The Wager tb-2

by Rachel Van Dyken

  They pulled to a stop in front of Titus Abby. They still a good week before the wedding but you wouldn’t know it by looking.

  Catering vans were everywhere, along with decorators, florists—geez, it was like a wedding magazine threw up on the place.

  “Char!” Kacey ran out of the house toward the limo and stopped dead in her tracks. “Holy crap, did you guys hit a rotten cat or something?”

  “Rotten cat.” Jace laughed, getting out of the car. “Sounds about right, huh Jake?”

  With a groan, Jake got out of the car and made a beeline toward the house.

  “Oh, come on, weddings aren’t that bad, Jake!” Jace called after him, laughing.

  Char squinted, not liking that Jace was taunting Jake. Truthfully, he deserved that and more, but still. It wasn’t attractive. Not to her.

  “Looks like Jake’s returned to his partying ways, huh?” Kacey nudged Char and looped her arm in hers, totally oblivious to the fact that Char’s heart was clenching in her chest over the thought.

  He’d spent a few days with her.

  And it hadn’t been enough to keep him away from that lifestyle. Which just proved the point again—he wasn’t worth it, because in the end he would always choose himself, his lifestyle, his money. It would never be about her.

  “So.” Char ignored the pain in her chest. “Jace is really nice.”

  “He’s a senator,” Kacey sang. “And he graduated two years early from college. He’s a MENSA member and I have it on good authority he adopts injured dogs.”

  “You talking about Jace?” Travis came up and gave Kacey a kiss on the head. “He’s like porn to women. Seriously, if you don’t like him, there’s no hope for you.”

  Char didn’t have time to reply. Grandma soon burst into the room carrying a large microphone embellished with small pink crystals.

  “Um, what’s that?” Char pointed at the offending device.

  “My microphone, for the wedding.” Grandma lifted it out of its case and handed it to Char. “It makes me sound like Mariah Carey.”

  “If Mariah Carey was a dying squirrel,” Kacey said under her breath.

  “Heard that,” Grandma snapped.

  “You won’t be singing at the wedding.” Kacey grinned. “So it doesn’t matter anyway.”

  Grandma took the microphone back, careful to put it in its case, which looked a heck of a lot like a caboodle and stuffed it under her arm. “What you and Travis are engaged in is mere child’s play. I dated a Kennedy.” She straightened her blouse. “Enough said. Now move along, I have things to plan. Tonight we celebrate!”

  “What’s Grandma talking about?” Char asked, wondering why Travis and Kacey were staring after Grandma as if they could figure out the puzzle that was her life and behavior.

  “Dinner party and cocktails for the guests,” Kacey said, still watching Grandma. “I don’t like her tone. What does she know that we don’t?”

  Travis scratched his head. “She’s just trying to get in our heads.”

  “Feeling left out here.” Char raised her hand. “You guys in some sort of war with Grandma?”

  “No,” Kacey snapped and looked back at Char. “A battle of the minds, possibly… but we’ll win. Grandma thinks she’s knows what’s best but for once, she’s wrong. We’ll prove it and then she won’t be singing at the wedding.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Char watched with Travis and Kacey as Grandma moved to the middle of the room and pulled out a red whistle.

  “Who the hell gave her a whistle?” Travis muttered an oath under his breath and groaned about how slight breezes were making him horny just as Grandma blew loud enough to cause deafness.

  “Hello!” Grandma shouted and then blew on the whistle again.

  Char hid a smile as she heard curses erupt from somewhere in the house. Jake clearly wasn’t a fan of the whistle, either.

  “I need everyone’s attention.” Grandma pulled out a clipboard. “I’ve been nominated—”

  “Volunteered,” Travis corrected. “And quite forcefully, might I add.”

  Grandma ignored his outburst and continued talking. “As I was saying I’ve been nominated.” She glared at Travis. “To be the wedding planner for the duration of your stay here at Titus Abbey. Because most of the wedding party will be staying at the house we’ve decided to assign rooms.”

