Page 5 of The Bet

Chapter Four

Rich

Fuck. Chloe cussed. I should have never agreed to be the one to tell her. No. It had to be me. There’s no way I’ll ever let Jim get close to Chloe again. He’s lucky I didn’t knock the shit out of him. There will be no second chances.

“I can’t believe you scared the shit out of me – over that.” Her face is flushed as she slaps a hand over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe I said that.”

“You’re not upset?”What in the hell? If she doesn’t care what Jim is doing, why is she dating him?

“I thought you were trying to tell me something happened to Jenna.”

“I don’t understand?”

“You’re a fireman. Firemen and police officers don’t show up after midnight with good news. You said you had something to tell me, so I assumed it was about Jenna since my parents should be sound asleep by now.”

“Shit, Chloe. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out. I was pissed as fuck at Jim, and I didn’t want him near you.”

Her shoulders sag. “I’m glad no one is hurt. And, no, I’m not angry about Jim. I’d planned to break up with him later today.”

“Oh.” I press my lips together. “I thought you’d be upset.”

“We never hit it off. I have no idea why Jim wanted to date me in the first place. We have nothing in common.”

“I…” I bite my tongue, and the metal taste of blood fills my mouth.Don’t say anything. She doesn’t need to know about the bet. It’ll only hurt her feelings.“Never mind. I was afraid I’d get here and you’d start crying on me.”

Not that I want the tears but having her wrapped in my arms and protecting her from jackasses sounds like a perfect way to spend a Friday night. Or Saturday morning since it’s nearing one o’clock.

“Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it. Now, I don’t have to see Jim.” She wrinkles her nose. “Who is she?”

“Who’s who?”

“The lovely lady polishing Jim’s knob.”

I choke as blood rushes to my neck and face. Who’s taken over Chloe’s mouth? “I didn’t know her. Some woman he struck up a conversation with while waiting for the bathroom.”

“Was she blonde and stacked?”

“Umm…”

“Seriously, you can answer the question. I’m not going to go ballistic on you.”

“She was blonde.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”

“Of course, she had blonde hair. What about her tits?”

Sweat breaks out on my back.What the fuck? I can’t talk about another woman’s chest with Chloe.I shrug. “I didn’t look.” And, the truth is, I didn’t. Not to that extent.

Since the first day I came into Chloe’s bakery and saw her behind a counter of baked goods, I haven’t noticed another woman. I had an instant raging boner and an intense desire to see her wearing aLittle Red Riding Hood costume as she begged me to eat her basket of goodies.

The costume makes no fucking sense, but it’s front and center for all my fantasies. Apparently, the scent of vanilla and frosting has short-circuited my brain.

“You didn’t look at her chest? Seriously?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“How much did she weigh?”

“I guess she was thin.”

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