Raine on Me Read online

  “Yes.” He winked. “Women find it endearing.”

  “No. We don’t. It’s annoying.”

  Broad shoulders shrugged. “It may be why I’m divorced.”

  “You think?” She sipped her coffee. “I need to talk to Kevin. I’m going to tell him River had nothing to do with this. I want to make sure River’s safe.”

  “Like hell you are,” River stated from behind her.

  She turned her head, staring at him. He’d put on a shirt to cover his bare chest and had pulled his hair back into a messy ponytail. The frown he gave her was enough to show that not only had he heard what she’d said but he wasn’t happy about it.

  “He’ll make sure you never work again and that’s not the only thing Kevin will do if we’re lucky.” She stood, keeping the blanket wrapped around her. “I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

  “Nor would I.” Drake shrugged. “That’s why I took some measures when River told me he was involved with you. Don’t worry about Kevin Marthum. He’s got a reputation for doing stupid, impulsive things, and I called in a few favors.”

  “What does that mean?” River took a chair on the other side of Brit, frowning at his brother. “What did you do?”

  “Let’s just say that I made sure his phones were tapped after I called in a favor. I’d had it done to try to track Kyle to locate him but it’s a damn good thing we had it set up. I didn’t find Kyle before he found both of you but his father had another sort of phone conversation that I’m damn grateful we managed to record.” Drake smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He glanced at his watch and then back at River. “He was informed half an hour ago of his son’s death. Three minutes later he placed a call to a man and offered him fifty grand to kill you.”

  Brit gasped, horrified. “Oh my God!”

  River’s jaw clenched. “Great.”

  “They are on their way to place Kevin and the man he hired under arrest as we speak. The guy he called will flip on Kevin, make a deal to testify against him, and Kevin won’t leave prison alive. He’s had some heart troubles over the past year and I’m sure time behind bars won’t improve his health.”

  “Thanks.” River chuckled. “I appreciate you using your feds connections for me.”

  “That’s what brothers do.” Drake glanced between them. “They also know when the hell to leave two people alone so they can talk.” He stood. “I’m sorry I left the house to go riding last night and wasn’t here when that jackass broke in.”

  “You got home just in time for the important part.” River nodded at Drake. “Thanks. I’m damn glad you were.”

  “I’m going to bed. We’ll deal with the mess in your room later. The boys aren’t due back from fishing until tomorrow. Adam and Trip took Ryder out to their favorite spot before he could sober up after he was reminded of his past by Decon’s death. I didn’t call them to tell them what went down here so just take Ryder’s bedroom for now. Try to get some sleep. We could all use it. It’s been a hell of a morning.”

  River stared at Brit, waiting until Drake left the room. “You were really going to go talk to Kevin? Are you nuts?”

  It stung that he’d ask her that. “I didn’t want him blaming you for Kyle’s death and I had planned on calling Kevin. If I got close enough to see that man in person he’d hurt me. I am not dense.”

  “The only one responsible for what went down is Kyle. If his daddy isn’t bright enough to know his son left me no choice but to shoot him, nothing you could have said would have made him see reason. You just would have been fueling that old man’s rage, daring him to come after you harder. What were you thinking?” Anger tinged his voice.

  “I was thinking that I didn’t want you to get hurt.” Her temper flared. “I’m tired, it’s been, well, hell. Don’t jump on me.”

  “You’re right. It’s been a real bad, long night and morning that is now officially over since it’s past noon. We’re both tired and we’ve been through hell.” He slowly stood. “Let’s go to bed. Rest is what we both need most of all.”

  “I don’t think I can sleep.”

  “Then don’t, but I’m holding you in my arms. We’ll lie down together.”

  Brit tipped her head back to look up at him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t.” He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “None of this is your fault.”

  “You killed a man to save me.”

  “I know. I’m more than aware.” He hesitated. “I’d do it again. That’s why I’m taking it better than expected. I know what happened couldn’t be avoided and it beat any other outcome that could have gone down with Kyle showing up here.”

  “Do you hate me?” She couldn’t look at his face as the question popped out—her worst fear. After all, if it wasn’t for her, River never would have been in that situation.

  “No!” He leaned back, one hand gripping her chin to force her to meet his gaze. “Never. I—” He lips slammed together. “Let’s finish this conversation after we wake up when we’re both fully awake. I’m wiped out.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  River led her upstairs to the room across from his. Ryder’s room caused her mouth drop open when they stepped inside. The walls had been wallpapered with outdoor murals. She found herself in the middle of lush woods with a stream pictured predominantly on one wall. She gaped in stunned wonder.

  “I know,” River chuckled, glancing at her when he closed the door behind him. “It’s amazing that we’re twins. This actually beats how it looked when we were in our teens. He went through this heavy metal period.” He sighed. “Skulls everywhere.” He glanced around the room. “He finds this peaceful to write his songs.”

  Brit studied the room as she followed River to the big, wooden sleigh bed. “No canopy and chains, I see.”

  Another chuckle sounded from River. “I’m the dominant twin. Handcuffs and chains aren’t his thing. He loves aggressive women, which mostly describes his groupies.”

  “He’s got those?”

  River removed his clothes. “Many.”

  Naked, River climbed into bed after pulling back the covers. He stretched his big frame out and patted the mattress next to him. “Come here.” His mouth opened and a yawn had him covering his mouth. “I’m tired and I know you have to be too.”

  She hesitated and then stripped. She tried to ignore how strange it felt to be in Ryder’s room as River used his foot to hook the covers, pulled them up enough to grab them, and pulled them over both of them. He reached for her then, snuggling her against his side as another yawn broke from him.

  “I could have lost you.” He rolled onto his side, staring at her, and then his hand settled on her stomach under the covers. “When we wake up we should talk.”

  She nodded. She knew she had no reason to stay at the Raine ranch any longer. Kyle was dead and Kevin would go to jail for trying to have River murdered. She shivered and curled tighter against him. They really did need to talk but not at that moment. She needed time to think.

  She lay there until she realized that River’s breathing had slowed. She lifted her chin to stare up at his handsome face and study his lax features in sleep. She undeniably loved him. Leaving would be hard to do but she remembered he wasn’t the settle-down type. He’d admitted it freely. The last thing she needed would be a long-term relationship as well.

  Brit closed her eyes and clung to the man she loved. For right now, he belonged to her and they were together. Tomorrow… She pushed that thought away as she drifted to sleep.

  * * * * *

  The bed shifting woke River instantly and his eyes flew open. Memory of the night before hit him brick-hard. He turned his head, heart pounding, but instead of Brit’s ex-husband in the room with them, he met his brother’s amused gaze.

  “This is a nice surprise.” Ryder’s knee dented the other side of the bed and his jeans were unfastened. His twin looked away to smile at the woman sleeping on her stomach between them. “She change her mind about letti