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

he and Braden were discussing bringing on investors to make their dream a reality.

She had a plan of her own to help him, but she’d wanted the money she hoped to raise to be a surprise, and she intended to fill him in after they returned from the party at her mother’s house.

Hudson walked into the house just as she’d entered the kitchen. He dropped his keys in the dish she left for that purpose near the front door and strode up to her, planting a long, deep kiss on her mouth.

“Mmm,” she said as he lifted his head. “Do that again.”

“My pleasure.” He snaked his arm around her, pulling her close and closing his lips over hers.

The kiss sent tremors of awareness sizzling up her spine. She could get used to this, Hudson coming home to her every day, them living in a real home that they made together. In fact, she wanted a future with him with every fiber of her being.

“I love you,” she said, shocked when the words came out of her mouth.

He blinked, his eyes opening wide.

“I… You don’t have to say it back. I just… It slipped,” she said, her face hot with embarrassment.

He cupped her face in his strong hands. “Did you mean it?” he asked, his voice gruff, his expression vulnerable. Unless she was misreading him, which she didn’t think she was.

Swallowing hard, she decided to go with the truth. No pain, no gain, as the athletes who surrounded her liked to say. And Hudson had given her no reason not to have hope.

“I do.” Her heart pounded so fast in her chest it hurt.

His features softened, those sexy lips turning up in a smile. “Good because I love you, too.” His lips came down hard on hers again, his tongue slipping into her willing mouth as he backed her against the nearest cabinet.

They devoured each other, their kisses hot, their bodies grinding against each other to the point where her panties grew damp enough that she knew either they stopped or they’d end up in bed. Which she wanted desperately, but they didn’t have the time.

With regret, she pulled away. “If we keep this up, we’ll miss the party.”

He frowned but released her, taking a few steps back and catching his breath. “I need to shower and then I’ll be ready.” His gaze skimmed over her outfit, a pair of fitted black pants and a pink scoop-neck top that tucked into the thick waistband.

“You look great.” His eyes darkened as they met her gaze, and he inched closer again.

She held up a hand, stopping him before they ended up with their hands all over each other. Again. “Go shower,” she said halfheartedly. Because he’d said he loved her, too, and she really wanted to take the time and enjoy the moment.

“Later,” he promised in that deep voice she adored. He jogged out of the kitchen, and a few minutes later, she heard the running of the shower.

Smiling, she stopped in the bathroom and checked her makeup in the mirror. Some gloss and she’d be okay. Then she grabbed her mother’s present and slipped on her shoes, waiting for him when he joined her, ready to go.

A little while later, they were at her mom’s house along with her entire family. Bri gave her mom the gift she’d picked out, her favorite perfume in a special-edition bottle she could set on her dresser, and she and Hudson separated as they caught up with different people.

Macy and Jaxon had brought Emma, Macy’s sister, who, after going through a rough patch, was blossoming living with the newly married couple. To Bri, the teenager already felt like part of her family. While she and Macy spoke, her mom grabbed Emma’s hand and dragged her into the kitchen for homemade brownies, and it was obvious Emma basked in the glow of all the mothering she got from Christine. Nothing made Bri’s mother happier than taking in a stray and making them feel at home.

Bri spent a few minutes talking with Jaxon and Macy and Willow, who was with them, before moving on to Damon and Evie. “So how’s my retired brother?” she asked, nudging him in the ribs.

After a horrible concussion on the field last month, Damon’s doctors had looked at his history of head injuries and told him if he continued to play, he’d risk the rest of life as he knew it mentally. Damon hadn’t had to think twice. He’d chosen to be around for his family, taking a job with Dare Nation, and was now learning the ropes of being an agent.

“How does it look like I’m doing?” He wrapped an arm around Evie and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m fine.”

“How are you?” Evie asked.

Bri smiled. “I’m good! Busy with work but that’s nothing new.”

“And Hudson? He’s treating you well?” Damon asked. “Or do I have to kick his ass?”

Bri rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, you sound like Braden. Stop! He’s been amazing.”

“Good,” Evie said, then glanced at her husband. “And you need to mind your own business.”

Bri grinned and shot her sister-in-law an appreciative look. “See? We women stick together. Now I’m going to get a soda. See you later.”

She walked into the large state-of-the-art kitchen her mother adored, with the stainless steel, high-end appliances, and custom white Italian-made cabinets.

Grabbing a can of soda from the Sub-Zero refrigerator and a glass from the cabinet, she added ice and poured her drink before joining Austin and Quinn by the center island. Jenny snuggled against her brother, her big blue eyes on Bri. She held out her arms and, while making bubbles with her mouth, reached for Bri, practically throwing herself forward.

“Come here, my favorite little girl.” She settled the baby on her hip and placed a smacking kiss on her chubby cheek. “She smells so good.”

“It’s the shampoo. Nothing smells better than a freshly washed baby,” Quinn said with a grin.

“It’s getting her clean that’s the challenge.