The Bet (The Bet #1)(19)

Travis shuddered and mouthed, “You don’t want to know,” before disappearing into the bathroom.





Chapter Eleven




Jake couldn’t help but feel suspicious as his glance went from Travis to Kacey and back again. Naturally, he wasn’t the suspicious or jealous type, at least not typically. But he felt a little on edge. And it had nothing to do with the fact that Kacey was wearing such tight spandex, he was finding it hard to walk and talk at the same time.

It was his stupid brother, Travis. Travis of all people! He was looking at Kacey like he’s attracted to her — which was ridiculous because, well, he’s always despised her, and she him. Jake couldn’t even count on his fingers the ways they’d proven that.

It’s just that, he knew Travis. At least he’d like to think he was intelligent enough to know his own flesh and blood. But by the looks of things, well, it seemed like Travis was staring at Kacey, like… like a man. Hell. He was losing his damn mind. Everyone knew he hated her with a passion. He’d been nothing but cruel to her since they met in elementary school. If anything, Jake had always needed to protect her from his brother more than he had from the other kids at school.

Who had carried her to the house when Travis had pushed her and she’d scraped her knee? Um, Jake had.

Who had asked her to prom when every other guy would have been blacklisted if they had as much as set foot near her, as per order of the women at the school? Again, the younger of the two brothers.

And who, in the middle of the gymnasium, when crowned Homecoming King, had gotten down on one knee his senior year and had asked Kacey to be his girlfriend? Jake hated to boast, but yes, that had been him, while Travis had just sat there like a fool. Granted, he was in college and only visiting for the weekend. But still. It was always Jake. It had always been Jake.

So the thought that Travis was currently looking at her like… well, like guys look at girls, was actually quite alarming.

After all, the rumor at school had been that Travis was gay or something, not that Jake had ever asked him. He hadn’t wanted to embark on such an uncomfortable conversation and all that.

Jake pushed the thought from his mind. Honestly, I am just too tired. He had been working endlessly to make sure everything was in order at work, and to make matters worse, Samantha, his on-again, off-again girlfriend had declared she was going to go to the papers to report the little engagement as a ruse.

Naturally, he’d threatened to sue her.

Which she’d found extremely hot.

Needless to say he’d flown her down for the weekend as well.

It’s not as if Kacey was really going to be that realistic in this role, not that Jake would let her. After everything that had happened between them, it was safe to say that they needed to stay friends, lest he ruined both their lives for the second time.

“Jake?” Dad reached for the potatoes once everyone was seated. “How’s the office? Everything going well?”

No, he wanted to yell. Everything was not going well since Dad had retired, but it was imperative that Jake appeared in control. He shrugged and answered, “Not a problem.”

Grandma chose to make a grand entrance, complete with lipstick smeared on her face, and he couldn’t help but smell some sort of man-scent coming off of her in waves.

Always nice to know Grandma’s getting play while faking your own engagement.

“What’s this about the business?” Grandma could destroy a man with one harsh look.

“Nothing,” Jake said, diverting attention away from himself. “But you can ask about Kacey and my plans to wed.”

In that moment, Jake’s heart stopped as Grandma clutched her chest, wheezed, and then literally toppled out of her chair.

“Grandma!” everyone yelled on key as if to somehow revive her.

Jake fell to his knees and grasped her hand. She opened her eyes on cue. “I was playing the shocked grandmother. Did I do well?”

“Damn it, Grandma! Don’t ever do that again!” Jake swore fluently. Mom glared from her side of the table, but he was sure she was thinking the same thing, if not worse.

“I was an actress once,” Grandma announced once she was back in her chair.

Jake guessed that nobody really knew what to do except the obvious. Kacey gave him the help a girl out look and began to clap.

He followed, and soon the entire table erupted in applause.

Note to self: Media should never sit in on family dinner night. Under no circumstances should that ever happen.

“So…” Grandma tossed the napkin on her lap. “You’re finally tying the knot, hmm? You kids always were so close to one another, can’t say I’m surprised, and you know what this means for your business, right?” Grandma elbowed him.

Jake dropped his fork, making a huge clattering noise in the silence.

“It means I’m growing up.” He faked a smile and shoveled more food into his mouth.

She knew. His conniving grandmother knew about the board members’ ultimatum. Shit. Kacey couldn’t find out that Grandma knew or she’d kill him, and then tell all to Grandma, who would then ruin his chances with the board, considering she still had pull with those old geezers. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise him if his grandmother was behind the board’s ultimatum for Jake to clean up his act.