Read Online A Betting Man by Sandrine Gasq-DIon - Free Book Online Page B

flowed down her cheeks.
    “Oh, baby! You got it all shiny!”
    Carl took the ring from her and tilted it to the light. “It’s got the day we were married inscribed on it.”
    Carl slid the ring back on his wife’s finger and I felt my own eyes tearing up.
    Mary looked at her ring and beamed.
    “Here it comes,” Kent whispered in my ear.
    “What?” I whispered back.
    “I can’t believe you made me think it was lost!” Mary screeched at her husband.
    Kent chuckled next to me and I leaned into him.
    “I’m taking your tools back to Sears!”

~KENT~
    We left the following morning, but not before my mom made me promise to come back soon. With Terry. I’d spent so much time trying to forget I had a family; I’d forgotten what it was like to be part of one. Terry seemed sad to leave. My mom fussed over him, hugging him repeatedly. My dad about crushed him in a hug. I was back at work and hating every damn second of it.
    I missed being with Terry.
    With my new ad campaign, I was barely getting enough time to call him. He took it in stride, letting me know he’d be there when I had the time. Things seemed different for me when I got back, too. Now, when I looked at Porsche I wondered how on Earth I’d ever thought she was worth having sex with. She was a materialistic, whiny bitch. I guess I had known that before, I just hadn’t cared. I cared now.
    The tickets for the advertising awards sat on my desk. I was up for an award as were Blaine and a few other people I knew from other firms. I was going to ask Terry to go with me. I had made plans with Terry for New Year’s. We were going to hang out in my apartment and watch the fireworks go off. He’d been to Times Square for New Year’s and assured me he’d rather it be just the two of us. I wanted that, too. I also wanted Terry to make love to me. The thought was a bit scary; I’d never even put a finger up my ass. I was going to have to buy a dildo, or one of those butt plug thingies. Was there a difference?
    My phone beeped at me and I smiled at the text.
    See you tonight!
    Can’t wait! <3.
    My stomach flipped over and I felt a flush hit my cheeks. There was a soft knock on my door and Anna walked in with a brown paper bag. The smell of onions wafted through my office.
    “What’s all this?” I smiled.
    “Terry sent it over.” Anna set the bag down on my desk.
    I opened it and the smell of Gray’s assaulted my nostrils. It was heaven.
    Anna snatched the bag from me with a grin. “One of those is mine.”
    “Excuse me?” I lifted a brow.
    “I’m here to help you finish work,” she said, getting comfortable. “I want you to spend New Year’s with Terry.”
    I clasped my hands together and regarded her with a grin. “You like him, don’t you?”
    “I think he’s perfect for you.”
    “Oh, how so?”
    Anna looked at me seriously for a few seconds.
    “He humanizes you. No offense, boss but when I first started working with you,” she blushed and looked away.
    “Go ahead, feel free,” I urged.
    “I thought you were the biggest jackass on the planet. Well, next to Mr. McKlintock.” She laughed at my look of shock. “Terry? He makes you smile; I’ve never seen you laugh so much, either. The way he looks at you, it’s like you put the sun up in the morning and swap it for the moon at night. He’s in love with you, boss.”
    I jerked back and my chair tipped, spilling me to the floor. Anna was around the desk looking down at me with a smile.
    “Welcome to love, boss.”
    * * * *
    I paced my living room on New Year’s Eve. Terry was coming any second. I kept replaying the conversation with Anna in my mind. Did Terry love me? And if Anna could see it, could everyone else, too? This was getting complicated. Either way, I’d won the bet. My doorbell scared the shit out of me and I actually jumped. I crossed the room and opened the door. Terry stood in his worn jeans and flannel jacket. I pulled him inside and hugged him hard.
    “Hey,” he