HER RUGGED GUARDIAN

  PIPER STONE

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Books of the Savage Empire Series

  Books of the Ruthless Empire Series

  Books of the Tainted Regime Series

  Books of the Carnal Sins Series

  Books of the Kings of Corruption Series

  Books of the Sinners and Saints Series

  Books of the Benedetti Empire Series

  Books of the Merciless Kings Series

  Books of the Mafia Masters Series

  Books of the Edge of Darkness Series

  Books of the Dark Overture Series

  Books of the Club Darkness Series

  More Mafia and Billionaire Romances by Piper Stone

  Books of the Missoula Bad Boys Series

  Books of the Montana Bad Boys Series

  Books of the Eagle Force Series

  Books of the Dangerous Business Series

  Books of the Dark Wolves Series

  Books of the Alpha Dynasty Series

  Books of the Alpha Beasts Series

  More Stormy Night Books by Piper Stone

  About Piper Stone

  Copyright © 2024 by Stormy Night Publications and Piper Stone

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC.

  www.StormyNightPublications.com

  Stone, Piper

  Her Rugged Guardian

  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults.

  CHAPTER 1

  “It is amazing how your life changes when you embrace the reality that you’re better than the life you’ve settled for.”

  —Steve Maraboli

  Cassandra

  A blonde floozy with big tits. Isn’t that what all men wanted?

  Well, fuck that and fuck all men.

  My asshole ex could have the tawdry woman. I was certain she’d help his run for senator. Maybe she could jiggle her tits in front of the male reporters for additional votes.

  A single bead of sweat trickled down my cheek at such a slow pace, I was instantly annoyed, wiping it furiously. “I hate men, Moose. Except for you, of course. Dogs are different. That’s why there are several songs written about women preferring their pups. You’re a lot less work and I don’t need to pick up your socks and underwear.” At least I could laugh in the face of a total disruption of my life.

  I was firmly convinced that there was a black cloud hanging over my head. The day had gone from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. What was I saying? Now that night had set in, I was able to admit that making several significant changes in the swoop of thirty days was akin to having a root canal done without Novocain. But I was Cassandra Dayne, a once powerful marketing expert, considered a brilliant woman in my field. This wasn’t going to dampen my spirits in the least.

  Even if somewhere in the back of my mind I knew the concept that change was good had been the thought of a crazy person or villain determined to take over the world. Maybe I was being a little overdramatic, but at this point, I wanted to dig a hole in the sand and hide for months.

  Years.

  Woof.

  The single harrumph-ing brought me down from whatever cloud I was on, finally able to make the long-awaited turn to my destination called a brand-new life.

  As I pulled down the long driveway, my fingers remained clutched around the steering wheel. Well, it was almost dark, and I was certain by morning light things would look brighter. Right?

  The moment I pulled in front of the quaint bed and breakfast, my heart sank. “I don’t know, buddy. I think we might have made a mistake.” The fact my mother had purchased a B & B plus a small winery had shocked the entire family. But she’d run it successfully for years. Then Covid had hit and life for her had taken a serious downturn, enough so the winery had been all but closed for over two years.

  Who was I to criticize or challenge her choices? I’d just run away from everything I’d ever known.

  Not soon enough to help her run the place she’d grown to love or to save her life. The guilt wore like a thick second skin, something I’d have difficulty shedding. That was one reason I was determined to turn the place around, even if the estate attorney and everyone else who’d heard about the business had recommended otherwise.

  Fuck them. I would make this work no matter what I had to do.

  Tangerine Sunset had been my mother’s dream, the name perfect for the adventure she’d made her own, a woman I’d considered a gypsy. She’d left her high-powered accounting job in Maryland after learning my father had cheated on her. I’d seen pictures of the incredible location but had only visited twice in the last eight years, the second time for her funeral.

  The revelation hit me hard. I’d missed so much time with her, embroiled in my own life. Now I felt empty inside, uncertain I’d made the right choice to upend my life, moving thousands of miles away from everything and everyone I knew.

  With a population of less than three thousand, Depoe Bay, Oregon had small town vibes written all over it. Granted, the city flanked the Pacific Ocean, its claim to fame being the whale-watching capital of the Oregon Coast. Maybe that’s why I felt like a fish out of water.

  Moose lifted his head from the passenger seat, his tail thumping against the door panel, the slight whine affirming his unhappiness at being taken away from everything and everyone he loved. Sighing, I reached over, scratching behind his ears. My big black lab was my constant companion. I wasn’t entirely certain I would have found the courage to do this without his help.

  Change was inevitable. That’s what I’d heard my entire life. I was taking a leap of faith. At this moment, all I could think about was that the change I’d insisted on had been a decision I would be thankful for later in my life. Whatever the case, I’d reached my destination, a new beginning, and the changes were exciting.

