Hedging His Bets

by Laura Carter

  Chapter 21

  Jake

  It is dark by the time we pull into Drew’s driveway. I lead Jess by the hand out to the yard, where we hear the popping of corks before we see the others, sitting out on the decking by the pool.

  “Hey, hey, hey! Hold the celebrations!” I shout.

  We get cheers from the group and Jess and I head down to them. I make sure I’m on the right page by taking a sly look at Becky’s ring finger. Happy to see a huge rock sparkling there, I pick her up and swing her around until she squeals.

  “Congratulations, sis!”

  “Thank you,” she giggles, clearly ecstatic.

  I pull my brother into a hug. “I’m glad you grew some balls, man.”

  He pats my back too hard in return. “I should say the same,” he says, nodding to Jess.

  I glance back at my girl as Sarah pulls her into a hug and I tell Drew, “Yeah, you haven’t heard the half of it.” What I’m about to say is that I have some news to share with him another time, since Jess and I have decided not to trample the celebrations with our own announcement.

  But…

  “Oh my God! What is on your left hand?” Sarah shouts.

  All attention, including mine, swings to Jess. Her cheeks burn red and she looks at Becky. “I’m sorry, we weren’t going to mention it.”

  “Are you?” Becky runs to Jess and takes her hand. “We’re going to be sisters?” she squeals.

  Jess laughs. “I guess we are.”

  “Show me the ring!” Madge says, running to Jess. Izzy follows suit and pretty soon the decibels coming from all the girls are seriously freaking painful.

  But fuck if I’m not bursting with happiness inside. Jess glances at me and shrugs, making me laugh, somewhere between delirium and serious damn happiness.

  “You proposed?” Drew asks, humor lacing his eyes and voice. “I thought you were just going to ask to date her, kid.”

  “What can I say? If you want something, show some conviction, right?”

  Laughing, he pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m happy for you, baby brother.”

  “Ah, Drew, our baby boy is all grown up,” Brooks says, throwing his arms around both my and Drew’s shoulders.

  Kit shakes my hand. “She’s a catch, man. And she’s willing to put up with your brooding shit. Keep her. But between us, she isn’t knocked up, is she?”

  “Christ, Kit, what the hell is wrong with you?” Brooks asks, clipping Kit’s shoulder.

  Marty comes over, popping another bottle of Dom. “Congratulations, both of you. Looks like it’s the year of the Harrington brothers. In all honesty though, it was my car, wasn’t it? Chicks dig the car.”

  I shake my head as I fish in my pocket for Marty’s keys. “Here. Thanks for the ride. I’ll need to borrow her again tomorrow to get the scratch buffed out.”

  “The… What the… Oh, no, man, you did not bump the lady.”

  I shrug as I sip from my glass of champagne and set it down on the coffee table. “It’s only a scratch, Marty. It’ll rub right out.”

  “No, no, no. You fucking…” He dives at me, hurtling both of us back into the pool. The girls scream as water splashes up over them.

  “I was fucking joking, Marty!”

  For some reason, we both find it hilarious. Seemingly, so does everyone else, or we’re all just high on life, because they all run and bomb into the pool.

  I find Jess, fully clothed among the others, and lift her waist, raising her up out of the pool. When I bring her down, she presses her lips to mine, wraps her arms around my neck, and I take us both under the water.

  Chapter 22

  Jess

  I can hear voices as people start to arrive downstairs for Drew and Becky’s engagement party. Though Jake and I intended to keep our engagement quiet, Drew and Becky insisted the party be a joint celebration. Fortunately, I brought a fancy dress with me. It’s a new piece of my own, different from my usual Asian style. It was actually inspired by Jake. I wanted to move away from always designing with an Asian feel. There’s more in my life now than Asia and this dress reflects that. Jake always has this kind of glint in his eye when I wear things off one shoulder, even my oversized shirts. So, I designed one slim shoulder strap. I made a bodice with structure but covered in black chiffon, giving a lighter appearance. The bones in the top are my roots. The layers of soft pink chiffon that flow from the true waist is the wind through my leaves.

