Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

BOOK: Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella)
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“You are amazing,” he said, sliding a hand down to cup her ass. Kissing her, he hoped she knew how much she meant to him.

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

“Carolina, I’m going to make you a happy woman.”

She smiled. “You already have.”

Richmond Rule #10

Remember to thank the water boy.

“Y
OU’RE GETTING MARRIED just in time,” Winnie said, doing up the tiny buttons at the back of Carolina’s wedding dress.

“Tell me about it. Another day or two and this won’t fit.”

“You look fantastic,” her mother said. “I thought this day would never come.”

“And a grandchild on the way,” Connor’s mother chimed in. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Carolina rested a hand on her belly. Winnie was right, she wasn’t showing yet, but her waist had thickened just a fraction—enough to strain the tight seams of her dress. She hoped Connor appreciated her choice of gowns: a cream-colored near-duplicate of the scarlet dress she’d worn to Robert Dare’s birthday bash. She anticipated him peeling it off of her with as much enthusiasm as he had the original.

What a night that had been, and what good news she’d received weeks later when she’d missed her period and taken a pregnancy test.

She’d nearly bounced when she announced the news to Connor, but his shoulders had sagged. “Does this mean we’re going to stop trying to make you conceive?”

“Don’t worry; we’ll switch to trying to keep me satisfied.” They sealed the deal with a kiss—and then much more.

So far she’d been lucky. She’d experienced mild morning sickness for a couple of weeks, then transitioned into a phase in which she was tired a lot, but otherwise just fine. When she entered her second trimester, she’d become energized. And horny. Connor appreciated that development. She knew the hardest part was to come, and she knew Connor would patiently deal with whatever her mood was then. She also knew he’d be ready to do it all over again as soon as she was.

“It’s lucky you didn’t have to rent a banquet room,” Winnie said. “I’m going to miss you, but your new home ranks right up there with the Taj Mahal.”

Carolina chuckled. It wasn’t that opulent, but it was a far cry from the rough and tumble ranch she’d envisioned when Connor first told her he wanted to move to Colorado. With its two story entryway and great room, professional kitchen, huge formal dining room and massive patio complete with an outdoor kitchen and pool, she could host as many gatherings as she wanted to right here. In just a few minutes she’d be married out on the lawn and the reception would be held there, too. Beautiful tents dripping with fairy lights ringed the yard in case of rain, but the sky was so clear today you could almost get lost in it.

Winnie stepped back and surveyed Carolina in the mirror. “What do you think?”

Carolina remembered the last time Winnie had helped her into a gown. That night had been perfect. Would tonight be as wonderful?

She thought of the man who waited for her at the altar.

Of course it would.

CONNOR ADJUSTED HIS tie.

“Stop fiddling,” Daley muttered. “Here she comes.” The music swelled and Winnie appeared first in a pretty green dress. A moment later Carolina stepped out of the house on her father’s arm and Connor swallowed against the ache in his throat. She was so beautiful. He couldn’t believe she would be his wife in a matter of minutes. Pregnant with his child, she’d never looked lovelier. And her dress, Connor realized with a chuckle, was very familiar. A swell of lust overtook him and he savored it. He’d thought he’d be much too nervous at the altar to have time for that sort of thing, but he’d been wrong. He couldn’t wait for all this hoopla to be over so he could get Carolina alone.

His heart swelled as she came closer. Soon he’d have everything he’d ever dreamed of. He was already constructing a house for his parents a quarter-mile away from the main residence and he couldn’t wait to give them a home they would never have to leave. Soon his children would play on this very lawn. Who would have guessed all those years ago when he made his plan it would turn out so well. He was a lucky man.

Carolina reached his side and he took her hand. Facing the minister, he wondered if Carolina felt like he did. He thought his heart would burst with pride and love for the woman standing next to him. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to spend his life right here, and share each day with her.

“Dearly Beloved,” the minister began and the rest of his words passed by in a blur. All Connor heard was Carolina say, “I do.” When she lifted a gaze full of love toward him it nearly bowled him over. He said an extra vow—a private one. That he would protect this beautiful woman. That he would cherish her every day of their lives. That he would never stray in look or deed. That he would live up to the promises he’d made.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the reverend said finally.

