The Billionaire's Jackpot: Betting on You Series: Book Four (11 page)

Thankfully the waitress
finally arrived with their food. Drew couldn’t believe how sharply he’d spoken to Katherine. For a moment his voice sounded just like his father’s, and that didn’t sit well with him. Everyone he met made mention of how he always laughed or had a smile on his face. Many times it was merely his great skills.
If they only knew I’m really a recovering asshole and wanted to tell them to fuck off.
Being around people who were actually happy only pissed him off.

With Katherine that was not the case. No matter if she was happy or sad, he had an unexplainable need to be near her. Her intentions in coming here were honorable, his, not so much. She didn’t deserve anything less than the best treatment, and he hadn’t given her that so far.
Well, other than fantastic sex.

As he toyed with the food on his plate, he watched her carefully. Normally he read people for fun, but his interest in her required an in-depth look. Her blue eyes spoke volumes about her character. They changed color with her mood, definitely an advantage. Now they appeared to be more hazel than blue, giving him the impression she was in deep thought.
No doubt wondering why she is out with such a jerk.
He would need to be mindful of his tone with her going forward.
Such a gentle, sweet soul.

He wished he didn’t need to leave her tonight.
Oh damn it.
“Katherine, did I tell you about tonight?” She didn’t attempt to make eye contact, only shook her head.
I’m a jerk.
“Tonight’s the bachelor party for Jon. I know you haven’t been here long, but unfortunately I won’t be able to be here with you. It is the last all night drinking, poker night.”

Katherine took a sip of her coffee then said, “I have plans for dinner tonight.” Drew opened his mouth, but she raised her hand cutting him off. “With someone else.”

Who the hell is she going out with? She’s supposed to be here with me!
He tried to read her, but she kept her emotions deceptively composed. Brushing his half-full plate to the side he leaned his arms on the table and in a controlled voice asked, “Anyone I know?”

Though she tried hard, he didn’t miss the slight curl of her lips as she responded. “Jill Aragao.”

Good.
He had never been jealous a day in his life.
Until now.
Just thinking of her possibly having dinner with another man was enough to set his blood boiling. There was no way he would picture anything beyond dinner, not ready to face that possibility. This was a feeling he wasn’t enjoying. What he didn’t understand was why she was enjoying it so damn much. Was she purposely trying to tear his gut apart?
No, that is not like her. Little minx.

“She was kind enough to invite me out when
she
informed me of the party plans tonight.” After a victorious grin, she continued, “Wasn’t that sweet of her?”

Drew then recalled her face while they were in bed, when she’d asked if there was anything else he had forgotten to tell her. It appeared she was giving him the opportunity at that time and he totally blew it.
I deserved that.
“Oh, isn’t she.” He was going to make sure to remind Jill who had her back when she was pumping him for personal information regarding Ross a few weeks ago.
I see how this works.
“There may be a few more things I may have forgotten to mention.”
Unless Jill has already told you everything.

Katherine placed her fork on her now-empty plate and sat back in her chair holding her coffee. “I’m all ears.”

He went through the entire itinerary. Most things were based around Jon and Lizette’s up-coming nuptials, but after that they were free to enjoy themselves without interruption. From her reaction it was the first she was hearing about what seemed to be an endless list. They were a close group of friends and couldn’t miss any part of this occasion.
Unless you are prepared to hear about it forever.
It wasn’t Lizette or Jill that concerned him. Elaine looked like she could go into labor any day, and he had already witnessed her in action when she nearly ripped Ross’s head off for what appeared to be just a misunderstanding with Jill.

He was happy Katherine fit so perfectly into the mix. It was too bad what they had was only temporary.
And that can’t change. I just hope she knows the score here. I want her to be a part of the up-coming events, but it will have to end. She is too sweet for someone like me.
If only she wasn’t so fucking amazing and hot.
Plenty more beautiful women in the sea, Drew. Plenty more.
His head pounded with the thought.
But none like her. Damn it.

