Wild Fire (The Fairy Tale Match Series) (24 page)

“I see your disposition hasn’t improved
with age,” Victoria sniffed, her expression hurt. She looked at Jake. “Are you
going to let her talk to me like that?”

“Yep! She can kick your butt off our
ranch if she wants to as well. I won’t stop her.”

“Bit hard to do that, since I’m paid
up to stay right here in one of your guest cabins,” Victoria smiled. “I wanted
to be sure to be close to you, so we could talk and spend time like we used
to.” She gave him a heated glance.

“How the hell did you get a
reservation? We’ve been booked up for months.” Jake was incredulous.

“A friend booked me in after a last
minute cancellation came through.” She told him evasively, staring off into the
crowd.

“What friend?” Jake demanded.

“Does it really matter,” Victoria
hedged. Jake gritted his teeth, knowing he’d never get an answer out of her
unless she wanted to give it.

“I’ll give you a refund. Just leave
tonight.” Jake desperately wanted her gone. He had no doubt she would stir up
as much trouble for him and Laura as she could. He could already see the light
of worry and suspicion in Laura’s eyes from the brief conversation they’d had.

“No, I don’t believe I will. I have
every right to stay here, Jake.” She turned to Laura. “Doesn’t it worry you
that he wants rid of me so quickly?”

“Why should it?” Laura folded her
arms over her chest, wishing Victoria would stop talking. Everything out of her
mouth worried Laura, but she’d be damned if she was going to show it.

“Because it’s almost as if he wants
temptation out of harm’s way. Wouldn’t you say?” Her eyes glittered with
determination. “If he wasn’t bothered about me, why would it matter if I’m
staying here?”

Laura shot a glance at Jake,
remembering all too well how he’d wanted to get her out of the house when she’d
first arrived. She could still remember Bill saying something about her
bothering Jake. Was this the reason he wanted Victoria gone? Because he did
still have feelings for her?

“Don’t let her mess with your head.
You know I love you. I only want her gone because she’s trouble.” Jake grasped
her shoulders, staring into her eyes to get her to believe him. She looked so
vulnerable it broke his heart in two.

“What trouble could I possibly be if
you really are over me as you seem to want me to believe?” Victoria challenged.

Jake cursed. He felt backed into a
corner. He wanted her gone, but he could see she was getting to Laura. The last
thing he wanted was for her to believe he still had feelings for Victoria. He
knew how delicate her belief was in herself and her own beauty. He couldn’t let
her think he couldn’t resist the woman he’d nearly married.

“Fine, stay. It makes no difference
to me what you do,” Jake snapped.

“Jake no!” Kerry wailed. “Don’t let
that woman push you into this.”

Jake didn’t reply. He took Laura’s
hand and walked her away from Victoria. Kerry glared at the poisonous witch,
promising retribution.

Victoria merely smiled in triumph.

*****

“No Flo!” Lotta cried, knocking the
little fairy godmothers arm as she pointed her wand at Victoria. The spell Flo
had unleashed flew across the room and hit a poor hapless man square on. He
immediately fell over his own feet and dumped his drink down the front of the
woman standing next to him. She squealed with fury and shock as the cold drink
soaked the front of her dress, staining it.

“Gerald, look what you’ve done!” She
proceeded to scold him heavily, much to his embarrassment and the amusement of
those around them.

“Now look what you made me do!” Flo
huffed. “I wanted Victoria to land on her silly face, not that poor soul.”

“I wasn’t sure what you were going to
do,” Lotta defended.

“You just don’t trust me enough,” Flo
sniffed. “It was a great plan. Maybe I should put a wart on the end of her
nose. Or one on her cheek. Or both!” Flo began to glow in her excitement. “She
wouldn’t look nearly so good with warts all over her face!”

“No Flo. It would seem our couple
have to face the big test.” Lotta shuddered in dread. She had wondered if this
might come up for Laura and Jake and unfortunately it had.

Flo wrinkled her forehead in
concentration. “I don’t recall ever having one of my charges receive the big
test.”

“You’re lucky,” Lotta stated grimly.
She’d had three couples go through this test and two of them had turned out
badly. “It is tough to watch and impossible to predict what will happen. We
must proceed with caution. Not all couples have to face something this big, but
if Jake and Laura are going to really make it, they will have to overcome it.
Our magic will be very limited as the test begins.”

