Don't Dare a Diamond (Must Love Diamonds Book 5)

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  Hers sat on the island counter, completely forgotten after their trip down to check the horses. “My battery died.”

  “Mine, too,” Reyes said.

  “You should’ve charged them as soon as the power came back on,” his brother advised. He shifted his attention back to her as more footsteps sounded on the stairs. “Shelby’s been trying to call you since last night, and your father is looking for you.”

  Her stomach dropped out from under her at the same moment her dad appeared in the doorway. When had he gotten here?

  Relief etched his features as he entered the apartment. “Thank God you’re okay, honey. No one could reach you after the storm, and I didn’t know what to think when you weren’t at the guest—”

  He stopped and broke off abruptly, his gaze sweeping down to where Reyes’ shirt ended at mid-thigh as she clutched the rest of her clothes in her hands. Heat prickled along the back of her neck as her dad’s expression darkened.

  Reyes had moved to stand in front of the counter, and her dad pivoted to glower at him. “What the hell is going on here?”

  Raine took a step forward. “Dad—”

  He cut her off with a jerk of his hand. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

  Her eyes widened at his furious tone. She went from feeling the need to explain to being royally pissed off. “Well you should be,” she retorted.

  Dev backed toward the door. “I’m just going to go let Shelby and her parents know you’re okay.”

  Her dad’s glare didn’t waver from Reyes. “You sonofabitch. I paid you to be my daughter’s trainer, not sleep with her.”

  Reyes stood stiff as a board. “With all due respect, sir, you haven’t paid me a dime.”

  “Is that supposed to make this better?”

  “No, but—”

  “I’ll have your job for this.”

  Raine’s heart lurched as she took a quick step forward. “Knock it off, Daddy. Reyes didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “He took advantage of the situation.”

  “He certainly did not.” She shot a glance at Reyes to see his jaw clenched as tight as his fists. “I am a grown woman. I make my own choices.”

  “Looks to me like you’re still making the same bad choices. I would’ve thought you’d learned your lesson by now.”

  White-hot heat speared through her at his words. She couldn’t believe he would throw that in her face in front of Reyes—in front of anyone. It had been years ago. She’d been eighteen and naïve. She had learned her lesson, which is why she knew what she and Reyes had was different.

  Her gut clenched when she saw him frowning at her, and she shook her head at her dad. “That’s not fair.”

  “I don’t give a damn what you think is fair.” He pointed to the door. “Put your clothes on and go pack your stuff. We’re going home.”

  Disbelief spiked her anger. “I’ll go home when I’m ready.”

  His furious brown gaze bored into hers. “Are you having any more trouble with the jump?”

  “No. I told you, Reyes helped me work through it and—”

  “Then you’re ready. Besides, it’s time you got back to competing. There’s an event in New York in two weeks. I have you all signed up.”

  She blew out an irritated breath. “You should’ve asked me first.”

  “Why? This is your job. You need to get back to it.”

  “You’re the one who made me come here, so don’t blame me for being away.” She stole a glance at the still silent Reyes and then faced her dad once more. “I don’t want to leave yet.”

  “Because of him.”

  Yes. Him, and so much more. “Because it’s my life. You’re my dad, not my boss.”

  He gestured to the door as if he hadn’t even heard her. “Go pack, Raine. Now. I will meet you at the guest house after I’ve spoken with Mr. Torrez.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms. “And I’m not going to New York, either.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, his frustration palpable. “Who the hell do you think pays for everything? As long as my name is on the checks, you will do as I say.”

  “Fine, then I quit.” The moment the words left her mouth, shock reverberated through her system. Her stomach fell like a lead balloon. Where had that come from? She’d always pushed back to some extent, but usually gave in after token protest.

  Her dad’s dark eyebrows shot toward his hairline. “Excuse me?”

  A few simple words would take it back.

  No.

  Not this time. This is too important.

