The Bet (13 page)

Travis sighed. “It’s like watching little Jakey grow up all over again.” He put a hand over his heart and sighed longingly.

Kacey covered her mouth in laughter. “Poor guy.”

“Don’t feel sorry for the child prodigy. He brings everything on himself and then some.”

“You guys still talk?”

Travis looked away. “Me and Jake? That would be a resounding
no
. This weekend is the first time we’ve spent more than a day together in years.”

“Why?”

Because of you.

Because I love you.

Because he’s an ass.

“Let’s just say we had a falling out. I didn’t exactly agree with the path he took in his life, and he thought I was too uptight. End of story.” Travis held out his hand. Kacey took it.

He led her to the next exhibit.

“Do you miss him?” Kacey asked.

“I miss who he was. I miss who he could be.” He laughed bitterly. “Is that terrible? To wish someone was different just because you don’t agree with the person they are?”

Tears welled in Kacey’s eyes. “No, I don’t think that’s terrible. If it makes you feel better, I miss him too.”

“You live in Seattle.”

“I miss who he was. Besides, the first time I talked to Jake in two years was last week.”

Travis wasn’t sure if he was relieved or upset that his brother had been proven a liar yet again. So he hadn’t kept tabs on Kacey like he’d told everyone? Interesting. Though his heart still had trouble with the thought that she had any sort of tender feelings towards Jake, regardless of if it was for her old version of him or the new one. “Well, you guys were best friends. So I understand.”

“He never held my hand. ”Kacey laughed. “Isn’t that ridiculous? We never held hands.”

“What?” Travis’s head snapped up. “But you guys dated, and you were together all the time. I mean…” He nudged her a bit. “…You held hands at sixth grade skate night. That has to count.”

Kacey laughed and shook her head. “Yes, let’s bring up skate night, because that’s not totally forced! I swear they encourage it! Playing Savage Garden while telling the girls to pick a cute boy. That’s probably how Jake’s gold diggers first learned how to hit on men.”

“Skate night,” they said in unison.

“Doesn’t count though,” Kacey interjected. “Like I said, it was forced. I mean he kissed me when we dated…”

Travis hoped his cringe wasn’t too obvious.

“I remember the one time I reached for his hand in high school when we were dating. He pulled it away and shook his head. Later he told me he didn’t want to appear like we were too exclusive.”

“What an ass.”

“Yes, I think that was the beginning of the end.” Kacey sighed. “Look! The bear’s out!”

“Crap, are you serious?” Travis grabbed her and pushed her into the brick wall lining the far side of the exhibit. Adrenaline coursed through him.

“Um…” Kacey shook his flexed arms. “What are you doing?”

“You said…” Travis’s breathing was ragged from fear. “You said the bear was out.”

Kacey bit her lip then burst into laughter. Her head rested against his chest as her shoulders shook. “I meant that he wasn’t sleeping behind the little alcove. Maybe I should have yelled that he was visible? Then you wouldn’t have had a heart attack.” Kacey leaned in and gave him a mocking smile. “Well, at least I know you’re still afraid of bears.”

He hated damn bears. Even the gummy ones. “I was just trying to protect you.”

“And yourself.” Kacey nudged him then grabbed his hand. “Admit it, your heart was beating like crazy. You were sweating.”

“I hate bears.” Travis felt like he was ten all over again. Kacey had asked him why he was crying, and he’d told her it was because Care Bears were on TV again.

That Christmas she’d bought him a Care Bear.

He’d cried.

Again.

He blamed his parents for taking him camping too often as a child. When he was three, a bear wandered into their campground and he never got over it. His mom said he’d cried for the entire day when he found out the bear ate his graham crackers.

“Look.” Kacey pointed at the large menacing bear. “He’s just playing.”

What she probably saw was the bear happily playing with a piece of wood. What Travis saw was a bear ripping things apart with its ten-inch claws.

“Do you still have Mr. Happy?”

“I hate you just a little bit right now. How did this go from me cheering you up to discussing my phobias?”

“Do you?” she teased.