Flo grumbled under her breath, her
small feet tapping unhappily on the floor. “What if Victoria doesn’t play
fair?”

“Then we’ll help even the odds if we
can and are permitted.” Lotta told her firmly. “But chances are anything she
does will be part of the test. They have come a long way. Now they have to have
the strength and courage to see it through.”

Flo didn’t look too happy with the
news. Lotta knew it would be hard on her to resist poking her magic in where
she wasn’t supposed to. She trailed nearer to Victoria. Lotta followed her
quickly, determined to intercede should Flo still decide that warts were the
way to go.

It seemed the big test was to be done
with Laura and Jake. Every fairy godmother dreaded it coming up for their
charges. It was often tough and painful, but if a couple could pass it, they
had a love beyond time and totally unbreakable. It was a rare love that sprang
from such tests. She only hoped they were up to it, for it often happened that
couples failed the test and their love fell apart. Lotta dearly hoped this
wouldn’t happen to Jake and Laura.

“Is there something you haven’t told
me?” Laura asked Jake as he pulled her away from Victoria.

“What on earth makes you ask me
that?” Laura wasn’t reassured since he hadn’t just said no. She stopped short,
pulling her hand from his. He stopped walking and turned to look at her.

“I’m asking because Victoria sounded
like she was trying to imply something back there and she seems awfully
confident that she’s going to get you back. So, is there something you haven’t
told me? Have you been in contact with her or something?”

“Hell no! I’ve not seen her since she
left here over two years ago. I promise you that.” Jake pulled her to him,
hugging her stiff unyielding body to his side. He gripped her chin and forced
her eyes to meet his, seeing the shine of unshed tears in their big green orbs.
“I promise you that I love you, not her. What I feel for you is real and true
and deep. What I had with Victoria was something else. It wasn’t love, you’ve
shown me that. Please don’t worry about her. She’ll be out of our lives as soon
as I prove to her that she holds no part of me anymore. Okay?”

Laura blinked back her tears. Jake
looked completely sincere, she saw no trace of deceit in his expression. A tiny
voice at the back of her mind whispered that she’d never seen Brad’s betrayal
either until it was too late, but she brushed it aside. Jake wasn’t Brad and
she didn’t want to make the mistake of tarring him with the same brush.

“Okay,” she whispered, pulling him
close into a tight embrace. Her breath shuddered through her as she tried to
hold back the force of emotion sweeping through her. She couldn’t bear the
thought of losing Jake. He’d become as necessary to her as her heartbeat and
her breath. If she lost him, she really didn’t know how she would cope. She
felt his arms tighten around her, feeling his kiss on her head and she squeezed
her eyes shut against the fear coursing through her. She would trust in him; in
them.

Pulling back, she kissed him deeply,
putting every ounce of the love that she felt for him into her kiss. Her hands
gently cradled his face, loving the texture of his skin under her fingertips.
He groaned deeply, his tongue dipping into her mouth to tangle with her own.
Passion flared up between them, their hearts blending into a perfect union with
each other.

Aware they were out in the open with
an audience all around them, Jake pulled back before they could get too carried
away. Both of them were breathing heavily, as they stared into each other’s
eyes.

“Everything will be fine,” he assured
her again. She nodded, biting her lip as she tried to bury her anxiety.
Something told her Victoria wouldn’t be giving up without a fight. Laura hoped
it was true that she no longer held a strong grip on Jake’s heart. Because if
she did still have a foothold on his feelings, Laura wasn’t sure she could hold
him. That thought terrified her.

“Let’s forget all about her and
concentrate on us and having a good time,” Jake suggested. “Now do you want
something to drink?”

She dearly wanted to forget Victoria
even existed. Deciding he was right and they should just enjoy the evening,
Laura realised her throat was feeling somewhat dry. She hadn’t had a chance to
drink anything for the last couple of hours. “Oh, yes please. Something
refreshing, but not alcoholic.”

“Wait right here. I won’t be long.”
Jake gave her a quick kiss before he wondered off through the crowd. Laura
battled to push aside her doubts and worries. She could hardly believe Victoria
had suddenly just showed up. A part of her wondered why she’d come now. Fear
whispered through her. The woman was so incredibly beautiful. Laura hardly
compared, a fact Victoria had been all too happy to pick up on. Jake had
planned on marrying her. Would he really choose Laura over her? She wished she
could believe it.

