Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2)

by Cheri Allan

  “Aunt Claire, I really have to get to the airport. My plane leaves in ninety minutes and the pre-flight—”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, this is Sugar Falls! How long will it take to put fourteen passengers through a metal detector and onto one little puddle-jumper? There! I’m sure that’s her by the gazebo.”

  The air held the warm promise of summer, and Liz’s heart squeezed tight in her chest. It was the time of year for lovers. For fresh beginnings.

  Maybe she’d find someone new. Out of the millions of men in the world, there ought to be one or two possibilities, right?

  Her heart squeezed again. She didn’t want just any man. She wanted one man. Carter.

  She squinted against the sun and told herself that’s why her eyes were moist.

  “Liz.”

  She froze. Oh God…

  Aargh! It wasn’t fair! Why couldn’t the Fates let her leave on her own terms? Quietly? Without conflict or confrontation? Slinking away with at least a tiny shred of her remaining dignity intact?

  Liz turned and strained to remain calm even as every nerve cell in her body leapt with awareness. “Carter!” she said with false brightness.

  He stood a few feet away, his dark hair ruffling lightly in the breeze. Liz wondered distractedly whether he had some official role in the dedication ceremony, because he was wearing a trim dark suit and burgundy tie that gave him the air of a high class spy. Lord, he cleaned up nicely.

  “I’m glad you came,” he said. His green eyes sparkled in the sun, drinking her in, or at least that’s what Liz told herself, because she didn’t want that glittering look to be anger.

  Guilt ate at her. She’d hurt this man so deeply. To hell with her dignity.

  “I’m sorry,” she blurted, struggling to remain composed, resentful of the crowd chattering happily around them. Her skin tingled under his gaze, and she fidgeted, fighting the urge to bolt. “I never meant to hurt you, Carter, to imply—”

  “I know.”

  “You were right. About so many things. But you were wrong about one thing. The real me was—is— the me I am when I’m with you. Every time. Always. And, that’s the me I want to be. That’s the me I plan to be from now on…”

  “Glad to hear that.”

  “I just… I needed to tell you that.” She waited and he was so quiet, the tears threatened again. She turned away. If she didn’t leave now she’d do something to embarrass them both, like blubber all over him and beg him for another chance. In front of the marching band. And the baton twirling squad. And that guy over there in the uniform that looked way official and was looking at her like he was afraid he’d have to offer her a tissue…

  “Liz—”

  “I have to go. I—”

  “Wait,” he said, his hand reaching out to touch her arm.

  She could not look at him! How could she face the man she’d ruined any chance of having a future with—the man she loved—because she’d been too scared to be herself?

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, intending to make a run for it, dignity be damned.

  “Sorry for what?” he asked, touching her chin lightly until she looked up at him. “Loving me too much or trusting yourself too little?”

  She hesitated, about to deny both, but then she saw what his easy manner couldn’t quite conceal—the rhythmic tick in his jaw, the taut way he held himself.

  For some reason, her answer mattered.

  She swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest. Someone bumped her from behind, but she hardly felt it. The crowd, the noise, the excitement buzzing around them was nothing to the roar of her own blood in her ears.

  The air felt light in her lungs as Liz gave the only answer she could—the truth. “Both,” she replied, then…

  Oh God! She’d just admitted she loved him! This was not part of the plan!

  He gave a terse nod and then his eyes crinkled. “Apology accepted.”

  What? He was smiling at her? Hadn’t she just thrown herself under the bus of emotional vulnerability? Her mouth gaped, she knew this, because she felt like a stunned guppy watching as Carter reached down and took both her hands in his like that day in Jenny Whitmeyer’s pantry. He smiled, a dazzling, smile that simultaneously confused her and warmed her to her toes, and then he leaned in and claimed her lips in a hard, bone-melting kiss, which, let’s be honest, she had no desire to cut short even though she knew this was, surely, goodbye. “Me, too,” he whispered as he pulled away again to look at her.

