“I’m assuming you’re at some casino, is that right?” Trevor continued like it was a foregone conclusion. “The next woman who rolls her eyes at you is the one you have to get to love you, completely. Have security send me a video so I can confirm visually.”
Brody laughed. “Okay, that never happens.” Girls bent over backwards to make him happy because of his money. He’d never find someone like that.
“You’ll find one. Hey, I gotta go. Looks like Mom wants us to take Jesse shopping in Milan. Wish me luck. We also have the board meeting in California and then some traveling to some of the project sites Stryder wants to add. I’m not sure when we’ll be back. Mother, too. Keep an eye on the place when you get here.” Trevor disconnected, leaving Brody to stare bemusedly at his feet.
Okay. A bet. He could do a bet.
First girl that rolled her eyes at him. He tucked his phone in his pocket and returned to the table. Sliding the chair out, he grinned at the dealer. “Okay, let’s see how much of my money you’ll get this time.”
His lucky woman folded her arms, four of the blue fifty-dollar chips in her hand. She had her jaw set to the side and her eyes narrowed like she expected him to try to take the money back.
He held up the dice, challenging her to walk away with his gaze. The money was nothing to him, but maybe it was something to her. He had no idea.
Her finely sculpted profile leaned forward and she blew on the dice. Something tugged in Brody’s chest. “Thanks.” He threw the dice and blinked in frustration when the dice rolled wrong.
“Dang. That’s a lot of cash to lose.” The woman smiled sympathetically at him. “Sorry, I’m not lucky anymore. Better luck next time.” But her smile drooped at the edges. She must have needed the money more than he’d thought.
“Don’t leave. I need another one. Just one loss isn’t enough to count as lost luck, you know?” Brody reached out and grabbed her arm.
She rolled her eyes at him! “I don’t believe in luck.” She held up the chips and smiled. “But thank you. I really needed this.”
Brody could have been pounded in the chest, his surprise was so complete. How lucky was that? She was exactly what he needed. Everything that had happened since she’d walked into his life had funneled down to that moment. Trevor had suggested the eye-rolling and that woman had done it! She was the one!
Before over-thinking the situation or the amount of alcohol he’d consumed, Brody blurted out, “I need you.”
The woman laughed out loud, shaking her head. “No, you don’t. You’re doing fine.”
She’d rolled her eyes at him and he couldn’t help but want to jump for joy. She was attractive and spunky. He needed that to keep from being bored over the next two months. He needed to make her fall in love with him. No big deal. She obviously needed the money, judging by her grip on the chips.
Brody had to keep his part of Hart Industries. He had to win the bet. Brody needed the woman to do that.
She rolled her eyes – again – and pulled from his grasp. “No, you’ve already won. You don’t need me.”
Brody jerked his head back and narrowed his eyes. She was seriously going to turn him down. She hadn’t even heard him out. He needed to appeal to her needs. “You’re right. I’m so lucky. I’ll probably keep winning. It had nothing to do with you. You should probably give me my money back.” He held out his hand as if seriously asking for the chips back.
Worry darkened her eyes. “What? It’s not you. I brought you luck. I’m lucky.” She poked her chest with a long elegant finger.
Brody shook his head, rubbing his hands together to warm them. They’d started turning on the air-conditioner earlier than usual. “You don’t even believe in luck. You can’t be lucky.”
“I am. I’m lucky.” She folded her arms as if to further protect her chips.
“How lucky are you?” Brody glanced at the dealer who was changing out with another dealer. He tossed a five-hundred chip at the previous dealer and looked back at the woman. “No, seriously. Just how lucky are you?”
Chapter 3
Kate
Honestly, Kate didn’t believe in luck, but she needed the two-hundred dollars she’d earned so far. She curled her fingers around the stack of chips in her hand. “What do you mean, am I lucky?” He wasn’t getting her money. No matter what. She’d earned it. He’d made her blow on those stupid dice. She’d embarrassed herself, debased herself for those chips. He’d have to pry them from her cold fingers.