“It won’t last you know,” a voice
behind Laura pronounced. Gasping in fright, Laura spun round to see Walter step
from the shadows. She blushed, wondering how long he’d been standing there. Had
he been eavesdropping on her conversation with Jake?

“What won’t last?” she asked
confused.

“His commitment to you. I heard
Victoria is back. It won’t be long before she has him under her spell again.
You’ll see.” His eyes glittered with some odd expression. Laura almost thought
she could see a hint of satisfaction in his gaze. The next moment it was gone,
leaving her sure she’d only imagined it as his face became full of concern.
“You really should step back, Laura. I am worried he is going to break your
heart. He has had such a thing for Victoria that he hasn’t been right for over
two years. How can you compete with that? His feelings are still too caught up
with her. Surely you can see that now that you’ve seen them together.”

“You’re wrong,” Laura stated with far
more conviction than she felt. “Jake is over her. He’s told me that and I
believe him.”

“Just like that, after all this time
of brooding over her? I wouldn’t be so sure if it was me in your situation.”
Walter shook his head mournfully. “Don’t do this to yourself. Don’t let him do
this to you.”

“He hasn’t done anything Walter.” She
hated the fear that grew with his words. She wanted to tell him to shut up and
leave her alone, but couldn’t find the courage to do so.

“Really. What do you call dumping you
at the first opportunity to go and see her?” Walter raised an eyebrow in
challenge.

“He hasn’t done that. He’s gone to
get us a drink.”

“Oldest excuse in the book.” Walter
leaned in close to her, whispering in her ear. “Why don’t you go find him and
see for yourself? Bet you anything you like, he’s with her right now!”

Laura felt the blood drain from her
face. “You’re wrong.” Her voice was so faint, she wasn’t sure he could hear
her, but she somehow couldn’t seem to get any strength in it.

“Am I? Are you really so sure? Why
don’t you find out? Unless you can live with the uncertainty.” He walked away,
turning round before he disappeared in the crowd. “You know where to find me if
you need me. And I’m pretty sure you will.”

Laura didn’t want to rise to his
challenge, but a small part of her couldn’t help but think Jake had left her
side awfully quickly after seeing Victoria. ‘Oldest excuse in the book’ Walter
had said. Could Jake really have dumped her somewhere, only to meet up with
Victoria behind her back? She didn’t want to believe it, but she couldn’t get
the niggling worry out of her mind. Her feet carried her forward through the
crowd almost without her making the decision. Her body trembled as she
approached the area that the bar had been set up in. Her heart slammed so
loudly in her chest, its pounding made her feel faint.

She worked her way forward until the
bar finally came into view. Jake wasn’t in the cue. Her blood turned to ice, as
she searched the area. Finally, she caught sight of him standing a short
distance away from the bar. Standing close to him, gazing up into his face with
her finger trailing suggestively down his arm, was Victoria. Laura felt sick,
her stomach threatening to throw up her food. A sob worked its way up her
throat. Laura didn’t want to see any more, too afraid she’d see him kiss that
woman the way he kissed her. She turned on her heel and fled towards the ranch
house, wanting more than anything the sanctity of her room.

*****

Jake had been on his way to the bar
to order some drinks when he’d heard his name breathed softly in his ear and a
gentle tap on his arm. Turning, he was annoyed to find Victoria walking behind
him, pressing her body far too close to his for his liking.

“What do you want?” he snapped,
stopping abruptly. Victoria moved in closer, Jake stepped back in an effort to
keep some distance between them.

She pouted prettily. “I only wanted
the chance to talk to you without your new girlfriend clinging to your side.”

“You think I want to talk with you,
especially after that stunt you pulled with Laura!” He was incensed at the way
she’d been messing with Laura. It was typical Victoria. She didn’t like to lose
at anything.

“I don’t know what you mean.” She
gave him a hurt innocent look that didn’t fool him for a moment.

“You know exactly what I mean! You
manipulated everything to your advantage as usual. And what do you mean by
trying to drop hints, like there is something still between us? You have no
right to play with Laura that way.” Jake wished he could make her vanish as
quickly as she’d appeared. She’d ruined what had been a perfect night.

