Secret Bet

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Peter grabbed his jacket and fixed his tie in the mirror next to his brother. Belle's face now had a flush on it, and it wasn't because of anything he had said. His sister wouldn't have upset her. He rubbed his chin as he slipped outside. He’d find out what happened.

One month with someone like Belle would be interesting. He nodded at the men, who parted for him, as he walked toward Belle. The white Christmas lights that surrounded the tropical garden made his brother's backyard seem more intimate. He immediately offered Belle his arm.

She stared at him with her crystal clear brown eyes and then gazed at his arm. She lifted her chin and stepped away.

The denial stung. His sister, Vicki, hugged him. "See you both tomorrow at the rehearsal dinner. I'm so excited."

Belle gulped her drink and lowered her gaze. Every small movement she made snapped in his brain. His attention to her details shocked him. He followed her gaze across the patio that stopped at Jennifer. Something must have happened while he was in the other room. He pressed his lips together and wondered if Belle was jealous.

He hugged his sister and said, "Call me if you need anything."

Belle's eyes grew bigger the moment he touched her shoulder.

His sister winked at him. "I need you to be happy."

“Don’t worry about me. Today is about you.”

Belle stared at them both like she'd never seen anything like them. She avoided the silent intimacy, and her wide eyes were like a kaleidoscope. He'd not lose, especially if being near Belle ensured the wedding happened without any incidents. His stomach hardened. “You’re my brother…”

“Don’t worry.” Peter placed his hand on her back as he told his sister, "Night, Vicki."

Belle picked up her pocketbook and waved. "Yes, good night. See you tomorrow."

His arm brushed against her. Every cell in his hand that touched her ached to do it again.

As they made their way across the floor, people stopped and stared. Belle's walk became stiffer halfway to the door. She must be self-conscience that people were wondering who she was. He pressed his lips together and hoped if they talked she'd be distracted. All her attention should be on him.

He kept his voice low as he said, "I know Florida will never be a White Christmas..."

“No joke.” Belle whispered in return.

The moment they reached the door, Colt interrupted and hugged Belle. "Again, I'm happy you're here. You should think about staying for the week. New Year's here is fun, and Peter can show you around."

“Yeah, right. We’ll see.” Belle sounded half hearted. He’d have to talk to her.

Colt slapped his shoulder. Peter swallowed his retort. Tomorrow Colt would become his brother-in-law. Belle stared straight at Colt and not at Peter. It seemed her eyes moistened. Peter straightened his spine and pressed his hand on Belle's wrist. "It's time we said goodbye."

Colt must have seen his sister behind them as he smiled right through him. Belle winced at how Colt winked and sent an air kiss outside. Peter paused. A woman in love with his future brother-in-law could cause his sister issues. Belle whispered. “Let’s go now.”

“Opening the door.” Peter's muscles tightened, and his stomach had a slight burn that grew. He'd find out Belle's desires and change things. As he held the door for her, they stepped outside into the warm evening sky.

He closed the door behind them as she said, "For the record, you cheated to get us out early."

He lifted one eyebrow. "I did?"

She licked her lips. "Yeah you told everyone we're off to dinner."

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. The burn inside his stomach lightened to a sensation more like bubbles. He didn't recognize the feeling. “We are.”

“I never said tell anyone.”

He stroked his chin and then came close to her ear to whisper. "You didn't set rules not too. If you are going to call something fair or cheating, then we'll need those."

She turned and walked backwards through the front lawn and then gazed at him with her huge brown eyes. "Do you follow rules?"

Inside the house behind, them the music changed to a soft samba. His arms wanted to touch her skin and find out if she was silky and sweet, but if he reached out, he'd dance with her. Then she'd tell him no. It was how she stood with her legs slightly apart. His normal wouldn't work with her. He wondered what it would take for her to say yes. He licked his lips.

"Rules? Ehh. I’m okay, when they suit me."

“You expect them to be followed, I’m sure.” She rolled her eyes. "So let’s change the topic. Where are we going? I'll follow in my rental."

At least she was a woman that kept her word. She hadn't made an excuse to skip on dinner, though she made him feel like he had asked for a new kind of trouble. He placed his hand on her side and inched her to their left.

