Page 11 of The Bet

Chloe

The next evening, I pace across my bedroom floor.I’m going out on a date with Rich. I’m going out on a date with Rich. Oh. My. God.For the third time in the last five minutes, I wipe my hands on my dress and contemplate vomiting in the toilet.

He was my high school crush. Over the years, I’d moved on, but he’d still haunted my dreams and my relationships. Hell, I’m a twenty-three-year-old virgin because no one else interests me sexually.

Jim and Kameron.I grind my teeth together.Those jackasses. They think I’m frigid. They should have seen me with Rich in the kitchen.

It had taken me twice as long to do the Sunday cupcakes. I’d told the girls it was because they were filling orders while I was working, but that’s not the truth. It was the memory of his mouth on mine that had me spacing out for minutes at a time.

It had been heaven. And hell. I’ve had to con Rich into having sex with me. That’s not exactly how I’d fantasized “it” happening.

When his pickup pulls into the back alley, I shudder.Here we go. You can do this.I smooth my skirt and glance in the mirror.

Pale. Wide-eyed. And slightly nauseous.Yikes.I jog down the stairs.

When I reach the last step, he knocks on the door. I yank it open, causing his hand to rest in mid-air as he prepared to strike again. He’s wearing faded jeans, a skintight black t-shirt, and in his hand is a bouquet of pink roses. Tears spring to my eyes. No one has ever brought me flowers. “Thank you.”

“Hey, Sweetheart.” He steps inside and slams the door shut. His thumb collects a tear that slipped beyond my lashes. “Don’t cry. We don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, we do. But damn it, you’re perfect.”This is going to suck. I’m going to fall in love, and he’s going to walk away. I should have picked someone else.

“Chloe, you deserve to be swept off your feet. Let me do it.” Rich leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips.

My knees buckle at his touch. Even though our only connection is our lips, it feels like he’s invading my soul.

He leans back and studies me from head to toe. “You’re beautiful. Are you ready to go?”

“S-sure.” Am I ready to go? No, I’m not. I want to grab Rich’s phone and tell Kameron the bet’s off. I want Rich to make love to me because he wants me. Not for a five hundred dollar bet or as a favor for a friend. I want it to mean something to him because it’s going to mean the world to me.

No matter how many ways I look at it, I can’t figure out why he agreed to my crazy scheme. And it is a dumb idea. I was pissed, sleep-deprived, and made an irrational decision. But if I cancel the bet, there’ll be no reason for him to be with me.

He hands me the roses, grabs my other hand, and laces his fingers through mine. The contact goes straight up my arm anddown to my toes like an electric current. Fake or not, I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to spend time with him.

Could we turn this into something real? Something special? Would Jenna accept us as a couple if the truth comes out?

Don’t be stupid. He can have any woman in town. What would he want with a frumpy, curvy girl who likes pastries?

Over the years, I’ve ridden with Rich hundreds of times. Granted, most of the time, Jenna had been with us, but we’ve been alone before. However, this time is different. Sometime this week, we’re having sex.

Occupied with our own thoughts, we’re quiet as he navigates through the traffic. When we reach the restaurant, I inhale and steady my nerves. The fact that Kameron will be watching our every move is disgusting, especially considering he doesn’t think I know about the bet.

Rich pulls into a spot, slides the gearshift into park, and shuts off the engine. “Don’t worry about anything. We’re going inside to have a meal together. It isn’t a big deal.”

I grab Rich’s forearm. The coarse hairs on his skin tickle my fingertips. “I’m not worried, Rich. I trust you to take care of everything.”

“I had no idea you believed in me that much.”

“You’re a wonderful guy. You’ve always treated me kindly even though I was your kid sister’s best friend. You’re a great brother. You fight fires for a living. That makes you an all-around great guy.”

“Thank you.” He looks down at the floorboard.

“Let’s go put on a show.” I yank on the door handle.

“Wait. A gentleman gets the door.”

I wait for Rich to reach my side and let me out. When my feet hit the cement, I wobble and lurch forward –damn heels. I should have worn flats.“Oops.”

Rich clasps my upper arms to steady me. “Chloe?”

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