“Who’s playing? She’s taken what’s
mine and I want you back. I’m hardly going to roll over and just let her have
you.” Her golden eyes flashed with determination.

“I’m no longer yours, Victoria. We
were finished over two years ago. I do have a say in who I want to be with and
it isn’t you.”

“Come now Jake, we just need to talk
things through,” she insisted.

“We have nothing more to say.” Jake
started to walk away from her to head towards the bar but Victoria followed
him.

“I think we do.” She wasn’t going to
give up without being able to say her piece. Jake knew her well enough to know
the fastest way to get her to leave him alone was to listen to her. Otherwise
she’d follow him all the way back to Laura and heaven knew what would come out
of her mouth in front of her. He stopped, gritted his teeth and turned back to
her.

“Fine, but make it quick.” He nodded
with his head to indicate for them to move to one side, stepping out of the way
of the people wanting to get to the bar. They walked a short distance away
before coming to a stop. He raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

“Don’t be like that with me Jake,”
she sniffed delicately, dabbing at her suddenly teary eyes with a tissue she
pulled out of her bag. “You can’t just brush me aside after everything we meant
to each other, like I was never anything to you. I do deserve more than that
despite everything.”

“No you don’t!” Jake couldn’t believe
her nerve. “What do you expect after two years and everything else you’ve done?
Was I supposed to welcome you back with open arms?”

“I thought you might be a little bit
pleased to see me, considering. Instead I find you wrapped around some little
wren of a woman. Where on earth did you pick her up from? She’s hardly your
type. She looks like she’d fall apart with the slightest provocation. You
normally like your women with spirit. Or was that the point. To pick someone as
far from me as possible.” She smiled at him, a devilish glint in her golden
eyes. “You’d never be happy with her. You need someone like me to fire your
blood and make your life interesting.” She ran her finger down his arm, her
smile turning suggestive. “What do you say Jake? Fancy a dip like we used to?
Just me and you.”

Jake pulled his arm away. He leaned
closer to her, his eyes deadly. “For your information Laura is no wren. What we
have together is far more than what I ever shared with you. I have no interest
in ever picking up with you where we left off. You are wasting your time!”

“See, I just don’t believe you Jake.”
She stepped in closer, her eyes darkening with her mounting desire. “We belong
together. It took me two long years to realise it. But you, you always knew
that. It was me that got confused. I don’t think you feel any different about
it. If you’re honest, you’re just punishing me. That’s fine. I understand. Just
don’t take too long about it.”

“I am not punishing you. How can you
even come to that ludicrous conclusion when I didn’t even know you’d be here? I
am with Laura because I love her. The sooner you accept that and leave the
better for both of us.” Jake made to leave, but Victoria latched onto his arm,
pulling him back to face her.

“Maybe you think you love her, but
that’s only because you didn’t have me here as an option. I won’t give up on us
Jake. You and I are meant to be.” Her face showed her determination. Jake
closed his eyes in frustration. Why did she have to come back now?

“I’m sorry you think that. You’re
wrong and the sooner you see that, the better.” He stepped in closer, his
expression deadly serious. “And stay away from Laura. I don’t want you anywhere
near her. Do I make myself clear?”

Victoria smirked at him. She bent to
whisper in his ear, her warm breath tickling his skin. “I make no promises.
After all, as they say all’s fair in love and war.” She turned and walked away,
casting him a mischievous look over her shoulder, her hips swaying
suggestively.

Jake wanted to strangle her. He ran
his hand through his hair in frustration. He didn’t trust her one inch. He
needed to make sure he and Laura were on solid ground as soon as possible.
Conscious of the fact he’d been away too long, Jake headed back to the bar.
Before long, he grabbed the two drinks he’d ordered and headed back to Laura.
Struggling through the crowd, trying not to spill their drinks, he came to the
spot where he’d left her. She wasn’t there.

Surprised, he wondered why she’d
wondered off. He’d told her that he would be back. Turning around, he wondered
where she could have got to. Biting his lip in anxiety, Jake headed through the
crowds looking for her, his chest tightening with anxiety. Something told him
he needed to find her and fast.