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How to Lose a Fiancé Page 9


  “So have I!” he roared. He took a step back and gritted his teeth. A muscle worked in his jaw as he folded his arms across his chest and glowered at her. “I still would never lie to you, never do something this underhanded behind your back.”

  “It wasn’t like that!” Kaimbrey put her hand on his arm, but he pulled away. “I thought you were a jerk that first night, and so I agreed to Emma’s challenge. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. You can’t possibly understand. Nobody has any no clue how hard I’ve tried to get funding for my charity. My parents have blackballed me, told everyone not to donate. No bank is going to give me a loan that I could never repay. Everybody treats me like some child who lives in fairyland. But this is very serious to me, and I am going to help those people,” she said fiercely. “Emma told me I couldn’t tell you; that’s why I kept it from you. I thought you were so great that you’d understand why I did it.”

  Brody’s jaw was slack as he stared at her. “So now I’m a jerk because I take offense to being played, to being lied to?” He shook his head. “Trust. You had me begging, hoping I could earn your trust …” He guffawed and spoke in the most deadly serious tone she’d ever heard out of him. “Well, you’ve just lost mine.” He turned and stormed to the door.

  Kaimbrey wanted to call to him, beg him not to go, to listen to reason. She’d been falling in love with him, and now he was going to walk away over a misunderstanding. But deep inside, she knew this was more than a misunderstanding. She had lied to him, all while telling him that he had to earn her trust. She couldn’t fix this; she couldn’t change it. The worst part was, if she had to do it over again, would she change it? Helping people with her charity meant everything to her, but did it mean more than loving the right man?

  As the door slammed and then Bri came out of her room to hold her while she sobbed too hard even to explain, she didn’t know how to answer her own question.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kaimbrey went back to work Monday morning at the veterans’ hospital where she was a social worker. She loved working with the vets, mostly older men who liked to tease with her, but there were so many sad situations. Some men would come into the hospital with a treatable medical condition, but when they left, they had nowhere to go but the streets and homeless shelters. Some of these men would’ve been among the people who benefited from her charity.

  She tried not to be angry at Brody. He felt betrayed and she could understand that, but if only he’d listened to reason, tried to understand instead of being so bullheaded and irrational. Maybe they could’ve gone to Emma, told her they’d fallen in love and were going to get married. Even though Brody had found out about the challenge, he hadn’t heard it from Kaimbrey.

  But all of that was wishful thinking. Brody probably wouldn’t talk to her, let alone propose to her. Maybe he hadn’t fallen for her like he’d claimed he had before he found out about the million dollars. Who knew? All she did know was she’d lost the money and the guy, and she was in misery.

  Her cell phone rang, and she silenced it. When she finished the interview, she exited to the sterile white hallway and checked the call. Her mother. How not nice. Even though her parents had disowned her, she was surprised it had taken this long to hear from them. She had about talked herself into believing her parents had never even heard about the kidnapping. That was easier to imagine than that they’d heard about it, received the ransom call, and decided to ignore it. She stewed over that as she called her back.

  “Oh, hello, darlin’,” her mother said by way of greeting. “We just heard about this nasty business with the kidnapping. You’re doing all right, though?”

  “No thanks to you.”

  “Well, excuse me, but don’t you sass your mama.”

  Kaimbrey’s lip curled. She could sass anyone she wanted.

  “We were busy, on the trip of a lifetime, sailing through Zanzibar. Oh, darlin’, it really was like exploring the ancient kingdom of Persia, on a five-star floating piece of heaven. We didn’t have cell service, but the police tracked us down, got through to us not long ago, and informed us all was well that ends well. Right?”

  Her parents were always on “the trip of a lifetime.” Kaimbrey used to go with them on a lot of those trips. Now it made her sick to think of their ostentatious lifestyle when so many were suffering.

  “So I’ve put an extra twenty grand in your account because I feel so bad about this business. Don’t you dare waste it on those sob stories. Use it for something special: buy yourself some beautiful clothes, get away for the weekend, whatever, darlin’. You’re not still workin’ at that disgustin’ hospital, are you?”

