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

She muttered what sounded like, “Maybe you should be,” under her breath, but the slamming of the door drowned out the words, and he wasn’t stupid enough to ask her to repeat them. He was already in enough trouble.

10

Raine snuck a glance at Reyes’ solemn profile as he made the turn out of the estate’s gated driveway. He’d been grumpy all morning. His attitude had annoyed her at first, but while brushing Fire after their disastrous training session, her rational brain had finally managed to remind her he’d broken things off last night because he was a good guy. An honorable guy.

So, she switched her mood and found a little teasing had coaxed a peek at his reluctant humor. Very reluctant, and a very short peek. But still.

“I don’t screw around.”

She respected the hell out of that. Too many men in her circle at home and on the jumping circuit were only about screwing around. The guys at home were spoiled, rich playboys who used their money and status to get women into bed. Many on the circuit were mostly looking for a good time in the moment, because the time span between events made relationships difficult. On the flip side, others cheated on wives or girlfriends, because sometimes they were away from home for weeks at a time.

Either way, she’d learned early on it wasn’t how she wanted to live her life. Last night with Reyes—acting first on the siren call of their sizzling attraction—had been a first for her, and after realizing how her actions had come across, it was a last, too.

She couldn’t shake how his voice sounded when he’d told her he needed this job. Because of what had happened to him. And she got to thinking that even though she was still insanely attracted to him, maybe they could be friends. A guy with his depth of integrity was someone she’d like to have as a friend. Plus, she had a feeling he could use one who understood he’d gone through some crappy shit, because she sure did.

Maybe he had one already. Heck, maybe he had a whole bunch already from the Army, but a person could never have enough friends, could they?

“Do horses really like you better than women?” she asked to break the silence.

He shot her a sideways glance before giving a slight shake of his head. “I distinctly recall your palm smacking my cheek only seconds after you telling me you didn’t like me.”

“I didn’t know you yet,” she said with an unapologetic shrug. “Besides, you dared me.”

“Don’t dare a Diamond,” he mocked lightly. “I should’ve dared you to stay back at the estate.”

“Why? Are you afraid if you spend time with me you’ll like me?”

That got her another sharp glance from him, but he didn’t answer as he rested his wrist over the top of the steering wheel and watched the road.

“I dare you to answer,” she taunted. “Truthfully.”

“I’m not a Diamond.”

“So you don’t take dares?”

His lips curved into a smile. “I’m not ten years old anymore.”

“My brothers still dare each other, and they’re all older than me—and you’re avoiding the question.”

He shrugged.

She was trying to come up with something clever when his low voice reached across the cab.

“I already like you, Raine. That’s the problem.”

After a quick glance, she watched the passing scenery. “Does it have to be a problem? Because I like you, too, so why can’t we at least be friends?”

“I don’t usually want to kiss my friends. Do you?”

“No, but there’s a first time for everything.” She hoped the smile she shot his way did not reveal the nerves churning in her stomach. “We could give it a shot.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Come on. How hard can it be?”

The moment the question left her mouth, heat flashed through her from head to toe. He’d been very hard when she was plastered against his body in the pool. In the split second her gaze met his, she was certain he was remembering the exact same thing. She still wanted to kiss him plus a whole lot more.

She bit her lip and turned her flaming face to the window. “Maybe you should just tell me about where we’re going and the horse rescue.”