Betting on Love by Jennifer Hoopes

Author:Jennifer Hoopes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Two-Hour Romance Short Reads; Women's Fiction; Small Town & Rural Fiction; Saga Fiction; Family Life Fiction; Contemporary Women's Fiction; Contemporary American Fiction; Jennifer Hoopes; Betting on Love; Entangled Publishing; Bliss; Series Romance; Short Romance; Quick Romance; Wager & Bet Romance; Family Feud; Boss & Employee Romance; Fake Relationship Romance; wealthy hero; CEO hero; popular romance; The Ellis Family Saga Series; Tennessee; Mountains; Hallmark Movie; Sweet Romance; Clean Romance;
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Bliss)
Published: 2020-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Whitney pulled up to The Lodge to find Sam pacing the front porch, muttering to himself. He looked up and smiled.

Her stomach flip-flopped and she ordered it to behave. He was probably smiling in relief that she’d showed up. Not because of her specifically.

Compartmentalize. No disastrous repeats like the Riding Wednesdays debacle.

She climbed out and Sam met her halfway.

“Hey, you ready?”

“No. But that has never stopped me before.”

“Love that attitude and honesty.”

Sam’s gaze shot over her shoulder and then he stepped closer and kissed her cheek.

Heat rushed to the small spot where his lips had brushed her skin, the prickles of his beard tingling the outer areas.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

His gaze again darted to the side and then he waved his hand. “Hey, Caleb, make sure you have those contracts notarized and on my desk by the time I get back.”

Whitney forced the embarrassment and mortification back in place. She knew how to hide those feelings well. Of course he’d greeted her that way. His family was around.

“You need help with your luggage?” Sam asked.

Own. Two. Feet.

“No, there’s not much. I’m a light packer.”

Mostly because I don’t have much to pack.

She popped the trunk and pulled out her suitcase. Gripping the handle, she took a few deep breaths.

“Whitney, you okay?”

“Just peachy,” she called back. Man, was this how he’d felt the night she’d pulled the same stunt on him? Although to be fair, hers had been a lot more stunt-worthy and a lot more…well, more. Still it sucked. But maybe it sucked only ’cause she liked it and she wanted that to be how he wanted to greet her, not how he thought he should to win a stupid bet.

That. Stupid. Bet.

Why-oh-why did I agree to it?

It had seemed like a no-brainer. And now?

Now it was another big mistake in the life of Whitney Carroll.

She stomped her foot and slammed the trunk lid. Sam met her gaze with wide eyes and a cocked head.

“Just. Peachy.”

She wheeled her stuff up to the front door.

Sam followed. She could feel a disturbance along her back. An awareness. She hated it. Why him? She’d been asking herself that since the night at the bar. Even her ex-husband, in their early blissful days, had never affected her inner equilibrium the way Sam Ellis did.

He reached around, set the front door swinging, and once again she entered the behemoth foyer of The Lodge.

“Why don’t we head to the conference room and we can talk about tonight’s party and who you might have to deal with. Tomorrow, we hit the ground running with photo ops and a media briefing. The first ride with everyone will be on Saturday evening, per your suggestion.”

“Sounds good.” Her voice was less than sure, and Sam touched her hand resting on the top of her suitcase.

She met his gaze.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry about out there.” He took his hand back and ran it through his hair.

Big girl. Two feet. “No. It’s fine. You were putting on a show.

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