Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella) (3 page)

BOOK: Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella)
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Not anymore, she reminded herself.

She thanked Brody for his time and inched her way through the crowded room until she could reach out and tap Connor on the arm. Engaged in tugging on a pair of jeans over boxer briefs that outlined every muscle of his powerful thighs, he turned to look, clearly startled.

“Carolina.” He finished zipping his fly, did up the button and crossed his arms over his chest. “Didn’t see you coming.”

“My evil plan worked.”

“You have an evil plan?”

“You sound surprised.” She tapped him on the arm again, liking the solidity of the muscles beneath his skin.

A corner of his mouth curved up. “Enjoying yourself?” He nodded at her hand.

“Surprisingly, yes.” She smiled back at him. “Are you coming to Robert Dare’s birthday bash this weekend?”

He blinked, then grinned. Once again desire kindled inside of her. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Are you going to come this year?”

“Thinking about it. Who’s your date?” She hoped her tone was suitably nonchalant.

“Don’t have one. How about you?”

“I don’t have one either. But then, I never do.”

He leaned against the row of lockers. “I could never understand that. How does a beautiful woman like you stay single in this town?”

“By turning down the invitations of everyone remotely connected to football.”

“Someone in Miami must hate the sport.”

She shrugged. “I haven’t met him yet. Anyway. Just wanted to see if you’d be free.”

“Are you asking me out, Carolina Richmond?”

“I’m asking you to help me fleece Bill Sanchez out of a few of the dollars he’s hoarding in his vault.” Bill Sanchez was noted for his wealth—and for the difficulty of parting him from it. Carolina wanted to set up a scholarship fund for female athletes looking to enroll in Florida State’s engineering department. But that wasn’t why she had asked. Connor knew it as well as she did.

His smile grew sardonic. “Good luck with that. Why do you think I can help?”

“Because I’ve watched Bill Sanchez a long time. He’s not a bad man, but he is sexist, and he loves football. You can convince him to fund my new program.”

“Okay, I’ll help you whip Sanchez into line. In return, I want a promise.” He touched her arm just as she had touched his, but it wasn’t a tap; it was a caress.

“What kind of promise?” She edged away.

“You’ll stick with me all night. No cutting out before dessert.”

She smiled at how well he knew her. She liked to conduct business early during these affairs and leave before the long, boring speeches started. “I’ll stay until the gala is over.”

“And you’ll dance with me.”

It was her turn to make a face. “If I have to.” But secretly she looked forward to it. Connor’s arms around her, his hands resting on her hips… She was hot and bothered already. All the better to get pregnant when they made sweet love.

“And you’ll talk about the future with me.”

She frowned. It was as if he’d read her mind, but that was impossible. Surely he couldn’t tell she had designs on his body… and his sperm.

“Sure, I’ll talk about the future with you,” she said to Connor. “In fact, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that? My performance isn’t up to snuff? I noticed it’s been a while since you featured me on your blog.”

“Actually your performance does come into it.” She smiled as he straightened and all humor vanished from his face. Connor took football very seriously. “We’ll talk about it more on Saturday night when you pick me up.”

“I think we should talk about it now.” The edge to his voice could have sliced through steel.

“Okay, we’ll talk about it now.” Her smile spread into a grin. “How would you like to make a baby with me?”

OF ALL THE requests that Carolina could have made, helping her to make a baby was the last thing he’d expected her to say. Hell, he couldn’t get her to have dinner with him, let alone steal more than a single kiss. They’d never approached the subject of sex. Now she wanted to jump straight to children?

Maybe
his
evil plan was working.

“I’m in.” He grinned at her. He couldn’t help himself.

“That was fast. Don’t you want to think it over?”

She looked flustered. Good. He liked Carolina flustered. It didn’t happen often enough for his taste. He figured he’d fluster her some more. Reaching out, he cupped her chin and drew her close. Before she could protest, he bent down and pressed a kiss to her mouth. She tasted delicious, just like the last time. Carolina made a little sound, half-protest, half-whimper and he forgot about everything else. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Deepening the kiss, he let her know he didn’t need to think anything over. When he finally pulled back her shock gratified him. “Yeah, I’m definitely in.”

