The Billionaire's Jackpot: Betting on You Series: Book Four

by Jeannette Winters

  Without having a chance to argue or say goodbye to Drew, Jill grabbed her hand and was hauling her out of Elaine’s hospital room. She didn’t recall ever saying yes, but this group didn’t wait around for anything.

  As they rode down the elevator she figured she might as well find out what “girl things” they needed to do today, because she had witnessed a few weddings, but participating—this was her first. “Since you seem to have a game plan for today, care to share it with me?”

  Jill stared at the doors and didn’t even crack her usual smile. She only uttered a single but meaningful word. “Nope.”

  Now I’m scared. Probably has a Brazilian wax planned for me as payback. It wasn’t like she could back out now without it appearing she didn’t like them. No, she was now a bridesmaid, so she might as well make the best of it. Three days. Just three very long stressful days.

  Chapter Seventeen

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  “She’s going to ask questions. Trust me I know her by now. Katherine doesn’t miss anything,” Drew told them all.

  “Sorry, everyone. The excitement about the baby’s name made me forget KJ hasn’t been brought into the loop yet,” Lizette responded.

  “Yet?” It wasn’t meant to be said out loud.

  Elaine put her hands on her hips and said firmly, “She is exactly what Takes One needs. I mean, she has the hands-on experience in areas we’ve only researched online. What better candidate could there be to fulfil Brad Anderson’s dream to help those in need?” No one responded. “Yeah that’s what I thought. So now we just need to decide who is going to approach her on the topic. I vote for Drew.” When everyone looked at her she said, “Hey, I just delivered a baby last night so cut me some slack.”

  They all burst out laughing and Drew replied, “Elaine, I think you earned yourself some time off. I’ll talk to her after the wedding if you guys don’t mind. Unless she brings it up first, I’d rather not throw too much at her all at once.”

  Even though he had not witnessed another emotional crying attack, that didn’t mean she was over her grief. Push any person to their breaking point and even the best and strongest will fall. He’d promised to take care of her, and he wasn’t about to let her, or himself, down.

  Jon said, “KJ might have a better insight into what Brad had wanted us to do. We are doing some good stuff, but somehow I still feel like we’re missing the mark.”

  Drew knew exactly what Jon meant. It was like they have all the moving pieces but the puzzle had not yet been put together. “Yeah, something still feels off. I can’t put my finger on it, but I think what he had planned would have been something greater than what we are doing monthly. Maybe global was not the right decision.”

  The four men sat in silence as though trying to search for the answer, but none came. “It will come and when it does. You will all know it. Until then, keep doing what we’re doing because at least it is something, and though I didn’t personally know Brad, I understand the person he was. He would want us all to keep moving forward,” Elaine said.

  A tear rolled down Lizette’s cheek. “Look at you, a mommy for less than one day and already dishing out words of wisdom.”

  “Don’t start on me, my hormones are still crazy,” Elaine warned in a teasing manner.

  Trent spoke up. “She’s not fooling anyone. You should have seen what she did with her burnt toast this morning.” He laughed. She gave him a look that said it all. “Okay, we really appreciate you coming to meet the latest family member, but I think she needs to rest.”

  Drew had no issue heading out first. Sleep wasn’t something he’d had much of last night either. Of course, he wasn’t complaining, because he would be willing to never sleep again if it meant he spent every night making love to Katherine. Since she is off doing girlie things, I may as well take a nap and rest up for what comes later. How is it I miss her already?

  By the time KJ was riding the elevator to Drew’s penthouse, she was so tired she wasn’t sure she could even remember her own name. Not only had she been on an emotional roller coaster for two days, she also hadn’t had much sleep. Worth every minute. But if she didn’t get sleep soon she was going to crash and burn.