  I stare at the dress hanging on the wardrobe door as I sit on the bed in my lingerie. I’m engaged. I’m engaged to be married to Jake Harrington. I’ve promised to be his forever. I wait for panic to rise in my chest and to grip my lungs. I wait and wait but it doesn’t come.

  I glance down at my hands in my lap and realize I am gripping my simple and beautiful ring from Tiffany’s. Who’d have thought I’d have picked something simple? But as I stood at the counter in Tiffany’s, with Jake pointing out detailed designs he thought I might like, I had a new thought. How nice it would be if life were simple.

  I chose one single brilliant-cut diamond on a thin platinum band. I can’t do anything to make sure life isn’t turbulent, that it doesn’t throw things at me I don’t want to happen. But Jake somehow makes me want to stop running. I guess I knew that each time I signed another lease extension to stay with him. And when I saw him in Central Park, waiting for me in the rain, I knew I had desperately wanted him to come and find me. To root me.

  I take a breath and stand. Time to put on the dress and face Jake’s family. Holy shit, I’m going to have a family.

  A soft rap on the door steals my attention. “Jess? It’s Sarah.”

  “Oh, erm, I’m in lingerie but you can come in.”

  She steps inside and her lips break into one of her incredible smiles. “You look stunning, Jess.”

  “I hope you’re referring to my hair and makeup because this isn’t what I’m planning to wear.”

  She chuckles as she comes over to me. “Yes, I mean your hair and makeup. Jake sent me to check on you. He said you might be overthinking a few things.”

  “Well, he was probably right, but I’m fine. You look gorgeous, Sarah.” I gesture to her structured powder-blue dress. Her hair, like mine, is curled and across one shoulder.

  She waves a hand flippantly. “This old thing? Can I help you into your dress? Is this it? I love it!”

  “Thank you. It’s one of mine. Jake hasn’t seen it before. It’s not my usual.”

  “I think you’re going to knock him dead, Jess. He’s a real good man, you know. And he adores you.”

  I try to fight my smile but it grows until my cheeks ache. “Well, the feeling is mutual.”

  She helps me into my dress. I slip my mum’s pearls into my ears and around my wrist, choosing to go bare at the neck.

  I add the finishing touch of a soft pink lipstick and Sarah and I look at each other in the mirror. “Sarah, would it be weird if I said I’m pleased that Jake comes with you all as a package deal?”

  She puts her arm around my shoulder. “Not at all. We’ve sucked you in, now, and we won’t let you go. And you remember what I said to you in the bar the other night. No one can promise to live forever, I know that too well. My husband was taken too young. But we can promise to love forever. Jake will love you forever, Jess. And so will we. If your worst fears came true, we would all be here. Neither you, nor Jake, would ever be alone. I can tell you that with certainty.”

  I take a deep breath in the hope it will stop my clouded eyes from crying tears. “I can’t tell you how much… How much that…”

  Sarah smiles as I hold my hand to my throat where the words are stuck. “I know, Jess. We all do. I’ll give you a minute.”

  She heads downstairs and I move to the window, watching the last light of the day disappear into the ocean. “Goodnight, Mum, sweet dreams, Dad.�
�� I silently thank them. They gave me my greatest fear, but they showed me the greatest love of all. And they gave me the strength to take Jake’s hand and dive in to something special.

  I tried for years to run from my fear. I accept now that just because I ran, that didn’t mean it wouldn’t exist. And I realize fear is the thing that makes me appreciate how truly special the love my parents shared was, and how truly special the way I feel about Jake is.

  With their strength, I go in search of the man I love. I hear his laughter, that big, bellowing laugh, from outside as I head down the stairs.

  I search him out and he meets my eyes, watching me as I take each step through the house and out to meet him. He looks incredible. His hair in that intentionally messy style he wears, his scruffy jaw, his blue eyes shining. His black shirt highlights his strong features and the tan he’s acquired over the last few days. It is tucked into trousers that hug those toned hips I love to wrap my hands around. Yep, I shamelessly ogle my fiancé.

