Page 9 of Betting On Her

“Hmm,” I answer noncommittally.

“Willing and waiting. Am I right?” He pokes me again, and I take the chance to pull away from under his arm.

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been.”

“Oh that’s right. You ran off with Flowy.” He waves dismissively with his fingers as he purposely says her name wrong. “Guess I don’t blame you there, I wouldn’t want to waste what little money her mother had on a wedding.”

“What?” The word comes out of me like a threat, and I have to breathe. He’s fucking wasted and talking shit.

“I mean, Dad’s loaded, but you’ll bet it’s locked up tight. That’s the only way to keep them these days.” He’s leaning closer to me like he’s telling me a secret, and I’m beginning to realize how repulsed I am by him. “Got Kelly to sign on the dotted line.” Somehow his laugh sounds as slurred as his words. “She had no idea. Don’t think she read it. Oh well.”

“Sounds like a great way to start a marriage,” I say without filtering myself and half hoping Paul is too drunk for my words to register. Too bad luck isn’t on my side.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” His glassy red eyes narrow, and he curls his lip.

“Nothing.” I take a drink of my beer and try to keep my mouth shut. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.

“You think you’re hot shit, don’t you? So fucking smug.” He raises his own glass to take a drink but then realizes it’s empty. He slams the glass down on the bar beside us and calls for another.

It’s really a shame the service is so good because he’s brought a refill at an alarming speed.

“No, I don’t think I’m hot shit because I’m honest with my wife.”

“Wife?” He huffs a laugh before downing half the whiskey. “One word from me and she’ll be finished with you.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Excited sounds come from beside us, and I turn to see Chloe walking in the doors of the restaurant. She looks gorgeous in a figure-hugging black dress as she comes in and says hello to the employees she knows. A few of them she greets with hugs and then she sees me at the bar. When our eyes lock, all of the anger and frustration that was building up melts away. There she is, my girl. Always and forever my calm in the storm.

“Perfect timing. About time she knew the truth,” I hear Paul say before he walks past me and straight to Chloe.

Chapter Five

CHLOE

I hadn’t planned to come tonight, but I missed Sawyer so damn much. It was hard to mask the hurt that hit me when he told me he wouldn’t be making it home for dinner. I had a whole night planned out for us and was working on it all day.

He’s been busy these past few weeks so I wanted to do something special. My husband has always been more than perfect and he’s given me a fairytale the last three and a half years. I’m not going to guilt him over working so hard.

I thought it wouldn’t hurt to stop by since I know a lot of the employees. That feeling is confirmed when I spot Sawyer across the room. Excitement bubbles in my chest when he realizes it’s me and his eyes light up. He’s never been one to hide his affection, and it’s never mattered who was around.

When I put on this little black dress, I was hoping it might get me into a bit of trouble. My plan is to lure him away early. It covers more than the outfit I planned on wearing when he got home tonight, which was only an apron.

“Chloe, didn’t think I’d see you here tonight,” Luke says and then gives me a kiss on the cheek.

He’s my favorite of my husband's friends and one of the only ones he spends time with. None of the other men that he used to play poker with ever come around. That’s why I’m surprised to see them all here, but I guess it’s Paul’s bachelor party so it makes sense. Sawyer stopped going to poker night after we got married.

“I thought I’d swing by and say hi.”

“Sawyer will be happy. He’s in a shit mood.”

“Oh, what’s?—”

“Hey sis.” Paul throws his arm around Luke's shoulder, who immediately shrugs it off. Then Paul sways on his feet.

“Hi, Paul. How is the party?” I keep the smile pasted on my face to be polite, but he’s the reason Sawyer had to take over for the company.

“About to get a whole lot better.”

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