  Jill had been nonstop and wasn’t joking when she’d said, “Girl things.” They started with the dress shop for emergency alterations. Thankfully Elaine was taller than KJ so no issue there, and they had all chosen the same dress so bridesmaids and maid-of-honor could be interchangeable. They think of everything, don’t they? Taking in a dress that was designed for someone who was in her final trimester took more work than anyone had anticipated. Buying a new dress might have been a better option. But this wasn’t her wedding, and she would do as she was asked.

  After the dress was altered, the rest of the day was spent on one-hundred-percent pampering: facial, manicure and pedicure, and yes, the dreaded waxing. Thank God, not a Brazilian. On a normal day, each one of those things would have been considered quality time with a good friend. Today it was almost more than she could handle. Especially given how emotional she had felt from last night, and then the time spent with Elaine and the baby.

  The elevator doors opened, and she could only think of a hot shower and bed. Blossom greeted her, but there was no sign of Drew.

  “Really? You need to go out now?” Blossom wagged her tail and let out a low bark of agreement.

  This was the last thing she needed. But duty called, and Blossom was her responsibility. Latching the leash, she re-entered the elevator. This time, her head was bowed and her eyes closed—not out of fear—hoping the thirty-second ride down would give her a moment of peace and quiet, as she knew she’d be back on the noisy streets of Manhattan. Let’s make this quick, girl. Unfortunately, Blossom had other ideas, and they ended up walking for almost an hour. I really miss my doggie door and fenced-in backyard.

  When she finally arrived back upstairs, Drew was fast asleep in bed. Perfect. Taking a quick shower she quietly slid in beside him. He rolled over and snuggled her from behind.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said against her ear.

  She tried to open her mouth to respond but exhaustion overtook her, and she went limp in his arms. Despite her fatigue, she felt cherished, lying in Drew’s arms.

  Chapter Eighteen

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  She awoke to find a note on the pillow next to her.

  “Meeting the guys for breakfast. We have to pack for the wedding trip to Rhode Island. Call me if you need anything. Drew”

  KJ couldn’t help but notice there was no love before his name. He’d told her he loved her. Was he that uncomfortable with the word? She knew he hadn’t said it just to keep her here because his actions said he cared deeply. Don’t overthink it, KJ.

  Thankfully, she had to wait for the dress to be delivered. It would be nice to have some time to herself. Outside of work, she and Blossom normally were alone. She had adapted quite well to sharing a bed with Drew. Too well.

  She didn’t know what she was going to need for this Rhode Island adventure. She knew there was a rehearsal dinner tonight with Lizette’s parents and Jon’s mother, and tomorrow night was the wedding. Sounds simple enough. Then what was she nervous about it? It was one thing going as his date. No pressure, not the center of attention. It’s hard to screw up on a date. But as a bridesmaid, the pressure was on. Thanks Jill for all those, not so helpful hints.

  KJ had a list of all the things she needed to remember to do, including a toast to the happy couple. With Jill as the maid-of-honor and she the only bridesmaid, it made it impossible stay out of the spotlight. Oh yes, this was about to get real.

  Drew returned just as she finished packing. He took her hands in his, and she looked at him, puzzled by his actions.

  He brushed away some stray hair, which had fallen across her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

  His simple words sent shivers throughout her body. “I thought we were leaving.” Her voice trembled with excitement.
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  “We are meeting at Jon and Lizette’s in an hour, then we will all leave from there,” he said while his thumb traced her lips.

  “We . . . you . . . we shouldn’t start . . .”

  Drew cut her sentence off as he claimed her lips, kissing her gently as though brushed with a feather. “They’ll wait,” he said and scooped her into his arms, carrying her to bed.

  She wanted to protest, tell him it was rude to make everyone late, but at that moment she was defenseless as the flames of passion ignited between them. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she placed a kiss on his collarbone, enjoying his sweet and salty taste. They can wait.

  Two hours later they arrived at Jon and Lizette’s. There were some looks but only one comment. “I hope we didn’t ruin your afternoon,” Jill teased.

  Katherine blushed and Drew wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Not at all. So are we ready to go?”