  “I’ve got to go. Thanks for callin’.” She disconnected. She’d use the money for something special indeed—helping the homeless. It wasn’t the million she’d been planning on, but she could still do a lot of good with twenty grand.

  She seethed as she walked to her next appointment, feeling small and unloved. Brody might be upset with her, but at least he had support, a family that loved him. Kaimbrey had no one. Well, she had Bri, but Bri was focused on Colt, as she should be.

  Her mother was such a piece of work that Kaimbrey shouldn’t care what she thought or did. It didn’t make it hurt any less.

  The next couple of weeks dragged by. She worked a lot. She put fifteen grand in her charity savings account and then spent the rest of her parents’ money on food, school supplies, and clothing for those in need. She talked to Bri and Cally often, loving the story of Tate going after Cally to Chicago, but heard nothing from Brody. She missed him. She ached for him. She’d messed it all up and didn’t know how to fix it. He was stubborn and prideful, and she didn’t know that anything she said or did at this point could make him forgive her.

  On the night of Colt and Bri’s family dinner and wedding rehearsal, she was nervous at the idea of seeing Brody again, but she wasn’t going to miss out on her best friend’s important events because of him. She got in her Jetta and drove from her small apartment in Plain City and up the canyon toward Eden. Her nerves were making her tap her fingers on the steering wheel and keep checking her reflection in the mirror. She liked the way the pale blue dress set off her dark skin. Hopefully Brody would notice. She pursed her lips, wondering if she should add more lipstick or keep them more natural.

  Her car beeped the horrifying screech that meant she was going to hit something, and her brakes locked up. She glanced away from her mirror and screamed as she plowed into a deer. She lurched forward, the seat belt tightening like a vice grip around her chest and her head whiplashing forward. The air bags deployed and smacked her back against the seat. The air filled with a whitish powder that smelled oddly like talcum powder. Dizzily, she tried to arch over the airbag to see the deer, but the pain in her neck kept her from getting a good look.

  She heard brakes squeal, and seconds later, footsteps pounded to the side of her car. Her door was yanked open and a man leaned in. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. Did I kill it?”

  “I think so.”

  Kaimbrey felt sick. If she hadn’t been checking how she looked in the mirror like some teenager, she wouldn’t have killed that poor animal.

  “You reacted so well, though, not overreacting or swerving. You could’ve easily gone off into the river or plowed into the semi coming the other way.”

  Kaimbrey smiled faintly. “Um, actually, it was my car that reacted well. I probably would’ve swerved.” The new car had been a graduation gift from her parents last spring. She could be grateful they’d bought her a safe car, at least.

  “That’s pretty great that it kept you safe.”

  “For sure. Can you help me get out of here?”

  “I wonder if you should wait until the EMTs evaluate if you should move.”

  “I’m fine.” She started pushing at the airbag.

  The man helped her slide out. She couldn’t look at all the blood and the mangled deer lying in the road. She looked the other direction and saw the tr
affic already backed up. Oh, my. She’d created a huge mess. But it definitely would’ve been worse if she’d seen the deer and tried to swerve into the river or the semi coming the other way. She would’ve been dead or seriously injured, and she probably would’ve hurt the person driving the semi also. She said a prayer of gratitude in her head.

  “I’m going to be late,” she muttered.

  “Late?” The guy laughed. “Wherever you’re supposed to be, you’d better call and tell them you’re not coming.”

  “No.” Kaimbrey groaned. She leaned back into her car, fishing around under the airbag until she found her phone. Calling Bri’s phone only got her to voicemail. She tried Cally and got the same. She didn’t have Tate or Colt’s numbers, and there was no way she was calling Brody, so she settled for a group text with Cally and Bri.

