Ridden Hard - Kim Loraine Page 0,1

come on. Live a little, will you? You’re not Quinn’s wife anymore. You’re on the fucking prowl. Ready to experience the world. Show off that hot body and remind yourself your worth doesn’t hang on what a man thinks of you.”

I grabbed the dress with a huff before storming back into my room. I was right. There was no possible way I could wear a bra without it showing. But my boobs were big enough; I needed one if I was going to be even a little comfortable in public. Snagging my prettiest lacy black bra, I put it on and repositioned the dress. The delicate, sexy lace at the band played peek-a-boo with the neckline, but it would do.

My door opened, and a pair of thigh-high suede boots came flying at my head. “Wear these! They’re perfect,” Erin called.

I pulled them on, not without massive effort to get them over my shapely calves, and stared at myself in the mirror over my door. Wow. I did look good. My full breasts and hips curved sensually with the soft fabric of the dress. The skirt was short enough I was a little worried I might accidentally flash someone if I wasn’t careful, but Erin was right, the boots were perfect.

She skidded into the room, her dyed dark hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, eyes bright and makeup flawless. Of course, she always looked fantastic. Erin made her living as a YouTube personality. She regularly did makeup tutorials while reviewing episodes of reality shows. It was a strange combination, but it somehow totally worked. Currently, she was working her way through episodes of a failed show called Baewatch. I had to admit, my sister was hilarious.

“Can I do your makeup?” The pure excitement in her voice had me completely unable to deny her.

“Fine, but nothing crazy. I can’t pull off the looks you do.”

She looked at me as though I were the stupidest person alive. “We. Have. The. Same. Face.”

“But not the same personality.”

“Doesn’t matter. I know what looks good on you.”

She had a point. “Okay. Then will you tell me where we’re going?”

Grabbing my hand, she dragged me into her room and sat me down on the chair in front of her vanity. By the time she was done, I looked like me, only…not me. I looked like the person I used to be. Stunning and confident. I wasn’t the woman who’s carefully crafted life plan had been derailed.

“Perfection. Let’s go. Car’s waiting.”

“Where are we going?”

We left the house and slipped into the car she’d ordered. As the driver took off, she turned to me and said, “How do you feel about cowboys?”

Tristan

“I sure am glad you came out to see me,” my brother Sam said as we left his hotel suite and headed down the hall.

“It’s been a while since Clint’s wedding. Mama is missing you something fierce. You didn’t even stay at the house when you came back.”

He dragged a hand across his jaw. “I know. I just…there’s some stuff I’m not ready to face back home, you know?”

“Like what?”

Shoving his hands in his pockets as we waited for the elevator to arrive, he clenched his jaw hard and stared straight ahead. “So. What brought you all the way out here? I doubt it was that you couldn’t go another minute without hanging out with your big brother.”

I took off my hat and ran my fingers through my hair. “I know I should be thankful for the reality show. Ever coming to us saved our asses, and I get that. But, damn is it hard to have cameras in my face every damn day. They want me to be on the show now. Like really on it. They have a whole storyline they want for me. It’s good money, but Clint and Buck already don’t take me seriously as it is. If I do this shit, they’ll never think I’m enough.”

“What kind of storyline?”

I sighed. “They want me to fall in love with a contestant. The ratings were through the roof for Buck and Penny, and she wasn’t even a contestant on the show. I think they’re banking on Ryker Ranch wedding specials for the foreseeable future. You’re smart not to come back, they’ll rope you into one too.”

He chuckled as the doors opened and we stepped inside. “Doubtful.”

“That’s what Buck said. He’s getting married in six months.” At least both Clint and Buck were happy and in real relationships. “Next it’s me,