Page 3 of Broken Rules

He glanced at her left hand.No ring, but she had to be here with someone.Single people were not allowed at the ranch.

“Have you been around horses before, Becca?”He craved to hold her close.Tyler looked toward the sky.He shouldn’t be thinking this way.There had to be a man waiting for her, or she wouldn’t be here.

“Not unless you count a pony when I was ten.”

“When you’re ready, walk around her head to stand here.”He’d let her make the decision to approach.“I’ll introduce you to Rose, Becca.”

Why do I keep saying her name?Maybe because somewhere deep inside he couldn’t believe she was here?He wanted nothing more than to remind her of the fact he was her first lover.

Reining in his libido, he fought to remember why people came to the ranch.

Her dark blue suit looked out of place.Dressed for success, his ex would have said.Another reason he should keep his distance.She looked polished, professional, a far cry from his Becca in college.She looked like a city woman now, and city women were not for him.

When she walked around to him, her heat soaked into his skin and Tyler inhaled jasmine again.She’d loved jasmine shampoo when they were together and apparently still did.Memories rushed back, and he let them soak into his psyche, reliving the good times they had together.

“Rose is a beautiful horse.”Her voice was soft with a tiny bit of hesitation in it.

Forcing his mind back to his task, Tyler reached down and snagged her hand.Still as soft as ever.“She’s a beautiful four-year-old with impeccable bloodlines.”Becca trembled beneath his touch.Was she afraid of the horse or him?

Lifting her hand, he placed her palm against Rose’s withers and kept his on top of it.“Stroke her neck with easy, gentle movements.Like this.”

Rose snorted, and Becca flinched against him, jerking her hand free.

“Easy.”His arms automatically slipped around Becca’s waist, anchoring her to him.She fit perfectly against him.So few women did.

“Did I scare her?”

“No, she liked it.She only snorted.Go ahead, pet her again.”Keeping her anchored against him, he watched her raise her hand and run her fingers over Rose’s coat.

His cock pulsed, remembering those same fingers stroking him, up and down, varying the pressure as she went from base to tip.

Damn, this isn’t good.He shifted his stance.The last thing he needed was for her to feel his hard-on.

“She’s very soft.”

“I groom her every day.It keeps her coat shiny and smooth.”

“It must be nice to have your hair brushed every day.”There was a wistful tone in her voice.

I’d brush your hair every day, if you wanted.

But he didn’t say that.“Rose likes it.”His gaze took in Becca’s hair, pulled into a severe bun.He wondered if her hair was as long as it had been in college—or was it longer?When they made love, it would brush against his skin.

He released her waist with his left hand, then stopped himself.He almost reached up and removed the pins to see, but at the last second stopped himself.What am I doing?Why was Becca effecting him this way?There had been beautiful women on the ranch before, but he’d never been tempted to make a pass at any of them.

Even when they indicated they were open to having him as a lover.With every ounce of strength, he released her and stepped away.

“Who would I see about taking riding lessons while I’m here?”she asked.

“I can teach you.”Oh yeah, his cock shouted in approval.He’d teach her to ride all right.“After dinner tonight, we’ll set something up.”He was digging himself one hell of a hole, but maybe after meeting her partner that would cool his libido.“Speaking of dinner”—he glanced at his watch—“I need to put Rose back in her stall and clean up.”

“Of course.”She slid away from him, and he missed her already.Get a grip.

“I’ll help you back over the fence.”It would be smarter to have her walk through the stable area, but she was wearing sneakers, not really great for the stables.He escorted her to the fence and helped her climb back over.

“Thank you, Tyler.”She tilted her head as she looked up at him.“It’s good to see you again.I’ll see you around.”The sway of her hips as she strode away made him want her even more.

“It’s impossible,” he muttered.

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