The tall high-rise sparkled through the dreary rain, the booming name of “Titus Enterprises” blaring above the cityscape. Fighting the urge to scowl at the obvious money the building represented, he shook his head slightly. He hadn’t wanted a part in the family business. Nope, that job had gone to his little brother, and he could keep it.
Travis had used the trust fund in his name to open his own ranch and breed horses. It also doubled as a bed and breakfast. A beautiful twenty acres overlooked the Columbia River. It was living, whereas being in the city was stifling. He pulled at his shirt.
Travis pulled the truck to a stop and Jake hopped out. “I’ll call for a car when I’m done. I shouldn’t be more than an hour. See ya, and Kacey, try not to kill Travis while I’m gone, okay?”
“Can’t make any promises!” Kacey waved him off and turned hate-filled eyes toward Travis. “So, you have any immediate plans to kill me and bury the body?”
“Under a tree, I think.” Travis put the truck into gear and moved into traffic. “Or maybe under the swing set. They’d never look for you there.”
“Ha ha, you’re hilarious.”
“I’d like to think so. Now what’s this I hear about Jake kissing you? I mean, I know it’s none of my business, but shouldn’t you be keeping this strictly professional? After all, he is paying you—”
“—Like one of his prostitutes, I know,” Kacey finished. “But technically he’s not paying me. I mean he is, he’s paying off my school loans. Besides I’m doing this for Grandma. And somehow I’ve found that inside my chest beats a very large heart. I do kind of owe Jake. Or at least he made me feel like I did.”
“I wasn’t going to say that you were a prostitute.” Travis coughed. “So he really does have prostitutes as girlfriends?” Travis shook his head with disapproval. “Maybe we should leave that little tidbit out this weekend. My grandma’s health and all.”
“Agreed.” Kacey snorted. “She’d have a stroke if she knew how egotistical our young little Jake has gotten. But I love him regardless.” Kacey sighed.
“Apparently, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. But then again… things aren’t always what they seem, are they, Kace?” Travis cleared his throat.
“Just drive the truck, Travis. I’m hungry and my stomach is in knots from that stupid plane ride.”
Travis put the truck into gear. “Still afraid of flying?”
“I thought I was over it, but then I accused a clergyman of being a terrorist.”
Travis laughed. “Out loud? Damn woman, maybe you should take the train back.”
Kacey’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant plan, but it takes three hours.”
“They have a bar.”
“Where do you buy tickets?”
Travis chuckled as he pulled into traffic. “I’ll take care of it, alright? Just stop saying terrorist in planes for your own sanity and safety, little girl.”
“I’m not a little girl,” Kacey snapped.
The truck stopped at the red light. Travis turned to look at Kacey, every bit the woman she was. From her pouty lips to her tight little body. “Yeah, I know, Kace. I’d have to be dead not to notice.” His body flared to life the longer he stared at her. Well, that was uncomfortable.
“Wow, a compliment from the little boy who used to pee his pants when he saw clowns. I’m touched, really.” Kacey fluttered her eyelashes and tilted her head.
“It was only o-once!” The light turned green and Travis pumped the accelerator with ferocity. “And the clown knew my name, Kace. Come on, any little boy would be freaked out a bit. Thanks for that by the way.”
“Whatever do you mean, Travis?”
“You told the clown my name. Admit it. Admit it or I’m dropping you off by the ice skating rink.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“I would, and I am. Tell me how many accidental deaths are there a year by ice skating accidents?”
“You’re the devil!”
Travis grinned. “So you’ve said.”
“Fine, I told the clown your name, but only after you tripped me.”
“Ah, victory at last.” Travis sighed, stealing a glance in the rearview mirror to see Kacey scowl and cross her arms. “Kace, can’t we at least try to get along while you’re here? After all, according to my entire family, you’re about to be the new daughter-in-law. I would hate to give them the impression that I’m going to kill you in your sleep.”
Kacey groaned. “You’re right. And don’t you dare gloat! This is for Grandma, right? I’m doing this for Grandma.” She chanted grandma five times before pausing. “Trav?”
It was the first time she had actually said his name instead of an expletive or her favorite nickname of the devil. “Yeah, Kace?”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Who? Grandma?” He chuckled as he pulled into the large estate also known as Titus Abbey. “Kace, I think Grandma could walk away from a nuclear holocaust and still be fine. Don’t worry too much, alright? Besides, seeing you will make all the difference. She’s getting all sappy in her old age.”
“But…” Kacey sighed.
Travis pulled down the driveway, shut off the car, and turned to see Kacey chewing on her fingernails.
“But what?” he asked.
