs, and how to satisfy myself.”

“Yet you’ve been suppressing your sexuality for years.”

“Yes.”She raised her head and looked at him.“While having a vibrator helped, I still kept my needs under tight control.It wasn’t until I saw Alan in bed with my boss that I realized how much I’d been suppressing.Then I came here and saw you… the feelings you re-ignited in me made it clear how utterly wrong Alan was for me.I’ve never felt this way about another man.Only you, Tyler.”She took a breath.

Tyler was stunned and couldn’t think of anything to say.

“I watched you with the horse.They way you stroked her body, the way you spoke softly to her, and your patience.Even all these years later, you’re different, but then so am I.You generously agreed to be my partner and helped me free the woman inside me.There was the man I could trust.”

Her unfettered trust in him made his heart pound.It also worried him.It was a lot to live up to, and he knew he couldn’t get too close to her.Any attachment would fail.She had her dream job awaiting her, and he wouldn’t compete with that.He’d done it before and lost.“I can promise you I will never hurt you, never force you.There are reasons for a safe word.”

“And what is my safe word?”

“Pick one.Something you won’t say in the heat of passion, yet something that will get my attention.”

Her nose scrunched up as she thought, then she grinned.“Tomato.”

“Perfect.”

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