  She heard sirens as the police and ambulance slowly worked their way to Kaimbrey. Even though she was upset about the accident and killing the innocent deer, in a way she was relieved that she could put off seeing Brody for one more night.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Brody went through the two weeks after Kaimbrey’s betrayal feeling like a hardened, bitter person. Tate chased Cally to Chicago, and they returned every bit as desperately in love as Colt and Bri were. He expected Tate would propose any time. Maybe they’d get the money from Emmaline Jensen, he thought bitterly. No, wait, Emma’s only specification was they couldn’t tell the guy about the challenge, so Tate and Cally had failed. Yet they had truly won. They had each other, and both realized that was the most important thing. If only Kaimbrey felt the same way.

  From what he could tell, Kaimbrey had disappeared. At least his brothers and their perfect women didn’t mention her name to him. Well, they’d tried the first couple days, but when he stonewalled them, they seemed to give up.

  His anger had subsided within a few days, but the hurt and betrayal hadn’t. He could maybe understand why Kaimbrey had initially taken the challenge, before she knew him very well and considering the near disaster of Jill kissing him. After he and Kaimbrey connected the way they had and he’d saved her, twice, why couldn’t she have confided in him and given him a chance to help her figure out her charity and prove his devotion to her? He had so many wealthy clients and did extremely well himself. He could’ve worked with her to fund her charity, but she hadn’t trusted him enough to share, to ask.

  It was Friday, the night of the family rehearsal dinner at Emmaline Jensen’s mansion. Everyone was seated for the fancy dinner in the main living area by six. There was a conspicuously unoccupied chair by his side. A small placard read “Kaimbrey Jackson,” but she was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, as the bridesmaid and groomsman, they were supposed to sit together tonight and at the wedding dinner tomorrow. They were also supposed to practice their walk down the aisle tonight. She’d stood him up.

  He tried to be his positive, funny self as dinner progressed, but his brow was furrowed and he couldn’t believe that she would just not come. She and Bri were close. Would she truly miss out on the most important event in Bri’s life, simply to avoid or hurt Brody? That was low, and he got more and more upset as the night wore on.

  The dinner finally ended, and they did the practice. He awkwardly followed Colt and Bri and Tate and Cally down the aisle by himself after the mock wedding. Bri gave him a speculative glance, but she was too focused making goo-goo eyes at Colt to pay much attention to anybody else. Did she not even care that her best friend had stood them all up?

  As soon as Brody made his rounds kissing his parents, sisters, and all the aunts, shaking hands with the uncles, and teasing with his nieces and nephews, he escaped outside. The pleasant summer evening had cooled off enough to have a little bite to the air. He needed that sting of mountain air to wake him up and help him find his positive attitude again.

  Tate pushed through one of the patio doors. “Hey, you got out fast.”

  “What are you doing alone?” Brody asked. “Where’s the girl who’s almost pretty enough to compensate for all your ugly?”

  Tate winked. “You mean the prettiest girl in existence?”

  “Keep telling yourself that. My wife will put every woman you’ve ever met to shame.” His gut clenched as he said it. His wife. Could any woman ever compare to Kaimbrey? He had to believe that he and Kaimbrey were just a quick match strike and someday he’d find a woman more suited for him, a fire that would keep burning. The problem with lying to yourself was it was really hard to believe the untruths.

  Tate’s blue eyes sobered. “You okay?”

  “Yep. Great. You?”

  “You know Kaimbrey—”

  Brody backed away. “I’ve got to go. Headed home to Morgan tonight, got a mountain bike ride scheduled early. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, bro.”

  Tate’s gaze was far too perceptive. Instead of calling him out on being so wimpy that he couldn’t even hear Kaimbrey’s name, Tate strode toward him, clasped him in a brotherly hug, and then said, “See you tomorrow.”

  Brody choked up. As the youngest brother, he’d been picked on and teased, but he’d learned to be resilient and tease back. Mostly, his older sisters and brothers had been really great to him, and at this moment, he loved Tate fiercely. He shouldn’t have revealed how emotional he was feeling right now, but he forced out, “Love you.” Then he spun and almost ran for his truck before Tate made something out of it.

