Just My Luck (A Shamrock Falls Novel) (Entangled: Bliss) (5 page)

“You can get that if you want.”

“No, no. It’s okay.” Something about her expression told him it wasn’t true.

“I’d better get busy. I have a lot to take care of today,” Jace told her.

Now that she wasn’t teasing him, Betsy glanced his way. “Let me know if you need anything.” Sounded almost normal enough, but something was still going on. Jace slipped into his office. As he did, Betsy picked up the phone and dialed. He lifted his foot, ready to walk back to her, but he knew he didn’t have a right. If she wanted to make calls without him being around, it was her business.

It left a strange hollow feeling in his gut.

For the next couple hours Jace tried to work. It was hard in coming. He kept drifting back to the wedding, his obnoxious freak-out over the water, and Betsy’s mood when she’d come home later that day and her earlier phone call. Curiosity nagged at him, wanting to know her secret and why she’d been upset. They were friends, right? They sure as hell were married, even if it wasn’t for love, so he felt a responsibility to her
. Yeah…that’s a good excuse. A responsibility
.

At lunchtime, Jace pushed to his feet and walked over to Betsy’s desk. “Go to lunch with me.”
Wow. Way to ask, Macnamara.
He felt all mixed-up.

“That’s okay. I’m not really very hungry. There are a few things I’d like to finish up.”

Jace frowned. “Come on, you gotta eat. The work isn’t going anywhere.”

Betsy sighed and looked over at him. “I appreciate the offer, I do, but I want you to know, you don’t have to do this.”

He cocked his brow. “Do what?”

“I don’t want you to…I don’t know, feel like you have to try really hard? Or worry about me. I know we have to play the part, but—”

“I’m not doing that.” Jace cut her off. “I just wanted lunch and figure we both need to eat.”

Betsy nodded as though that made her feel better. Jace wasn’t sure how he felt about it at all. He didn’t have to worry about her? Was that her way of telling him to stay out of her business?

“Okay. I just wanted to be sure.” But then she smiled at him like everything was normal, which honestly confused the hell out of him more. Which made him decide to try and not think about it at all.

Betsy grabbed her purse. Jace held the door open for her, locking it behind them. They walked to a local diner not far from the office. Usually they would have gone to Lucky’s, but Jace figured they kind of needed time without any of their friends around to get more comfortable pretending they were in love. Plus, that’s what married people did, right? They had lunch together and, hell, he didn’t know, wanted to be alone?

It was quiet when they walked in; only about six or so people sat at various tables.

“This booth okay?” Jace asked.

“Sure,” she replied as she slid against the window in the beige colored seats. Jace took his place across from her.

Before they could speak, the waitress approached the table and handed them their menus, took their drink orders before disappearing again.

“So…” It was ridiculous that he wasn’t sure what to say to her. Being married shouldn’t affect their conversations.

“So?” Betsy repeated. He couldn’t tell if she was teasing him or she wasn’t sure what to say, either. He liked that she was more playful with him recently, though.

“Well, normally I would ask how your weekend went, but being there kind of defeats the purpose.”

Betsy laughed like he’d hoped she would. “The weather’s out too. Seems silly to talk about, since we can both see it through the window.”

“Work?” Jace asked.

“Work is always good.” She scanned the menu instead of looking at him. He didn’t know why it bothered him more than it usually did.

“
That’s
good to hear. From what I’ve been told, your boss is a real jerk.” It made him feel good that Betsy liked her job with him. Plus, Jace always took his work very seriously.

Still looking down, she paused as though trying to collect her words before she spoke. Jace shifted, needing to hurry and hear what she had to say.

“Whoever said that must not really know him,” she whispered softly. Her reply twisted his gut—not in a bad way, but in a confusing one. One that made the corners of his mouth want to tip up into a smile.

“B—”

“Are you ready to order?” their waitress asked. He hadn’t realized she’d approached.

Considering he wasn’t sure what he’d planned to say to her anyway, Jace asked Betsy if she was ready. He waited until she ordered before telling the waitress what he wanted himself. The second their waitress left, they had their second interruption.

“If it isn’t Shamrock Falls’s newest lovebirds! How are you two crazy kids doing?” Sidney’s aunt Mae slid into the seat beside Jace. She was quite the character and the life of almost any party.

Jace replied, “We’re good, Mae. How are you?”

