Propositioning Mr. Raine (Riding the Raines Book 1) Read online

“I looked at him and compared him to the picture sitting on the mantel over the fireplace fifteen feet to the left of the guy in her living room! He said his name is Mattews. She lied and fooled you. You’ve been screwing a married chick. I warned you that this was some kind of game to her. She’s some bored rich bitch whose husband was off somewhere.”

  Shock tore through Navarro and his heart pounded. Could everything have been a lie? Was she really married and just looking for some fun on the side? If her husband worked in another state, living close to the job, then weeks could go by when he wasn’t around.

  “What did Trina say?” Navarro knew there had to be an explanation.

  “She wasn’t there.” Ryder withdrew the folded paper he’d smoothed out. “Here’s more evidence. It’s a paid-in-full statement for the loan she made you, stating the contract is over.”

  Navarro took the paper with a shaking hand. It was wrinkled but it wasn’t torn as he straightened it out to read. Sure enough, it was a signed document from Trina stating that she’d been paid back every penny of a twenty-thousand-dollar loan and that the Raine Ranch no longer was in debt to her. He closed his eyes, fisting the paper as fury hit him hard.

  “I’m sorry, man.” Ryder sighed loudly. “It’s better you found out now rather than later.”

  “Damn,” Adam said softly. “I liked her too, Nav. Ryder is right. Its better you found out now. So do you think this guy is going to come over here with a shotgun or try to kick Nav’s ass for screwing his wife?”

  “Nah,” Ryder shook his head. “He’s some weenie in casual wear who looks like the only swinging he’ll ever do is with a golf club on some fancy course. You should have seen this guy. I never would have pegged her for hooking up with him. It must be his money. He’s this short, chubby, balding guy. No wonder she was stepping out on him.”

  “I need a drink.” Navarro folded the paper and handed it to Ryder. “Put this in the safe where it won’t be misplaced. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her now. I don’t want to lose this in case her husband leaves town and she suddenly thinks I owe her a thing. If I never see her again, it will be too soon.”

  Navarro headed to his truck. He’d trusted Trina, believed everything she’d said, and what made it worse was he’d started to feel things for her way too deeply. He thought she was special, that she was someone he really wanted to get to know.

  He started his truck and drove to the house. He really did need a drink. He needed to get laid too. He didn’t want the last woman he touched to be that lying bitch. He was going to town.

  * * * * *

  Trina ate some pizza for dinner. Hailey only had one motel and it wasn’t the nicest place to be, but it was better than going home in case Paul was still hanging around waiting for her. He could wait all night. At the party at his parents’ house, he’d tried to corner her to dig into her again about Ted and the money.

  It wasn’t her fault that Ted had decided to leave her everything. After Ted died, Paul had borrowed thirty grand from her. She’d written the check without question and she’d never asked for a dime back. He’d asked for Ted’s Porsche too. Ted had loved that sports car, it had been his baby, and it had been painful to part with it but Paul was his brother so Trina had signed the title over to him. She knew he deserved to own something that would keep him connected to Ted.

  No matter how much she gave, it would never be enough for Paul, obviously.

  She’d spent sixteen years of her life with Ted and had given up her dreams to be the kind of wife he’d wanted, even given up motherhood. If Paul thought she was going to sign over every dime of the money she’d received, he was wrong. She deserved it.

  In the room next door, a couple started having really loud sex, their bed slamming against the wall and the woman moaning loudly. Trina eyed the wall and laughed until it reminded her of Navarro. The laughter died. She missed him and it hurt knowing that she wouldn’t see him again. Ryder’s words had left her with no doubt that right now, Navarro was relieved that he didn’t have to deal with her again.

  Hot tears filled her eyes and she wiped them away. She needed a drink. The town’s only bar was right down the street. She could walk there, have some drinks, and then come back to her room. The couple next door should hopefully be done by then or too worn out to keep her up all night. She put on her shoes, grabbed her purse, and made sure she had her door key.

  The sun had gone down. Trina glanced at her wrist only to remember she’d dropped her watch in her purse earlier. It didn’t really matter what time it was. She made her way down the street, noticing that most of the shops had closed. She appreciated the small town of Hailey but it sure didn’t boast much nightlife besides the bar. She heard country music as she walked closer.

  It was surprisingly packed for a Monday night, but she guessed it might have had something to do with the rodeo, since she saw the big-screen TV on with some cowboy being bucked on a bull. The man dismounted hard but stayed on his feet. Some people in the bar cheered. Trina headed for the bar to sit down on a barstool and gave a smile to the bald guy with tattoos who was bartending. She remembered his name was Thomas.

  “Hey,” he moved closer to her. “How do you like Hailey?”

  She nodded. “I’ve felt really welcomed here. Thanks for asking.”

  “You don’t come in here enough. If you want to meet more neighbors, this is the place to be.” He poured her whiskey.

  Trina was impressed. “You remembered.”

  “I try to always remember what people drink. Are you here to watch the rodeo? The barrel racing is about to begin. They’re just showing highlights from some of the events today. A lot of folks don’t have cable or satellite so they come in here. This one is from Tennessee. Know anything about the rodeo?”

  Shaking her head no, she sipped her drink. “I’m not really bummed about that either. Tennis is more my style of a sport to watch. There’s a lot less blood and injures. They have some clowns too, but they don’t wear makeup.”

  Thomas laughed. “That’s a sport I refuse to put on my big screen. Sorry, little lady.” He chuckled. “We have a local hero in here tonight so it makes it extra special for the rodeo fans.”

  “Really?”

  “Hell yeah. Navarro Raine came in. He has championship buckles from the events he used to win when he worked the rodeo circuit. He…”

  Shock hit her and Trina tuned out the bartender’s voice, twisting on her barstool to glance around the bar. Navarro’s here? Dread hit her as her gaze searched the room and then she saw him over in the corner. He stood talking to a group of men and she could tell it was his back she stared at, his wet hair in a ponytail. He wore a blue flannel shirt with his standard faded, snug blue jeans. She couldn’t see his feet but she would bet that he was wearing his black cowboy boots.

  She bit her lip and knew she should talk to him, even if it was just to apologize. It hurt that he’d lied to her by making it seem as if he’d really wanted her, but then again, Ryder had said Navarro felt he had no choice. Trina took a few deep breaths and decided she’d face him to apologize for putting him in a situation that he was forced into, and hopefully they’d have no hard feelings.

  She climbed down from her barstool and walked through the bar, noticing it really was packed, so she had to weave between bodies to walk up behind him. He was laughing and chatting to a few men about rankings. She wasn’t sure what that was but one of the men by Navarro noticed her as she approached. He reached up to take off his cowboy hat, grinning at her. She gave him a weak smile and walked closer.

  Navarro turned around as he followed the man’s gaze and looked surprised. Then his mouth tightened and he frowned. His expression seemed to go cold while Trina stared up at him. It stunned her at how angry he appeared. It froze her in her tracks with four feet separating them still.

  “Hello, Ms. Mattews.” It was the man who’d removed his hat.

  Her gaze jerked to him, having forgotten his name, but he worked at the grocery