Dare to Tease (Dare Nation #5)

Chapter One

Brianne

“Today was one for the ages,” I say to my sister-in-law Quinn, my brother Austin’s wife and his personal assistant. We all work at Dare Nation, the sports agency my brother and uncle own and where I am a publicist.

Quinn shakes her head and laughs. “What was it you once told me? Athletes are like babies with big bank accounts?”

“And big dicks.” I grin at my own joke.

Quinn chuckles. “Considering I’m married to your brother, I won’t comment.”

But she insinuated it anyway. “Eww. Don’t even make my thoughts go there,” I mutter.

“Sorry,” Quinn says, but she sounds more amused than apologetic. “Bad day?”

I nod. “If it could go wrong, it did. I’m sure you heard about most of the fires I had to put out.”

It is my job to keep the babies I mentioned in line, and for whatever reason, today has not been the day for good behavior.

I’ve had a client test positive for PEDs, one married guy accused of fathering a baby with an obvious gold-digger, and another who’s accidentally posted said big dick on Instagram, getting himself banned but not before the news has gone viral.

Quinn tucks a strand of her dark hair behind one ear and shakes her head. “It makes you wonder what some of these guys are thinking.”

“Amen.”

Although Quinn knows firsthand what it is like to get involved with an arrogant former pro football player.

Austin had come home one night to find a baby on his doorstep, and in a panic, he’d called Quinn.

She’d moved in to help and never left, the two falling in love and Quinn tamed the former playboy and became a mother to one adorable baby girl.

Wheeling my desk chair back, I stretch my legs with a groan. “All I want to do is go home, undress, pour myself a glass of wine, and relax.” I glance around the office I consider my sanctuary and where I seek peace.

The walls are painted turquoise, the shelves white. My intention had been to give the room a beachy feel that will relax me during stressful times. Like now. Breathing in and out and enjoying Quinn’s company, I begin to chill out.

A knock sounds at my door, and Tara, my secretary, pops her head in. “I’m leaving for the day. Do you need anything?”

“No, thanks. I’m good. Have a nice evening.”

Tara smiles. “You, too. Oh! And you asked me to remind you to stop by the health clinic on the way home and take Braden the dress you borrowed from Willow.”

I groan at the reminder, and Tara rolls her eyes. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

Both Quinn and Tara laugh, causing me to hold up my hands in defeat. “Hey, I knew I would. That’s why I asked for the nudge!”

As my second hand, Tara is used to my never-ending lists and reminders.

“Night,” Tara says to both of us before walking out.

“Guess I’m not going straight home after all,” I say to Quinn. “Willow needs the dress for an event this weekend, and I had it cleaned after I wore it.”

I glance at the garment I borrowed from another sister-in-law, hanging on the back of my door. Willow is engaged to my twin brother, Braden, a doctor at a downtown healthcare clinic and the team physician for the Miami Thunder football organization, where Willow works as an athletic trainer.

“At least it’s not as far as driving to the stadium to give it to Willow yourself,” Quinn says, obviously looking for the bright side of my never-ending day.

“True.” Glancing out the window behind me, I notice the sun begin to set, the orange glow lowering on the horizon. “It’s getting late, and I don’t want to walk through that part of town alone after dark, so I’d better get going.”

“Good point. I heard the clinic isn’t in the best neighborhood, but Braden and Hudson are doing really good work.”

“They are,” I agree. “And they seem happy with their jobs.”

Hudson Northfield, Braden’s best friend, also works with both the football team and the health clinic.

Tonight, Braden is at the clinic, but I’m not sure if Hudson will be there as well.

Hudson, with his dark brown hair, chocolate-colored eyes, and well-groomed beard, has become part of the family since he and Braden returned from a two-year stint for Doctors Without Borders, always at our gatherings and weddings.

But I don’t consider Hudson family. Not when I look at him and my body parts tingle. All I can think about is how his facial hair will feel if he kisses my lips or starts lower and that beard rubs against my thighs. A tremor takes hold, and I cross my arms over my chest.

“What’s that smile for?” Quinn asks, leaning forward in her seat.

Crap. I have been daydreaming about Hudson and probably grinning like a crazy person. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

“About?” Quinn pushes, and when I don’t reply right away, Quinn jumps back in. “Could you be thinking about Hudson and the way he looks at you when he believes your brothers won’t notice?”

“Why would you say that?”

