Propositioning Mr. Raine Read online

  Navarro grinned, tasting the best damn brownie he’d ever had in his life. “Hands off, guys. She’s all mine.”

  * * * * *

  At home Trina showered and heard the phone ring as she dried off. It hardly ever rang so she was hopeful it was Navarro and ran for the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Trina.”

  Pain lanced through her at the sound of the voice on the other end of the phone. “Paul. Hi.”

  “I was wondering how you are doing.”

  Biting her lip, Trina gripped the phone hard. “I’m getting along. How are you? How are your parents doing?”

  “Fine. We’re good. It’s Mom and Dad’s anniversary on Sunday and I was hoping you’d fly back here to come to their party. It would mean a lot to them if you showed up since you meant so much to Ted.”

  She sat on her bed, not caring that her towel was wet, or that she was getting the bedspread damp. “I…its short notice. It’s already Friday.”

  “You have the money.” Anger tightened Paul’s voice. “My brother made sure you were well off and could afford to make last-minute trips.”

  Ted’s family was angry that Ted hadn’t left them any money. The insurance policy had been put in her name, everything had been, and Paul, Ted’s brother, had been especially angry. He and Ted were ten months apart and resembled each other as though they were twins. Just seeing Paul was really painful, as if she were looking at Ted—until Paul opened his mouth. They looked very similar, sounded alike, but Paul was an asshole while Ted had been a sweetheart.

  “You haven’t gone through all that money, have you?” He spat the words.

  “Of course not.”

  “I know you have to be shit with money since Ted had to treat you like you were a kid rather than a woman. He took care of everything. He—”

  “Don’t.” She cut him off.

  “He deserved better. You were always wrong for him.”

  Pain and anger hit her. “He was happy. I quit my job because he asked me to and we lived that way because he wanted that kind of life with me. Don’t blame me if you didn’t understand our lifestyle. He wanted to take care of everything and he wanted me at home to take care of him and I did that. I was the best housewife I could be. I put aside all of my dreams and ignored what I wanted because I loved him, Paul. Don’t you dare accuse me of being wrong for him when I gave up everything to make him happy.”

  A snort sounded over the phone. “He knew you couldn’t do anything so he kept you at home. You’re one of those pathetic women who—”

  The phone made a loud sound when it slammed into the cradle. Trina stared at the receiver, stunned that she’d hung up on him, having never done that to Ted’s brother before, no matter how mean he got. He was bitter about Ted’s death and resentful that Ted had left everything to Trina. She was pretty sure he was even bitter that Ted’s marriage had lasted while Paul had gone through four wives, proving what a big jerk he was.

  The phone rang. She hesitated. It rang again. She jerked it up. “I won’t let you talk to me that way, Paul. Do you understand me? I won’t be berated and put down. Do you get that? Don’t call here and start tearing into me, damn it. I lived to make Ted happy and it cost me plenty sometimes but I did it because I loved him that much.” She took a deep breath.

  “Babe?” Navarro’s voice was soft. “This isn’t Paul. Are you all right? You sound pissed.”

  She closed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just hung up on him and the phone rang. I thought you were him calling me back.”

  “Who is this jerk?”

  “Ted’s younger brother.”

  Navarro hesitated. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I’m sorry. Hi.” Trina tried to shake off her anger.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  She hesitated. “Ted’s brother is upset that Ted left everything to me. I was just his wife. The family thinks no matter how many years we were married that they should have gotten everything. Paul is particularly upset and he calls sometimes just to rile me, I swear. I’m really fine. I just didn’t expect his call or his verbal attack.” She took another deep breath, relaxing. “So to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

  He chuckled. “I loved the brownies the best. I had to fight Adam and Ryder for one of the loaves of banana bread. Thanks, babe. You can bake for me anytime.”

  “I’m glad. I know I overdid it.”

  “We ate it all.”

  A sudden burst of laughter came from her as she lay back on her bed, Paul totally forgotten. “No way. I made enough to feed ten guys.”

  “We made breakfast out of the whole thing.” He laughed. “That’s why I’m calling. You offered to bring something to dinner so can you make us up something for dessert? I was going to offer ice cream but after tasting what you take out of an oven it just pales in comparison. Adam and Ryder are eating with us but then they are going to the bar tonight so we’ll be alone.”

  “Okay. Any suggestions?”

  “Surprise me.” He lowered his voice. “I’m looking forward to the alone time with you the most.”

  “Me too.” Hearing his words made Trina smile as warmth spread throughout her body.

  “Thanks for the backrub last night. Thanks for everything.”

  “I had a good time.”

  “Sure you did. Sleeping in a barn on the uncomfortable dirt floor with me had to be a hell of a lot of fun.”

  “I did have a good time.” She sat up. “And I didn’t sleep on a dirt floor. I slept on you and you’re damn comfortable.”

  He chuckled. “Always happy to be there for you, babe. I’ll see you at six.”

  “Okay.”

  “And, babe?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t let that jerk get to you, okay?”

  “I won’t. See you then.” She hung up, grinning.

  Chapter Seven

  “You’re an excellent cook.” Trina smiled across the table at Navarro.

  “Now,” Adam laughed. “When he was sixteen he invited a girl over and decided to impress her with his grilling techniques. He damn near burned the back porch down. We had to hose off him…and his date.”

  “Not the kind of smoking hot date he had in mind,” Ryder laughed.

  Navarro chuckled. “I learned to never grill that damn close to the house again.”

  Trina turned her attention on Adam. “So I take it you are a lifetime friend?”

  “Not lifetime but damn close. My mom worked for their dad after Ryder and River were born. We came to the ranch when I was four and I grew up here with them after that. My mom worked here right up until she died last year.”

  Ryder chuckled. “He’s one of us and so is his brother Trip. We made them blood brothers when we were just kids. He about fainted when he realized real blood was involved.”

  “Cool. So do you have a place around here?” Trina couldn’t help but grin.

  Adam hesitated. “I live on the ranch.”

  Navarro met her gaze as she looked at him. “Adam put a nice mobile home on the land. He didn’t want to live with all of us in the house.”

  “Want wouldn’t exactly be my choice of word to use,” Adam chuckled, pointing at Ryder. “He kept stealing all the women I brought home. Between him, River, and Dusty, I couldn’t keep one for long so I moved out so I could have the same woman in my bed more than a week at a time.”

  Trina grinned as her attention focused on Navarro. “What about you? Is he being polite and not mentioning your name? Did you try to swipe his girlfriends too?”

  “No.” Navarro didn’t smile. “I was engaged to Debbie at the time and then we got married.”

  Debbie. So that is the ex-wife’s name. She nodded and noticed the laughter had died when Navarro spoke. A glance at the other men revealed their grim expressions as they stared at Navarro. He met their looks and then looked at Trina.

  “She was a bitch. She fooled me completely, but I didn’t want to see it. I was young and