She grinned. “Now that you mention it, my back’s been bothering me and Bob Dylan has this strange sort of cough thing—almost sounds like a cat with a hairball, but don’t you let my sweet doggie hear me saying he sounds like a cat. And speaking of sweet, what kind of married couple doesn’t even sit next to each other in a booth? You need me to talk to my man to give you some lessons on how to treat a lady, Jace Macnamara?”

Jace held in his groan and told Aunt Mae no. For the rest of their lunch hour they listened to her talk about “her man,” who Jace had grown up calling Old Man Watson. He’d been prickly until he and Aunt Mae started dating last summer. Then she moved on to talk of Sidney, Kade, her dog, and whatever else she could think of.

He and Betsy laughed with her and listened as she controlled most of the conversation. His mind didn’t stop going, though. The whole time he thought about what Betsy had said about knowing him, and he couldn’t help but contemplate that in moments like this, being married wasn’t something he had to get used to at all.

Chapter Five

Betsy kept the TV low on the football game she watched in her bedroom. It was ridiculous of her. She understood that, but no one knew this little piece of her. Who would believe she was a sports fanatic? It was something she was used to hiding. Her mom hated them—too many men. Betsy didn’t know why she enjoyed sports so much: football, baseball, basketball, she loved them all. It was probably the togetherness of the teams. As a child, it started because of her fascination with teamwork and grew from there.

It was hard for her to watch quietly. Betsy lifted a pillow to her face and muffled a scream when her team fumbled the ball. January was close to being over and the playoffs—the do or die, high emotion of it—were her favorite time of the season. When a knock sounded on her bedroom door, she jumped.

Jace, obviously. Who else could it be?

Nerves covered her previous football high. It had been like this for the past two weeks. They got along most of the time, but there were still small incidents like with the water where they were still learning how to live with each other and how to act in public. Even though she tried to hide it, she always felt a little unsure around him now just because—well, they were married. That was a big deal.

Jace knocked again.

After turning off the TV, Betsy walked over and opened the door.

“Hey.” There was a little piece of lint on his shirt, down by his side. She fought the urge to pick it off, instead studying it.

“I just wanted to let you know I’m heading out to play poker with Breck and Kade tonight.”

It was so weird, having him check in with her like this. A little bit of guilt tried to push its way to the forefront, because she hadn’t been as honest when she left. But then this was her
mom
and their marriage was supposed to be an agreement, so she told herself it didn’t matter. “Okay.”

“Do you want to come?” Betsy kept the door slightly closed so he couldn’t see inside. She thought about the football game she was watching and how she really didn’t want to miss it. But then a very sexy Jace was standing in front of her. What girl would want to pass that up?

“Will Row and Sidney be there?”

“I don’t think so. Kade mentioned something about her having some sewing orders to get caught up on.”

Better not, then. She wasn’t sure she was ready to hang out with just the guys. “No…that’s okay. Have fun.”

Betsy took in the full picture of him. Jace was perfectly put together as always. The only sign that he was shaken in any way was the crease of his brow. The slight cock of his head. “Is everything okay?” she asked, concerned.

“Yeah. No worries. I’ll be home later. Have a good night, okay?”

“You too,” Betsy replied. She watched him walk down the hallway with all the confidence that was Jace Macnamara.

…

Jace, Kade, and Breck sat around the small poker table in the basement of Rowan’s bed and breakfast, Destiny Knocks. When Breck had moved in with her, they’d cleaned it out and made it into a space where they could get together for poker nights without running the risk of bothering any guests. Breck had also added a big screen TV, wraparound sofa, and small fridge, which made it the perfect hangout for their guys’ nights.

They were on their third hand, all of which Breck had won. Being a professional poker player came in handy for him. He never went easy on Kade and Jace, probably because they would kick his ass if he did.

“How’s married life treating ya?” Breck eyed him and Jace could tell he’d asked just to try and dig up some dirt.

“Fantastic. You?” Breck’s words reminded him how Betsy had stood with her door partially closed while he tried to talk to her. Did she think she had to hide something from him? He couldn’t stop himself from wondering what it was all about. He’d almost asked her, but he worried about overstepping his bounds.

“Incredible. You’ve seen my wife, right? She’s amazing.” Breck grinned at him and Jace couldn’t be happier for his friend.

