Dangerous Little Dares (The Society of Secrets #1)

Prologue

I Hate Gambling

Carter

I was dealt a damn good hand in this life. Some might even consider it an unbeatable hand. But there are three things I wish I could put back in the toothpaste tube.

One, being orphaned at the tender age of fifteen.

Two, subsequently inheriting the responsibility for the family estate, all its related assets, and the mess my father left behind the moment I turned eighteen.

Three, I sure as hell never asked to fall madly, deeply, in love with my best friend’s little sister.

But here’s the thing with cards, you get what you get. And with toothpaste, you can’t put it back in the tube, no matter how hard you try.

Now, obviously, there’s nothing I can do about the first two problems. The third, however, isn’t so much a problem as a waking nightmare. Just so we’re clear, I’ve tried to ignore my feelings, but that’s basically like pretending to be a non-sentient sea slug. No eyes. No feelings. No problems.

Right ?

Abso-fucking-lutely wrong.

To put it lightly, she is the gravity my world revolves around.

It’s like playing a constant game of tug-of-war that I’m never going to win.

Like Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders—only I’m not an all-powerful Titan, and the force I’m fighting is way more powerful than gravity.

It’s a mischievous ball of sunshine with a smile that pierces right through your very soul, and trying to stay out of her orbit is futile.

Some might say I have it all, power, status, wealth , but when it comes down to it, I can’t afford the most important thing of all. Because she’s not for sale.

So, it doesn’t matter that I was dealt a damn good hand because here’s the thing about playing cards, no matter how good your hand is— somebody’s always sitting on an ace .