The Bet (The Bet #1)(64)

“No.” She turned and walked to the door. “You did.”

Travis didn’t know what to say. Instead he pushed passed his grandmother and ran down the stairs. It wasn’t until he was outside that he realized he didn’t have a shirt on. Cursing, he ran back into the house and grabbed a t-shirt from the laundry room.

His truck wouldn’t be fast enough. He would never catch her in that thing. It was huge and hard enough to weave in and out of traffic.

He ran into the garage, nearly out of breath. The black and white Ducati sat quite comfortably in the middle.

“That’ll do.” He grabbed the helmet and sped off in the direction of the airport.

The whole time he weaved in and out of traffic he prayed he wasn’t going to be too late. How could he be so stupid? He hadn’t been thinking.

He still smelled like Kacey.

Her perfume was intoxicating, and it seemed every time he angled his head, he could still smell her on his skin. Feel the touch of her lips against his.

“Damn.” He pulled into the Portland airport and rushed to short-term parking.

He almost forgot to take his helmet with him and tripped trying to get the bike to stand alone, but finally he was through the entrance and looking frantically for Kacey’s brown hair.

She had to be flying Alaskan Airlines, either that or Southwest. He ran to the ticket counter. “Have you seen a girl with brown hair, brown eyes, really cute…” Oh God, he was officially turning into the guy in the movies who breaks down at an international airport.

The lady shook her head. “I’m sorry, our last flight left an hour ago.”

“Right.”

He went to the Southwest counter. “Have you seen—”

“Sir, you need to get in line.”

“Listen, I’m not here to fly. I’m here to—”

“Sir! Get in line!”

Travis slammed his hand against the counter. Which, apparently, the lady didn’t like. Within minutes, security guards were escorting him back outside.

Fabulous.

“I’m looking for my—”

What was she? His friend? Never, she would never be just a friend. She was more than a girlfriend. She was his lover… his — well, he wanted her to be his wife.

He smiled, despite being escorted out of the airport. He grabbed the security guard closest to him and grinned. “I’m going to marry her!”

“Good for you, son.” The guy gave him a perplexed look. “Now, we need you to leave.”

Dejected, Travis went to the bike, then pulled out his cell and dialed Kacey’s number. It went straight to voicemail.

Which meant only one thing.

She was flying, in the air, back home, and he didn’t even get to say he loved her.





Chapter Thirty-one




Kacey laid her head back against the wall.

No flights out tonight meant she had to sleep in the airport. Sure, she could go to a hotel, but for some reason she wanted to feel sorry for herself. Well, there was that and the small opportunity she had to get an earlier flight than the one Jake was on.

That was just what she needed.

To sit next to Jake after sleeping with his brother.

Her life was like a dramatic TV show. She shook her head and shivered.

The airport was desolate. It was doing nothing for her horrible mood. Maybe she really should go somewhere else so she didn’t end up crying by herself in the corner. That would be the ultimate of lows.

Pulling out her cell phone she pressed Menu, but the screen was black. She shook it — not that shaking a phone really did anything.

Dead.

Just like her heart.

Figured.

She threw it back into her purse and sighed. Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a bit she could get some sleep.

But the minute they fluttered closed she heard a voice.

“Hey…”

Her eyes flickered open. “Jake?”

“I know, I know. I’m supposed to be at the condo or wherever, but I got bored, and Grandma left saying something about having dessert with the neighbor away from the watchful eyes of the family, leaving me even more bored. Then Mom and Dad were treating it like another honeymoon, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I decided nothing was worse than that, so I drove home.”

“Oh.” Kacey shifted in her seat and broke eye contact.

“But then,” Jake continued to talk. “Travis was gone and Grandma was muttering something about her damn grandson. I can’t help but think she was referring to me.”

Kacey snorted.

“What?” Jake nudged her. “No flippant remark? No agreeing? What’s wrong? You sick or something?”

She shook her head and then burst into tears.

“God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were sad. I’m such a selfish bastard sometimes. What’s wrong? Are you sick? Are you okay?” He pulled her into his arms and held her.

It felt foreign, not at all like Travis. It was comforting to an extent but only as a friend, not a soul mate.

She shuddered, trying to gain her breath. “Nothing. It’s fine, it’s…” She continued to sob even though she was willing herself to stop.

“Kace?” Jake whispered into her hair. “What’s wrong? What happened?”