‡

D
rew couldn’t help
be a bit disappointed in the bachelor party.
Not one stripper.
Trent was about to become a father and all of a sudden he worried about his reputation. “Are you sure you can stay out so late? I don’t want you to get in trouble for being out past your curfew,” he said sarcastically to Trent.

“Enjoy it now, Drew. I believe you are next in line,” Ross added.

Downing his beer, Drew turned his attention away from Trent and onto Ross. “I wouldn’t push your luck with me right now, Ross. I think we still have a car or lack of one for us to talk about, if I remember correctly.”

Ross laughed loudly. “Ask Trent for his Lamborghini. He won’t be needing it now.”

“And why the hell not?” Trent asked.

Ross raised his hands and said, “Jill told me you and Elaine just bought a 2016 Range Rover. I figured that was the closest thing you are getting to a daddy mobile.”

Laugher erupted amongst the men. It was good getting together, just the four of them. They spent hours talking about the old days and stories they weren’t about to share with the women. There were some things that never needed to be repeated outside that group. Times had changed so much that he couldn’t picture pulling half the shit now they had in college. How any of them kept from getting expelled was beyond him. He was the one who’d spent most of the time in the Dean’s office . . . and not to discuss his excellent grades either. That was when he’d learned money can buy you just about anything. The few things that couldn’t be bought were highly sought after: health, happiness, and true love.
Two out of three isn’t bad.

No matter the occasion, they never got together without toasting to Brad’s memory. It was fast approaching the six-year anniversary since his death, and they still weren’t sure if they were on track for fulfilling Brad’s dream.

“Have any of you thought further about changing the direction of Take One? I know we just took it global but are we sure we’re on the right track?” Drew asked.

“Brad’s journal hinted he had it all mapped out, but it wasn’t listed anywhere I could see,” Ross added.

Trent shook his head as if genuinely concerned. “You read it? All of it? Do me a favor, don’t ever read anything I wrote.”

Ross laughed. “Don’t worry. Brad didn’t lead the lifestyle you did, my friend. His entire journal was filled with places he had traveled, the many issues the people there faced, and some of the happy and sad times they shared together.” It was a somber moment as they all sat listening to Ross’s recap. “There was one piece that stood out.”

After a long pause Jon asked, “Are you planning on sharing it since you’ve piqued our interest?”

Ross nodded. “He spoke about a woman he met overseas. He never mentioned her name but whoever she was he spoke highly of her. She must have been doing some type of mission work or something, because they had crossed paths several times during the years he volunteered for one natural disaster after another.”

“Details, buddy. Details,” Trent said.

“Brad mentioned he loved her but they were on the same battles, yet in different ways. Neither of them was willing to walk away to be with the other.”

“That doesn’t sound like a love story to me,” Drew added. Not that he would really know one. But if he was in love with someone, nothing would stop him from being with her.

“You’re right. It sounds like two people who loved each other very much but weren’t in love with each other,” Ross responded.

His arched brow indicated the humor and surprise he found at that moment. “Love, in love. Since when did you get all deep and mushy?”

Ross and the others didn’t laugh. “Hopefully one day you will understand.”

“Not if I’m lucky. You guys can have it. I have no problem being the last man standing. I come and go as I please and don’t need to discuss anything with anyone. I do things that make me happy, no worries.”

“Too bad. Takes One is one man, or should I say one woman short since Jill has been brought into the loop. We were hoping KJ would shake you up enough that you might actually date a woman rather than just sleep with her,” Jon commented.