  “Me, too?” She stammered her words. Nothing made sense, and all she could do was drink him in and pray he got the urge to kiss her again so her brain would have time to catch up.

  “You were right, Liz. I needed to step up and trust myself. I’ve spent too long accepting other people’s opinion of me.” He glanced at the fountain. “Looks good, doesn’t it?”

  Liz nodded, confusion warring with something else inside her. It felt like… hope. “Really good.”

  “I’ve already gotten three more jobs out of it.”

  “That’s… that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”

  He brushed the hair from her temple where she knew she still sported a lingering bruise and leaned in to kiss her gently, his lips warm on her skin. “Thanks,” he said.

  Somewhere in the background the head of the Beautification League wrapped up her dedication speech and the fountain turned on, trumpeting into the air. The band began playing the familiar theme song of an underdog hero making a comeback, and Liz couldn’t help but grin foolishly up at him.

  She had no idea what it all meant, but he was smiling and kissing her and telling her she was right. Surely, as cosmic messages go, these were all very good signs.

  They stood like that, grinning at one another as the music played, the spring sunshine pouring over them. Oh, sure, there were a hundred details to sort through, rough patches to smooth over, misunderstandings to make right. But in this moment, nothing could steal the smile from her face. Nothing.

  But then Carter glanced away and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and then he slid a finger between his collar and tie... and tugged.

  Liz’s smile faltered.

  Oh, no. Was that a nervous tug on his tie? Crud! Maybe love was more than he was looking for! Why had she blurted it out like that, anyway? Here? Now? Was this a ‘take it to the next level’ misunderstanding all over again? Maybe she shouldn’t have been so honest. Maybe his feelings had changed and ‘love’ was too strong a word. Maybe ‘me, too’ meant something else…

  Her thoughts skidded to a halt as he slid his tie over his head—and onto hers.

  She ducked as the silk fabric slid onto her neck and blinked in confusion. “What—?”

  But Carter simply pressed a finger to her lips... and kicked off his shoes. She stared at his bare toes on the grass. Why had she not noticed he wasn’t wearing socks? And why wasn’t he wearing socks?

  Her eyes flew up again as he handed her his suit coat. She grasped it reflexively in time to watch his dress shirt slide off his shoulders.

  Her tongue felt thick in her mouth as his fingers worked his belt buckle. “Uh, Carter? What are you doing?” Her eyes darted to the people beginning to take notice around them.

  “You told me once I didn’t know what it was like to have the whole town see my underwear. Maybe I just want to even the score as best I can.” Then his pants slid to the ground and he stood before her, smiling wickedly, wearing nothing but a hideous pair of smiley-face swim trunks.

  Her face flamed. “You’re crazy,” she breathed, acutely conscious of the murmur of interest they were drawing.

  “Crazy in love with you,” he whispered back.

  Liz stared in stunned disbelief, the words ‘crazy in love with you’ tumbling deliciously over each other in her mind as Carter stepped out of his pants, walked over to the fountain... and stepped in.

  The harsh, mumbled curse of surprise that hissed through his teeth sent a rumble of laughter through the cro
wd. Then he shook his wet hair back and turned to face her, eyes bright. “Elizabeth Beacon!” he called boomingly, despite the fact that she stood no more than fifteen feet away. “I stand here, making a complete fool of myself, because I love you!”

  Excited chatter rippled through the crowd, and the band came to a clumsy, cacophonous halt. “I said, I love you!”

  Liz’s eyes skittered uneasily to either side of her as the crowd turned its full attention on them.

  “I... love you, too,” she murmured self-consciously as someone took Carter’s clothes from her arms.

  Carter grinned and stretched a wet hand toward her.

  “No. The water must be freezing! You can’t expect—”

  “Liz,” he said. “Come here. I can’t do this without you.”

  She stepped forward, unable to do otherwise, until her toes touched the low wall of the fountain. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself,” she warned him, knowing she was a part of the spectacle now, too, but beyond caring. Crazy in love with you, he’d said.

  “I haven’t even started,” he assured her. Then he bowed forward, cool water splashing her lightly as he tipped an imaginary top-hat. “So, will you join me?”