  He lifts his hand to his chest as I move closer to him and that knicker-melting half smile tugs on his lips.

  “Twelve,” he says when I reach him. It takes me a second to understand. “You’re a twelve. You’ve always been a twelve.”

  The way he looks at me, like he’s looking at something precious for the first time, I know he means it. “I’m not mediocre?” I say with a giggle.

  He lifts his hand to my cheek in that way he does, the way that liquefies me and tells me I’m safe all at once. “You’ve never been mediocre, babe.”

  He presses his lips to mine and I can’t resist slipping my tongue out to get a little of that distinctly Jake taste I love. If I could bottle his scent or design him in a new line of clothes, I would call it all Distinctly Jake.

  “Don’t mind us.” I remember where we are and pull away from Jake, subtly rubbing my lips and tucking myself into his side.

  “Jess, you finally get to meet my much older sister, Millie.”

  Millie playfully slaps Jake in the chest before pulling me into a hug. “So, you’re the surprise sister, huh? Jake always did like to steal the stage.”

  “Oh, gosh, we truly didn’t mean to. It was—”

  “Relax, babe. Millie is just being a dick.”

  “I know you did not call your sister a name for man business.” Jake’s mother, who I also recognize from Skype, spins into the little circle we’re forming. “Jess.” She opens her arms and I step into them. Her hold is tight and warm and incredibly homey. Would it make sense to you if I described her as a real mum? Well, sorry if it doesn’t because I can’t explain it better than that. She reminds me of my mum. Yes, a real mum.

  “Welcome to the family, darling. I knew this was going to happen from the first time I saw him pull you onto his knee during our Sky time.”

  “Enough, Mom, stop embarrassing me and let her go.” Jake pulls us apart but his mum grabs his cheeks and shakes them. It’s cute as hell. “And for the record, it’s Skype. You don’t Sky call.”

  “Do not sass me, Jake. You’re not too old to spank.”

  “Christ.”

  We circulate until we’ve met everyone. Jake’s parents. His sister and her husband. Aunt Kathleen, Uncle Geoffrey, Aunt Nellie and Uncle Jack.

  Staff of the catering company Drew has hired move around serving substantial canapes and making sure champagne flows. When the sky falls dark, the deck is lit by the usual lighting but tonight also a mass of tea lights in the trees and weaving in the trellis. It matches the sky, which is clear and full of stars. A little something I think two special people may have made happen for us, wherever they are.

  An acoustic band plays at one side of the pool and the deck of the other side is used as a dance area. Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Geoffrey lead the way, dancing in each other’s arms. I lean on the deck rail and watch them, my heart almost full to bursting. Some people do manage to stay in love and grow old together. Hopefully Jake and I will be so lucky. Just in case, I make a promise to myself, in this moment, that I will live each day grateful for every second we get to share in love together.

  As I have that thought, two muscular arms wrap around my waist and Jake’s chin comes to rest on my shoulder. “I love you.”

  “I don’t think I’ll get used to or tired of you saying that to me.”

  He kisses my cheek. “Good, because I keep finding the urge to say it.”

  “Jake, it’s time. Let’s do this,” Brooks says, dropping his hands to Jake’s shoulders.

  “Sorry, fiancée, I have to leave you for a few minutes. You might want to make your way down to the dance floor.”

  I feel my brow scrunch as I chuckle. “What on earth are you doing, Jake Harrington?”

  “Nothing The King wouldn’t do at an engagement party, babe.”

  “Oh crap.”

  He laughs as he and Brooks head down to the pool. The band stops mid song as Jake takes over the microphone. “Sorry, everyone. We don’t mean to disrupt proceedings but, ah, Brooks and I need to send my big brother into pre-marital life with a bang.”

  Brooks hooks an electric guitar over his shoulder and Jake pics up an acoustic one. “You ready, Brooks?”

  “Take it away, Elvis.”

  I bring my hands to my mouth as I laugh and the guys strike up the first chords to Elvis’s “Suspicious Minds.”