"My people will move your car. The limo is over here."

“Of course you ride in a limo, probably everyday.” She sucked in her breath as people snapped pictures of her. Through clenched teeth she asked, "Who just did that?"

He leaned closer. "The press. It's best if we go fast. I promise nothing will happen to the vehicle here."

"As it's your brother's house, and I'm here for your sister's wedding, I'll trust you with the car, but make no mistake, I’m going to my hotel room, alone, after this dinner."

“If that’s what you want.” She squared her shoulders and scooted inside the limo. He stayed close to ensure no one came near her.

“It’s definitely what I want. I’m not attracted to you in the least.”

“You hardly know me to make that claim.”

As he sat beside her and his driver closed the door, she asked him, "Now at the party, why did you come talk to me?"

"You're beautiful." No one challenged him. He sat more comfortably in his seat and stared at her. She pushed a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. She had glowing white skin, which wasn't bronzed from the never-ending sunlight. She almost sparkled with how new she was to this climate.

Again she rolled her eyes. "Jennifer was beautiful. I was a soldier. Beauty to me is vanity."

"Perhaps that's what makes you breathtaking.” Most women he knew would have just said thanks. He stroked his chin and his already growing shadow of a beard. “You are real and interesting and the opposite of Jennifer."

She sat straight and tall. "Interesting that you notice that about me. It makes me wonder what your friends are like."

"I don't have friends.” She was full of opinions. He leaned forward and let his hands fold in front of him. “The only people I know with character seem to be my family and their spouses."

"Friends tell a lot about a person." A half smile formed near her cheeks, and the outline of a dimple appeared. "So I guess you have horrible taste."

Her face brightened.

He winked. "Perhaps I was waiting for you."

She leaned forward to stare into his eyes. "You are a relentless flirt."

Gumption wasn't something most women in his life ever had. Again the smell of apples hit him, and he realized the obvious. He blinked. "No one's accused me of that."

“To your face anyway.” She sat. "Where are we eating dinner?"

Part of him wanted to say Venice just to see what she'd say. Right now he had the sense she'd jump from the car at first opportunity if he did. Perhaps next time. He licked his lips and hoped she accepted the challenge. "On my yacht."

"Wow, expectations are high on your part." She crossed her arms. "You pulling out all the stops for tonight?"

A rattled Belle might be interesting to see. He lifted his brows. "No, not really. Would you like me to? I could call for the jet."

“I’m here for a wedding tomorrow, sorry.” She shook her head and then sat stiffly in her seat. Then she glanced out the window as the limo drove over the bridge that connected Miami to the beaches. “And this is strange night.”

“How?”

"I'm not someone who flirts or has fun. It's never been in the cards for me."

Forlorn women weren't his usual skill set. He leaned forward again. Belle's armor had to have a chip in it somewhere. "Why don't you have fun?"

“Ohh.” She lowered her gaze. "I do, but it's not the kind you are clearly used to. What matters is who people are on the inside."

“I’m good at sizing up people. It’s part of my job.” Perhaps she moped because Colt had chosen his sister instead of this Belle. He swallowed and hoped this wasn't jealousy. "I'm curious what you think of my sister. You must hate her for marrying Colt."

“I suppose I should.” She leaned closer, and again her fearlessness unmanned him. No one stared at him like she did. She swallowed. "But I don't.”

“No one is that much of a saint.”

“I’m not that. Colt thought she was dead when he was with me. In the years he spent with me, he only ever said how he wished he had time with Victoria to talk about their daughter. He was a good father. It was part of the charm he had.”

“You want the instant family then?”

“Assumptions are usually wrong. I'm sure he told you we fought about him moving to DC and leaving his family farm."

"He'd never go. My sister could live anywhere in the world, and she chose Homestead, Colt and her family."

“He left me because he wanted to stay there, or so he said.”

True. Colt must have been conflicted. Peter clenched teeth created a pain in his jaw. He parted his lips, and the taste of apples tickled his throat. He reached out and brushed his hand against hers. Her skin was silky soft, and it wasn't likely layered on lotion. Sparks surged in his cells. He realized she did that to him.

