The Bet (The Bet #1)(25)

He walked with her up the stairs and led her to the guest room. She began to protest when he walked in, turned on the lights, and made sure the windows were open. He knew she liked fresh air when she slept, something he was sure she probably never got tired of.

“Off to bed.” His gut clenched. It should be him in that bed, not the damn teddy bear or even the other pillow. He was jealous of her pillow? He needed to take a cold shower.

“So…” She shrugged and looked at the floor. “About tonight.”

“Kace, don’t. We’re drunk.”

“I’m not that drunk,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Me neither.”

“I still hate you.”

He smiled. He couldn’t help it. “Kace, don’t worry. I still wouldn’t sleep with you if you were the last girl on the planet.” Lies all lies.

“Fine!” she yelled. “I don’t even like you anyways!”

“Well, don’t worry, Kace, my brother’s sloppy seconds aren’t really my type anyway.” Where the hell did that come from?

Her hand came crushing across his face. He totally deserved that.

“Kace, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s safe to say I know exactly what you meant, Travis. Good night.” She slammed the door in his face.

He was a complete ass.





Chapter Fourteen




Samantha was ruining everything.

First she’d asked for Jake’s promise that he wouldn’t really marry that whore he was engaged to, and then when he’d said he was actually thinking about it, she’d slapped him. Incredible.

It wasn’t as if he was going to kick her to the curb or anything. He was perfectly happy having a wife with a mistress on the side.

Once he explained things, Samantha calmed down a bit, but it ruined what would have been a perfectly great evening of mind-numbing sex and drinking.

He ended up driving back to the house around 1:00 a.m. It wasn’t worth staying over with her if she was going to be such a snatch.

He fumbled with the lock and let himself quietly in the house. Where exactly was Kacey staying? He forgot to ask. He took the stairs two at a time and bumped right into Travis, who was exiting one of the guest rooms.

“What are you doing?” they asked in unison.

Travis scratched his head and looked back at the room he’d just come out of. “Uh, Kacey had too much wine so I wanted to make sure she made it to her room.”

Jake wasn’t buying that. He wasn’t an idiot.

“So you gallantly helped her up the stairs and fought off the monsters and dragons in order to protect her honor?”

Travis rolled his eyes. “You done? I’m tired. I need to go to bed. Just don’t bother her, okay?”

“She isn’t your concern, Travis. I’ll bother her if I want. I’ll jump right into that bed and screw her senseless, and it still wouldn’t be your problem. This isn’t about you.”

Travis hurled Jake against the wall. “If you dare touch her again, I swear I’ll kill you.”

“Touch her?” Since when had Travis turned into such a prude? “I’ll touch her if I want, and again it’s none of your business.”

“What the hell is wrong with you!” Travis released him and cursed.

“Nothing.” Jake straightened his leather jacket. “Just lighten up, okay? I’m over it, she’s over it, we’re both over it. Seems the only person still hanging on to the past, big brother, is you.”

That ought to show him. Jake sneered and knocked on Kacey’s door, then quietly let himself in, leaving Travis glaring from the hallway.

“Hey sweetie, I’m back.” Jake kissed her forehead. She didn’t look drunk or confused. If anything, she was flushed, her lips swollen. God, he had forgotten how beautiful she was. Her hair was splayed across the pillow. She sighed and tilted her head toward him.

“Work okay?” she mumbled.

“Yeah.” His voice cracked, and he couldn’t focus on anything but the feel of her skin when he caressed her face again. “It was fine.”

And then he couldn’t help himself. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t actually touch her, but he was a guy and allowed stupidity to rule his common sense. His lips grazed hers, tentatively, and then harder as he pushed her into the bed.

Travis burst into the room like a freaking knight in shining armor, then cursed when he saw Jake hovering over Kacey.

“Bro, can I help you? We’re kind of busy.”

Travis’s eyes flickered to Kacey, who seemed to disappear under the covers, and then back at Jake. “You’re right. It’s none of my business what you two do. I don’t give a damn. Good night.” He slammed the door.

Geez, his brother needed some sort of anger management. What the hell did he care if Kacey and Jake had something between them still?

Kacey nudged him. “You should go.” Her face was wet with tears. Was she crying?

“Why are you crying? Is everything okay? What’s wrong?” All the questions came out in a rush.

“N-nothing,” Kacey stuttered. “I’m sorry, Jake. I had way too much wine. I didn’t mean to kiss you.” She turned her head and closed her eyes.