Winning Streak Read Online Free PDF

kidding? My mojo doesn’t work on her, Jace. Maybe hers cancels it out. I don’t know. From what Reese said back when she started, she’s the one used to wrapping men around her finger. She doesn’t get wrapped. So to speak.”
    “I just don’t think it would be a good idea—”
    The door whooshed open behind him, and Saralynn skidded in, out of breath. She held up a flash drive. “Sorry. Sorry I’m late. And before you fire me for releasing that statement, you need to see this.”
    Jacey hesitated as if she couldn’t pick which response to go with. Finally, she stepped back and made room in front of the computer on her desk. Saralynn scooted around and plugged in the device. A few clicks, and a silent video played. Madden leaned over to see. Casino footage. Reese, Scott, Cole, and a couple other guys stood around the craps table. And there he was, behind them, hands in his pockets. The whole time.
    Jacey’s shoulders slumped just slightly, and she closed her eyes.
    “I know I’m way overstepping,” Saralynn said, standing straight. “I shouldn’t have released anything without your okay, and I won’t ever again if you don’t fire me on the spot. But at least you know no one will come forward with anything contradictory.” Balls. The girl had steel balls. When Jacey didn’t reply, Saralynn lowered her chin. Just a notch. “I’ll be in my office.”
    She slid by him, and he breathed in something light and sweet like cotton candy with an undertone of vanilla. When she left, Jacey hung her head, her hands curled over the back of her leather desk chair. “I’m sorry, Maddie.”
    He nodded but couldn’t think of anything to say. Yeah, now she knew, but it had taken video proof—his word wasn’t enough. And maybe it never would be. That hurt almost as much as knowing it was his fault. “It’s okay, sis. One time out of a hundred, right? I can’t blame you for playing the odds.”
    She looked even more fragile than he felt. It broke his heart. “Jace?”
    Her face closed down, and that weakness was replaced by impenetrable resolve.
    “Everything’s okay now. Right?”
    “I’m pregnant.”
    He rocked back, numb with shock. Pregnant. He would have a niece or nephew. Happiness and excitement rocketed through him until tears welled in his sister’s eyes then rolled down her cheeks, and she wouldn’t look at him.
    “How long have you known?”
    She grabbed a tissue from her desk and wiped her face. “About a week.”
    A week
. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I didn’t want it to overshadow the wedding.” That might’ve been true, but they’d gotten so close the past two years. She told him whenever she got her hair cut.
    “That’s not the only reason.”
    Her lips quivered. She pressed them together and looked at her lap. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I know this rumor about you wasn’t true, but it’s like my whole life changed when I took that test. I need to do what’s right for my child. Make the right choices. I need to know you’ll be a positive influence. You know how much I love you.” Her tears returned, and she balled the tissue hard in her hand. “I’m just not sure you’re there yet.”
    The room went blurry around the edges, and he tried to focus. “Are you saying you don’t want me involved in the kid’s life?”
    “No. I don’t know. Please understand—”
    “I don’t understand. All these years, you never gave up on me, not even when I deserved it. I’m finally turning my life around, finally
earning
that faith, and now you’re pushing me away?”
    “Madden, how many times have you turned your life around?” The soft, careful tone of her voice drove the words home instead of making him defensive. How many times
had
he said that? Too many.
    “But it’s true this time. You’ve seen it. You know.”
    Her pained smile wavered. “Maybe. I hope it’s true. But this isn’t the first time, and I was wrong before.”
    You can trust me. I’m