Page 10 of Tactically Tied

Just thinking about her made his gut twist. The way she had looked at him this morning, how he’d felt every bit of history between them come rushing back, only to have her say she was getting back together with Ryan. Ryan, of all people. The same guy who had spent more time making bets than making good decisions.

It was maddening.

Movement down the alley caught his eye. Ryan stood in the shadows near the far end, talking to someone Jed instantly recognized. Jimmy Connors, the local pawn broker. Shady character, always involved in people’s bad choices.

Jed paused, curiosity prickling the back of his neck. He wasn’t one to eavesdrop—well, not usually—but the tension in their postures drew him in. The way Ryan stood, shoulders hunched, voice low, gave off a vibe that something was seriously wrong.

Jed edged closer, keeping to the shadows as he caught snippets of their conversation.

“I told you, Jimmy,” Ryan was saying, his voice low and defensive. “I’m gonna have all the money in just a couple of days.”

Ryan and money issues? Sounded like the same old, same old. Nothing new there.

Jimmy’s voice, however, was anything but patient. “You’ve been saying that for weeks, Ryan. You’ve had more than enough time. I want my money, and I want it now.”

Ryan shifted, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m about to get married. My new wife—she’s about to come into her inheritance. I’ll be flush with cash. You’ll get every penny I owe you.”

Jed’s heart slammed against his ribs. New wife. Inheritance. The pieces began to fall into place. In his mind's eye, Jed watched as Ryan's jagged edges closed in around Jami.

Jimmy let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer to Ryan, his face inches away. “I want my money now, and if you don’t have it, you’re gonna have a problem manning up for your wedding night.”

“I’m serious, Jimmy. I just need a few more days. Once we’re married, everything will be squared away.”

Jimmy grabbed Ryan by the collar, yanking him closer. “You’ve had enough time. No more excuses, Ryan. You either pay up, or I’m coming for you. And trust me, it won’t be pretty.”

Jed should’ve turned his back. Walked away. This wasn’t his problem. Ryan had made his bed, and he deserved to lie in it. But the thought of Jami—his Jami—being dragged into this mess because of another bad bet Ryan had made? No. He couldn’t let that happen.

Without thinking, Jed stepped out of the shadows. “How much does he owe?”

Jimmy and Ryan both whipped around, startled by the sudden interruption. Jimmy’s hand loosened on Ryan’s collar, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Jed. “Winchester. This ain’t your business.”

“It is now,” Jed replied, stepping closer, his gaze locked on Jimmy. “How much?”

Ryan opened his mouth to protest. Jed cut him off with a glare. He was done playing nice. He was done standing on the sidelines, watching Jami get tangled up in a mess she didn’t deserve. The only woman he’d ever thought about marrying wasn’t going to be used as someone’s meal ticket.

Jimmy’s eyes flickered with amusement, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Well, well. Seems like you’ve got a knight in shining armor here, Ryan.” He glanced at Jed, sizing him up before finally spitting out the number. “Five grand. That’s what your buddy here owes me.”

Five grand. It wasn’t chump change. It also wasn’t a fortune, not for the Culinary Casanova. Jed knew exactly what he had to do.

He turned to Ryan, his jaw tight, anger simmering beneath the surface. “You’re not marrying Jami for her inheritance.”

Ryan’s face paled, his hands trembling slightly. “Jed, look?—”

“No,” Jed growled, cutting him off. “You’ve already screwed up enough of your life. I’m not letting you ruin hers, too.”

CHAPTERSIX

Jami tiptoed down the hallway. The soft click of her heels was muted by the worn wooden floors of her childhood home. Her white sundress swished against her legs as she moved. The house was quiet, blissfully still, and she was counting on that.

Both her sisters were notorious early risers. Jacqui had begun heading to the restaurant at the crack of dawn as a teenager. Jules had always been up before the sun at the stove, filling the house with the scent of warm, sweet pastries.

Now they were both married. Jami supposed she would have to silently thank her new brothers-in-law for keeping her sisters occupied into the wee hours of the night. It allowed her to slip out unnoticed, head to the courthouse, get this marriage of convenience done, and be back before anyone could ask too many questions. Her motto had always been better to ask for forgiveness than permission, especially when it came to family.

She reached the front door, hand on the knob, when a voice behind her made her freeze in place.

“Jami?”

She whipped around, her heart racing. There stood Noah, Jacqui’s husband, looking at her with a confused expression as he stepped out of the kitchen. Pajama bottoms hung low on his hips, and a mug of coffee was in his hand.

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