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

him to her presence, and he turned to see her standing in the center of the room, waiting for his reaction. No question, she knew not only how to make an entrance but how to make a statement.

She wore a white sleeveless sequined pantsuit that fitted her perfectly but remained classy. A V-neck bared her tanned skin but not the breasts he’d yet to see in person or feel in his hands. The bottom of the pant legs were wide, her silver shoes high, and she clutched a matching sparkling bag beneath one arm, a silver shawl hanging over her other one. Her dark hair flowed in perfect waves around her face, and her makeup was flawless.

She simply took his breath away. “Jesus, Bri. You’re gorgeous.”

Smiling and eyes twinkling, she said, “Thank you, but you haven’t seen the best part.” She slid her hair over one shoulder and pivoted, turning her back to him. Thick straps crossed her tanned back, and the material came to a V at a low but modest point where the pants began.

“How the hell do you expect me to concentrate on what anyone says at the dinner table?” All he’d be thinking about was bringing her home, peeling that pantsuit off her perfect body, and burying himself deep inside her wet heat.

She spun back to him. “I told you I’d be your distraction, didn’t I?”

He let out a low groan, resigning himself to a long, uncomfortable night, both with his parents and thanks to his now hard dick, before they returned here to make use of the king-size bed in the other room.

* * * *

Bri hadn’t been raised in a wealthy home, but between Uncle Paul and the athletes she now represented, she knew how to handle herself. Neither status nor people with attitudes scared her, yet she had a feeling Hudson’s parents would test her resolve. Once again in a town car with a driver, she and Hudson pulled up to a home in Greenwich, Connecticut, hidden by dense trees, at the end of a long driveway that was nearly invisible off the main road.

“Did you grow up here?” she asked of the mansion in front of her with ivy growing over the brick façade.

He nodded. “I did.”

Though he looked extraordinarily handsome, she noted he’d grown more and more silent as they approached their destination, and she’d left him to his brooding thoughts. There would be time enough to coax him back to his smiling self when they returned to the hotel.

The car came to a stop at the front of the house on a circular driveway, and the driver opened the door for her to climb out.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready to leave,” the man who’d introduced himself as Tom said.

“Thank you. I’m not sure how long we’ll be.” Hudson nodded at the driver.

Placing a hand on her bare lower back, he led her up the steps and rang the doorbell. If it was her mother’s house or even Uncle Paul’s, if they knew she was coming, the door would be unlocked and she’d let herself inside.

She drew a deep breath just as the door opened and what she assumed was a maid greeted them. Middle-aged, hair pulled back in a bun, she was the stereotypical greeter one would see in a movie except this was real life. Hudson’s life.

“Hello, Dr. Northfield. Welcome home.”

“Hi, Maggie. And please call me Hudson. I ate milk and cookies in the kitchen and told you about my day after school.”

The woman’s expression softened. “Yes, you did. And who is this beautiful young woman?”

“Brianne Prescott, this is Maggie. Maggie, meet Brianne.”

Brianne treated the woman to her warmest smile. “Hi, Maggie. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine. I don’t see Dr. … Hudson often anymore, and it’s nice to know he’s not alone.”

“Maggie, is that Hudson?” a woman’s voice called out.

“If she was so curious, she could have met me at the door,” Hudson muttered, and Bri placed a hand on his arm to calm him.

Maggie stepped back, and they walked inside. Marble floors, a winding staircase to the left, and heavy dark wood décor and equally dark drapery on the windows surrounded them.

“Hudson, it’s about time you came home!” His mother, an attractive woman with dark hair and a Chanel skirt and jacket, came forward to greet him. She possessed glowing skin and a perfect bob surrounding her made-up face.

“Hello, Mother.” Hudson duly offered up his cheek, which she air-kissed. “And you must be Brianne.” She offered her hand, and Bri took it.

“So nice to meet you. Hudson’s told me such nice things about you and the family.”

“Has he now?”

Hudson cleared his throat, and Bri did her best not to poke him in the side.

“Come. Your father’s waiting in the study. We can have drinks before dinner.” She turned and walked away, fully expecting them to follow.

“Do you want to run yet?” Hudson’s lips twitched in a grin.

“Nah. It’ll take more than a cool breeze to scare me. Let’s go. I’m curious about your father.”

Hudson rolled his eyes. Hooking his arm in hers, they headed the way his mother had gone, and soon Bri found herself in a wood-paneled room with built-in bookshelves and what appeared to be old books lining the shelves. An antique clock hung on one wall, and a large mahogany desk took up one side of the room.

A man in a suit stood beside a bay window, turning when they entered. Bri stared at an older version of Hudson. Martin Northfield’s salt-and-pepper hair extended to his beard, giving her a glimpse of Hudson’s appearance in the future. Even their dour expressions were similar. She much preferred his laughing persona and the sexy grin that tempted her to sin. She doubted she’d see that smile on his father’s face tonight. Hudson’s, either.

“Hello, Dad.” As Hudson spoke, he pulled Bri closer to his side.

“Hudson. It’s good to see you.” He stepped forward and shook his son’s hand.

Bri did her best not