The Riding Master (19 page)

“I told you to go,” Estelle fussed as she sat on the corner of the bed, undoing the buttons on one sleeve of her dress.

“I think I should stay, at least for a little while.” Rayne closed the bedroom door.

“And pass up the opportunity to spend time with that fine man? You’re not that dumb, Raynie.” She kicked off her black heels.

“This isn’t about Trent. It’s about you.”

“Of course it’s about Trent. It’s always about men. Everything we do as women is to impress them.” Estelle stood from the bed. “I can’t believe you brought him to the hospital in the first place. That’s a terrible impression to give a man. You need to be charming and attractive, not bringing him to see your injured mother and ex-husband.”

“Trent insisted on going to the hospital. He said he wanted to be there for me.” Rayne stepped closer and when her eyes lit on the assortment of liquor bottles on the floor by the head of the bed, she shook with rage.

“Be there for you?” Estelle’s raspy laughter bristled against Rayne’s skin. “Honestly, Raynie, do you think that man cares about your problems? You need to use your head to nab this one. Don’t smother him like you did Foster. Let him have his freedom and don’t monopolize his time. And if he has an indiscretion like Foster did, then look the other way for Christ’s sake.”

“Mother, let’s not discuss that again. Foster cheated on me, and I could not stay with him after that.”

“So what? All men cheat. It’s part of their nature.” She went to a pair of white pocket doors across from the foot of her bed.

“Dad never cheated on you. You didn’t know how it felt.”

Estelle pried apart the pocket doors to reveal a huge walk-in closet bursting with clothes. “I knew. Your grandfather ran around with every woman he could get his hands on.” She flipped on a switch on the wall and the closet’s interior glowed with a soft light. “But Momma always had to put up with it to keep a roof over her head. You could have learned to live with it just like she did.” Estelle tugged at the sleeves of her dress, inching it off her shoulders. “Then you would still be married to a wealthy man.” She advanced into the closet.

“I’m not going to stay with a man who runs around on me. I’d rather make my way without a man than live a lie.”

Estelle emerged from the closet wearing only a full beige slip. “Sometimes I can’t believe you’re my daughter. Who in their right mind would want to give up security and comfort to work like a dog?” She yanked the bandage off her forehead.

“Working is not all bad, Mother. I like my job, and I feel productive earning a paycheck.”

Estelle tossed the bandage to the floor and strolled toward the head of the bed. “You sound just like your father. You remind me of him more and more every day.” She then picked up a half-empty bottle of scotch from the floor.

The acrid taste of disgust burned in Rayne’s mouth. “I’ll go then. I have a lesson to teach at the stables.” Rayne headed to the bedroom door, refusing to watch as Estelle put the bottle to her lips.

“You would do better to spend your time catering to that man out there. Pamper him and make him feel like he’s in charge. Remember that. It makes them feel like a man when they can dominate you. I hope you at least satisfy him in bed.”

Rayne’s humiliation rose to her cheeks as she placed her hand on the doorknob. “Good-bye, Mother.”

“I’ll call you later to see how it’s going with Trent. Don’t blow this, Raynie. He’s just what you need.”

Rayne pivoted around. “How would you know what I need?”

Estelle gripped the bottle in her hand. “I’m your mother, darling. Of course I know what you need. Now go on, and make sure you keep that man happy.”

Refraining from slamming the door to her mother’s bedroom, Rayne stepped into the hall and stormed off toward the living room.

“I take it you’re not staying,” Trent quipped when she burst through the living room entrance.

“No.” Rayne took a second to compose herself. “Sometimes she can be so….” She threw her hands in the air, grimacing.

“I know the feeling.”

Rayne’s hazel eyes soaked in his bemused smirk. “You do?”

“Yeah. I’m beginning to get that same feeling all the time with you.” He took her hand. “Come on, we’ll have to haul ass back to the stables to make your lesson.”

