Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) - J.C. Reed Page 0,26

“If that had been the case, he’d only have had to ask me, and I would have gladly given it to him because you know how much I hate old stuff.” I looked at the watch again.

Five more minutes.

I could feel the onset of a panic.

“Just give him a chance,” Jude insisted. “Promise me, Laurie. The last thing I want you to feel is regret. Nothing good ever comes out of it. Trust me on that. I know you said you don’t have feelings for him, but honestly, I don’t believe you.”

“Is that why you called him to bail me out? And don’t tell me you didn’t, because I know you were behind it.”

“I…” She sighed. “I felt bad for going behind your back. Plus, it was your mom’s necklace and it was all my fault and—”

“Keep it short, Jude,” I said impatiently.

“Fine,” she replied. “I called him.”

“Oh, Jude,” I exclaimed. “Why can’t you ever listen to me and stay out of my crappy life?”

“I know. I know. And of course you’re right,” she said, her tone slightly irritated. “But in my defense I’ll have to stress that it was already out of my hands.”

“How so?” I asked.

“When I called him, he already knew you were in jail, and he was on his drive to the airport.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“How would he know that?” I asked, agog.

“That’s what I wanted to know, too,” she said thoughtfully. “He said they called him because he was listed as your husband. Even if I wanted to, he was the only person allowed to bail you out. Their words. Not mine. I even called to check up the fact. So, even if I wanted to, I would not have been able to help you.”

That sounded like utter bullshit.

I blinked several times.

“Now I really do owe him, don’t I?” I said flatly, feeling weak at the thought of having to repay Chase. It was the last thing I needed when all I wanted was a clean breakup.

“No,” Jude added quickly. “Definitely not. I’d say he still owes you for the crap he pulled on you.”

“You really mean that?” I asked.

“Of course, I’m your friend, aren’t I?”

Which was why her reasoning was biased and couldn’t be applied in real life.

“Thank you.” I smiled. “That was exactly what I needed to hear.” I glanced at my watch again.

I only had four minutes left.

“I’ve got to go,” I said. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m back. Wish me luck.”

“Laurie?”

“Yeah?”

The line remained silent for a few moments as I waited for the kind of words I knew would try to change my mind about him.

“I don’t expect you to forgive him,” Jude said softly. “Just hear his side of the story, okay? And don’t run off again and end up God knows where. You scared the hell out of me. Don’t do that ever again. Yes, it was my idea, but I didn’t think you’d go for it.”

I let out a laugh and got off the phone, then leaned back.

Was this a mistake?

No doubt about it. But the truth was, Jude was right.

Chase harbored more secrets than the ancient Druids.

I didn’t want to be wrong and judge him without hearing his side of the story. And then, there was my curiosity, my annoying and desperate desire to know what was going on.

Was it possibly some harmless misunderstanding?

Were his parents pushing him for a marriage for a reason unknown to me and he had no other choice than to wed a stranger?

Even if Chase wouldn’t explain everything, at least there was the slight chance that I’d get a few morsels of information. Then I’d do what was necessary—research, take apart the pieces of information I had, and decide what to do with them. Leave and forget. Or work with them, and create something better.

Slipping into a light blue halter neck dress, definitely not the red one Chase required, I checked my reflection in the mirror. My hair, which was usually twisted into a practical, loose side bun, cascaded down my shoulders. Even though I barely had seen the sun, my skin had a light bronze glow to it. My cheeks were flushed. If one didn’t dig too deep, but judged from my fake smile, I could have easily passed as the happy, recently married bride.

Bride.

The word stung.

I was a bride, just not a traditional one. Not even a happy one. Even with all the fluttering in my stomach at the prospect of soon seeing Chase, the situation was what it was.

“Stupid,” I