“I mean, are you lucky enough to make a wager?” His blue eyes sparkled like he enjoyed the concept of betting more than he liked the outcome, like just the word did things to his insides.
He must want the money back. Why else would he want to wager? Kate blinked rapidly and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m really confused. You’re not getting this money back.” She stepped back like she expected him to reach out and wrestle the chips away from her. “I’m not going to risk losing them in a wager.”
He chuckled and leaned his elbow on the table. “No. I don’t want the chips back. I was just teasing you. No, my bet is a little… more sophisticated than some chips. I’ll bet you that you can’t live on my ranch for the next two months – with me – and not fall in love with me.” He winked, reaching for his newly arrived drink. “And to sweeten the pot, you get to choose how much you would win, if you don’t fall in love with me.”
The grin on his face suggested he had no doubt he’d win. Kate’s pride reared its head and she jerked back. “You’re pretty confident in yourself, huh? If I win, I get whatever dollar amount I name?” She didn’t understand why anyone would play the game that way, but she also didn’t understand the draw of gambling at all. “Like five-hundred dollars?” She wasn’t sure what the parameters were for the bet at all. She honestly didn’t understand what he was saying. He wanted to pay her to live with him for two months so he could prove he could make her fall in love with him?
He must be bored. She studied him in silence, taking in his broad shoulders and stubble shadowing a strong jaw and square chin. Thankfully, he was a tuxedo-wearing type of man – not her type at all. It didn’t matter how much money the bet was for, she wouldn’t lose. True, he was good looking but he had more pretention than anything else.
“Well, I was thinking more than five-hundred dollars. You can go higher.” He folded his arms and glanced at the dealer who waited for him. The betting man held up his hand and softly shook his head. “In a minute.” He looked back at Kate and waited.
“Five-thousand?” A fine layer of perspiration broke out on her forehead. She didn’t have five-thousand to gamble away. Just the thought of trying to get into a situation where she might lose any money was enough to make her want to throw up.
“Okay, I can see us sitting here all day. Let’s make it five-hundred-thousand and keep it interesting.” He sipped his drink, oozing charm and expectation.
His assuredness raised her hackles and Kate swallowed. The number was more than she’d ever see in her life. How could he think she’d have that much to gamble when she clung to the chips with an almost starved desperation? She lowered her tone, embarrassed to have to declare the obvious. “I don’t have that much to lose. I barely have this.” She held up her clenched fingers, unwilling to chance losing the chips from her grip.
Alarmed, the man replaced his drink on the counter and held out his hands. “No, wow, no, sorry I wasn’t more clear. If you lose, well, you’ll be in love with me and we won’t be together. I think that’s more than enough to lose.” He shook his head, his lips downturned. “Don’t get me wrong. I’ve heard heart break is unimaginable, and I honestly don’t wish it on anyone, but I think that’s enough to sacrifice.” He winced.
His over-confidence was alarming but also comforting. He was so sure she would fall for him that he really wasn’t asking her to risk anything but her heart. She’d been desperate for relief from poverty for so long, she didn’t have any doubt her motivations would protect her he
art.
Kate set her hand on her hip. “Let me get this straight – if I move to your place for two months and I don’t fall for you, I get five-hundred-thousand? If I do fall in love with you, I’m out a broken heart and that’s it? What do you get out of me falling in love with you?” Her incredulity raised her voice and she glanced around, quieting immediately.
All of that was too easy. What was he hiding? He had to get something out of the bet, but she couldn’t read him. She didn’t know him at all – reading him was impossible.
She studied him again. No, he wasn’t her type. She liked dirty jeans, cowboy hat, and the smell of masculine sweat – not dirty sweat. He reeked of alcohol, expensive cologne, wore a tuxedo, and had slickly styled hair. True, he was good looking as sin, but her mama had taught her to stay away from sinful men. She twisted her lips to the side. “It just doesn’t seem fair.”
