The Wager

Chapter Seventeen

Jake wasn’t at all prepared for what Grandma had planned. It was only four in the afternoon, after all. He had only planned for an early dinner with drinks.

What had previously been only him sweeping Char off her feet was now Grandma outdoing every nice thing he’d ever thought to do.

Because she brought along Char’s best friend.

“Kacey?” Char’s mouth dropped open when both Kacey and Travis walked into the condo. Grandma told them to have some champagne and sit tight, and wait for the party of the century. Her words, not his.

After two hours Jake was convinced Grandma had fallen asleep at the wheel. Not that he cared. Char wanted to walk on the beach; he obliged her. Then she wanted more champagne, and hell, he would have given her whatever she wanted. He just wanted her to feel… wanted… desired. And damn if he didn’t want to be the guy to make her feel that way.

It had been a few hours since their last kiss, and he was seriously thinking about locking the door to the condo so he could do it again when his brother and future sister-in-law burst right in.

“Surprise!” Kacey squealed, running into the large living room.

“I can’t believe you guys are here!” Char ran into Kacey’s arms and hugged her. “How did you even—”

“Grandma.” Everyone said in unison.

Jake rose from his seat on the couch and went to shake his brother’s hand. “I’m surprised you could catch a flight out.”

Travis cursed. “You and me both. We barely had time to pack anything. I just tossed clothes from the floor into my bag and grabbed some frilly things for Kace.”

“Lingerie.” Kacey sighed. “He grabbed my silk lingerie.”

Travis shrugged. “I’m a guy.”

“And I can’t walk around naked!” Kacey all but shouted.

Travis didn’t seem to care, lucky bastard. “You’ll be fine.” He winked.

Kacey blushed and looked away. “So Char, Grandma tells me Jake’s been your knight in shining armor today.”

“Whoa, there.” Jake put up his hands. “Don’t go ruining my bad reputation.”

Kacey winked. “Wouldn’t dream of it. He’s still an ass, Char. I hope you know that.”

Char laughed with Kacey.

Jake wasn’t laughing.

Not at all.

Was he a giant joke to everyone?

“So.” Kacey pulled Char onto the couch. “I’m glad I get to say this to you face to face so I can see your reaction.”

“You’re pregnant!” Char yelled.

Travis spit out his drink and began to cough.

“Uh, no.” Kacey glared at Travis. “Make that two asses.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time she’s accused both of us.” Jake lifted his champagne in a toast to his brother and took a long sip.

“Do you remember Jace Munroe?” Kacey asked.

Char’s eyes widened. “The Jace Munroe? The quarterback at our rival school who looked like a hotter version of Justin Timberlake?”

“Um, yeah, that one.” Kacey laughed. “I invited him to the wedding.”

“Not following.” Char pulled off her shoes and tugged her legs underneath her on the couch. Pity, because Jake was watching her shapely legs quite closely. “Why would you invite someone you barely know to your own wedding?”

“Travis plays golf with him.”

“So?”

“They hang out, they’re friends, and he’s single.”

Jake sucked in his champagne too fast and began coughing but hid it with a laugh. Even though he found nothing about the situation amusing.

Char cringed. “I don’t want to be set up like that.”

“Don’t think of it like that.” Kacey put her hand on Char’s arm. “Besides, he remembers you.”

“He does?” Char’s face lit up. Aw, hell. How could she be so blind to her own charm? The girl was gorgeous. Of course that tool would remember her; the ass had probably dated a hundred women in his lifetime and was finally ready to settle down with the one. Which was exactly what Char was. Bastard.

“We kind of told him you’d be there and, well, I don’t know, you should go for it!”

“I’m sorry,” Jake interrupted. “ ‘Go for it’?”

“Um, yeah?” Kacey pinched his arm. “She needs to get out there and start dating. At the rate she’s going she’s going to end up buying a hundred cats and living in a trailer in our backyard.”

“Not true.” Char blushed. “I’m just picky.”

“I blame junior high.” Kacey sighed. “I swear, ever since eighth grade camp you’ve sworn off most men who even look twice at you.”

Char blushed and looked down at her folded hands.

“Eighth grade?” Jake repeated. “Hey, I was at that camp with you guys.”

Char lifted her head and smiled. “Right. I forgot.”

Jake sure hadn’t. He’d made out with tons of girls that summer. It had been the best summer ever. He’d even had a small crush on Char before she started going all crazy on him: one day they were friends and the next, sworn enemies.

Until that fateful night he’d slept with her.

Then they’d been more than friends for a few hours.

Which begged the question, what were they now? It wasn’t like he wanted her dating anyone else. No, he’d kill any other guy that touched her.

Not that he wanted to be the guy that got to touch her.

Then again. His eyes scanned her face, lips, eyes. Shit, maybe he wanted to try to be that guy she giggled with Kacey about. You know, if girls still did that at twenty-three.

“Please?” Kacey begged. “For me? Just keep an open mind when you meet him, okay? And if anything happens—” she shrugged—“it happens.”

Jake came to Char’s rescue, at least in his mind, when he added his two cents. “Don’t pressure her, Kace. Being alone isn’t a terrible thing. I know lots of single girls who are perfectly happy with their careers and lives. Not everyone wants to get married and have kids.”

“Right.” Kacey pointed at Jake. “And if you want to end up like him, then by all means, Char, be my guest.”

“But…” Jake shook his head. “I’m just trying to say it’s her choice.”

“Just like your choice is to whore around.” Kacey slapped his back. “To each his own, right?”

Why was he suddenly embarrassed by his past? And why the hell was he letting Kacey browbeat him?

Char was looking at him as if she expected him to say something or defend her, but he didn’t know what he was supposed to be saying or doing. The only thing he noticed was that her color was high. Was she embarrassed, too?

“Finally!” Grandma burst through the front door with tons of bags in her hands. “Do you even realize how hard it is to find a good firework in Seattle?”

“Um, should we be concerned?” Sure enough, Char pointed at a bag labeled “Fireworks”.

“Not unless she has matches.” Travis answered just as Grandma pulled out enough matches to burn down the whole of Alkai Beach.

“I told you it would be the best birthday!” Grandma smiled, dropped her bags, then walked over to Char. In an instant she was in Grandma’s arms. “You’re a special girl, and you deserve a special day with family.”

A tear ran down Char’s face when she pulled away from Grandma and said thank you.

The room fell silent again, and then Grandma began barking orders about a cake, fireworks, and margaritas.