  The eye-opening revelation slammed home. Nothing had ever felt this momentous. For once, she knew exactly what she wanted—Reyes—and she wasn’t backing down.

  A flood of relief buoyed her heart with joy and shored up her determination. She breathed deep, then lowered her arms and squared her shoulders while meeting her father’s gaze. “I said, I quit. I’m done with competing. No more events. Find someone else to boss around, because I’m done.”

  Her dad gaped at her in shock. “What about the Olympics?”

  Uncertainty skipped her pulse, but then it steadied. If giving up the Olympics was what it took to be with Reyes, so be it.

  “Raine,” her dad implored, “You can’t do this.”

  “Watch me.” And she marched out of the apartment to cross the lawn in nothing but Reyes’ shirt.

  20

  Reyes stared dumbfounded as Raine swept from the room. She didn’t mean that. No way could she just give it all up. In fact, he was pretty sure she hadn’t meant to say something so drastic at first—he’d seen the surprise on her face before she’d doubled down.

  “This is your fault.”

  He shifted his attention to her father. The man’s furious gaze threatened to incinerate him on the spot. “Sir—”

  “Cut the bullshit, son. If you had an ounce of respect for me or my brother, you wouldn’t have seduced my daughter.”

  He did his best not to flinch at the accusation. It had been the other way around from the second he’d met her—even all those years ago—but he wasn’t about to tell her father that. Besides, she hadn’t done any of it on purpose.

  “She’s a fully consenting adult,” he said stiffly.

  “You took advantage of your position with her.”

  “It wasn’t like that at all.” He shifted his stance and glanced out the door before meeting the man’s gaze once more. “I care for her, sir.”

  “Isn’t that nice,” he sneered. “You’ll be happy to know she has a history of caring for her trainers, too.”

  The implication sunk in deep to sour Reyes’ gut. He frowned in the direction of the guest house. Was he just another guy on a list of guys for her? Was this something she did despite her proclaimed aversion to casual relationships? Or, had that simply been a line?

  “Didn’t know that, did you?” Mr. Diamond asked.

  He clenched his jaw at the man’s superior tone. Doing his best to ignore the crushing hurt bearing down on his chest, he asked, “What do you want from me?”

  “End whatever it is that’s going on—and end it for good. You’ve seen her ride. She’s got gold in her future.”

  “I agree.”

  “Then you can’t let her quit.” The man’s voice took on a desperate tone. “It’s been her dream to ride in the Olympics since she was a little girl. If she gives that up because of some foolish notion there’s something between the two of you, the time will come when she hates you for robbing her of that dream.”

  Wow. The guy knew how to get right to the heart of it, didn’t he? And yet, Reyes couldn’t disagree with one word he said, or the apparent place it came from in the man’s heart. It was hard to fault him for protecting his daughter’s dream.

  Besides, he’d been struggling with how to distance himself so he could deal with her leaving. Didn’t this just provide the perfect fucking opportunity?

  “Do this,” her father added, “and I won’t ask my brother to terminate
your position. I’ll even add a nice bonus to your paycheck.”

  Reyes jerked his gaze up, jaw aching. “I’ll talk to her, but not because you just threatened my job, and most definitely not for your fucking money. You can get the hell out now.”

  Surprise flickered in the man’s eyes, but then he left with a solid thump of the door.

  As soon as he was alone, Reyes scrubbed his hands over his face and then turned to pound his fists on the counter, stopping just short to lightly tap the surface. So many emotions danced right in front of him, fighting for the upper hand. Anger, frustration, hurt, disbelief.

  One rolled into the other until they coalesced into a howling cyclone that made it hard to breathe, much less think. The only thing that made sense was getting it over with sooner rather than later.

  After a shower, he pulled on a T-shirt, jeans, and boots, then saddled Taz before heading up to the guest house. He knew without a doubt he was going to need some therapy the moment he walked away from her.

