Dare to Tease: A Dare Nation Novella, Carly Phillips [well read books TXT] 📗

as they spoke, creating a bubble of intimacy and making it easier to be honest. “About how much I admire you. How you could be on the money train with your family in New York, but instead you’re all about giving back. I like that about you.” She studied his expression and the look in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Something’s bothering you.”

“You’ve come to read me well in a very short time,” he said on a low chuckle. “I do have an issue to deal with while I’m home.”

She reached out and clasped their hands together. Her palms felt better now that it had been a few days since she’d fallen, and the bandages made it easier to do things. Like hold hands. “I’m a good listener … if you want to unload your problems.”

He hesitated, obviously weighing his words. “You know the plans for the clinic Braden mentioned the day he walked in on us?”

She nodded. In the rush of her sudden trip, buying a dress, packing, and making sure her clients were covered by another PR person if she wasn’t reachable, she’d forgotten to ask either man about it since.

“Braden and I want to renovate and remodel the clinic into a state-of-the-art place where people who don’t have access to insurance or good care can still come in and get treated. As it stands now, the equipment is old, the building run-down, and it’s hard to entice professionals to come work there.”

“I love that idea!”

“Obviously so do I. Braden’s going to talk to Paul Dare about funding, and I need to have the same conversation with my father. My grandfather left me money in trust, but he also made my father the trustee, and it’s at his discretion whether or not to let me have money from the principal.”

She realized he’d begun tapping a foot against the floor, his knee bouncing up and down with every contact. “You’re really wound up about this, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “My father, Martin, isn’t known for his altruism unless it makes him look good within his social or business circles. He’s not going to easily fund a clinic just because I ask him to. It would be so much easier if my grandfather had released that money when I hit a certain age.” He shook his head and groaned. “But he didn’t, and that’s that.”

“I’m sorry.” She couldn’t imagine what a hit to his pride it would be to have to ask his father for anything. “It sounds like you have a difficult relationship.” She bit down on her lip then asked, “Why is that?”

He groaned. “Because I had no interest in the family business, and as long as Evan was alive, that didn’t matter. He let me to go medical school and live my life on my terms because Evan was filling the requisite oldest-son role.” His hands squeezed tighter around hers. “Now he wants me to give up my life, come home, and pretend to be someone I’m not.”

Now she understood why asking his father about releasing funds on a new business venture that kept Hudson in Florida and not in New York, where the man could pressure his son into doing his bidding, would be even more difficult.

The flight attendant’s voice sounded on the loudspeaker, letting them know to prepare for landing.

Bri checked her seat belt and glanced at Hudson. “At least I’ll be there for backup or a distraction,” she said with a cheeky grin, unsure of what else to do or say in the moment.

Lifting her hand, he pressed his lips against the top of it, and her skin tingled, her body responding to that small gesture.

“Let’s not dwell on it,” he said, shaking off the black mood that had descended while he explained his situation. “I’m in New York City with a beautiful woman. We came to have fun, and that’s what we are going to do.”

She beamed from his compliment and looked forward to what the weekend had in store.

* * * *

Hudson waited in the outer room of the suite while Bri changed and put herself together in the bedroom and bathroom area. Though she’d all but warned him he didn’t know about women and travel, he was stunned when she unpacked everything in her carry-on. Thank God the bathroom had a sitting area, because the woman had more makeup than he’d seen in a department store as he walked through to find the Men’s Department.

He’d had relationships, but none had reached the point where he’d wanted anyone’s clothing or toiletries stashed at his place. To him, that sent the wrong signal, and until Bri, there’d been no woman who’d tempted him to take things further than a date or two or a one-night stand. So here he was in a luxury hotel suite, surrounded by feminine bottles, makeup, and clothing, and he didn’t mind one bit.

He straightened his black sport jacket he’d paired with black slacks and a light blue dress shirt, forgoing a tie. His father might be in a business suit, but that wasn’t Hudson’s way, and he wasn’t going to bow to his father’s rules just because he needed something from the man that was rightfully his to begin with.

He passed by the room bar, deciding not to drink before he had to deal with his parents, no matter how much he wanted to take the edge off first. Striding to the window, he looked out over Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, the view always stunning, and wished any time he visited the city he could relax and enjoy it instead of being stressed and uptight.

After confiding in Bri on the plane today, he’d immediately felt lighter for sharing the heavy burden he carried, wanting to meet Braden on equal ground when they began work on the clinic. Her presence went a long way toward calming him, and he decided to look at her any time his father twisted the guilt-laden knife.

The sound of Bri clearing her throat alerted