The Wager (The Bet 2)

“Don’t think of it like that.” Kacey put her hand on Char’s arm. “Besides, he remembers you.”

“He does?” Char’s face lit up. Aw, hell. How could she be so blind to her own charm? The girl was gorgeous. Of course that tool would remember her; the ass had probably dated a hundred women in his lifetime and was finally ready to settle down with the one. Which was exactly what Char was. Bastard.

“We kind of told him you’d be there and, well, I don’t know, you should go for it!”

“I’m sorry,” Jake interrupted. “ ‘Go for it’?”

“Um, yeah?” Kacey pinched his arm. “She needs to get out there and start dating. At the rate she’s going she’s going to end up buying a hundred cats and living in a trailer in our backyard.”

“Not true.” Char blushed. “I’m just picky.”

“I blame junior high.” Kacey sighed. “I swear, ever since eighth grade camp you’ve sworn off most men who even look twice at you.”

Char blushed and looked down at her folded hands.

“Eighth grade?” Jake repeated. “Hey, I was at that camp with you guys.”

Char lifted her head and smiled. “Right. I forgot.”

Jake sure hadn’t. He’d made out with tons of girls that summer. It had been the best summer ever. He’d even had a small crush on Char before she started going all crazy on him: one day they were friends and the next, sworn enemies.

Until that fateful night he’d slept with her.

Then they’d been more than friends for a few hours.

Which begged the question, what were they now? It wasn’t like he wanted her dating anyone else. No, he’d kill any other guy that touched her.

Not that he wanted to be the guy that got to touch her.

Then again. His eyes scanned her face, lips, eyes. Shit, maybe he wanted to try to be that guy she giggled with Kacey about. You know, if girls still did that at twenty-three.

“Please?” Kacey begged. “For me? Just keep an open mind when you meet him, okay? And if anything happens—” she shrugged—“it happens.”

Jake came to Char’s rescue, at least in his mind, when he added his two cents. “Don’t pressure her, Kace. Being alone isn’t a terrible thing. I know lots of single girls who are perfectly happy with their careers and lives. Not everyone wants to get married and have kids.”

“Right.” Kacey pointed at Jake. “And if you want to end up like him, then by all means, Char, be my guest.”

“But…” Jake shook his head. “I’m just trying to say it’s her choice.”

“Just like your choice is to whore around.” Kacey slapped his back. “To each his own, right?”

Why was he suddenly embarrassed by his past? And why

the hell was he letting Kacey browbeat him?

Char was looking at him as if she expected him to say something or defend her, but he didn’t know what he was supposed to be saying or doing. The only thing he noticed was that her color was high. Was she embarrassed, too?

“Finally!” Grandma burst through the front door with tons of bags in her hands. “Do you even realize how hard it is to find a good firework in Seattle?”

“Um, should we be concerned?” Sure enough, Char pointed at a bag labeled “Fireworks”.

“Not unless she has matches.” Travis answered just as Grandma pulled out enough matches to burn down the whole of Alkai Beach.

“I told you it would be the best birthday!” Grandma smiled, dropped her bags, then walked over to Char. In an instant she was in Grandma’s arms. “You’re a special girl, and you deserve a special day with family.”

A tear ran down Char’s face when she pulled away from Grandma and said thank you.

The room fell silent again, and then Grandma began barking orders about a cake, fireworks, and margaritas.