  “Now you’re ready? We were just about to have a drink. You might as well make yourself comfortable, and I’ll have your bags taken to the helipad,” Jon said.

  Drew didn’t care if he made them wait the entire day. He and Katherine had had enough interruptions lately, and the weekend was going to be filled with more of the same.

  He looked around and saw others missing. “Are Trent and Elaine coming?”

  Ross answered, “Not tonight. They’ll meet us there for the wedding.”

  “Is everything okay?” Drew asked.

  Katherine touched his shoulder and said, “I guess they haven’t had much experience with newborns.” She shook her head. “You guys never cease to amaze me. But wait until it’s your turn.” Smiling, she turned and joined Jill and Lizette on the couch.

  The three men looked at each other with a combined look of fear and shock. Drew wasn’t sure about his friends, but he had never thought being a father was in his future. What had his father said? You can’t live without them but you better always use protection or you’ll find yourself trapped like me. Trapped. My father hadn’t wanted to be a father either. Am I the same as my father?

  His life had always been all about him, and a wife and child would change that drastically.

  Seeing Katherine out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but think how stunning she was: her eyes were so blue, her smile could light up a room, and her laughter was contagious. She looked his way with a questioning look in her eyes. He winked and blew her a kiss from across the room. She blushed slightly then turned back to her friends. He could look at her forever and never tired of it.

  “So, the infamous Drew Navarro has finally found his match,” Ross joked.

  Drew snapped his head back. Both men were standing there, arms crossed in front of them. Obviously they had been watching him watch her. I won’t live this down. He was known for a lot of things, but sweet and romantic weren’t one of them. “I enjoy her company.”

  Jon added, “I can’t wait until we can sit back and watch you fall.”

  He was glad they thought this was funny, but there wasn’t anything humorous about this situation. Drew had said the three words he’d sworn he’d never say. It hadn’t been a mistake or a slip of the tongue. It was worse; he meant them. Katherine had captured his heart, and he had no idea what to do about it. Forever wasn’t something he believed in. Acting on his feelings meant changing everything, not just for him, but for her as well. She didn’t belong in the city. When she took Blossom outside, you could tell she was a woman who enjoyed a neighborhood, green trees, grass, and children playing. He had lived in Manhattan since college. When he wanted to get away for peace and quiet he went to the island. It couldn’t get quieter than that with no electricity or running water. When things became too stressful here, he enjoyed disappearing there, sometimes for weeks on end. He’d often offered his friends to go if they wanted, yet none were interested in roughing it.

  He could picture one person who would enjoy it. She’d spent twelve years in the Marines, for God’s sake. Yes, her place in Napa was homey and had that feminine touch, but she knew how to rough it. Knew how to survive the elements without what everyone else would call necessities. Why had he taken her to New York when they could have spent the two weeks secluded on the island? Maybe after the wedding. Thinking about being there with Katherine sounded like heaven to him. He’d never needed someone there with him before. But, she . . . fit somehow. No disruptions whatsoever. He could make love to her on the beach in the daylight or moonlight without a care in the world. I definitely need to rethink plans for next week.

  Katherine walked over to the fireplace, eyeing pictures scattered along the mantle. Drew joined her. She was holding a picture of Jon and Lizette. “That was at their engagement party.”

  He must have startled her as he noticed her jump slightly. “They look so happy.” Placing the photo back on the mantle, she moved to the next one.

  “That’s Jon’s mother.” Before she could ask he added, “His father died when he was very young.”

  She nodded and moved to the next one. She slowly picked it up. It was the picture of the five friends in college. The last one they had taken of them all together. He waited for her to ask, but she said nothing. She stood there, holding the picture, frozen. Her expression was difficult to read.

  “You know most of us in there, but the one in the middle was our friend Brad,” he explained.

  She never turned to him, only continued to stare at the picture as though in deep thought. Her voice had echoed his softly, “Brad.”

  “That’s who Trent named the baby after. Bradford Anderson.”