  Emily’s familiar voice speaks at my side. “I knew they’d have to rock out Elvis.”

  I turn to her. “Hey! How are you? How’s Brandon’s nose?”

  She laughs. “He’ll live. I’m so happy for you and Jake, Jess. I hope now that the guys have had their bust up we can all hang out sometimes.”

  “I’d like that. I think Jake would too.”

  “Come on, girls!” Sarah sweeps in, dragging Emily and me onto the dance floor. Drew twirls Becky around, laughing when Brooks and Drew both drop to their knees, Elvis style.

  Emily, Madge, Kit, Izzy, Brandon, Marty and I dance through “Suspicious Minds” then “All Shook Up.” Jake’s parents look surprisingly young and happy as they spin around the deck.

  After the two songs, Brooks calls Izzy up to the stage area. “How about we let my man go dance, Iz?”

  Izzy heads up. She takes the acoustic guitar from Jake and starts playing Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

  People on the dance floor part as Jake makes his way over to me. As he passes Brandon, he stops and I hold my breath, but Jake holds out his hand and they shake. Jake then kisses Emily on the cheek. After that, he has only eyes for me.

  I slip my hand into his and let him lead me into the middle of the floor. He twirls me under his arm, then brings me into his chest as Brooks and Izzy play.

  He sings to me, “Wise men say, only fools rush in, but Jessica Walters, there wasn’t a thing I could do about falling in love with you.”

  “I guess some things are more powerful than you or me. Some things are bigger and stronger than all of us. I love you, Jake.”

  “In this life and the next, babe.”

  “In all our forms.”

  He whispers, “Forever.” And seals it with a kiss.

  See where the Brits in Manhattan series started! Read on for an excerpt from Balancing the Scales.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Drew

  I slip out of the bed, naked, and head into my en suite. While the shower heats the wet room, I look out over Manhattan. From this angle, I see the spring sun rising through the multitude of the city’s skyscrapers. On the other side of my apartment the view of Central Park this time of year is lush green.

  When I step into the shower I’m blasted from all angles by the spray. Closing my eyes, I lean my head back and let the jets clean away the mild fog I feel from last night’s scotch. I didn’t have much, just enough to take the edge off the stress of today’s hearing.

  It’s
time to bring my game face. In a few hours, I’ll be in court, defending another millionaire accused of white-collar crime. Today, I’ll be convincing Judge McAvoy that my client isn’t guilty of insider trading. This, despite the fact he placed trades that made him more money than even the Einstein of Wall Street could have managed.

  Hey, he pays me a hell of a lot of money to keep him out of pretty-boy prison, and let’s be real here, it’s not like he killed anyone.

  Knocking off the shower, I shake out my dark blond hair, flick water from my ears, and tie a towel around my waist. After wiping down the steamed mirror, I brush shaving cream on my face and get on with making myself appear court-presentable. By court-presentable, I mean a cut above the average man’s best day. I’m a big-hitter on the circuit and I have to look like one. It’s all part of the show.

  When I’m through with the metrosexual antics, I slip out of the bathroom and pad quietly through the bedroom to my walk-in—not intentionally quiet because I don’t want to wake the sleeping brunette in my bed but because my feet are bare on the thick rug.

  The hanging racks are full of suits and shirts but there’s only one suit for court. The don of all suits. The pinstripe.

  I dress in my shirt and pants, wiggling the knot of my tie until it sits just so. My vest is next—judges like a three piece. I leave my jacket until last, carrying it with me to the kitchen as I go in search of my best friend. I hear her percolating and smell her rich aroma before I see her.

  Meet my coffee maker. The most reliable and dependable thing in my life.

  Black coffee in hand, I head back to my bedroom to wake last night’s conquest. She’s wrapped loosely in only my white cotton sheet, her slim, tanned body displayed in all but the most important places. Her hair and makeup aren’t as pristine as they had been when I’d picked her up in the bar, but I can still see why I brought her to bed.

  “Janey,” I say, standing on the threshold of the room, sipping my Italian coffee. “Janey, wake up. I’ve got to go.”