Rain – 10 years ago…
Islide down from the saddle on Maple’s back straight into Rex’s arms with a grin.
“Come on! Just give me a hint? You know I hate surprises,” I whine but he just huffs a laugh and drops a kiss on my forehead and then one on my lips before stepping back to take the reins.
“Nope, not happening. You have to wait for your official birthday tomorrow.” His ocean-blue eyes heat up as he grabs my hand and pulls me back against his chest. “It’ll mean more once you choose me.”
Some of the happiness inside me dims at hearing that but I sass him back with, “I told you, all of you, a thousand times, I ain’t picking so get that right out of your head, Rex Kingston. And if my birthday gift depends on that then you can just stick it up your ass and keep it!”
He growls into my neck causing a shiver to run through me but it doesn’t sway my decision one bit. The Kingston boys have been making me shiver since I turned fifteen but I will never choose between them, I love them all too much to do that. I yelp when he smacks my ass and dance away with a laugh.
Rex leads our horses to their stalls and I head deeper into the barn where I find Chase and Luke hanging out. As soon as Chase spots me, he’s on his feet and getting right in my face.
“Damnit, Rainy! What did I tell you about doing trick riding out in the field? You’re going to break your pretty little neck one of these days.”
I roll my eyes and push him back onto the bale of hay he just launched himself from and then drop into his lap.
“Oh, hush! I’ve been standing on Maple’s back since I was eleven and Rex dared me to do it. Your such an old woman, Chase.”
I tilt my head back to stare up at him with amusement but also love for him worrying about me all the time. His arms wrap around my waist as he settles me more firmly in his lap and he buries his face in my hair with a groan.
Luke chuckles softly and flips my booted feet into his lap giving my calves a stroke.
“We just want to keep you safe, Sunny. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
My expression softens, Luke has an unnatural amount of anxiety about losing people ever since his parents passed away in a car accident. I lean away from Chase to reach for his hand and give it a squeeze.
“You never have to worry about that, Luke. You’re stuck with me for good,” I tease. Color tints his cheeks as he tightens his fingers around mine.
“Does that mean you’ll pick…”
“Urgh! Enough with this picking nonsense! You’re just as bad as Rex is with it.” I pull my hand from his as he gives me a bashful smile and then I lean back against Chase again while glancing up. “At least you aren’t hounding me about it,” I tell him causing a rumble of laughter against my back.
His warm breath washes across my ear and cheek as he whispers, “Don’t have to when I know you’ll be mine after tomorrow.”
I let out a sigh of annoyance but before I can reply, Lannister Kingston, the twins’ father and Luke’s uncle strides into the barn. His hard, turquoise eyes scan over me and the position I’m in with both boys’ hands on me and grow even colder when Rex steps up next to us and places a hand on my shoulder.
“What are you lot doing in here?” He barks out, causing me to scramble off of Chase's lap and push to my feet. “You boys were told that the back fencing needed to be checked and repairs done. Get going right now.” His mean eyes land on me. “I’m sure you have chores to mind at your own place, girl. Best get back to them before you find yourself in trouble you can’t smile your way out of.”
There is a hint of a threat in his stern tone. I straighten up to my full height and square my shoulders. The boys might be afraid of him but I’m not. Hate him? Yes. Afraid of him? Hell no. I send him a tight smile.
“You bet, Mr. Kingston. I just need to brush down Maple and I’ll be on my way!”
He grunts his annoyance and then jabs a pointed finger toward the barn doors, motioning to the boys to get gone. Each one of them brushes a hand against me as they file out with promises to see me later and with a final glare my way, their father follows them, leaving me alone in the cool dimness of the barn.
I turn away from the door and go to Maple’s stall, getting to work on brushing her down. I lose myself in the repetitive motions of the brush as I think about the fun we have planned at the lake for my birthday tomorrow so I don’t hear the stall door open when I’m almost done. It’s the hard hand on my shoulder spinning me around and pushing me against the rough boards that has me gasping.
“I’ve tolerated you long enough, girl. Every time I turn around you’re here messing with my boys. That’s over now. I want you gone. The last thing they need is a trailer-trash whore derailing the future plans I have for them.”
I suck in a shocked breath that quickly turns to anger and I try to shove him back from me but he doesn’t budge.
“How dare you! I’m no whore and I’m not going anywhere no matter what you say!” I spit at him with fury.
A cold chuckle is his response before he holds up a fat envelope in front of my face.
“This is five thousand dollars and it’s the only money you’ll ever see from a Kingston. You’ll take it and leave town tonight. If you fight me on this or tell my boys anything about this conversation there will be consequences. I’ll start with Luke. He’s lived off my charity long enough and now that he’s turned eighteen, he can get the hell off my land. He won’t see another dime from me and he sure as hell won’t be getting a piece of this land. You go and I’ll pay his way through college and add him to the will for an equal share. Otherwise, he leaves tomorrow with whatever he can carry on his back and he won’t be welcome back here again.
“If that’s not enough to convince you, I’ll move on your dad’s land. I know how tight things are for him. I’m good friends with the bank manager. A few well-placed words, an increase on the mortgage interest and maybe he won’t be able to afford those payments anymore. It would be easy for me to slide in and make him a lowball offer he wouldn’t be able to refuse. Then you're gone anyway.”