The man laughed. “Trust me, sweetheart. It’s not.” He held out an empty hand with well-maintained nails. “I’m Brody Hart.”
Kate took his hand in hers and nodded. “I’m Kate Mattese. If it’s not fair, then why do you want to do it?” She cocked her head to the side.
“Well, Kate, if you don’t mind me being so bold, women fall for me or my money in a lot less time than two months. I feel bad saying it’s a guaranteed win, but the odds don’t look good on your side.” He winked.
A little spark inside her suggested she might be interested in the prospect, if for no other reason than to help him eat crow. Everyone needed a little help now and again.
Chapter 4
Brody
If Brody wasn’t so sure of the outcome of the bet, he’d be worried he was too cocky about all of it. He’d learned with poker to rein in his exuberance for a hand when he wasn’t sure of the other hands. Thank goodness this wasn’t poker.
Kate didn’t have a lot of money, as evidenced by the death grip she had on the measly couple hundred she had in her hand.
A woman who didn’t have money would fall for him. Women with as much money as he had succumbed to his charm. He wouldn’t lose. He couldn’t lose with Kate which meant Trevor would lose to him.
Was it possible to be more excited than he’d ever been? For Trevor to have to give up control over a project meant Brody would have a chance to fully prove himself. Maybe once he did that, his mother would release his share of Hart Industries and Brody could develop some of the higher risk partnerships he knew could make some real differences in smaller communities. That’s all that mattered. Having the freedom to do the good he wanted to do, instead of chasing after the things Trevor wanted.
Trevor and Stryder weren’t the only ones who wanted to change the world for the better.
Kate studied him and then slowly inclined her head. “If you turn out to be a killer, I still get the money.” She arched a challenging eyebrow. “And if you fall for me, I still get the money.”
Laughter burst from Brody. “Well, Kate, you’re going to prove to keep me entertained for the next two months, if nothing else.” He winked and stood from the table. Turning back to the dealer, he pointed at his chips. “Can you get those stacked and to the window?” He turned back to Kate, enjoying the slope of her pert nose and her high cheekbones. He’d picked a winner and he couldn’t wait to woo her. It would be sad when he had to let her go. He didn’t relish the breakup part of the deal, but after Trevor’s wedding, there wasn’t much use for her.
Brody didn’t need love to be happy.
He pulled out his phone again and motioned toward a foyer off the edge of the gambling floor. “Let’s duck in here so I can call my bookie. You’ll want to have the bet secured and link it to your bank account.” He dialed the number while they walked and when they ducked into the small room, the ringing on the other end of the line was picked up. “Teton, how’s it going?” Brody smiled. He was one of the rare gamblers who actually liked his bookie, probably because he paid his losses and donated much of his winnings.
“Brody, my man. How’s it going? I haven’t heard from you in a week. Is everything on the up and up?” The low, rumbling voice sounded like Teton was smiling. The large, dark-skinned man preferred to always be in a good mood. He and Brody worked well together.
“I’m fine. Just up in Montana for a bit. I have a bet I’d like to secure. The woman I put on will give you her information. Duration for the bet is two months. Can you mark the date for me and email me the details and the signature lines?” He went through the rest of the details with Teton and then handed the phone to a startled looking Kate.
While the woman who didn’t know she was standing in front of her next heart break spoke to Brody’s bookie, he considered the things he’d done to get to where he was.
Teton worked mostly for Brody. Sure, he had gamblers on the side that Teton did for favors or to stay in the business end of things, but for the most part, the virgorish – or fees – that Teton collected from Brody to handle the bets – was enough to fund a small country.
As Kate gave her answers, Brody couldn’t help but notice the curve of her lips or the tinge of oak coloring on her skin – like she’d been in the sun but not too much.