  Char listened to Grandma’s voice drone on and on as she peered around the room for Jake’s return. What was she doing? It was only concern that he’d choked on his puke or ran into a door or something.

  “And because we only have one suite and Travis has happily taken a vow of celibacy.”

  Travis made a shooting motion with his hand and pointed at his head.

  “The suite will be have to be shared.” She grinned. “Now the schedule is exact to the minute; try not to be late to any of the activities. We have a lot going on. I expect everyone to go back to their rooms so they can change before cocktail hour.”

  Grandma proceeded to hand out laminated schedule sheets. “These cannot be changed so please don’t ask. If you have any questions…” Travis raised his hand. “That don’t have to do with sleeping arrangements…” Travis put his hand down. “Then please ask.”

  Char took the schedule from Grandma and groaned. Jace walked up behind her. “Hey, you think Jake will be up to changing bed partners?”

  Had Jake said something like that to her, she would have rolled her eyes and laughed, because it was such a Jake thing to say. But hearing Jace say it was like throwing cold water on her; in fact it made her cringe a bit. How was a hot guy flirting with her making her want to cringe?

  She managed a small laugh and waved the schedule in his face. “Grandma’s rules are final, believe me, I’ve learned my lesson in that department.”

  “Tell me,” Grandma spoke up behind her. “How were those fertility tests, Char?”

  Jace’s eyes widened as Char’s mouth dropped open. Holy crap! What was she supposed to say? She stuttered for words. “Hah, very funny, Grandma, you mean the tests you got for Kacey and Travis?”

  “Sure.” Grandma winked.

  Char’s face heated in embarrassment as she turned to Jace. “She’s kidding. I swear.”

  “I like kids.” He grinned and eyed her up and down. “Or let me put it this way, I would think any guy would be lucky to have kids with you.”

  And officially too far.

  “Right.” She choked. “I’m just gonna go freshen up.”

  “I can grab your bags.” He reached for her bag but she swatted his hand.

  “No.” Char laughed lightly. “I’ve got it. I’ll see you in an hour.”

  He smile was smug as he walked off.

  Char ran up the stairs as fast as she could. They had the suite. Her and Jake. It had to be some kind of sick joke. The one and only suite? Meant for Kacey and Travis, and she had to stay in it with Jake? The man-whore who screamed when someone said “commitment” and got drunk to purposefully prove a point to society that he was exactly what everyone believed—a player.

  With a grunt, she pushed open the door and immediately dropped her bag onto the floor.

  Something was wrong with her. It was like all the pent-up emotion of her childhood, her past, drama with her parents, and finally the pressure of losing her career, were finally hitting her.

  Stupid flowers.

  It was their fault.

  They were yellow roses, just like the ones Jake had gotten her a few days ago. Damn him.

  She pulled a rose from the vase and inhaled. For a brief minute she allowed herself to dream, that it was her honeymoon suite. That Jake was her husband, that he’d bought her flowers and hadn’t been puking just an hour ago.

  When she opened her eyes, the reality of her situation hit her square in the face. In the form of a single king-sized bed.

  So close, yet always so far away; that was the story of her life. She was so close to graduating with honors, but it was Beth who finally
clenched the title of Valedictorian.

  And when she had her first job interview, her parents had taken her out to dinner only to be disappointed that it was with a news station.

  When Beth got her job, she was given a car.

  It was as if all the things she’d ever wanted in her life were always close enough for her to want them, yet never close enough for her to grasp them.

  She was like that damn hamster and his wheel.

  She hated hamsters.

  With a huff she sat on the bed and watched as the door swung open, revealing a very haggard-looking Jake. At least someone was having a worse day than she was.

  “How you doing, princess?” she asked.

  “I hate my life.” With a groan he stumbled to the bed and fell face down on top of it. “Best part of my day… Go ahead, ask me.”

  Char leaned back on her elbow so she could see him better. “Almost getting arrested.”