  His heart thundered in his ears as he approached the door with heavy feet. When Raine answered his knock, the distress in her hazel eyes stole what little breath he’d sucked past the vice pinching his chest. He barely managed a gruff, “Hey,” as he handed over her forgotten phone.

  “Hi. Thanks.” She stuffed the phone in her back pocket with a strained smile and stood aside to let him in. “I am so sorry about earlier.”

  “You don’t owe me any apologies.”

  “I’m still sorry you had to go through that. My dad was a jerk.”

  No argument from him—though he very grudgingly admitted he understood the man’s motivation even though he’d offended the hell out of him with the execution.

  Raine shut the door and turned to face him. He couldn’t keep his gaze from devouring her shower-damp hair and the beauty of her makeup-free features. She wore a filmy, peach-colored shirt, and a pair of white shorts that left her legs bare. Barely an hour ago, they’d been wrapped around him as he selfishly stole one more memory to hoard for later.

  “Can you frickin’ believe my father?”

  Reyes grimaced as he glanced at the floor, then raised his gaze to hers. “He’s right. You can’t quit.”

  Surprise whisked across her face. “I can, and I did.”

  He shook his head. “You can’t give up on your dream.”

  “What if it’s not my dream?”

  “What?” he asked with a frown.

  She shrugged, her gaze shifting toward the French doors leading to the pool. “I don’t know. When I think about the Olympics, I’m not sure who wants it more, me or my dad.” She gave a short laugh. “Actually, my dad does, because I quit.”

  A spark of hope flared bright. If it was her father’s dream, did he really have to do this?

  Yes. She’ll end up hating you.

  The spark sputtered out. “I’ve seen how hard you work, Raine. You have to follow this through. Maybe your dad does want it more than you, but you still want it.”

  “I’m not so sure about that anymore.”

  And that right there cinched it for him. She wasn’t sure she wanted it, but that also meant she wasn’t sure she didn’t. “You have to go home.”

  She shook her head with a frown. “I want to be here with you.”

  His heart kicked in his chest at her declaration. He hadn’t wanted to use the next thing, but didn’t see any other way. “Is that what you say to all your trainers?”

  “What?” Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “What did he tell you?”

  “That you have a history of…getting involved.”

  “It happened one time—one—and it was years ago. I was young and stupid, and he did take advantage.”

  “Your dad made it sound like more than that.”

  “Of course he did. He wants me to go home, remember?” Fury shook her voice. “I dated some after that, and had one somewhat serious boyfriend about two years ago, but that’s it. That makes you the third guy I’ve ever been with, so whatever my dad told you, it isn’t true. I would hope you’d believe me over him.”

  His heart soared, then took a dizzying nose-dive. Shit. That blew that angle. Which left him with the worst option of all. The one that would hurt the most.

  Before he could form the words to send her away, her expression softened as she moved closer and took his hands. She tipped her face up, her eyes full of a warmth that squeezed his chest and made it hard to breathe.

  The corners of her mouth trembled before she declared, “I love you, Reyes.”

  His heart lodged up in his throat. The emotion shining in her eyes matched what had been building inside him and solidified last night when she loved him through the darkness.

  “I’ve had a thing for you since the summer we visited when I was fifteen, but these past few weeks, getting to know you, and last night…” Her cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head with a sheepish, almost shy smile. She squeezed his hands and looked up again. “I’ve always done what is expected of me. What my dad wants. But now it’s about what I want, and that’s to stay here and do the horse rescue with you.”

  He closed his eyes as one second of pure joy was swallowed up by black misery.

  Years from now, when she realizes what she gave up, she will blame you.

  He could not be the one to steal her dream.

  Reyes pulled his hands from hers and stepped back. “You’re reading too much into last night,” he said gruffly.

  A tiny frown marred her brow. She stared long enough to make him squirm, then shook her head with defiant bravado. “I don’t believe you didn’t feel our connection. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t feel anything last night. Right now. I dare you.”

