Chapter 1: Introduction

Philippa Eilhart loved exploring off the beaten path. It was one of the main reasons she'd spent her savings on a convertible; top down and roof parked, she could whip up the Utah dust clouds and throw caution to the wind.

True, taking off on her own for a road trip adventure came with a staggering risk, and that simply went with the territory she commanded. No man could chain the Heart of Iron, and Philippa loved it that way.

Her mind raced with wild thoughts as she tapped the steering wheel, leaving boredom and predictability in the dust.

As she drove on, she felt her desires awaken alongside the rugged terrain ahead. The late afternoon sun licked her face and arms; goosebumps prickled a fiery trail down her spine. Philippa spotted something off the highway that made her heart nearly leap out of her chest - a narrow path erupted from the woodlands, like an exotic flower, inviting exploration.

Her body tingled with excitement at what laid ahead, with a wicked grin she signaled and turned off stated course.

She switched on her playlist, letting the music course through the car as her tires dug into the earthy path. An oldies tune hammered home her newfound daring.Ordering herself to the floor, she gripped the wheel tightly to deal with the jostling terrain, clenching her thighs together to soothe the growing pressure between them.