  He shook his head.

  “Hmm, meeting the youngest state senator in Oregon history?”

  Jake showed her his middle finger.

  Laughing, Char guessed again. “Finally puking in a toilet like a big boy.”

  He sighed and lifted his head so their eyes were locked. “Rooming with you.”

  The teasing smile fell from Char’s face as her heart hammered in her chest. The room was silent except for the sound of her sharp intake of breath. She suddenly seemed to have an inability to inhale and exhale softly.

  She finally managed an “oh.”

  Jake just continued to stare at her as if she was the most precious thing in his existence, as if he really meant what he said—that the best part of the day was being with her in a room. Then again, he was a player. Maybe he thought he was getting lucky.

  “Well, hate to break it to you, champ…” His eyes narrowed. “But you’re not sleeping with me.”

  “Oh, that.” He rose slowly to his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I already knew that. I’m pretty sure me and the floor are going to have a good time tonight. All that heavy breathing and grinding.”

  “What the hell kind of night do you have planned for the floor? And in what universe is any of what you just said okay?”

  Jake grinned. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out. You know you can always join me and the floor if your bed gets too soft.”

  “I like things soft.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Pity.”

  “Jake Titus!” Char threw a pillow at his face.

  Laughing, he walked toward the bathroom. “Hurry up, Char. We gotta freshen up for cocktail hour. By the way.” He turned on the faucet and pulled out a wash cloth. “Who the hell gave Grandma a whistle? That should be illegal in all fifty states.”

  Char didn’t answer. Fascinated, she watched him get ready as he ran the cloth over his face. Droplets of water fell onto the sink. Feeling a bit heated, she took off her zip up sweater.

  Damn Jake Titus for making eye drops look sexy as he tilted his head back and dropped them into his eyes. He blinked, once, twice, and then they were running down his chiseled cheeks.

  “Stop watching, Char.” Jake called. “It was creepy ten minutes ago. Now I’m just concerned you’ve had a seizure or something.”

  Flustered, Char almost tumbled from the bed as she stomped over to her bag and began digging through it for a sexy cocktail dress.

  Two could play that game.

  She didn’t just want to play—she wanted to win.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  “Jake?” Travis’s voice was muffled by the blood roaring in Jake’s ears. “Did you hear anything I just asked you?”

  No, sorry, I was watching legs. Two of them to be exact, and those legs belonged to a beautiful brunette with striking blue eyes and such an electric smile that it hit a man dead center in the chest. “Sure, bachelor party. I’m in.”

  “No strippers.” This from Kacey.

  Jake nodded in agreement, still keeping his eyes trained in Char’s legs as she stood a few feet away from him talking to his mom.

  Travis snapped his fingers in front of Jake’s face. “Get it together, man. If you don’t watch it, you’re going to start panting.”

  Already there. “Sorry, just distracted.” He cleared his throat and turned to look at Travis and Kacey. Travis looked irritated, Kacey looked concerned. Oh great, he was going to get the talk again. To save time he beat her to the punch. “Kace, I’m fine. It was a rough night, bad choices, I’m better now, and I’m hitting the water, not the alcohol. Seriously, you’re not my mom.” That sounded harsher than he’d meant it to sound, which was proven when Travis took a step forward. But Kacey stopped Travis with her hand.

  And then her eyes followed Jake’s as he stole another glance at Char.

  With a growl she handed Travis her drink and pulled Jake by the ear outside. “OW, what the hell, Kace!”

  “You slept with her!”

  “What? Who?”

  “Char!”

  “Yes!” Her eyes grew twice their normal size. “No, I mean a long time ago, yes.”

  Holy shit he was sweating.

  Kacey released the hostage ear and crossed her arms. “How long?”

  “A year or so.” He looked down at the ground. “It was a mistake.”

  “You!” Kacey poked his chest as Jake tried to shush her. “You’re the one that she spent the night with before the whole YouTube clip.”

  “Guilty.” In more than one way.