“No, Mr. Happy, my Care Bear, suffered a very tragic accident the same year you got him for me. Something about the bonfire and no firewood.”

“See if I ever get you a present again.”

He’d probably accept a damn bear from her at this point if she just kept holding his hand.

Travis looked at his watch. “Well, as much as I loved our quick one-hour trip, we’ve got to head back. Grandma really did say something about wedding plans, but I’m pretty sure that was code for
Go rescue Kacey so I don’t have to drive without a license.
”

“Really?” Kacey squinted her eyes in disbelief.

“Yes, she does believe you’re getting married, and my parents are literally planning the ceremony as we speak. You better hope Grandma reigns them in. Otherwise you’re getting married Sunday.”

“Very funny.” Kacey shivered. She knew Grandma was just pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, but it was still irritating that his parents didn’t know. “And we are not getting married. It was an arrangement, though…” she trailed off.

“What?” His heart dropped to his stomach. “Though what?”

Was she having second thoughts? Did she really want to marry him?

“Though, it seems weird that all of a sudden Grandma’s doing great, don’t you think?” She hoped the hint would be enough.

“I guess.” Travis scratched his head. “I haven’t really been by the house much. It was weird, because one day she seemed totally fine, and the next it was as if she was taking her last breath or something. She was putting in all sorts of weird orders. Arranging her funeral, figuring out where the shares in the company went, wanting to marry all of us off.”

He stopped and looked up. “You don’t think Grandma’s faking her illness, do you?”

“Now, why would she have any reason to do that? Maybe she’s just trying to act healthy since I’m around?” Kacey broke eye contact and began playing with her purse.

“Right.” Travis waited for her to say something else, but she quickly changed the subject.

“So, wedding plans. I hope this means I get to look at more scrapbooks.” She nudged him.

“Yes, remind me to burn those later. I want no paper trail leading to my role as a dog.”

“You were a cute dog.”

“I had no tail.”

Kacey closed her eyes and laughed. “But you did have a really cute patch right here.” She touched his stomach, her hand lingered, then pressed against his abs. His breath hitched, and he looked at her lips. The pull was incredible.

Kacey’s tongue peeked out to wet her lips as she stretched on her toes and whispered in his ear, her lips nipping at the edges. “For the record, I like the dog better than the ass.”

“Was that a compliment, Kacey Jacobs?”

“Why, yes, yes, it was, Travis Titus.”

They laughed and fell into easy conversation the entire way to the truck. If only that moment could last forever.

Chapter
Nineteen

Kacey was sweating.

Stupid Travis and his stupid ideas about cheering her up, and his damn smile with his ridiculous dimples. She sighed. His tight ass and ridiculous jokes about Jake didn’t help matters.

So many words screamed through her head, most of them curse words. They brought out the worst in her, those boys.

Whatever was going on between her and Travis, she had to fight it. First of all, his parents still blissfully thought that she and Jake were engaged.

Grandma had other plans, though Kacey was still waiting to hear why Grandma was trying to pull one over on the family.

And Travis, well, Travis thought it was all a hoax and was still worried that his Grandma would keel over at any minute.

As if she didn’t have enough stress in her life, when they arrived home Jake pulled up and hopped out of his car, looking far too pleased to be coming away from such a boring brunch.

“Hey, baby.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her across the mouth.

Immediately she slapped him. “You kiss your whores with that mouth!”

Seriously, she hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

Travis gave a low whistle behind her.

“What the hell, Kacey? Is that the kind of greeting you want to give your
fiancé
?” He gave her an innocent smile.

“You bastard!” She raised her hand again, but Travis pulled her away before she could do any damage to his face.

“What the hell kind of lines has he been feeding you?” Jake lunged towards Travis, but Kacey stood between them.

“Nothing, he said nothing. You, however, have said everything that needs to be said without opening your sorry mouth.”

“I’m confused.” Jake held up his hands in defeat.

“You reek of skank. Geez, you promised, Jake. You said this was for Grandma, that you could do anything for a weekend. Really? What are your parents going to say when you march into that house smelling like cheap Dolce and Gabana knockoff? Hmm?”