  Was it his imagination or were her hands trembling? Had Jill already told her about Brad and his accident? Something seemed off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Why do I find her so hard to read?

  “Will he be at the wedding?” Katherine asked quietly.

  That answers my question. She has no idea. That meant he would have to tell her. He wanted to wait until after the wedding, but there was no way to get around it now. “No. He was killed in a car accident almost six years ago.”

  She gasped and looked shocked. The picture frame dropped from her hands and went crashing to the floor. She turned to him, her eyes filled with tears. He reached out for her, but she put up her hand to stop him and ran out of the room.

  He went to follow her, and Jill called out, “What did you say to her?”

  “I told her about Brad,” he answered, leaving the room as well. When he found her she was sobbing in front of the kitchen sink. Her sister. She was still dealing with her own loss, and he was sure mentioning a friend who had passed away wasn’t helping.

  He took her in his arms, and she buried her tear-stained face in his shirt. She’s such a gentle soul, and I’m such an ass. Drew should’ve eased her into the story. He never thought she would react this way for someone she’d never met before, but everyone dealt with death differently. And as a trauma nurse, she’d surely seen her share of it. Drew stroked her hair as she cried. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here. I’ve got you.”

  They stood there, holding each other and not speaking. When her sobs stopped, she stepped back and looked him in the eye. Her eyes were filled with such pain. He wished they had never left his house today. Everything earlier had been perfect; now, not so much.

  “Drew, maybe I shouldn’t go.”

  Stunned by her comment he said, “I know this was a shock. During special events like this wedding, we really feel the loss too. You might not believe me, but you being there is going to make it easier for everyone,” touching her cheek he added, “especially for me.”

  He would never admit it to the others, but he hadn’t been looking forward to attending the wedding alone. It would have given him too much time to reminisce about the old days. Those things were best shared with friends. Drew had never included any woman to one of their events. No other woman had ever meant anything more to him than a means to satisfy his sexual appetite. Inviting Katherine was a statement in itself. Not only did he wa
nt her there, he needed her there. Not for Lizette or anyone else for the matter. This is for me.

  “There’s so much I want to tell you—need to tell you—but not right now.” Kissing her gently, he said, “I’m not asking you to do this for anyone else. I’m asking you to come along for me.”

  She nodded. Even with red, pained eyes, she was beautiful.

  Jill came into the kitchen, looking at them both with concern in her eyes. In a serious tone she asked, “Is everything okay?”

  “We’re good.” Or at least I hope so.

  Jill turned her attention to Katherine, who forced a smile to confirm his words and Jill relaxed. “The helicopter is ready when you two are,” Jill said before leaving the room again.

  “Are you ready to do this?” he asked, unsure of what her answer may be.

  “I think so,” Katherine answered her voice still shaky.

  Taking her hand in his, they left the kitchen to join the others on the roof helipad. He didn’t know what this weekend was to bring, but they would face it together.

  Chapter Nineteen

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  Thankfully no one had mentioned anything about her earlier emotional breakdown. It couldn’t be helped. When she saw that picture on the mantle it was like traveling back in time. KJ wasn’t sure if Drew had said anything more after he told her Brad had been killed in a car accident. Brad was dead. Her mind went blank, unable to process any details. She couldn’t believe it. He’s gone too.

  All she had wanted to do was hide and mourn the loss of her dear friend, but there was no time, and she wasn’t alone. KJ was torn between being grateful Drew was there offering comfort and feeling angry he was the one telling her the news. It wasn’t his fault. Apparently none of them realized she had dated Brad eight years ago. And I’m not about to tell them.

  It had been a young innocent love, based on mutual respect for each other’s path in life. They met up a few times when she had assisted as part of the natural disaster relief team. Both of them had shared a passion for giving back, but when it came to their personal lives, the passion hadn’t been there. That was when they realized their love was special, but only as friends. He’d been such a good friend to me. Someone I could rely on to cheer me up when times had been hard.