The Wager

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.