He leaned closer. "So you accepted someone who could never love you as his first and only."

"Wait. What? That's not fair." She took her hand away from his reach. Again his fingers ached to hold her more. She played with a strand of her hair and said, "No one is perfect. And Colt was someone I could depend on."

He narrowed his gaze. "Is that what you seek? Dependability?"

She flinched like had he caught her. Then she squared her shoulders. "Yeah. Someone real and not all glitter."

“Men don’t glitter.”

“A metaphor and men can absolutely appear to be great but turn out to be nothing but an illusion. You have the appearance of a dream guy, but we both know you’re not the forever type.”

“I don’t promise what I cannot give, but I live for the moment.” The moonlit sky illuminated her face. The brightness in her gaze told him she spoke from her heart. Most people were not expressive, and no woman ever spoke to him like she did. It was almost refreshing.

“And take whatever you want.”

"Don't judge me because I have access to anything I might ever want."

She lifted her chin. "No, you don't."

Everything about Belle was different. The gleam in her eye was refreshing. He tapped his knee. "I don't?"

She shrugged. "You'll never have me."

Good answer, not that he'd give her credit. A woman like Belle would hold nothing back, and she'd likely spend her life disapproving of his choices. He sunk into the cushions behind him.

"You scare me, Belle. If I did have you, you'd be the type that stays forever."

She puckered her lips like she'd say 'so I'm right as always.' “That makes us opposite then.”

“Perhaps that’s what interesting about you then.”

“No, you’re wondering why I don’t want to be here and you’re fascinated for the evening.” She leaned closer, and their arms brushed. His shirt blocked his skin from experiencing that shock to his skin. The hair on his arms stood straighter as she said, "But tomorrow, we’ll never see each other again and we clearly don’t have wedding bells in our future. So I’m safe to talk to."

“Most of your judgments about me is harsh.” Tonight's score had Belle in the clear lead. He had no idea how to melt her ice with anything but honesty. "You are right on one thing. Marriage is not in the cards for me, ever."

Her eyebrows raised. "Don't you want a family?"

"My own was punishment enough. Why would I want to subject a child to that kind of pain?"

That had flown out of his mouth. He bit his tongue, but then she smiled. "Family isn't always painful. It's just hard to figure out if someone is good for your life or not when lust clouds the judgment. Your last girlfriend was gorgeous."

“Beauty is part of the requisite in business deals.” He covered his lips and leaned closer.

“So what on earth was beautiful in me that made you talk?”

His mouth watered, and he wished to taste. He met her gaze. "You're an optimist and tell what you see."

“True.” She winked. "I guess I am honest."

Her innocence didn't make sense. Everything in his head conflicted as his stomach tightened. "I don't know. You surprised me. I thought you would be a jealous, bitter woman I'd have to keep from the wedding."

“Guess I shocked you.” Her gaze snapped at him as her lips parted. "Is that why you wanted to go out to dinner with me?"

“Why not.” If he let her believe that he'd get out of this. She'd never trust him. He lowered his hand to his knee, opened his mouth, but then the truth spilled out. "I wanted to find out if you were as real as you seemed.”

“Still.” Her soft sigh with the moonlight behind her made Belle a siren call. He held his pant leg in a slight bunch. "I find it hard to believe."

The limo stopped at the dock. His yacht gleamed from cleanliness in front of them. "We're here. Are you game to get out and find out?"

She threw open the door. He jumped to follow her as the driver barely had time to open his own door.

He shared a look with his driver and said fast, "We'll be a few hours."

She was already halfway down the docks. He hadn't run after a woman, ever. There was a first time for everything as he exerted himself and joined her. Then he point toward his yacht. She followed his finger and nodded.

"Do you have champagne on this boat of yours?”

“Break it open then and let’s continue.”

“Continue what?”

“Celebrating marriage of your sister and my ex. Let's toast to this Christmas and how, at least for tonight, two opposites might become friends."

"Friends? Well, I'll take that as a beginning."

“Friends is all you’ll ever get.”

Belle was unlike anyone he'd ever met.