Propositioning Mr. Raine Read online

  When she’d landed at the airport, she discovered her SUV had a flat front tire and it had taken a tow truck driver almost an hour to reach her. She’d been informed someone had pulled a prank and had just let the air out of the tire. At least ten cars had been targeted besides hers so the guy had towed her SUV to a local gas station, filled the tire for her, and she’d grabbed gas station hot dogs for dinner. She was exhausted as she pulled into her driveway after midnight.

  A light on upstairs in her bedroom window drew her attention. Trina was certain she’d turned off all the lights before she left but figured that she must have forgotten that one in her rush to get to the airport. She’d made last minute flight plans after Ted’s mother had called her to beg her to fly back to California for the party on Saturday. She hadn’t had the courage to say no so she’d packed and taken the first flight there.

  She climbed out of her SUV and walked to the back to get her stuff, glad she’d packed light for her quick trip. She gripped her overnight bag and her small suitcase, stumbling a little on the walk to her front door, and realized she was dead on her feet, ready to just fall into bed. She doubted she’d even get undressed first. She unlocked the door, thinking maybe she’d sleep in her shoes. She locked the door behind her, dropped everything on the floor, and looked at the couch, tempted to sleep there.

  “No,” she groaned aloud. She headed for the stairs. She stumbled into her room, fixed her eyes on the bed, and just yanked down her jeans as she kicked her shoes away. She reached up the back of her shirt, unfastened her bra, and removed it. Her fingers ran through her hair, tearing out the pins and freeing the long strands. She rubbed at her scalp that hurt from having it up for too long. She started to unbutton her shirt when someone cleared their throat.

  Trina cried out in startled fear, spun around toward the source of the sound, and lost her balance. Her ass hit the edge of her bed as she stared at Ryder Raine sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of the room by her closet. She hadn’t seen him when she’d walked in, the open door blocking her view. She grabbed her pounding chest with one hand and then realized she was in a pair of undies and a half-unbuttoned shirt as his gaze raked down her front.

  She grabbed at the comforter and dragged it over her lap and up to her chest where she clutched it in place, just staring at him in mute shock. What the hell is he doing in my bedroom? How did he get in the house? Why the hell is he here?

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “Frighten me?” She found her voice. “You scared the shit out of me. I could have had a heart attack!” She took a deep breath. “What are you doing here?” A horrible thought struck her. “Is Navarro okay? Has something happened to him?”

  Dark brown eyes narrowed. “He’s fine, in bed sound asleep.”

  Relief swept through her. “Good.” She stared at his brother. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  “I knew the Verns and I dated their daughter about ten years ago. There’s a lock that doesn’t work well on the mud porch. If it gets wiggled the lock opens.” He grinned, giving her a wink. “I used to sneak in.”

  “Oh.” She frowned and pulled the comforter more firmly around her body. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  She frowned at him. “About what? It’s after midnight. I…I’m confused. I’m totally lost on why you’d come here to talk to me and I’m really uncomfortable that you let yourself into my house.”

  Ryder stretched his legs outward, obviously getting more comfortable in the chair as he crossed his ankles. “I went into the safe today. Nav was closemouthed about what kind of shit Dusty pulled and how deep into shit Nav had to go to get Dusty out this time. I thought Nav had taken out a loan and I wanted to see where he’d gotten the money so I could make payments to help him out. Imagine my shock when I found that contract.”

  The blood drained from Trina’s face, knowing that Ryder knew the truth. Embarrassment flashed through her entire body in a wave of heat. She let her gaze drop to the floor and tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat before she forced her gaze back to his. He was calmly watching her and she couldn’t read his expression.

  “Okay. So why are you here? Are you going to tell anyone about it?”

  He shook his head. “Tell people my brother is a paid man whore? Fuck no.”

  Trina winced. “It’s not like that. Don’t say that about him.”

  “That’s what he said.”

  “You talked to him about this?” Her cheeks burned more. She wondered how Navarro handled his brother confronting him and if it had upset him.

  “I did. We had a discussion.” Ryder’s eyelids narrowed. “That’s why I’m here. You and I are going to come to a new agreement and write a new contract.”

  Shock hit Trina. “Excuse me?”

  “Nav told me you lost your husband and you’re lonely. I’m real sorry for your loss.” His attention drifted around the room. “I saw the new furniture and you put some bucks into this place. It looks great, by the way. I saw what you drive. I took a peek at your clothes and you should get a damn safe to keep that jewelry in. You’ve got money.” He frowned at her. “I also peeked in the photo albums you have downstairs. You’ve been to Europe and all over the place. You are used to the good life so I can’t figure out what you’re doing in our little piece of the world, but it’s your life.”

  “You had no right to—”

  He cut her off. “Didn’t I? You’re blackmailing my brother into fucking you, lady. You saved our ranch by using your money to turn my brother into a whore for you.”

  She was too shocked to speak but then she found her voice. “I offered to just loan him the money. He didn’t have to…” She slammed her mouth closed.

  “Fuck you?”

  She nodded miserably. “I offered to loan him the money with no strings.”

  “He’s got pride. We learned nothing comes in life for free and there’s always a price. Navarro is a good man and he’s always been the responsible one. Our brother Drake couldn’t wait to get the hell out of here when he took off to law school and he lives in Dallas to avoid us. Dusty was always the fuck-up of the family, one party to the next, and he was the closest to Dad because they both loved to tear it up with booze and whores.

  “Nav hit the rodeo circuit when he was just seventeen. Ever see his championship belts? He was that damn good. He sent money home to the ranch and hell, kept it floating because by then Dad was a full-blown alcoholic. Dusty was well on his way and Nav paid for that law school for Drake. Then Nav paid for me and River to pursue our dreams. River wanted a life like Nav and I love music. Nav floated us all on cash, barely surviving himself, but that’s how he is. He took care of us, including sending Adam and Trip to college because they are family too. When Nav got busted up he came here and then Dad was killed. Nav held this family together even though he was going through pure hell with his wife, his recovery, and Dad’s death.”

  Trina listened, nodding, and feeling her heart ache for Navarro and all he’d gone through that she hadn’t known about. The gossips in town hadn’t told her much of the Raine history.

  “Now Dusty almost lost the ranch and Nav had to save us again. If we lost the ranch…well, shit. It’s our home. We all know it’s always here for us, that Nav is here for us, and that Adam is here for us now that he’s back. Nav’s a good man and he’d do anything to save our home. You put him in a position where he couldn’t say no and he’s not the type of man to make that kind of contract with you. Do you understand? It’s going to tear him up.”

  “Okay.” Pain lanced through Trina’s heart.

  “Okay what? You don’t care what it does to his pride to be forced to fuck a woman for money or okay you get that he can’t do this anymore? You aren’t his type. You’re too old, you’re not tall enough, and he liked the redhead way too much. You’re as far from his type as it gets, Trina. If it wasn’t for the money, I can promise you, he