Allowing him to lead her to the side entrance, Rayne felt the angst created by the conversation with her mother slowly evaporate. It was as if Trent’s presence replaced her strife with a strange sense of contentment. Foster had never elicited such a response, and the last time she could remember feeling that way with anyone was with her father. She spied their intertwined hands and wondered what George Masterson would have made of Trent. Rayne could picture her father’s long face and warm hazel eyes glowing with happiness for his daughter. She did not know why, but somehow she just knew her father would have approved. And that certainty made Rayne smile. 

***

After her morning lessons and a quick cup of coffee with Rebecca to discuss changes to the lesson schedule, Rayne was in her tack room, pulling on her boots for an afternoon ride on Bob, when Trent came barreling in the door. Slightly disheveled with windblown hair, dust-streaked jeans, and a damp brow, Rayne’s lust for the man quickly shoved away all reason.

“I think you’ve been avoiding me.” He shut the tack room door with a thud.

She stood from a bale of hay. “I have not. I’ve been busy.” She pointed to the door. “Leave that open.”

He eyed the door. “Why?”

“Because last time you closed it, Rebecca and a few others heard us and…well, we don’t need to give people more to gossip about around here.”

“To hell with what other people think. Let them gossip.” He came toward her and scooped her into his arms. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

Rayne lightly stroked her hands along the front of his sweaty blue T-shirt. “I haven’t been avoiding you. I thought you might want to….”

“What?”

“I don’t know….” Her finger played with the collar on his T-shirt. “Spend some time apart? Maybe you’ve had enough of me for one day.”

He lifted her off the ground and kissed her neck. “Fat chance, baby.”

She gripped his shoulders as her insides exploded with heat. It took everything Rayne had to push him away. “If you start that, neither one of us might get out of here,” she warned, trying to sound practical and not desperate for him.

He put her back down on the floor. “I would like nothing more than to throw you on that bale of hay right now, but I’m afraid duty calls.” He let her go. “I have to observe Selene’s dressage class.”

“Does Selene know you’re observing her class?” She arched a wary eyebrow at him.

“No. If I told her I was coming, she would just make more excuses.”

“Have fun with that…she hates having an audience. Doesn’t even let the families of her students watch; claims it distracts them.”

“So I’ve heard.” He rested his hand on the saddle rack next to him. “Any word from your mother?”

“If she needs me, she’ll call. But I’m sure she’s fine. Mother is like a cat with nine lives; she always lands on her feet.”

His long fingers drew a few circles on a saddle in front of him as his eyes pondered Rayne. “I can’t believe you’ve been dealing with her on your own all these years. A lot of daughters would have written her off.” 

“I’ve tried, believe me, but every time I swore I was done with her, I would hear my father’s voice in my head. He’s the reason I haven’t deserted her completely.”

“That’s your conscience, Rayne, not your father. You’re just not one of those people who can disregard someone because they don’t fit into your life. You have a good heart.”

“I’m not good, Trent. I’ve done a lot of things I regret.”

“So have I, but that doesn’t make you bad, it just makes you human. Besides, you have all those wonderful assets I was telling you about this morning before we were interrupted.” His eyes wandered over her figure. “I guess I’ll have to spend tonight reminding you of every single one of them; but until then….” He sighed and checked his stainless watch. “I have to head back to the schooling ring.” Trent kissed her forehead. “When I’m done with Selene’s class, I can meet you in the jumping ring to school Bob. We need to get started if we are going to get you ready for October.”

“About that….” Rayne rubbed her hands together, avoiding his eyes.

“What is it? Are you afraid of showing him?”

“Afraid? Hell no. He’s a great horse. It’s just been a long time since I’ve competed. I’m not so sure I’m up to it.”

“I know that’s not true.” He stared into her eyes, analyzing her. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on with you?”

Rayne itched to bolt from the tack room. “Forget it. I’ll show in October,” she affirmed, pulling away from him.