He had to admit that fear had crossed his mind lately. Drew didn’t want the other girls talking to Katherine, filling her with hopes and dreams of anything more than what they had. And what they had was more than he had ever shared with anyone since his first love, or what he had thought was his first love. Even his best friends didn’t know about that, and he planned on keeping it that way. If they ever found out he had run away to Las Vegas at eighteen to elope, they’d probably smack him upside the back of his head. At that age he’d thought he knew everything and thought that girl had been madly in love with him. Of course when his father found them waiting at the Justice of the Peace, he’d made it clear in front of her that if they went ahead and got married he was on his own financially. Not another penny. No college. No car. Nothing. When he told his father he didn’t care, that he didn’t need his money, the girl said, “Speak for yourself.” That was the last time he ever saw her.

The plane ride home with his father had been eye-opening. His father decided it was time to give him “the talk.” Although he was fairly sure his version was not the same as other young men received from their dads.

“Remember, Drew, they don’t love
you
, they only love your money. Give them a chance and they will take everything you got.” With that he threw him a box of condoms. “You can’t live without them but you better always use protection or you’ll find yourself trapped like me.”
Trapped like me.
Those words haunted him even to this day. No woman, especially someone like Katherine, should even consider loving him.
He’d never been wanted, simply something that kept his parents together. My father didn’t love my mother at all. I’m probably just as incapable of love as he was.
Though he might try to deny it, that conversation helped mold him into the man he was today.
A jackass, just like my father.

Instead of going
out, Jill had shown up with pizza for dinner and blueberry cheesecake for dessert. Though everything was perfect, this wasn’t her place, and KJ knew she should’ve asked Drew about it first, but Jill was there and it was too late. Besides Jill’s reasoning for eating in was logical. “Why lock Blossom up all night when we can sit and enjoy the rooftop without all the hassle of city traffic?”

Going out with a friend to see New York sounded exciting, but she’d never done the club scene back home so she couldn’t picture doing it here. After so many years of traveling all over the world and never really settling in, it was nice set her roots somewhere.
Just wish my sister was still with me.
Napa happened to be that place, suiting what she needed for now. If she couldn’t be home enjoying her peaceful back yard, then Drew’s rooftop garden getaway was exactly where she wanted to be.

Somehow what had been a cold, empty house before breakfast had suddenly been filled with enough food to last months. The refrigerator, which had only contained milk, cookies, and beer, now was stocked with an assortment of fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses. There also seemed to be a wide variety of drinks that came in handy tonight.
You really thought of everything, didn’t you?

They sat by the fire pit and listened to music, sipping on homemade frozen strawberry daiquiris. “If I knew he had a Jacuzzi I would have brought my bathing suit.” KJ couldn’t help but turn beet-red thinking of all the wonderful things Drew did to her there last night. “By the look on your face, maybe I’m glad I didn’t bring it,” Jill teased. “I guess things are working out for us both.”

KJ wasn’t about to admit
that
. She was enjoying herself, but working out meant they were heading in the same direction, and she wasn’t sure either of them knew what direction that was. “I am having fun. You on the other hand made the right choice. Ross followed you to the boat and you seem to have fixed the issues.”

Jill looked blissfully happy, full of life. It was nice that one of them could find true love.
How is it that someone six years younger than me has their shit together and I don’t?
Funny, until two years ago she was the one who knew exactly what she wanted and nothing ever got in her way. It had been easy. “Follow the yellow brick road.” But somewhere along the way the bricks had scattered and she seemed lost.

Only recently had she started to feel and dream again. Happy dreams of things to come, not reliving scenes of the past. That wasn’t a huge step but it was one in the right direction. When she’d returned home she knew things were going to be different. Better. Of course not having Drew in her life was going to leave another void she was going to have to deal with, but what choice did she have? Every time they spoke he made it clear this was only two weeks, nothing more. Never did he speak about any future past that. She should be grateful he didn’t mislead her in any way. Maybe this way she could keep her emotions and feelings for him under control and not let them get any deeper than they already were.
Please don’t let that happen.
One of her Marine nurse skills was her ability to compartmentalize her life. She could be warmhearted as part of her job, whether she felt that way or not, but it had always required strength, resilience, nurturing. That was what she had to find again: fortitude.
And I will.