  Liz felt her knees go weak as awareness heated her cheeks. “You saw number ten.”

  His smile dazzled. “Sorry to take them out of order. We’ll get to the others later. For now... get in here.” He reached for her again, and she shook her head, her better sense trying to deny what her body and soul had already accepted. “I’m fully dressed!” she protested even as her feet kicked off her shoes of their own accord. And then she was stepping into the cold spray, his warm hand pulling her forward.

  She yelped as water sluiced down her back and over her hair. But when she glanced up again, it wasn’t the water that stopped the breath in her lungs. It was the look in Carter’s eyes.

  “You came,” he said.

  “Did I have a choice?”

  “Yes.” He smiled and cupped her face in his hands. His thumb brushed her cheek. “I love you. So much,” he whispered—only for her this time—then his lips dipped to hers.

  Her mouth curved under his, and despite the cool water soaking her to the skin, heat swirled through her. “I love you, too. But I th—”

  “Good,” he said, cutting her off with a kiss. “That’s all that matters.” And then he knelt before her, the water making his hair darken, his skin glisten, and her world tilt as the unreality of it all hit her in full force. Devilish green eyes found hers, and her heart stuttered even as his hands cupped and warmed hers.

  “Elizabeth Anne Beacon,” he asked softly, “would you do me the honor... of becoming my wife?” And then he arched one of those damned eyebrows and she was a goner.

  Liz swayed. No longer certain whether it was the water from the fountain, the brilliant spring sunshine or tears of joy blurring her vision, she nodded and gave the only answer she could. “Yes!”

  She laughed as a cheer rose from the crowd. Then Carter swung her into his arms and kissed her soundly as the band resumed their triumphant theme song.

  Water streamed from both of them, as they stepped from the fountain, but she couldn’t care less. He loved her! She kissed him again, then pulled back, brow lightly furrowed. “Um, haven’t you forgotten something?”

  “Forgotten something?”

  “Don’t I get an engagement ring?”

  “Ah, you want a ring, do you?” His lips brushed her ear. “It’s in my pocket.”

  Liz blushed, thinking of the swim trunks plastered to his lean hips. “You don’t have any pockets.”

  One green eye winked wickedly as Carter slid her down his body.

  She stood unsteadily.

  He laughed then, a robust sound, and stooped to retrieve his dress pants. “Crossing off numbers one through nine will be more fun than I thought.”

  Liz caught her lip between her teeth as he slid the ring on her finger. Small, twinkling diamonds flanked a clear, lavender amethyst.

  “It made me think of you in your purple dress. I know it’s not a huge rock, but I’m hoping to finally buy out my uncle, and—”

  “It’s perfect,” she interrupted with feeling. “You’re perfect.”

  “Far from it, but I’m glad you think so.”

  “Perfect for me, then,” she corrected. “I’m glad you’re taking this step. I know you’ll do great.”

  His grin tilted. “Not without a little help. But, maybe a certain business analyst would be interested in helping me get started?”

  Liz grinned. “I know she’s thinking of making some career changes, but I’ll talk to her. I hear she has a soft spot for sexy college drop-outs with potential. I’m sure you two can work something out.”

  “Potential, eh?”

  “Loads of it,” she grinned again, her knees growing weak under his hot, knowing gaze.

  “Are you two going to canoodle all day? You’ll miss your flight!”

  Liz blanched as Aunt Claire’s words broke into her thoughts. Her flight! Oh my God! She’d forgotten all about it!

  Carter turned to Liz. “Going somewhere?”

  “Okay, here’s the thing,” she hedged, palms beginning to sweat. “I was going to New York. To see Niagara Falls actually, but that was before—”

  “Okay, Carter, your bag is in the taxi with Liz’s, your dry clothes are on the seat, and I’ll take your suit to the cleaners tomorrow. Anything else before you leave?” Jim jiggled the baby in her carrier and looked at them expectantly.

  “Before you leave?” Liz asked in confusion.

