The Wager

Chapter Fifty-three

“It was only too easy,” Travis said from on top of the stairs. “You see, Jake here never learned French, thought it was too feminine for his tastes. Isn’t that right, brother?”

“Travis…” Jake’s voice had taken on a warning edge. What the hell was his brother doing?

Kacey sat across Travis’s lap. A look of pure contentment washed across their faces as the dog stood blocking Jake and Char’s path to their room.

“Self-control is good for you,” Kacey said, kissing Travis’s neck. “I mean, really, we’re doing you guys a favor.”

“How’d you get rid of Grandma?” Jake asked. “No way would she leave you alone.”

Travis grinned. “Mr. Casbon. Seems he’s been feeling pretty lonely since Grandma’s taken up residence here in the hallway. One phone call and down the stairs she went.”

Jake wanted to smack the smile off his brother’s face. “Fine, you win, you possess more intelligence than a flea. Let us up.”

Kacey and Travis looked at one another as if to say, what do you think?

Char groaned behind him.

“Think of it as a team-building exercise.” Kacey finally said. “You work together to make it up the stairs and into your bedroom and we’ll ignore any cries of help in the process.”

“Why are you doing this?” Jake asked.

“We lost a wager,” Kacey said through clenched teeth. “It’s only fair that we get some satisfaction.”

“Why can’t everyone get satisfaction?” Jake wondered aloud.

“Because, it’s your fault Grandma’s singing at the wedding,” Kacey said. “Therefore, we get satisfaction, and you get…” She pointed to the white dog. “Charles Barkley.”

Travis gave her a high five as they walked out of the hall, leaving Jake and Char alone with the small dog.

“How dangerous can he be?” Jake reached his fingers out to the dog. It began to growl and then gnashed its teeth together. “He’s faking it, right? He’s not really a bad boy, are you, Charles!” He tried again. This time the dog almost took off his finger.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t stand any closer.” Char pulled him back. “He may decide to bite something else off and I’m pretty sure that would put a damper on our evening.”

Jake scratched his head. “What do we do? He’s guarding the way to our room, and the rest of the guest rooms are taken up by the wedding party.”

“We can always scream fire next to Amy’s and then lock her out of her room?” Char suggested in a hopeful voice.

“Char.” Jake grabbed her hand. “Be the bigger person.”

“Do I have to?”

“Try.” Jake chuckled and pulled her into his arms, placing a hungry kiss on her mouth. The dog, clearly agitated, began to bark.

With a growl Jake pulled back. “Stop barking!”

The dog barked louder, this time hopping on all four feet, as if he was trying to jump into the air.

“Shh!” Char pointed at the dog. “No bark!”

The dog stopped for two seconds before howling again.

“I hate Grandma,” Jake cursed.

Char stood behind him.

“Gee, thanks. How’d I go from husband to human shield?”

Char laughed behind him. “Well, we are married now.”

“Good point.”

“What are we going to do?”

The dog wasn’t moving, that much was clear, and no way was Jake going to take the risk that the dog might bite off any bigger parts of his anatomy. Stuck, he looked back down the hallway. “I have an idea.”

Ten minutes later, they were back in the tree house. Only this time they had blankets, more wine, and popcorn.

Jake reached for Char’s fingers, grasping them within his own as he looked out the window toward the river. “About your job—”

“Screw my job.” Char wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled his lap. “A job’s a job.”

“But you actually liked your job.” He peeled her arms from his neck and looked into her eyes, “You and Kacey used to do the morning news in the tree house when you were seven. Pretty sure it was your dream.”

“I liked telling stories, I liked writing…” She shrugged. “I like you more. Sometimes in life, the things we really want are right in front of us.”

Jake laughed. “Wow, am I blushing? That was a damn sexy compliment. I’m so glad you like me… Can we maybe date and then get married? Oh wait.” He slapped his hand to his forehead. “Did it kind of backward.”

“Nah.” Char touched her head to his. “Sometimes what’s backward for some is forward for others.”

Jake gazed into her eyes, promising to never let her go. “I think I like backward.”

Char smiled, her blue eyes shining in the moonlight. “I do too.”