  She could dare all she wanted. He wasn’t a Diamond.

  He forced a shrug. “It was good, of course, but it was never going to be more than the one night.” No matter how much he wanted it to be.

  Her expression fell. “How can you say that?”

  “I never made any promises.”

  “No, but…”

  Her eyes went all shiny, and she blinked hard as she spun away from him. He fisted his hands at his sides. He had to get out. Now.

  To keep from reaching out for her, he strode over to open the door. “Go home, Raine. Go ride like you’re supposed to.”

  “Is he paying you?”

  He froze halfway through the doorway and saw she’d faced him once more. “You know me better than that.”

  “I sure thought I did.” She swallowed hard. “Especially since you said you don’t sleep around.”

  The next words made him sick to his stomach, but he forced them out anyway. “Well, as you said, there’s a first time for everything.”

  He hated himself the moment he saw the utter devastation in her eyes. Guilt spurred his feet out the door and back to the stables. He galloped Taz across the land moments later, wishing he could outrun the blackness chasing after his soul.

  He’d had to do whatever it took to get her to go for the gold…even if it ripped both of them to shreds.

  21

  “Rey?” his dad called across the arena shortly before five p.m. “I’m heading out. You almost done out here?”

  Reyes reined Willow Moonlight over a set of four caveletti and brought the mare to a halt at the fence. His parents had returned from their month long Europe trip a week ago. The day after Raine had gone back to Texas with her father.

  “I’m going to work with her for a little longer, then get some time in on Stimpy.”

  His dad took off his Denver Broncos baseball cap, scratched his head, then resettled the cap. “You should come over for dinner tonight.”

  “I got some stuff to do around here.”

  “You said that the past three nights. Your mother is worried about you.”

  So was his dad. He could see it in his eyes, and it was there in the tone of his voice. Because he wasn’t putting much into maintaining the happy-go-lucky façade of the past few years. What was
the point? He was miserable, and it wasn’t worth the effort to pretend otherwise.

  But that didn’t mean he wanted to talk about it either. Any of it. His parents knew some of what had happened in their absence, but not all. Dinner would only bring questions he wasn’t ready to answer.

  “Maybe tomorrow night.”

  “No more maybes,” his dad warned.

  Reyes shrugged and backed up Willow. “Tell Mom I’m fine.”

  “You know I don’t lie to your mother.”

  He didn’t say anything else as his dad left and he wheeled Willow around. He would be fine—in about fifty years, when he was dead and didn’t have regrets plaguing him every second of every day.

  Since Raine had left, he worked from sunup to sundown. Then he lay in the dark in his bedroom, fighting for air until her memory slipped in to ease the tightness in his chest. He relived every moment of that night with her in his arms until he fell asleep—which brought on a whole new form of torture.

  His subconscious brought her to life in his dreams. He heard her laugh, saw her beautiful smile. That flicker of annoyance in those greenish-brown eyes of hers when he pushed her buttons. The flash of desire when he pushed other buttons. He filled his senses with the subtle flowery scent of her shampoo. Felt the silk of her pale skin as he caressed her curves. Tasted the sweetness of Raine on his lips and his tongue.

  He inevitably woke up hard, his body pulsating with need as reality rushed in to chill his soul for another day.

  After Reyes finished in the barn, the sun was long gone, and he wearily climbed the stairs. He ate a bowl of cereal standing by the sink with the TV playing on the other side of the room. Then he grabbed a beer and slouched on the couch. The show on the screen didn’t interest him in the least, so he lifted the remote to shut it off. A few minutes later, he drained the beer and set it on the end table before reaching to turn off the lamp.

  His breath gave that familiar, hated catch in the darkness, but he sought out Raine in his mind. Therapy and torture all in one.

  Instead of that last night they’d spent together, his memory took him to their first day in the ring.

  “I’m done. I’m going home.”