  He did love his family and was grateful for them. He’d been blessed financially and physically and loved his work and all the activities he was able to do outside of work. As he fired up his truck, he tried to keep listing things he was grateful for, but in the back of his mind was the one thing he would never have: Kaimbrey.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Brody had a hard time going to sleep Friday night, but he woke early and went on a long mountain bike ride with some buddies until late morning. Luckily, they had time for lunch also. He was proud that he’d made it to Saturday evening, the night of the wedding, without a full mental breakdown from stewing about Kaimbrey.

  Emmaline’s yard was filled with so many flowers it made Brody sneeze. The soft twinkly lights and white gauzy stuff was strung everywhere. It was perfect and beautiful for his brother’s wedding. Brody had to concentrate on his brother and Bri, not focus on his own misery.

  Would she come tonight? He missed Kaimbrey, and if she gave him a chance, maybe he’d forgive her and ask if they could start over again. He was such a wimp for her, but he didn’t care about being a wimp. If he could be with her, what did his pride matter?

  Yet he wasn’t going to get that chance. Just like last night, she was going to stand him up. The wedding was starting in minutes, and she was nowhere to be seen. Tate and Cally had been smooching around the corner earlier, but there was no sign of Cally’s fellow bridesmaid.

  He shifted from foot to foot next to Colt and Tate.

  “Will you stop it?” Colt muttered. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous.”

  “Or me,” Tate inserted, pushing his thick hair out of his face and then patting his suit pocket. “I’m proposing tonight.”

  Colt slapped Tate’s shoulder, grinning. “That’s great news, bro. You and Cally will be amazing together.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot.” Tate looked suspiciously bright-eyed.

  Brody forced a smile even though he wanted to glare at his handsome brothers in their tailored suits. It was great to see his brothers so happy; if only he wasn’t so miserable. “Good for you.”

  “Thanks, man.” Tate brushed at his reddish-brown locks and cleared his throat. “I’m the luckiest man I know.”

  “Next to me,” Colt said.

  Oh, wow. Brody held in a groan and looked around at the wedding party. All their friends and loved ones had gathered in one beautiful spot, and soon the beautiful bride would make her way down the aisle. There was only one loved one Brody wanted to see. Would she come, or would she miss her best friend’s wedding because she was mad a
t him? He shifted his feet again and ignored his brother’s underhanded comments. As happy as he was for his brothers, he wished this night was over.

  Music started, and their sister, Ivy, helped her darling three-year-old, Marissa, spread flowers down the aisle. The door that led into Emmaline Jensen’s master suite opened, and Brody knew this was the moment. Either she’d appear like an angel, or he’d truly know she didn’t want anything to do with him.

  Emma exited first, standing to the side and holding the door. Brody’s heart rate increased as his eyes zeroed in on that door. Please let her be here.

  Cally slid out next, looking beautiful in a fitted pink dress. She held herself like a queen, and her gaze was focused on Tate as she walked slowly to the rear of the chairs and then up the aisle. Brody smiled as he noticed how enraptured Tate looked, but then he started fidgeting again. What was taking so long? Weren’t the bridesmaids supposed to come out closer together?

  Finally, a familiar figure appeared at the door. Brody’s jaw dropped and his stomach filled with heat as Kaimbrey emerged. Her dress was identical to Cally’s, and she looked so absolutely gorgeous, he couldn’t catch a breath. When she met his gaze, her dark eyes had him so stirred up that it was all he could do to not rush down the wedding aisle and pick her off her feet.

  Looking away from him, she smiled and nodded to people in the wedding party and studiously avoided his gaze as she walked up the aisle. She took her place next to Cally as Brody kept his focus on her, willing her to look at him again, to give him a chance—but no, she stared straight ahead.

  There was a rustle as the music changed and everyone stood for the bride. Bri’s dad was waiting next to Emma at the door, and he took Bri’s elbow to guide her down the aisle. Brody tried to focus on this special day for his brother and the bride, but something about the beautiful bridesmaid refusing to look at him had him ticked again. She’d missed last night, probably just to snub him, and now she couldn’t even meet his gaze. He wasn’t the one who had tricked and lied to the other. Somehow, he would get her alone and they were going to … talk.