“For God’s sake.” Carolina tried to pull away, but he held fast; it had taken five years to get her into his arms. “Connor, you’re being ridiculous. I just want a baby. I don’t want a relationship.”

“What?” He let her go and she stumbled backward. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about single motherhood. I want a child. I need a sperm donor. Your sperm should do the trick.”

“My sperm? Are you kidding me?” He took hold of her elbow and firmly led the way toward the showers.

“Connor!”

“We need to talk privately. No one’s in here. Oh, sorry, Holden.” He pulled Carolina aside as the linebacker walked past.

“No problem.” Holden hitched up a towel that was slung low at his waist. “Hi, Carolina.”

“Hi, Holden. Good game.”

Connor craned his neck around the corner. “We’re clear.” He tugged her farther away from the crowded change room. “Do you honestly think I’d have a kid with you and walk away?”

“I thought you football players did that all the time.” It was a low blow and she knew it. Some players were callous like that. Others had been victimized by women looking for a meal ticket. As some of them had learned the hard way, even when a paternity test exonerated you from any wrongdoing, the taint on your character from the accusation still stuck.

“I don’t.”

She sighed. “Of course you don’t. Which is why I’m picking you.”

“I suppose you want me to hand over a test-tube full?”

She arched an eyebrow. “I kind of hoped we could do it the old-fashioned way. It’s cheaper.”

“Well, hell—yeah, money ought to be your first consideration in the matter.”

Carolina just looked at him.

“Fuck.” She was a piece of work, and the worst thing was, he still didn’t want to walk away. “Yeah. Sure. I’m in.”

“You are?” Carolina brightened.

“One condition, though.”

Her smile disappeared. “What’s that?”

“You marry me first.”

Carolina gaped at him. “Marry you?”

He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I dare you to say yes.”

She pushed him away. “I’m being serious here.”

“So am I.”

“We’ve never gone on a date—”

Connor drew himself up. “We sure as hell did.”

“Dinner,” she scoffed.

“Not my fault you cut it short.”

“Look, I’m not asking for a commitment. I just want a baby. Is that too much to ask?”

With her looking at him like that, her gray-green eyes begging him to agree, he almost wanted to give in. Trouble was, it
was
too much to ask. “Any child of mine’s going to have a father. Me,” he clarified. “Come on, Carolina, even you have to know this isn’t something to joke about.”

She deflated suddenly. “Yeah, I know that.” Her finger tapped on her arm. “Maybe I’ll look into adoption.”

He stifled the urge to growl aloud. “Or you could marry me.”

“Wright, get real.”

“Just how real do you want me to get? You want me to do this on bended knee? I’ll do it.”

She grabbed at him when he began to sink down, just like he knew she would. “Fine. Forget I ever said anything.”

“No, that I can’t do.” He caught her wrist when she turned away. “Here’s the way we’ll play this game. I’ll pick you up at seven on Saturday night and drive you to Robert Dare’s birthday shindig. We’ll spend the evening together, just like we said. The party will break up around one or one-thirty, maybe. That’s approximately six hours. Six hours, Carolina. Give me that much time to convince you to marry me.”

“Six hours?”

“That’s all I ask.”

“You’re cocky if you think you can change my mind,” Carolina told him. “I’ve been dead set against marriage for years.”

“Then I’ll just have to make it too interesting to pass up.” He leaned over, brushed a kiss across her lips and walked away.

Richmond Rule #4

The uniform makes the (wo)man.

You wouldn’t play football in a swimsuit, so don’t wear sweatpants when you pitch to a venture capitalist…

“I
BROUGHT YOU a dress,” Winnie said when Carolina opened the door late Saturday afternoon.

“I have a dress.” Carolina backed up to let Winnie and the enormous garment bag she carried into the front hall.

“I bet it’s boring.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Actually, Carolina was having second thoughts about the no-nonsense gown she’d bought for the birthday gala. Back when she’d purchased it, her sole goal for the evening had been to work the crowd and raise awareness for her causes. To that end she’d bought a severe black dress that exuded confidence and class. It might be mannish enough to make Sanchez more likely to open his wallet, but wouldn’t help her persuade Connor to sleep with her. That required something different.