And does Hudson look at me that way? I wonder. Yes, we have chemistry, but he’ll never act on it. Never gives me any indication that he will, something I chalk up to Bro Code. Not making a move on his best friend’s sister.

A broad smile spreads over Quinn’s face. “Look at that blush. You want him! I knew it!”

I shake my head. It doesn’t matter how I feel. “He’s not going to act on whatever it is between us because of Braden, and I’ve come to terms with that.” I push myself from my seat and pick up my handbag, determined to head over to the clinic before dark.

“Bri, wait.” Quinn stands. “Look, I know you’ve had a rough time with men and relationships.”

Raising an eyebrow, I do my best to withhold sarcasm as I reply.

“Because they always want something from me like access to my agent brother or uncle or an introduction to a famous athlete. And once they get what they want, I’m expendable.

Yeah, I haven’t had an easy time.” And maybe I am a touch bitter about it, too.

Quinn’s expression softens. “Well, then you need to remember there’s nothing Hudson needs from you, so if he won’t make the first move, then maybe you should. Promise me you’ll think about it?”

I walk past Quinn and lift the dress from the hook behind my door. “I’ll think about it.” It is the best I can do.

A little while later, I am following Waze directions to the clinic, making sure I don’t get lost, despite the fact I’ve been there before.

The farther downtown I drive, the more the buildings grow dilapidated.

Graffiti covers much of the exteriors, and boys congregate in groups on street corners.

I grip the wheel tighter, and finally the female voice directs me to turn right and I’ve reached my destination.

I pull my Audi into a gravel-covered parking lot and cut the engine.

Braden’s car isn’t within sight, and I’ll kill him if he forgot to wait for me.

Key fob in hand and bag slung over my arm, I exit the vehicle, then open the back door to grab Willow’s dress I hung on a hook and hold it in one hand.

The moment I step onto the gravel, I curse my high heels that wobble on the pebbles beneath me.

“Hey, ma’am.”

I spin at the sound of the male voice and nearly fell on my ass, but I manage to right myself. A stooped older man with a tattered jacket, too heavy for this time of year, stains on his tan pants, and ripped sneakers weaves his way toward me.

“Got some money, pretty lady?” He comes close enough for me to smell the alcohol on his breath.

I instinctively step back and fight to remain steady on my heels.

Although a part of me is scared I am alone with him, another part feels bad.

Who knows what circumstances led him to this point in his life?

Still, I am torn between giving him money I fear might go for alcohol and turning him away.

I opt to hope he uses the cash for food.

I slide my purse down my shoulder so I can open it up and hand him money.

Taking me off guard, he grabs for the bag. I jerk back, and my heels give way. My ankle twists and I fall, my hands taking the brunt of my tumble as I slide, gravel digging into my palms and my hip hitting the ground hard.

The man bends over me, and I gasp, prepared to knee him in the balls if I have to, but before I can kick out, someone lifts the man by his jacket collar and pulls him away from me.

“Jimmy, back off,” a familiar voice says. “You’re scaring the lady.” Hudson’s brown eyes rake over me, concern etching his handsome features. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “He just startled me.”

Jimmy shuffles his feet on the ground, unable to meet Hudson’s gaze. “I just wanted to help get the money she was reaching for.” He pulls at his dirty shirt, his hands shaking.

Hudson scowls, and I have to admit even that glower is sexy.

“Well, that’s not the way to handle someone offering to help you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out cash, handing it to the man. “Go get something to eat and quit bothering our visitors or I’m going to have to call the cops.”

After grasping the cash like the lifeline it is, Jimmy walks away, muttering to himself, and Hudson turns his laser focus on me.

“Come on. Let me help you,” he says in a gruff tone.

I glance at my palms and wince. “Can you grab my wrists and pull me up?”

His gaze zeroes in on my hurt hands, and that ferocious expression deepens. “Yeah. Reach up,” he says, but he glances at my heels. “Kick those things off.”

“Please don’t leave my Louboutins.” I can’t believe I say that and blush at the frivolous-sounding comment. “It’s just they’re a birthday gift from my mom.”

His eyes soften at my admission.

Instead of pulling me up, he bends down and lifts me into his arms. “Oh! The dress. I came to give it to Braden for Willow.” I point to the garment on the ground that, thank goodness, is covered in clear plastic.

“I’ll send Nikki back out to grab it.” He starts toward the building, his hard body acting as a shield, protecting me from harm.