Propositioning Mr. Raine Read online

  “Your wife lent my ranch twenty grand and just like the letter states, we paid her back. It’s not just me who owns our ranch, its family owned, Mr. Mattews. We just needed a short-term loan to float us until something came in, and it came in all right.” Ryder was furious as he glared at the man but tried to hide it. “I just came here to pick this up since Mrs. Mattews got the last payment from us that she’ll ever get. Have a good day.” Ryder spun before he lost it, storming out of the house.

  He drove back to the ranch then passed it and drove to the East pasture, knowing Nav and Adam were working out there. Ryder had brought them lunch earlier and had promised to come back later to help them with the downed fences that a storm had knocked over. After he parked Ryder walked slowly toward Nav. He really dreaded the upcoming conversation they needed to have.

  “You’re back fast,” Adam chuckled. “I thought you said you were heading into town for a few hours to hook up with a chick so you could get laid.”

  Nav dropped the shovel and studied his brother closely. “He looks pissed off as hell. She must have stood him up.”

  Ryder met Nav’s eyes. “We need to talk about Trina.”

  * * * * *

  Rage hit Navarro as he ripped off his work gloves and ate up the distance between himself and Ryder. “What did you do? Is that who you went to go see? I told you to stay the hell away from her. If you put one damn hand on her I’ll break it, damn you.”

  Ryder backed up. “She’s married, Nav.”

  Frowning, Navarro still glared at Ryder. “No shit. I told you she was widowed last year.”

  Ryder shook his head. “She lied. I just met her damn husband. There’s a picture of her and him on the mantel in the living room and unless I just met and spoke to a ghost, she lied to you. The man was pissed off as hell about the loan she made to the ranch and ranting about calling the cops, thinking I forced her to loan the money to us. The chick lied to you, Nav. Her husband is as dead as I am. He just got here because there was a rental car parked in front of her house with airport parking stickers.”

  “You’re wrong.” Navarro was stunned.

  “I looked at him and compared him to the picture sitting on the damn mantle over the fireplace fifteen feet to the left of the guy in her living room. He said his name is Mattews. The picture was her kissing him on the lips with their arms around each other. She lied to you 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 damn thing. If I never see her again it will be too soon.”

  Navarro headed to his truck in a fury of rage. 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 damn night. After the party at his parent’s 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 had another think coming. She deserved every dime.

  In the room next door a couple started having really loud sex, their bed slammed against the wall, and the woman moaned 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 walked down the street, noticing that most of the shops had closed at dusk. 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. Grinning, 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 and smiled as Thomas grinned at her.

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

  She nodded. “I have felt really welcome 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 white wine.

  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 are 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 Tenne