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

All the water splashing with her hands and feet.” Austin looked at his daughter with so much love in his eyes, it was a beautiful thing to see, and when he turned to Quinn, love exploded between them.

Bri’s heart squeezed, and for the first time since all of her brothers had found love, she could say the same. Suddenly she missed Hudson and needed to feel his arms around her so she could bask in their earlier admission. She loved him, and he loved her back. Holding back her smile so her smart sibling didn’t question why she’d suddenly begun grinning, she handed Jenny back to Quinn and went looking for Hudson.

* * * *

Hudson and Braden huddled in the study while the party went on in other rooms of the house. There was a sofa against one wall where the women left their handbags, and Jenny’s diaper bag sat on the floor beside the couch. The study had French doors that remained open, because nothing about this conversation was that private. Although they worked together, neither man wanted to talk about their clinic plans while at another job, so now was as good a time as any.

Braden leaned against the desk in the room while Hudson paced the hardwood floor covered by an area rug.

“The bank wants collateral, which I don’t have,” Hudson said, picking up the conversation where they’d left off last time they’d had this discussion.

Braden narrowed his gaze. “You know, you never did tell me about the talk you had with your father. Just that he turned you down. But you hinted there was more to the conversation than a flat-out no, so what gives?”

Despite the fact that Hudson was frustrated with his inability to get money from his father, he hadn’t told his friend the entire conversation. Not only were the stipulations ridiculous, but he was embarrassed to have such an ass for a parent.

With a groan, Hudson ran a hand over his hair. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”

Braden folded his arms across his chest and met Hudson’s gaze. “Try me. We can’t work this out if I don’t know everything.”

Hudson nodded. “Well, my father didn’t outright say no to giving me the money. He just placed some conditions on releasing the funds that I haven’t figured a way around.”

Eyebrows raised, Braden waited.

Hudson winced as he said, “He’ll give me the money if I get married and provide him and my mother an heir.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. What century is this?” Braden’s outrage matched his own.

“That’s what I asked, but he’s not backing down.” In fact, his father had followed up with not one but two phone calls since their visit, asking if Hudson had made up his mind.

Braden straightened and walked over to where Hudson stood. “So how badly do you want the money? Enough to get married and get your wife to pop out a kid?” Braden asked, obviously kidding because he knew Hudson better than that, and besides, Hudson was with Bri. And she didn’t deserve to get involved in his father’s quid pro quo.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Hudson said back, equally joking because there’d never been a moment when he’d considered his father’s demands.

“I’m sorry, what?” Bri stood in the doorway, one hand on the molding, staring at them both in disbelief.

Motherfucker. “Bri, that was not what it sounded like.”

The color had drained from her face, and she now clutched that molding in a death grip. “Really? Because it sounded like you need a wife and a kid to get the money from your father.”

She looked from her brother to Hudson, obviously feeling betrayed, and he understood why. “Bri–”

“Is that why you told me you loved me?” she asked, her lower lip quivering.

“Aww, shit,” Braden muttered. “You’re taking things out of context.”

“I heard it myself.” She glared at Hudson. “Well?”

“You said it first,” he reminded her, because he wanted her to understand that he hadn’t come to her with the words because he wanted something from her. He’d said them back because he meant them.

She stepped away from the doorframe and rested her hands on her hips. “Oh, so I gave you the opening you needed. That’s just great! I asked you what your father said, and you told me he turned you down!” Her voice rose, and he winced, not wanting more of an audience than the one they had.

“Because as far as I’m concerned, he did. Look–” Before he could explain further, she brushed past him and stopped at the sofa, grabbing the big purse she always carried. “What are you doing?”

She pulled out a folder and clutched it in her hands. “I was going to show you this tonight, after the party. I’ve set up a huge fundraiser and invited the biggest names I know to bid on high-end items with the proceeds going to the clinic. And trust me, with offerings like a week at Asher Dare’s Bahamas home, you’ll have all the money you need. No reason to get married.”

She slapped the folder onto the desk. Hard. “I’m assuming you would have gotten around to that question eventually.”

Reaching for her, he grasped her arm. “We need to talk. You don’t understand.”

“I do. You’re just another guy in a long line of them who needs something from me. Even if we didn’t start out that way, that’s where we ended up. I’m never enough.” She turned and rushed from the room, leaving him stunned.

“Shit,” Braden said. “Go! Talk to her!”

Hudson had almost forgotten he was in the room. “Your sister has a huge heart, and she’s generous beyond belief. But I have a feeling there is no way she’s going to believe anything I say.” He’d seen the set of her jaw, the stubborn look on her face.

While she’d proven to him with more than words that she loved him, she’d overheard the one thing certain to drive her away, costing them any chance at a future.

But he wasn’t giving up without