“It
was
D&G. I would know,” he corrected, pulling off his jacket and swinging it over his shoulder. Kacey lunged again.

Travis grabbed her. She turned around and gave him a glare that said
Just let me
kill
him!

Jake stopped in his tracks. “I don’t see what the big deal is anyway. I have my fun, you two have your fun. Everyone wins. My parents think we’re getting married, Grandma finally has you home, though it’s ridiculous that you’d be that important. I mean it’s been years and now she wants to see you? Look, all that matters is that by all appearances, I’m grown up, you’re reunited, and we’ll be engaged in marital bliss soon.” He shrugged and walked off.

“Selfish bastard,” Travis mumbled under his breath.

“I want to scratch his eyes out.” Kacey felt herself flush with anger.

“Yeah, you and every girl he’s ever slept with.”

Kacey felt herself tense and then blush, the heat spreading across her face and down her neck until finally she couldn’t take it anymore. Her lip trembled just slightly, and she began walking purposefully toward the house, but Travis pulled her arm back and pushed her through the doorway nearest the garage.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine.” Kacey’s legs suddenly felt weak.

“You’re not fine, Kace. You’re shaking. What aren’t you telling me?”

Oh, just about everything
, she wanted to say.

Defeated, she just hung her head and remained silent.

Travis cursed. “Fine, don’t tell me, but I’m here, if you ever want to talk.” He began walking away then turned around. “Listen, Kace, I don’t know what happened between you two. I know it’s none of my business, but it had to have been bad for you guys to have such a falling out. Promise me you’ll talk to someone, even if it’s not me.”

She would do no such thing, but she nodded her head anyway. Nobody knew. Well, except her one girlfriend, but her parents died thinking Kacey was eventually going to be marrying into the Titus family.

God, it felt like the ultimate letdown.

Her parents were so proud of her going to school, and they loved Jake like a son. They always joked about taking family vacations together and spending all the holidays baking cookies.

What do you do when the life you thought you were supposed to have is stolen from you? What do you do when it’s your fault and you can’t even tell anyone the reason why? What do you do when the one person that caused you the most pain in your entire life is suddenly offering you everything you’ve ever wanted on a silver platter? She was facing the ultimate in golden handcuffs, because she knew Jake possibly better than anyone. It wouldn’t take much to convince him to truly marry her. His parents would see to that, especially if he broke things off.

What was she doing? Did she really want to be with a guy who couldn’t keep it in his pants?

Her hands were still shaking from the encounter.

It was too real. Smelling a foreign perfume on him had successfully transferred her into the past. When she’d seen him the first time after their night together.

He’d been wearing a worn Abercrombie sweatshirt and tattered jeans. He’d looked gorgeous.

When their eyes had met, he’d smiled and walked up to her. Within minutes they’d hugged, but he hadn’t smelled like Jake.

He’d smelled like another girl, and then someone had appeared at his side and asked if he was ready to go. Another girl, a beautiful girl. She’d squeezed his butt and they’d walked off.

So started the first day of the rest of her life.

Lost in thought, she walked into the house where the family was, no doubt, planning her future marital bliss and nearly tripped over Jake, who was lying on the floor yelling.

“What happened?”

Jake was cursing up a storm, his mother was fighting a losing battle with the wine cork — no doubt trying to drown her sorrows, and his dad was trying to put ice on Jake’s eye.

Grandma Nadine was smirking, and Travis was clenching his fist.

All in all, a normal scene for the Titus house.

“He ran into the wall,” Travis said simply.

“A wall did that?” Kacey pointed at Jake’s eye. It was puffy and already starting to change colors.

“It was a big wall.” Jake moaned from the floor. “Damn wall. I hate walls.”

Travis smirked, and Grandma Nadine began to choke and fan her face.

“Okay.” Kacey wasn’t really sure what to do next, so she crouched down at eye level with Jake. Taking the ice from his father, she slapped it onto his eye as hard as possible.

Bets gasped while Grandma Nadine burst into laughter.

“Sorry,” Kacey said sweetly. “It slipped.”

Jake glared, but said nothing.

“Can we have a minute alone?” she asked.