Fingernails still in her mouth, she answered, “What if she finds out? I mean, I doubt Jake even told Grandma it wasn’t real. So she’s going to think we’re together, and…”
Travis gulped at the knot rising in his throat. Naturally, it had been one of his first concerns as well. If Grandma found out… well, Travis would gladly point at Jake and shake his head, throwing him under the bus. But the point was his grandma loved Kacey. If she knew they were tricking her to get her to feel better and to make her believe that Jake was more responsible than she gave him credit for…
Then, well, he wasn’t sure it would be a pretty sight. After all, Grandma had once had done a stint in the CIA, though he was the only family member who had actually pried the information from the old bat.
“She won’t find out,” Travis confirmed. Because if she does, I’d hate to be my brother.
Chapter Nine
Kacey hopped out of the truck and looked up at the giant house. It was exactly as she remembered. A colonial-style home set very neatly across a few acres overlooking the Columbia River. Nothing had really changed, other than the paint that seemed fresher than she remembered. A dark blue outlined the windows, and a pristine white shone off the bulk of the house. Attached was a seven-car garage, pool house, and a playhouse that was bigger than Kacey’s entire apartment.
“Ready?” Travis asked, coming up beside her.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the house one more time before nodding. “Off to war we go.”
“Keep your gun in your pants,” Travis mumbled, setting Kacey to laughter just as the door swung open.
“As I live and breathe! Kacey! Oh sweet girl, you take my breath away!” Wescott Titus wrapped her in his giant arms and kissed her across the forehead. At a towering six feet-four inches, it was like getting wrapped in a hug rather than receiving one.
“Kacey? Is that Kacey?” A feminine voice shouted from behind Wescott.
“Hey, Mrs. Titus!” Kacey reached for a hug from the lady but was scolded.
“Now, you know I’ve told you to call me Bets!”
Bets was Jake’s mom’s nickname. When Kacey was young she’d had a hard time pronouncing Betsey for some reason, so she just called her Bets. But at the ripe old age of twenty-two, she wasn’t sure if that was still allowed.
With a warm smile, Kacey embraced Bets. “I’ve missed you.”
And she had. Desperately.
Bets’s warm hand enclosed Kacey’s. She led her to the couch and began chattering about Jake.
“We just knew you two would end up together one day! Didn’t I tell you, Wescott?” She giggled and reached for her iced tea, her long red fingernails clanging against the cool glass. “Now, honey, we know that you and Jake are trying to be private about things, but… well, we would love it if you got married here!”
Kacey felt panic tighten her chest. “We would love to!” She looked to Travis for help, but his eyes had taken on that darkened hue that said he’d murder anyone who breathed in his direction. “But, you see, the thing is… We aren’t sure we’re going to get married locally. We both work so hard, and we thought maybe of just going to Vegas or something.”
“Vegas?” both parents asked. They shook their heads in unison and laughed.
“Oh honey, I forgot about your sense of humor! Why the rush? Why get married in Vegas, that is unless…” Bets looked at Kacey, her eyes squinting. Oh God. Oh no, was she thinking…
“You’re pregnant!” she shouted, nearly dropping her tea to the floor! “Oh my heavens! Oh dear me. Oh, Grandma’s going to be so delighted!”
“I’m not—” Kacey argued.
“—She’s not telling anyone yet,” Travis interrupted with a devilish smirk. “You know, the media and all that.”
“Oh, oh, oh!” Bets scurried around the room until she finally stopped in front of a few shelves. “Oh honey, don’t you remember when you and Jake used to play house? And Travis…” Bets looked at Travis and pointed. “…Didn’t you play with them? Because they needed an extra person to stand in for the…”
“Dog.” Kacey smiled at Travis and stifled a giggle. “He was our dog when we played house.”
“Oh, how nice.” Bets winked at Travis and returned to digging out scrapbooks. “I’m sure I have some pictures we can use for the wedding.”
Kacey, still trying to gain control of her panic, swallowed before asking, “Why do we need pictures?”
“You know.” Bets waved her hand in the air. “For the video montage! You have to have a video montage! They’re all the rage. You know, baby pictures, prom pictures, that sort of thing. Guests love it!”
“But what about Vegas?” Kacey asked in a hopeful voice.
“Posh.” Bets shook her head vigorously. “We’ll pay for the entire thing. And you’ll get married here, at Titus Abbey.”
“Swell,” Kacey mumbled then glared in Travis’s direction. He was gone. She leaned across the sofa and noticed him in the kitchen opening a beer. Oh, nectar of the gods! Just when she needed something strong the most, and Jake’s family thought she was pregnant.
Oh God. She was going to have to be a closet drinker. She would have to sneak down to the kitchen just to snag some tequila to numb the guilt and pain. His parents were going to kill her, and they would hate her forever. Which meant she actually had to marry him and then turn a blind eye to his inability to keep his pecker in his pants. And then she’d start hoarding and buying cats in order to fill the void in her life.