And he agreed with Breck. Rowan was incredible, but… “As is Betsy.” Which was true. Jace found that while living with her, it was a struggle not to notice everything about her and remember their laughs and the one kiss they’d shared.

They both turned their attention to Kade. Even though Breck was the newcomer, he knew the story of how Sidney and Kade fell in love. That they’d been best friends all their lives. That Sidney had moved away only to come back five years later and fall in love with Kade.

It was Breck who spoke up. “What about you? You and Sidney have the longest running love story, but the two of us are married and you’re not.”

Kade shook his head at Breck. “That’s because we’re obviously more sentimental than you shmucks.”

Sidney and Kade were planning a summer wedding. They’d be tying the knot exactly one year from the day she’d moved back to Shamrock Falls.

“Weddings are important to women,” Kade continued. “Peaches and I don’t want to throw something together at the last second. We’re planning it slowly and with each other.”

Jace grimaced, guilt pouring over him. Kade seemed to realize what he’d said and caught Jace’s eye. “I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t worry about it. Betsy and I knew our rush wouldn’t be a popular decision, but it was what was right for us.” And by “us” he meant himself. In his rush to get their six months started he’d taken something away from her that she’d possibly dreamed about her whole life—planning the perfect wedding.

Smooth move, Macnamara.

“Hey. Don’t worry about it. I bought plane tickets to Vegas before I even asked Houdini to marry me and it was done the next day. I don’t think she regrets it,” Breck tried to cover.

No, Rowan didn’t. Jace knew that, but their situation was different.

“But then, Row was marrying me. That had to count for something. I’m a damn good catch,” Breck continued and Jace couldn’t help but smile at his antics.

From there they went into Breck and Rowan’s baby girl, who was due only four months away, in May. They were trying to pick out a name but couldn’t seem to agree on one.

Breck talked about fishing trips with Rowan, and Kade went on about some new upgrades Sidney had in mind for Lucky’s. The longer they spoke the lonelier Jace felt. It was a strange feeling, especially because it almost seemed like it came from nowhere. But then he guessed it could be because he’d watched his friends pair up around him. Now they believed Jace had the same thing, but in reality Jace didn’t have the same stories to tell about Betsy that they had about Rowan and Sidney.

But then…maybe he did. He and Betsy were friends. He trusted her in ways he didn’t trust the women he dated and could talk to her—hell, maybe they were more similar than he thought.

When he got home, Jace slowly pushed the door open, and his blood ran cold at the sound of Betsy’s scream. As quickly and quietly as he could, Jace bolted for Betsy’s room, worry burning through him. Her door was slightly open. His heart slammed and pounded.

“No! Oh my God!” she screeched.

Jace pushed the door open. Froze. And watched.

“I can’t believe you missed that field goal!” she yelled at the TV. She had her back to him and stood on her bed, with her hand in her hair. He was shocked to see a football game on TV. It was the playoffs, he knew. In fact, he’d recorded the games to watch later, but this? Betsy on edge and shouting at a football game wasn’t something he ever thought he’d see.

Jace couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Ugh! Stupid kicker.” Betsy shook her head.

A strange kind of happiness filled him. What a surprise she was. Who would have thought quiet Betsy Harris was a closet football fan? A very passionate one at that. Though he guessed there were quite a few things that surprised him about her. No one read Jace or judged his moods like she did. And recently he’d found out she was a pool shark too. She kept him on his toes.

The low rumble of a laugh climbed out of his throat. Betsy immediately tensed before slowly turning to him.

Her cheeks were pink, but obviously for a completely different reason this time. He liked it just as much as he always did. “Enjoying the game?” Jace leaned against her doorframe and crossed his arms. He felt lighter than he had since—well, since he and Betsy had laughed over the cold water incident.

All the blood drained from her face as she scrambled down off the bed. “I…I…” And then she buried her face in her hands. Jace felt horrible about laughing at her, but damn it, he hadn’t meant it in a bad way. He should have known she would be insecure about it.

“B—”

Before he could continue, she started to laugh. Her shoulders shook with it. It was almost as surprising as what he’d walked in on. Jace joined in again, chuckling as he stepped into the room. The laughter made him feel even lighter than before and he couldn’t stop himself from studying the tone and watching her body language.

“I take it your team is losing?” he teased.

Two of her fingers parted and she looked at him. “Is there any way we can forget you saw that?”

