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

supposed that Nikki, in the frenzied worry about her mother, had forgotten to tell him Bri was waiting, and he wondered how long she’d been here.

He unhooked his stethoscope and laid it on a filing cabinet and took off the white medical jacket he’d taken to wearing here before walking over and placing his hand on her back.

“Bri?” She didn’t move, so he rubbed her shirt with his hand. “Hey, beautiful, wake up.”

“What?” Startled, she jumped in her seat, her entire body jerking upright, twisting her head up to meet his gaze. “Hudson! Jesus, you scared me. I must’ve fallen into a really deep sleep.”

“Apparently,” he said with a chuckle. “How long have you been here?”

She blinked and glanced at her watch. “Three hours. Nikki didn’t tell you I was here?”

He shook his head. “Her mom had an accident, and she rushed out. Sorry about that. But it was an insane day. I just locked the place up before coming in here.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t mind waiting.” Now that the fright had passed, she looked wary of him, and he didn’t like the feeling.

He pulled Braden’s chair over and settled in beside her.

“Your eye looks better.” Obviously she wasn’t ready to jump into the heavy conversation.

“It’s fading to a nice shade of puke yellow.” Damon had a mean punch, but Hudson refused to out which brother had hit him.

All three had seen their sister crying, and Damon had gotten to him first. It had taken Braden and his shrill whistle to calm everyone down and tell them it was a misunderstanding and none of their business. Then Christine Prescott had issued a stern warning to her sons, but the joy of the day was gone.

Hudson had driven Macy and Jaxon to Bri’s house to get her car, and Jaxon had remained there, watching, until Hudson had gotten into his car and gone home. By then he’d already texted Bri a few times and called twice. He’d figured out she wasn’t ready to talk to him, so leaving was his best option. He owed her mother a happier birthday party and Bri a lot more.

Bri reached out, and this time, she allowed herself to touch him, gently palpating around his eye. “Does it hurt?”

“Nah. I’m fine.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course you are. Far be it from a man to admit weakness.”

He took her soft hand in his. “You’re my weakness, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.”

She glanced down at their hands, and he did, too, noticing how much more tanned and rough his skin was than hers.

“I’m so used to expecting the worst from men, I overreacted. I heard something, and I jumped to the worst possible conclusion, but that would never have happened if you’d just told me the truth.”

“You’re right. But you have to understand my position. You’d just admitted to me that I was the first guy not to want something from you. I knew how you felt about it, and there was no way I’d ever put you in a position where you didn’t know if I was asking you to marry me for money or because I loved you.” Just the thought made him physically sick.

“And if I told you what my asshole father wanted, you’d probably have offered to marry me so I could get the clinic money, and then you’d always wonder and be insecure.“ He waited until she lifted her head and met his gaze. “And I’d never do that to you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I should have stayed and heard you out, but your words were so damning, and on top of saying you loved me just an hour or so before? I thought for sure I’d fallen into the same trap all over again.”

“I made the wrong choice, and though we all know I’ll make more mistakes in the future, I promise you’ll never doubt that I love you again. Do you forgive me?”

She nodded, a smile on her beautiful face. “Do you forgive me for stringing this out and making you wait?”

He grinned. “I’d wait forever for you, and don’t you forget it.”

“I can promise you I won’t.”

They each leaned forward, their mouths meeting in a long kiss that ended too soon.

“Now about that fundraiser.” She’d left the folder in his possession when she’d run from the house, and in the days that had passed, he’d been through it over and over. “I cannot believe what you put together in such a short time. The items the guests will bid on will go for thousands each.”

A trip to the Bahamas on Asher Dare’s private plane and a week in his beach house, front-row seats to concerts and sporting events, a visit to a movie set, and more.

He couldn’t begin to name them all or imagine how much money the event would raise. “You did all that for me?”

She nodded. “Because I love you.”

“So you’ll be my date for the event?” he asked.

“You know I will.”

Satisfied, he held her hands tighter. “Just so we’re clear, you’re mine, Bri. And I love you for the amazing, wonderful woman that you are.”

Her answering smile hit him in the heart.

“I know,” she said, a saucy glint in her eyes. “You love me enough to take a punch from my brothers and not tell me which one hit you.” She shook her head and laughed. “I’d call that true love.”

“You’re damned right,” he said and sealed his lips over hers.

Epilogue

The night of the fundraiser, Hudson found himself in his tuxedo, watching while Bri worked the room like the pro she was. He didn’t know whether to be more proud or grateful that she’d put her talents to use to make his dream come true. He didn’t deserve her, but he wasn’t letting her go.

Sliding his hand into his front pants pocket, he touched the ring he’d gotten from his grandmother when he’d turned twenty-one. His parents might be assholes, but his grandparents had been the best, and his grandmother