restraining order.”
“But he wouldn’t let go? He charmed you back?”
Oh hell , she thought. She finally met River’s gaze, seeing bafflement in his expression. “He had some family money, okay? He hired lawyers I couldn’t afford to pay to keep fighting the divorce and he made sure I never had access to a dime. He turned very controlling that way. He paid for everything and only gave me small amounts of cash if I needed to buy something. He had the restraining orders tossed with his fast-talking lawyers and then he’d come after me. Every time I got hired at a new job, he intimidated them with his family money and connections to get me fired.
He got me tossed from every apartment I found. He scared me and made threats, always making sure I knew he’d rather see me dead than without him. I went back because I had no choice. He never made idle threats. ”
River’s anger turned to shock, the emotion clear on his face. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.” She took a shaky breath, proud she’d said it all without crying. “I survived hell until I managed to finally get away for good.”
“You’re divorced, right? I can’t see that big of an asshole letting go easily.”
“I am legally divorced.” She hesitated. “He didn’t agree to it but the judge saw it my way.”
“He leaves you alone now?”
“No.” She shook her head. “There are restraining orders in place and he’s supposed to stay far away from me. The truth is that Dale heard my ex-husband would be showing up in town and he sent me here where I’d be safe.”
River’s dark gaze locked with hers and he looked furious as they studied each other. “You’re definitely not leaving, baby. I’d never hit you. I might be an ass about some shit but know that, okay? I’d never hurt you.”
5“I know.” At least her gut told her she could believe him and River definitely wasn’t anything like Kyle. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Good.” His body relaxed over hers. “I am a bit controlling but only about sex.
You’re not running away from something we both feel. I’d carry your bag out to your car for you if I honestly thought you weren’t attracted to me.”
She couldn’t look away from his beautiful eyes, seeing honesty there. “It’s just not a good idea for me to get involved with anyone. I’m going to be totally honest here, okay?
My ex-husband is dangerous and if he ever found out I slept with you, discovered who you were, he’d do everything in his power to make you suffer for it.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“You would if he ever came after you.”
“I’d kick his miserable ass. I hate to break this to you but I’ve gotten into quite a few disagreements with other men in my time. I can more than handle myself in a fist fight.
Women might like me but men rarely do.”
She ignored his attempted humor because this wasn’t a time to joke around. “I’m not talking physical. You could totally take him in a fight with one hand tied behind your back. He’d smear your name and spread nasty rumors about you, maybe even about your entire family.”
A loud laugh came from River as he grinned. “I’m a Raine.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means everyone knew my father as the town drunk and my mother as a whore.
What the hell could this guy really say that is worse than the truth? I grew up with folks looking down on us so, in their opinions, there’s not much lower us Raines can get.
Guess what? We don’t give a damn. My brothers and I are tight, our family is all that matters, and nothing that anyone could say would hurt us because it’s probably already been said a thousand times.”
She hesitated. “He’s dangerous, River. He’s crazy and I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want you in the middle of the war I have going on with him.”
“It won’t be a war and I won’t be in the middle since you’re safely tucked away on the ranch. This guy won’t find you and you aren’t leaving.”
River
“But he wouldn’t let go? He charmed you back?”
Oh hell , she thought. She finally met River’s gaze, seeing bafflement in his expression. “He had some family money, okay? He hired lawyers I couldn’t afford to pay to keep fighting the divorce and he made sure I never had access to a dime. He turned very controlling that way. He paid for everything and only gave me small amounts of cash if I needed to buy something. He had the restraining orders tossed with his fast-talking lawyers and then he’d come after me. Every time I got hired at a new job, he intimidated them with his family money and connections to get me fired.
He got me tossed from every apartment I found. He scared me and made threats, always making sure I knew he’d rather see me dead than without him. I went back because I had no choice. He never made idle threats. ”
River’s anger turned to shock, the emotion clear on his face. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.” She took a shaky breath, proud she’d said it all without crying. “I survived hell until I managed to finally get away for good.”
“You’re divorced, right? I can’t see that big of an asshole letting go easily.”
“I am legally divorced.” She hesitated. “He didn’t agree to it but the judge saw it my way.”
“He leaves you alone now?”
“No.” She shook her head. “There are restraining orders in place and he’s supposed to stay far away from me. The truth is that Dale heard my ex-husband would be showing up in town and he sent me here where I’d be safe.”
River’s dark gaze locked with hers and he looked furious as they studied each other. “You’re definitely not leaving, baby. I’d never hit you. I might be an ass about some shit but know that, okay? I’d never hurt you.”
5“I know.” At least her gut told her she could believe him and River definitely wasn’t anything like Kyle. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Good.” His body relaxed over hers. “I am a bit controlling but only about sex.
You’re not running away from something we both feel. I’d carry your bag out to your car for you if I honestly thought you weren’t attracted to me.”
She couldn’t look away from his beautiful eyes, seeing honesty there. “It’s just not a good idea for me to get involved with anyone. I’m going to be totally honest here, okay?
My ex-husband is dangerous and if he ever found out I slept with you, discovered who you were, he’d do everything in his power to make you suffer for it.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“You would if he ever came after you.”
“I’d kick his miserable ass. I hate to break this to you but I’ve gotten into quite a few disagreements with other men in my time. I can more than handle myself in a fist fight.
Women might like me but men rarely do.”
She ignored his attempted humor because this wasn’t a time to joke around. “I’m not talking physical. You could totally take him in a fight with one hand tied behind your back. He’d smear your name and spread nasty rumors about you, maybe even about your entire family.”
A loud laugh came from River as he grinned. “I’m a Raine.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means everyone knew my father as the town drunk and my mother as a whore.
What the hell could this guy really say that is worse than the truth? I grew up with folks looking down on us so, in their opinions, there’s not much lower us Raines can get.
Guess what? We don’t give a damn. My brothers and I are tight, our family is all that matters, and nothing that anyone could say would hurt us because it’s probably already been said a thousand times.”
She hesitated. “He’s dangerous, River. He’s crazy and I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want you in the middle of the war I have going on with him.”
“It won’t be a war and I won’t be in the middle since you’re safely tucked away on the ranch. This guy won’t find you and you aren’t leaving.”
River
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