  “I’m coming with you,” Carter replied as he grasped her elbow and propelled her toward the taxi. “And we’d better hurry or we’ll miss our flight.”

  “Our flight?”

  Carter turned and winked at the ladies standing by the taxi. He opened the door for Liz. “You didn’t think I’d let you cross off number five on your own, did you?”

  But she stopped, dripping, hands on hips, and contemplated the innocent expressions of four elderly ladies standing by the taxi. God love them.

  She stepped forward and kissed each woman soundly on the cheek. “You are so getting the kitschiest souvenirs I can find,” she warned them. Then she laughed, slid into the taxi and yanked Carter firmly behind her.

  “The airport, please,” she managed before Carter’s kiss prevented any further speech. She didn’t care that they were soaked to their underwear. Didn’t care about anything except the fact that she’d been given a second chance to start over and do things right this time.

  Start a new chapter on a clean page.

  Long, delicious minutes later, she pulled back with a sigh, her head falling against Carter’s shoulder.

  She was engaged! Not almost-engaged this time, but publicly, completely, publish-it-in-the-paper, shout-it-from-the-rooftops engaged! And, more importantly, to the right man!

  Just because she could, she leaned in for another kiss. “I can’t wait to cross off number eleven.”

  “Number eleven? What number eleven?”

  She leaned closer, her words whispering against the sensitive flesh of his ear. Then she laughed silkily, delightedly, as his eyes widened and his breath hissed through his teeth.

  “I love a woman who’s good at math,” he murmured appreciatively. Then he pulled her into his arms and proved it.

  THE END

  BOOK ONE, LUCK OF THE DRAW, AVAILABLE NOW!

  Be sure to start where it all began, with Jim and Kate, in Book One of the ‘Betting on Romance’ Series:

  LUCK OF THE DRAW

  Available NOW in print and e-book!

  If only life had a refresh button...

  Kate Mitchell never planned to be a 31 year-old widowed single mom, but when her soon-to-be-EX husband up and dies, her dreams of finishing college and starting over are thrown in the air like a game of 52 pick-up. When she’s given a leave of absence from work and told to “quit or recommit,” Kate retreats to idyllic Sugar Fa
lls, New Hampshire, to figure out whether she can discover her passion and pay the bills. Cue the fresh air, summer sunshine and one sexy local contractor.

  Tall, dark, and handy…

  Volunteer fireman and all-around hunky guy in a toolbelt, Jim Pearson has sworn off complicated women with messy baggage. They cling to his nice-guy stability and skills with a power saw just long enough to straighten out their lives and move on… but then he meets the cute single mom staying at Grams’ lake house for the summer.

  While a sizzling attraction draws them together, Jim's distrust of complicated women and Kate's incredibly complicated life threaten to pull them apart. But forces beyond their control—match-making grandmothers, the lazy backdrop of summer, and their own reckoning with the past—conspire to make them risk it all... and bet on love.

  Enjoy a sneak peek…!

  LUCK OF THE DRAW

  CHAPTER ONE

  ____________________

  IT RAINED THE NIGHT RANDY DIED—scattered spring storms that left shimmering puddles on the pavement under the streetlight outside the house. They swirled with surreal, iridescent color as Kate opened the door with one hand and clutched her robe closed at her throat with the other.

  There were two of them, their uniforms dark with rain, eyes dark with fatigue. They spoke with gently dispassionate voices as they delivered the news. Single car accident… Only occupant… They asked if she understood. Yes, she said. Yes. Was she alone? No. Would she like a drink of water? No. No, thank you. She didn’t want them in her home, didn’t want them searching for a clean cup in her kitchen, compassionately detached as they watched her and waited for her to fall apart.

  After they left, she stared at the wet boot-prints on the living room carpet and wondered what she should do or whom she should call. Her limbs felt strangely heavy as she wandered through the house to her room, too stunned to cry, looking around for traces of him, but, of course, she’d already packed away the pictures and mementos of their life together. All that remained of their ten-year marriage sat in a small bowl on her dresser.