After Kate handed Brody back the phone and he concluded the call, Brody tucked the cell into his tuxedo jacket pocket. He grinned and stared at Kate. He was tired, and the last few cups of coffee were wearing off, but he was euphoric at the same time. He was going to get what he wanted and then everything would be perfect in his life.
“Now what? I’m not going to fall in love with you while you stare at me creepily.” Kate scrunched her nose and stared back at him.
Brody blinked, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry. I haven’t slept since yesterday. We’re starting tomorrow. Do you need me to send a driver or something for you?” He’d be better on his game tomorrow. Get some rest and some things set up and he’d be fast on his way to capturing her heart.
“No. I’ll make my way to your place, is noon okay?” Kate folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. She didn’t trust him over something and he would have to get past that before she’d fall for him. Easy. He was an easy-to-like man. She didn’t stand a chance.
“Sounds good. I’ll head home and get some rest and get things ready. Here’s my address.” He pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it across to her. Their fingers brushed and Brody jerked his gaze to her face. The awareness sparked in his skin and he furrowed his brow.
He had to woo her, make her fall for him. There wasn’t room in his life for romance or love. The fact that he was attracted to her was just a bonus.
Brody had no worries he would fall for Kate. He wasn’t the type. Poor girl didn’t know what she was up against.
Chapter 5
Kate
Kate hoisted her backpack higher on her shoulders. She reached up, wiping the back of her hand across her brow. Why couldn’t she be normal in any circumstance? Why couldn’t she have just a normal life? She’d love to be in the middle of a mundane day, in a standard home, with a day-to-day job, laughing with her co-workers and maybe even going out on a date or spending time with friends. She’d love the chance to have romance and marriage and children – the normal way!
Instead she was stuck with an old car that didn’t know what reliable meant and a man who wanted her to love him but only because he wanted to prove he could make her.
The day before her car had worked great, even got her home after only a few tries to start it in the parking lot. She’d traveled easily, the two-hundred dollars burning a hole in her pocket.
Okay, to be even more self-analyzing… she wasn’t meeting men the normal way or earning money with a paycheck. No, Kate had found a way to make money by challenging this over-confident Brody to two months of wooing on his ranch. What was wrong with her?
Maybe her car didn’t have problems, maybe it was her.
Focused on placing one foot carefully in front of the other, Kate yawned. She hadn’t slept well. Between the crunched conditions of the makeshift bed
on the transformable dining table and the wind that picked up around one in the morning, Kate hadn’t been able to escape her anxiety over the bet, the conditions of the wager, and leaving her mom.
To say she was anxious was an understatement. But she had nothing else she could fall back on. That two-hundred dollars was enough of a boon, she could grab onto this opportunity with both hands.
She’d cashed in the chips after finishing up with Brody the day before, her hands shaking as she’d held the cash. At home, she’d explained what was going on to her mom – except… she hadn’t been completely honest. In her haze of shock and preparing, she’d told her mom some story about going for a temporary job for the next two months. She’d made her way to the campground host’s site and paid for their spot for the next two months.
The haze was all-consuming. She couldn’t believe what was happening.
The afternoon lighting blinded her before the sun dipped behind the trees and mountains. Her bag was heavy as she panted for air. Hiking wasn’t a big deal but hiking as long as she had been was exhausting. Not the first time, she considered sitting down on the side of the highway and taking a nap in the weeds.
If Kate pulled it off and won the wager – which she had no doubt she would do – they wouldn’t be staying in the campground any longer. They wouldn’t need the trailer. Kate would be able to buy them a house with running water and a fireplace.
That’s what she wanted the most – hot running water and her own shower.
Kate glanced back over her shoulder. The road stretched behind her on a fairly straight course, but the ups and downs hid her car far off in the distance. She’d been walking about an hour at a steady pace, maybe longer. When the car had stopped running Kate wasn’t sure what to do. She’d sat there, staring at the dashboard, certain her opportunity was slipping through her fingers.
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