  Scowling, Kacey shook her head. “I should have known. All signs pointed to a Titus.”

  “All signs?”

  “Yeah, drinking, debauchery, irresponsibility, TV…”

  Jake held up his hand for her to stop. “Fine, I get it. But it’s not like I’ve done anything since, and you know it.” Damn her for calling him on his bullshit. When he’d got drunk at her engagement party she’d told him to shape up his life or die in a prostitute’s bed—no joke. It wasn’t as if he didn’t try to do right, it just seemed like every time he did, he got shit on. It was so much easier to go the other route, to be what people expected. Irresponsible and carefree. It seemed the minute he did try to act serious and be responsible—people asked if he was drunk. It was embarrassing and again made him want to flinch, to pull away, and fall back into old habits.

  “You have that look,” Kacey said, interrupting his morose thoughts.

  “Look, what look?” Jake tried to change his face but failed miserably when Char walked by the window.

  “That look!” Kacey poked him in the chest again. “You’re falling for her!”

  “Am not!”

  “Are too!”

  Jake wiped his face with his hand and cursed. “Can you please be an adult?”

  “Says the guy who slept with two drunken twins last night.”

  “I didn’t.” Jake coughed. “I couldn’t… I mean… I didn’t want to and I didn’t.”

  “Couldn’t? Or didn’t?”

  Jake felt his face flush. “Both.” Damn, maybe he did need Viagra. What a depressing thought. How old was he, twenty-three?

  “You hurt her,” Kacey’s finger pressed harder into his chest, “I cut off your—”

  “Dinner!” Grandma announced, opening the door to the outside porch.

  Kacey turned away and answered. “Coming, Grandma!’ Then shot a glare to Jake. “Use your imagination.”

  “Finger?” He said sweetly.

  “You’re an ass.” She looped her arm within his as they walked around the house to the outdoor gazebo where dinner was being served.

  Jake exhaled. “So I’ve been told, over and over and over again.”

  Kacey stopped walking and sighed. “Aren’t you tired of it?” Her eyes pleaded with his and for once in his life he couldn’t find his mask of indifference, the one any insecure guy used when he was trying to damn the world and live for himself. With a heavy shudder he shrugged. It was all he could manage to do. Words seemed too hard to form.

&nb
sp; Kacey looked toward the gazebo where Char was escorted by Jace. “I hate losing, so know I’m only saying this because I love you… but.”

  Jake waited.

  “Love is always worth it.”

  With that, Kacey leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, then walked toward a waiting Travis.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Char was going to gnaw her own arm off and eat it. Was Jake’s mom trying to torment her by waving those delicious-smelling potatoes under her nose? Char had heard that Jake’s mom had a problem with talking too much, but she had no idea it would be like that.

  Back and forth the spoon went as Bets talked. Over the plate, over the bowl, over the plate, over the bowl. She probably looked like a cat playing with its mouse.

  Bets laughed with Kacey—dipped the spoon into the mashed potatoes and lifted to serve Char—but then was distracted by the conversation. The spoon hovered yet again over Char’s plate and then returned to its serving bowl. Char could have sworn Kacey was keeping Bets talking on purpose.

  Finally, three hours later—okay, fine, it was more like twenty minutes—everyone was served and happily eating. You know, if happily eating included Grandma telling Vegas stories while Travis stared at the chicken like it was turning him on.

  Char had half a mind to feel sorry for the guy; then again, he was getting married in a week. It wasn’t as if he was going to die or anything.

  Jace was to Char’s right, Jake was to her left. Yeah, so that wasn’t awkward. Each time Jace’s arm brushed hers she leaned further into Jake, which made her shiver all over whenever his skin touched hers.

  Drinking water had always been her nervous tic. Awkward moment? Take a sip of water. Don’t know what to say? Take a sip of water.

  She had no water.

  Only wine.

  Which meant if she had any hope of getting through the night she’d be polishing off every single bottle on the table.