  Then why was I terrified?

  Maybe because the trip across country had been horrible with flight delays, Moose almost getting transferred to a plane heading to Ireland, and the fact that all I’d eaten in the last fifteen hours had been peanuts. Stale peanuts to be exact.

  I peered out the windshield, issuing a growl that could rival Moose’s.

  The dark sky provided an ominous background. I jumped, even yelping audibly when something hit the windshield. “Jesus. Mommy dog is a scaredy cat. Huh?”

  This time, my wonderful companion did nothing but crawl forward, placing his head on my thigh. I stopped the car, waiting for a few seconds before shoving the gear into park and cutting off the engine. I stared at the house, hating the shadows in the windows.

  “What are you doing, girl? You’re out of your mind.”

  Woof!

  At least I could still laugh given my baby’s exclamation point placed next to my terrified statement.

  “I know. I promised you excitement. Maybe everything will look brighter in the morning. Right, buddy?”

  His silence meant he doubted my promise. I doubted myself as well. As I opened the driver’s door to my rental car, memories and fleeting images of my mother drifted into the back of my mind. I couldn’t help but wonder if I should have taken almost everyone’s advice and sold the place, even if that’s not what my mother had wanted. Still, I was in way over my head. I’d been in Depoe Bay, Oregon all of two hours and I’d come to that conclusion.

  Time to seize the day.

  Right. Maybe what I needed to do was to seize my sanity. I was a big city girl used to condo living. The thought of living in a bed and breakfast had seemed like the perfect step in a journey, a way of leaving my past behind. Now I suspected I’d gone cuckoo.

  At least the air was fresh, the hint of salt from the ocean and the greenery of the dense forest surrounding the property a pleasant respite from living in the heart of DC. Just driving through town on my way here was a reminder of how small the town really was. Tomorrow I’d go exploring.

  “Come on, bud. Time to go inside.”

  Moose was reluctant to scamper onto the gravel drive. When he did, he immediately started sniffing. I grabbed a couple of bags before closing the door. The rest could wait until later. I’d sold a significant portion of my belongings including every piece of my beloved furniture. A fresh start. That’s what I’d told myself. The majorit
y of what I’d brought with me had arrived the day before; the few boxes I’d paid a hefty fee to cart with me on the plane were the items I’d been terrified to lose.

  As I headed to the porch, a strange, foreboding sense remained. I could swear I was being watched.

  Now you’re being ridiculous.

  I jerked my jacket around me as I headed for the porch, gazing up at the dark windows for a second time. They weren’t brighter. I could almost swear the devil was winking at me. “Come on, baby boy. It’s time to make this our home.”

  At least his single bark held more enthusiasm.

  Wind whipped through the trees, the chill in the air unexpected. I took a deep breath as I headed up the six stairs, trying to prepare myself for walking inside. After counting to five, I opened the storm door, trying to snag the keys from my purse. My entire body was chilled to the bone from the light jacket I’d worn.

  “Fuck,” I cursed under my breath, dropping them three times before managing to slide the correct one into the lock. When I twisted the key, it acted as if it wasn’t the right one.

  With no light on outside, the sliver of moon hidden behind thick clouds, I could barely see a thing and I hadn’t thought to bring a flashlight with me. I was lucky I’d remembered my brain at this point, the entire last four weeks a huge blur of activity and finalizing paperwork.

  And sadness.

  “Please don’t do this to me. Please.” I tried it again and groaned. The damn thing appeared to be stuck.

  Moose whined as he nuzzled my leg, as eager to crawl into bed as I was. I prayed the cleaning company I’d hired had already been here. As soon as the lock clicked, I almost squealed in delight. I grabbed one of the bags, the door sticking after a few inches. Of course it would. The slight creak gave me the willies. My mother had never said anything about the place being haunted, but at this point I wasn’t certain it wasn’t. My trepidation had to be all about the darkness.

  If only the plane hadn’t been late. Then I’d been forced to wait until Moose was unloaded. The poor pup had drooled all over his cage. I couldn’t blame him. He was far too large to fit into a medium-size crate. He was a happy-go-lucky pup normally, but he’d used his big dog growl, terrifying the airport personnel, which thankfully had helped in getting him released quickly.

  When he woofed a single time, I scratched him behind the ears. “Yes, I remembered the dog biscuits, buddy. That will be first on the agenda.”

  Thankfully, I’d gotten a text that the few boxes I’d sent ahead had arrived earlier in the day. My mother’s attorney had charged me a fortune to handle the delivery, but I was thankful that I’d gone to the expense. I had a feeling I needed all the creature comforts around me I could have.

  I tried to be careful with the door, but finally kicked it with my foot, lumbering inside. A light was on in the back of the house, the warm glow creating more foreboding shadows. Maybe the cleaning people had left it on for me. What a nice touch.