He held her arm. “Oh, no you don’t. What is it?”

“Nothing.” She jerked away. “I told you I will ride in the show, so there’s—”

He threw his arms about her. “Talk to me,” he urged against her cheek. “What will it take for you to trust me, Rayne?”

What would it take?
She wished she knew the answer.

He kissed her ear. “Come on, what is it?”

Rayne wavered, unsure of what to tell him. Ever since they had left her mother’s home, she had been stewing over Estelle’s warning about smothering Trent. How long could it last if they spent their days together training Bob, and their nights sharing a bed?

Trent suggestively rubbed his hips against her. “I’ll get it out of you one way or another.”

“Damn you.” She hated her body for wanting him. “All right. I think maybe we shouldn’t spend so much time together. With our personal relationship, and our professional one, it might make things difficult.”

Trent’s bellowing laughter stung her ears. “Nice try, baby, but you’re not getting rid of me so easily. I’m going to pester you every day until you let me in that stone cold heart of yours. Being around all the time is one way of getting you to lower your defenses.”

She wiggled in his arms. “I don’t have any defenses to lower.”

He held her tighter. “Rayne, please. You’re about as boarded up as an abandoned house.” He ran his hands over the curve of her butt. “Now, you get Bob warmed up and meet me in the back ring in one hour. We have a lot of work to do.” He slapped her hard on the ass.

“Hey!” Rayne shouted.

Trent kissed her mouth. “Tonight I promise I will do a hell of a lot more to you than that.” He let her go. “Now get Bob ready.”

As he opened the tack room door, Rayne added, “Have fun with Selene.”

He smiled back at her. “Oh, I plan on it. I think she is about to get a very rude wake-up call.”

After he had departed, a twinge of worry ate at her. Despite his vast experience with women, Rayne doubted Trent had ever run across the likes of Selene.

“I think you’re the one in for a rude wake-up call, Trent. I just hope you survive it.”

Chapter 14

The sun was sinking below the horizon when Trent’s BMW drove into his wide glass and stone three-car garage. The aroma of the loaded meat and extra cheese pizza they had stopped to get on the way back from Rayne’s house wafted through the car.

“I still don’t understand why Frank couldn’t come with us,” Trent debated, turning off the engine.

“I will not be held responsible for the disaster he would have made of your lovely home.” 

Trent scooped up the pizza from the back seat. “Or is he your excuse to leave early and not stay the night with me?” 

As if on cue, Rayne’s stomach noisily rumbled. “I’m starving,” she admitted, purposefully avoiding his question as she turned to the car door.

“There you go again. Running from me.”   

She opened the door, laughing off his comment. “I’m hardly running. I’m hungry, there’s a difference.”

“Your mother warned me about you. She said you liked to push men away.” He climbed from the car.

Rayne gawked at him. “Estelle is the last person on earth you should take advice from.” She stood from the car. “And I am not pushing you away.”

Trent came around the front of the car, carrying the pizza box in his hand. “You could have fooled me. But meeting your ex today gave me a little more insight into why you are the way you are.” Trent walked to the garage door that led to the house. “He’s a real cold bastard, your ex.”

The slight took Rayne off guard. “That’s a cruel thing to say, Trent.”

“It’s true.” Trent fumbled with his keys in the lock of the back door of his home. “Foster immediately struck me as a man without loyalty.”

“But he was there last night for my mother when he could have ignored her. That was pretty damn loyal.”

“Yeah, and I saw the way he was looking at you when you walked into the exam room. He wasn’t helping your mother out of kindness, Rayne. He still has feelings for you.”

Rayne chuckled as he pushed the back door open with his foot. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Am I?” Trent entered the darkened house.

After stepping past a small utility closet with a second refrigerator, a selection of rain gear on the wall, and a row of dirty riding boots on the floor, they negotiated down a narrow corridor that eventually led to his open kitchen, overlooking the wide living room and adjoining dining room.