The Bet (The Bet 1)

“I don’t live in the city.” He smoldered. Wait, did guys smolder? She looked again. Apparently they did.

“Where do you live?”

“On my ranch.” Merciful Lord above. That explained the biceps and tight jeans and truck and… where was the Benadryl when she needed it?

“So you’re a ranch hand?”

Travis chuckled. “Sure, I’m a ranch hand. Now get in.” His touch was quick, too quick, as he eased her into the truck. “Don’t forget to buckle up, Princess. I drive like I ride.”

Disgusting.

Kacey forced her cheeks to stay pale instead of burnt crimson. She pulled out her cell phone as the truck door slammed. Soon Travis was in the driver’s seat and they were taking off.

Jake turned around. “So, I know we’ve gone over specifics on the plane, and I think the kissing really did help set the mood, don’t you?” He winked.

The truck swerved.

Jake swore. “Been driving long?”

“Sorry,” Travis muttered.

“So what I think we need to do is stay in the same room. You know, really sell the whole thing. Thoughts?”

Memories of their one night together came flooding back. Was he really trying to do what was best or was he seducing her? She had no idea. Besides, why was it so important for him to show his parents that he could be in a committed relationship? It’s not as if they lived under a rock. They read the newspapers. His mom would probably laugh in their faces the minute she saw the ring.

Travis cleared his throat. “Actually, Mom would never go for that. She’s real protective of Kacey. You know that, Jake. She’ll have to stay in my old room. I’ll stay in the new part of the house.”

“Oh.” Jake shrugged. “Okay. Now remember, Kacey, we’re in love, we’re getting married, and you have to make it believable. Think you can do that?”

Why was he talking to her like she was a five-year-old? “Yeah, I think I can handle acting like a normal human being in front of your family. They won’t suspect a thing.”

Jake turned around and gave her a brilliant smile as he reached for her hand. She felt his lingering kiss and suddenly was repulsed by his haughty attitude. She really did feel like a stripper, and a poorly-paid whore.

Chapter Eight

Travis couldn’t remember a time when he had been so frustrated. Nothing sounded better than pulling over the truck and giving his little brother a piece of his mind, or his fist.

What the hell had he been thinking? To kiss Kacey? After everything that rat bastard had put her through? What was more sickening was that Kacey seemed fine with the whole ordeal. It was as if she was selling her soul to the devil.

But in her defense she had always looked at Jake through rose-colored glasses; whereas Travis with his stutter was the evil big brother set out to ruin the world, one pony-tail tug at a time.

How was it that one look from the girl could put him back into high school when she chose his brother over him? Not that she knew of his ridiculous crush. And his stutter hadn’t helped matters. If anything, it made it worse. She took his silence as hatred, when instead he was afraid to open his mouth because his stutter worsened when he put pressure on himself to talk smoothly.

It had been much easier to chase the girl and taunt her than give her the pretty words Jake so often did.

But that didn’t mean his heart wasn’t involved.

Stifling a curse, he pulled into downtown. Luckily the office was only a few minutes from his parents’ house.

The tall high-rise sparkled through the dreary rain, the booming name of “Titus Enterprises” blaring above the cityscape. Fighting the urge to scowl at the obvious money the building represented, he shook his head slightly. He hadn’t wanted a part in the family business. Nope, that job had gone to his little brother, and he could keep it.

Travis had used the trust fund in his name to open his own ranch and breed horses. It also doubled as a bed and breakfast. A beautiful twenty acres overlooked the Columbia River. It was living, whereas being in the city was stifling. He pulled at his shirt.

Travis pulled the truck to a stop and Jake hopped out. “I’ll call for a car when I’m done. I shouldn’t be more than an hour. See ya, and Kacey, try not to kill Travis while I’m gone, okay?”

“Can’t make any promises!” Kacey waved him off and turned hate-filled eyes toward Travis. “So, you have any immediate plans to kill me and bury the body?”

“Under a tree, I think.” Travis put the truck into gear and moved into traffic. “Or maybe under the swing set. They’d never look for you there.”