  Hell, they should have left roses and a bottle of champagne for what they charged me. Still, it would be worth every penny if they’d tackled everything promised from their list. I lowered the bags to the floor, taking a deep breath.

  Then I heard a noise.

  A clang.

  Swallowing hard, I grabbed Moose’s collar to keep him from reacting. Maybe it was nothing. Possibly the old pipes. No, my mother had told me all the plumbing had been redone. Okay, breathe. Just breathe. I took another step, convinced whatever I’d heard were normal house sounds when I heard an entirely different sound. I yanked out my phone, my fingers shaking. No reception. Shit. Maybe I should just drive away, heading toward the police station. It would be helpful if I knew where it was.

  Wait a minute. I was taking the coward’s way out. Either what I’d heard was nothing or maybe the wind outside had loosened a board and it was hitting against the gutters. That made more sense than some intruder being inside the house. There were no vehicles, no other indication anyone was here.

  Then Moose growled and I jumped, sucking in my breath as I slipped the phone into my pocket. Okay, you can do this.

  “Stay, buddy. Right here. Be a good boy,” I whispered. His low growl was more terrifying than I’d heard in a long time. I had no implement of protection, not even mace. God, why had the plane been late? I eased toward the sound, constantly throwing Moose looks. I would unleash the beast if necessary, but not until I knew what I was dealing with. Granted, my big slobbering pup would do nothing more but lick the intruder to death unless the person was intent on hurting me. At least since he topped the scales at one hundred five pounds and was all black, he looked menacing, which terrified the majority of people he came in contact with.

  When I heard a third sound, I bit my inner cheek to keep from yelping. That’s when I knew I had to grab something to protect myself with. I couldn’t become a victim in the first hour of being in a new city. Only a hint of light filtered into the kitchen, but I could easily make out all the wonderful small appliances positioned on the counters. I snagged a toaster, holding my breath as I headed through a huge dining room toward the source of light.

  I waited just outside the entrance, gathering my courage.

  Then all hell seemed to break loose as Moose came charging in my direction, flying by me, growling as if several bears had crossed his path.

  Bang.

  The loud noise was jarring, unrecognizable.

  “Fuck!” The exclamation came from a deep male voice. That was my cue to protect what now belonged to me.

  I rushed into the room, lifting the toaster and without paying attention to anything around me, I smashed the stainless-steel appliance down on the perpetrator’s head. The hard cracking sound was empowering.

  “What the hell?” The intruder’s exclamation was laced with pain.

  Good. I’d hit my mark. I held onto the toaster with white-knuckled fingers as Moose straddled the bastard. What I found odd was that the pup stopped growling almost instantly. My slobbering buddy was even wagging his tail. Of course. Now he was licking the man as if they were best buddies. Perfect.

  “Moose! Come here, boy.” My command was unheeded, Moose far too interested in loving on the stranger.

  “Okay, buddy,” the intruder said, his husky voice sending a strange set of tingling vibes into my system like a rush of gasoline.

  “If you hurt my dog, I will kill you.”

  While Moose kept licking, the asshole stopped talking. Then the criminal managed to peer around the lump of fur, staring at me with the most incredible pair of blue eyes I’d ever seen. I took a deep breath, tingles trickling down both my arms. Only when his expression turned hard and cold did I manage to look away.

  “I’m not going to touch your dog, lady. But it seems like he likes me a bit too much.”

  “He likes everyone, including unscrupulous assholes who break into a person’s house. I’m calling the police.”

  “You do that, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see if you get any reception.” As soon as he struggled to get from under Moose’s hefty weight, I noticed two things.

  One—the criminal’s forehead was bleeding.

  Even worse—the intruder was without a doubt one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen. Models and actors weren’t as handsome and muscular. While he was older by at least ten years, that didn’t diminish his rugged good looks or his extreme sex appeal. My eyes followed a trail from his chiseled cheeks to his full lips and square jaw to… Whoa. The side of the man’s neck was scarred badly, his arm as well.

  When he struggled to stand, I refused to take a step back, lifting the appliance, prepared to strike the man again.

  What if he has a gun?

  Maybe he had one hidden in the… carpenter’s bag hung around his waist. What? I took a few seconds to scan the room, realizing he’d fallen from a ladder. Then I looked up at the ceiling, groaning quietly. He’d been in the middle of installing a ceiling fan. Shit. Shit. Shit. Who was this man?

  He eyed me scornfully as he rubbed his hands on his jeans. I allowed my gaze to follow his actions, a lump forming in my throat. At least it was no longer from fear or apprehension. Oh, no. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off his muscular thighs and the huge bulge between his legs. His jeans were well-worn, but the fit was perfect, allowing more than a few torrid fantasies.