Jace enjoyed the playfulness in her voice. She was shy and embarrassed, but he loved that she wasn’t completely cowering away. A few months ago she would have been.

“Not on your life, Ref.” Jace walked fully into her room and sat on her bed. “You’re a football fan,” he said. “I didn’t know that about you.” Fake wife or not, he felt he should know those things about her.

“I love all sports.” She wasn’t covering her face anymore, but she also hadn’t moved.

Jace patted the bed. “Sit with me, please.”

She took a couple deep breaths, then did as he asked.

Judging by her reaction just now and the way she hid in her room earlier, Jace wondered if the two things were connected. “Were you watching one of the games when I told you I was leaving?”

“Yes,” she answered simply.

“Is that why you held the door closed?”

Her answer didn’t come as quickly this time, but eventually she gave him another, “Yes.”

Questions rained down on him, ones he probably shouldn’t ask. Jace always struggled talking emotions or putting himself out there. But then…this was his friend. This was Betsy. He’d talked to her before and this wasn’t any different. “You’re my friend, B. I care about you. I don’t want you to hide who you are from me—especially when it’s something as minor as being a sports fan. Why wouldn’t you share that?”

Betsy closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. “Because it isn’t something minor to me.”

Jace ran on logic and there wasn’t any logical reason he could think of for why she would hide something like this. He almost reached over and grabbed her hand, but stopped himself. Looking at her, Jace noticed her lips and how they were slightly pouty. He’d always had a thing for lips.
What the hell am I doing thinking about Betsy’s lips again?
Jace fought to get back on track. “I just want this to go as smoothly on both of us as it can. The only way that will happen is if we can be honest with each other and talk. We’re friends first and foremost.”

Jace had no idea if he was saying the right thing here. He ran over her reply in his head, wondering how football could be such a big deal to her.

“You’re right. I know it’s silly.” She stalled for a second before saying, “I love sports, Jace. Any time I get the chance, I watch the games.”

He nodded his head, wondering if it would be strange if he reached out and touched her. Maybe let her hair wrap around his fingers like he had before the wedding. The need to do just that burned through him. The soft scent of warm vanilla tickled his nose and he realized it was her. It fit Betsy.

“Well, that’s good, because I do, too.” He tilted his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go in the living room and finish the game together.”

She looked at him and smiled before standing. Jace let her lead the way downstairs and they parked on the couch to watch the game. Together.

….

The next few days went by well. Betsy somehow managed to put out of her mind the horrifying incident with her jumping on the bed. They talked it out, laughed about it, and then had a good time. She wouldn’t let herself dwell or be embarrassed.

Their lives became a different kind of routine than they had before. Just like always they worked together every day. He brought her coffee and she gave him doughnuts and helped him find missing paperwork. She had to admit, every time the phone rang, she worried it would be a woman for him, but true to his promise, she hadn’t heard a peep from anyone.

Now their routine included eating dinner together every night while they sat on the couch and watched basketball. It was so strange watching sports with another person. It had always been something she did alone, but somehow cheering on her favorite teams alongside Jace now made her feel a part of something even bigger.

Betsy felt a smile tug at her lips. The second she realized it was there she tried to wipe it away. She reminded herself that what she and Jace had was better than romance—a friendship that had grown even more now that they shared things like arguing over a bad call by a ref.

Still, he was just so…manly? And sexy and sophisticated with his crisp blond hair and electric eyes. How tall he stood and how proud he always looked. She wanted to throw herself into his arms at least once a day.

Ugh. Wasn’t she trying to make herself
stop
smiling?

Betsy stood up, ready to head to work. They still drove in separately because Jace had court or trial to go to more often than not. And she liked to have her car in case she needed to see her mom. He’d asked her a couple times if she was sure she didn’t want to ride with him, but she always said yes, she was sure.

As she opened her bedroom door, quickly turning the corner to the hallway, she collided into a warm, fleshy wall. A naked one.

“Oh!” Betsy had her hands on Jace’s bare chest. It felt like velvet over steel—his skin soft but with hard muscles flexing underneath. She felt her face catch fire but she couldn’t make herself back away. Betsy’s eyes drifted down. Jace wore a white towel wrapped around his lean hips and nothing else. When she looked up again, she saw shaving cream coated his jaw. He was always clean shaven. She liked that about him.