Page 39 of Worth the Risk

Since this was the rehearsal dinner, the menu had been preselected in advance. The meal was a delicious shrimp linguine, and the dessert that Leanne and Ryan chose was another cheesecake, but this one was smothered in a strawberry glaze. I didn’t consider myself to be a picky eater, but I’d never liked strawberries. So, I politely declined the dessert, but I didn’t ask for anything else, not wanting to inconvenience the woman that had such a big party to serve. Instead of making a deal about it, I hung around and continued to talk with Leanne and Ryan while everyone else ate their dessert.

Then, the waitress came back with a single plate in her hand. In the center was another piece of the amazing chocolate cheesecake that Ford had brought to my bungalow last night. The waitress set it down with a kind smile but didn’t say a word about where it came from, and I didn’t have to ask.

Glancing down the table again, I met Ford’s eyes, and he winked at me before turning back to a conversation with Gordon. I suddenly wished that I was sitting beside him.

But the fear lingered. He’d hurt me more than anyone else ever had, and anytime I thought about opening my heart to him again, a coiled tightness appeared in my stomach like a warning of what was at risk.

I took my time eating the cheesecake, savoring every bite, even while the party started to break up. Jake left the table first, heading to the nearby tiki bar for a drink.

Not long after, Kirsten and Angela headed that way too.

Leanne and Ryan left with her mom and aunt to check on last-minute details for tomorrow’s wedding, and I saw Kelsie march away from Damien in a huff. I hoped she wasn’t trying to get away from him, but he followed right after, clearly not about to let her go anywhere without him.

I wondered what was going on with those two. There was obvious tension between them the last couple of days. Not that I had any room to talk.

“So, you like your replacement dessert?”

I looked up as I put the last bite of chocolate goodness into my mouth to see that Ford was in Jake’s empty chair.

I grinned. “You spoil me, you know. Chocolate two nights in a row?”

His eyes flickered to my stomach. “Well, we need to feed the sweet pea, and I know you don’t like strawberry.”

I wished my heart wouldn’t flutter when he did thoughtful things or remembered stuff about me like that. It made it so much harder to remember why I was reluctant to be with him again.

“Can I walk you back to your bungalow?” he asked.

No. It’s a bad idea. I need to try not to love you anymore.

“Sure.” I stood and we walked off the terrace where we’d eaten dinner.

We were on the concrete walkway and had just passed the outdoor pool when my brother’s angry voice cut through the peace of the evening.

“Ford! We need to talk!”

We both turned as Jake stormed toward us, and my confusion evaporated when I saw Kirsten trailing behind him with a panicked look on her face. Shit.

“Kirsten must have told him,” I murmured. Jake was getting closer, and he looked mad, but Ford turned to me anyway. “She knows about the baby.”

Jake stopped in front of us, his glare focused on Ford. “Is this true? Did you sleep with my sister?”

“Hey! I’m standing right here,” I snapped.

“Zoey, I’m sorry,” Kirsten said, looking more upset than I’d ever seen her. “I didn’t mean to tell him. It just… slipped out.”

“I just want to know what’s going on,” Jake said, his eyes slightly softer as he looked at me. “Kirsten said you’re pregnant with his baby, but you’re not together. So, what the hell is going on here? Did you take advantage of my little sister?”

I slapped his arm. “I’m still here, Jake! Stop talking about me like I’m not.”

“I just want to know what happened between you guys. I’m trying to look out for you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I’m twenty-seven years old. I can look out for myself.”

“We were a couple for six months,” Ford said in a low, serious voice.

Jake’s chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. “What do you mean, were a couple? And you said it was six months? Why didn’t I know that you guys were dating for that long?”