Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Luke knew the moment he saw Kelly that he had to have her. It didn’t matter that she was engaged to his client’s son. She wasn’t meant to be in anyone’s arms but his own, and he was going to do whatever it took to get her there. He never predicted the trouble she was in and what he would have to do to set her free. But it’s too late for Kelly because he’s all in.
Warning: The house always wins in the Love is a Gamble series! Danger, kidnapping, and a happily ever after? We’ll take those odds!
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
KELLY
Who knew a seating chart could be so tedious? Each time I think I have it completed, I get an email or text about someone not wanting to be near someone else. I’ve changed this thing fifty times now. I wish I could trash it and tell people to sit wherever they freaking want.
“Hey.” I glance up to see Chloe and Sawyer entering the kitchen where I have my seating chart spread out over the island.
Chloe is my soon-to-be sister-in-law, and Sawyer is her husband. Sawyer is his normal stoic self. I notice he doesn’t have a scratch or bruise on his face, so I guess my fiancé didn’t land any blows when the two of them got in a fistfight a few days ago. Paul didn’t fare so well.
“Hi,” I respond.
I want to ask what happened the other night. I’m sure Paul gave me the watered-down version of whatever the truth was, but I honestly didn’t want to listen to him. He was ranting and raving like a lunatic over the phone to me, and I zoned him out.
Whatever went down was most likely Paul’s fault. I can’t see Sawyer smashing his face in without good cause. And I’m guessing it has something to do with Chloe. That’s the one thing that gets Sawyer worked up. The two of them have a fairytale kind of love.
“Is my mom around?” Chloe asks.
“She’s in Bruce’s office with Paul, I think.” The three of them disappeared not long after we got to Paul’s parents’ house. We were supposed to be having dinner and going over more wedding details.
“Do you need help?” Chloe offers.
“No.” She’s already done enough. Chloe put on a whole bridal shower for me and is always so sweet.
In another world, maybe we could have been friends, but every second I’m with her I feel guilty. All the lies are slowly eating me alive. It was easy with others, but it’s harder with Paul’s family. Unlike my own family, his are wonderful.
“Come on, kitten. You start dinner and I’ll be your sous chef,” I hear Sawyer say to his wife, but I don’t look up from the seating chart in front of me. The names start to blur together, but it’s a good distraction from the two of them.
“All right, but no—” Chloe is cut off by shouting in the other room. I know that voice all too well.
“Stay here,” Sawyer orders before hurrying out of the kitchen.
Chloe and I share a glance before we both rush after him.
“The two of you have set me up!” Paul screams.
When we make it to the office door, I can tell any of Paul’s plans for a reconciliation have gone to shit. His face is flushed, his eyes are wild, and he’s sweating through his dress shirt. He’s truly lost it now. After getting kicked off the board of his father’s company and the fight at the restaurant, things are bad. Really bad.
“I’m sorry, I was trying to keep this private,” Bruce says and glances toward Chloe and me standing in the open doorway.
“What’s all the shouting?” Katherine, Paul’s stepmom, comes to stand near us.
“Paul’s been forging company documents.” My eyes snap to a man sitting on the long leather sofa, and I watch him stand up and straighten his tie. I’ve never met him before because I’d remember his face. “He signed his father’s name to broker deals and collect the payment.”
“You’re stealing from your father?” Chloe says, and I see Paul turn his rage-filled eyes on her.
I know Paul has a temper, but I’ve never seen him like this. Not that we’ve spent much time together.
Sawyer steps to the side, blocking Paul’s view of Chloe. “You’d be smart to watch how you speak to my wife.”
“I’ve got a car waiting outside for you,” Bruce tells Paul gently. “All you have to do is sign yourself in, and we can work this out.”
“What is he talking about?” I ask as I take a step toward Paul. There’s more going on here than I know, but I suppose that’s always the case when it comes to my life.
“He’s threatening to lock me up.” Paul throws his hands in the air, and the more manic he is, the less anyone believes him. “He believes them!”
“It’s a rehabilitation facility,” Bruce says, again with that soft tone like he’s speaking to a wild animal. “You need help, son.”
Do they mean rehab? Holy crap. This is bad. My mind starts to race, and I already know my father is going to lose it.
“What about the wedding?” I ask. It’s terrible, but Paul and I had a deal.
No one responds to me, and I guess I can’t blame them. They’re worried about their son, but I’ve got to worry about me too.
“Paul, I didn’t want it to be like this. The documents are there with the forged signature and—”