Read Online The Bet (Blazing Hearts, #1) by Kennedy Kovit - Free Book Online Page B

his book. At twenty-eight he still felt too old for her and she was now twenty-two, nearly twenty-three. Since he could remember, he’d been drawn to her. He’d done a decent job of keeping his distance, and then she’d gone off to some fancy university giving him a reprieve. He’d done his best to lose himself in other women. To forget about her. It didn’t work.
    Now she was back and as sexy as ever.
    “You’re ignoring me again,” Jake said with a nudge before finishing off the rest of his beer. He belched loud and proud. “Did you hear me? She’s a woman now.”
    Tyson picked apart more of the grass. “Even if she did see me in the same light, she’s Luther’s daughter, and I would never disrespect him like that.”
    Jake grabbed himself another beer. He lifted one to Tyson.
    “How are we gettin’ home if we polish all these off?” asked Tyson.
    “Grabbed sleeping bags before I did the beer run.” Jake eyed him. “Figured this would end with us sleeping in our truck beds.”
    He was probably right. When they were little, they’d take a tent out and sleep near the lake. Now that they were older, they made due with the back end of their trucks. Tyson never did point out they’d stopped tent camping around the same time a snake had found its way into the tent during the night. Jake was not a fan of them. Not by far.
    All too often one of the gang played a prank on Jake involving snakes. They never went over well. Still, they did it. 
    “Listen, I know you see Mr. Garnes as a father figure of sorts, most of us do, but, Tyson, don’t you think he’d rather have you shackin’ up with his girl than some city boy from the North? One of them Bostonians? A smooth talkin’ yank?”
    Tyson’s hackles raised. “What have you heard? Is she with a guy?”
    “Whoa, down boy,” razzed Jake. “Take it easy. I haven’t heard anything, but it’s only a matter of time before some other guy snatches her up. You’ll regret it, Ty. Trust me. I know. You came just shy of brandin’ the girl as yours years ago. We all know it. Why do you think Kaleb hasn’t ever made a go at her?”
    “Because he knows I’ll beat the shit out of him.”
    Kaleb Smith was the town’s legendary ladies’ man. And it was true. He’d never made a pass at Lexie. Tyson had always assumed it was because she wasn’t his type. He snorted. She was every guy’s type.
    He understood now. Kaleb stayed away from her because of Tyson’s feeling for her. He didn’t like feeling this vulnerable around anyone, but Jake understood his position on things. Tyson’s gaze moved to his friend, who was now nearly through his second beer. Jake’s heart had belonged to one girl since they were kids. He’d never acted on his feelings, and she was currently in another country with no signs of ever returning to Middlefield. Tyson wasn’t a hundred percent sure what had gone down between Jake and the girl, but whatever had happened had left Jake damaged when it came to women and relationships.
    Often, Jake and Tyson were required to travel for Mr. Garnes, their employer. More than once Tyson had caught Jake looking around the towns they’d land in. Tyson knew what he his friend was searching for, or rather who.
    Jake burped again and then laughed. “If I was you I’d walk right up to Lexie, grab her, kiss her and tell her you’re gonna fuck her until she agrees to marry you.”
    “Marry me?” he asked, his eyes widening. “I’m not really lookin’ for marriage.”
    Jake rolled his eyes. “Right. Whatever. Boy, you’d run to the church with her if you thought you could. Don’t try to deny it.”
    He opened his mouth to do just that but stopped. Shit. Jake had a point. If Tyson ever did settle down it would be with a gal like Lexie.
    Jake laughed. “I’ll bet you the new gelding that came my way, that you been eyeing up, that you won’t do it.”
    “Do what?” Tyson questioned. “Marry her?”
    Jake pushed him slightly. “That you