She led the way into her bedroom and stripped down while Winnie unzipped the bag and pulled out a gown. “What do you think?”

Carolina didn’t know how to answer her. Unlike the black gown she’d chosen to showcase her strength, this dress would flaunt her femininity—in a way that already made her want to run for cover.

“It’s gorgeous,” Winnie said. “Try it on.”

Carolina took it reluctantly. “You want me to wear red?”

“Scarlet,” Winnie corrected. “Trust me; if you wear this dress, every man in the room will want you.”

As she slipped it on, she felt like she’d just raised the stakes in the already dangerous game she was playing with Connor. This dress wouldn’t just seduce a man, it could make him fall in love with her. She didn’t want that. Winnie helped her do up the back and led her to the full length mirror.

“Spectacular,” she insisted.

Carolina didn’t say anything. The woman in the mirror oozed sexuality. The dress’s dropped sleeves, sweetheart neckline, nipped in waist and curve-hugging skirt all combined to call out her availability to one and all. “I can’t wear this.”

“You are going to wear it. For once in your life you’re going to act like a woman.”

“But—”

“No buts. For God’s sake, Carolina, you push so hard for women’s success you forget that we don’t have to limit ourselves to making money or winning awards. We get to have fun, too. Guys buy flashy cars or big gas grills or powerful boats when they’re flush. We buy clothes. We dress up. We go dancing. Anyone who works hard deserves to have a good time now and then. Why do you have to be a nun?”

“Because—”

“Because you got hurt once. Five years ago. When you were young. Well, guess what? Most people get hurt once or twice while they grow up. I sure did! Do you see me cowering behind black robes? No!”

“You’re really invested in me getting laid.” Carolina turned to the side and surveyed the back of the gown.

“You’re damn right I am. I want you to get laid and I want you to get married, and I want you to get pregnant, too.” She caught both of Carolina’s hands in hers.

“Why?” Carolina had to laugh at her melodrama. “What’s all this?” She held up their joined hands.

“I’m… pregnant.” Winnie searched her gaze. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“Mad? Of course not!” But as Carolina flung her arms around her friend, she couldn’t help feel a stab of pain. Only because she wanted to be a mother too—not because she envied Winnie’s married life. Because she didn’t. At all.

Really.

“Good.” Winnie hugged her back. “Then get out there and get knocked up so we can do this together!”

Carolina looked over the dress one last time and wondered what Connor would think when he got his first glimpse of it. A flutter of excitement rippled through her. “Okay, I’ll wear it and I’ll get knocked up just for you. Tonight.”

Winnie joined her in front of the mirror. “Connor doesn’t stand a chance.”

“HOLY SHIT, I nearly didn’t recognize you.” Daley opened Connor’s refrigerator and took out two bottles of beer. Handing one to Connor, he leaned against the appliance and surveyed him. “You never gussied up like this for the Dare bash before.”

“I never had a reason to.” He’d always worn a nice suit out of respect for his teammate’s father, but Daley was right; he’d never owned one of this quality before. He’d invested a small fortune, but figured it was worth it if it made Carolina look at him twice. One thing he’d always known; he attracted Carolina physically. He saw it time and again—that distracted look whenever he got too close. He planned to get very close tonight.

“Look, here’s the thing about women,” Daley said and Connor just stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Like Daley knew anything about women. “The minute they get pregnant, their hormones go nuts. Carolina might be all business now, but you put a bun in her oven, and she’ll go gaga for you. She won’t be able to marry you fast enough.”

“That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.” He didn’t want a part-time relationship with his child, or Carolina.

“If you think she’ll move to Colorado with you otherwise, you’re nuts.” Daley pulled out a chair and sat down.

Connor took a swig of his beer and set it on the table. He patted his pocket. Keys and wallet. Was he forgetting anything? “She’ll move with me to Colorado.” He didn’t feel half as confident as he sounded, though. He figured he wouldn’t bring up Colorado until he’d made some headway on the marriage front.

“She certainly won’t want to move here.” Daley waved his hand at the Spartan interior of Connor’s modest house.

BOOK: Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella)
9.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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