And Connor did.

NYT and USA Today bestselling author Cora Seton writes contemporary, western and military romances. To keep up with all her latest news and resources, sign up for her newsletter today!

Other works by Cora Seton
The Cowboys of Chance Creek Series

The Cowboy’s E-mail Order Bride (Volume 1)

The Cowboy Wins a Bride (Volume 2)

The Cowboy Imports a Bride (Volume 3)

The Cowgirl Ropes a Billionaire (Volume 4)

The Sheriff Catches a Bride (Volume 5)

The Cowboy Lassos a Bride (Volume 6)

The Cowboy Rescues a Bride (Volume 7)

The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Volume 8)

The Cowboy Inherits a Bride (Volume 9)

The Heroes of Chance Creek Series

The Navy SEAL’s E-mail Order Bride (Volume 1)

The Soldier’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 2)

The Marine’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 3)

The Navy SEAL’s Christmas Bride (Volume 4)

The Airman’s E-Mail Order Bride

The SEALs of Chance Creek Series

The SEAL’s Oath

The SEAL’s Vow

The SEAL’s Pledge

The SEAL’s Consent

Find Cora online:

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www.coraseton.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/

Website:

www.coraseton.com

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Want to read more novellas set in Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love world? Read on for an excerpt of
Daring to Chance It
, by Desiree Holt,
Daring to Save Me
, by Nicole Kuhn, and
An Inconvenient Dare
, by Bethany Lopez.

Dare to Chance It

by Desiree Holt

S
ARAH YORK FIDDLED with the stem of her wine glass and stared at the debris on the table. The party was definitely over. They’d gone off and left her, all six of them. She guessed that was what happened when you were the odd woman out. How stupid of her not to realize the others would couple up. Had she missed out because she held herself aloof from that?

She’d come here to meet up with her study group from law school, to celebrate their long journey to becoming lawyers. New Orleans, the official party town, seemed a great place to celebrate. They’d partied hard for three days. Then, tonight, the atmosphere had shifted. How had she missed the signals that her six study buddies were building up to a night of unrestrained sex? And no one asked if she had plans or minded being left by herself? What the hell? The very last thing she’d expected was for the others to couple up and leave her sitting here alone.

Thanks, guys.

So, now what? Stay here and have her own private pity party when she should have been shouting her joy from the rooftops? She was officially a lawyer. Certified and everything. She wasn’t ready to head back to work and the brand new position waiting for her. Not yet. She wanted to make the absolute most out of the excitement and romance of this city before she stepped into the insanity again.

Get it together, Sarah. Have another drink and get to bed. Alone. The plane leaves early tomorrow.

If only a hot, sexy guy would show up in her universe to help her finish this last night out in style. Someone who would sweep her off her feet and make these last hours totally memorable. Make mad, passionate love to her so she could enjoy these last hours of freedom with wild abandon.

Huh! What?
Was she nuts? She wasn’t given to erotic flights of fancy or sex with strangers.

“Excuse me. Do you mind if I join you?”

The deep voice startled her. She lifted her gaze and looked up…and up…and up at the tall man standing beside her table.

Ohmigod!

Her breath caught in her throat, and her pulse jittered in an uneven beat. Every erogenous zone in her body stood up and begged. Sarah had read about instant chemistry in the romance novels that were her secret vice. All of her girl parts were certainly standing up and shouting for her to pay close attention. Sarah had dated a lot of super-hot guys, been strongly attracted to a few of them, but no one had ever flipped her On switch as fast as this man. One minute, she sat there wondering how to salvage what was left of the weekend and the night. The next, she was on fire with sexual heat.

And all she’d done was look at him.

I’m definitely losing my mind as well as my senses.

His lean, muscular body had to be well over six feet. Dirty-blond hair hung to just above his collar and framed a face that was starkly masculine, with a square jaw, high cheekbones, and thick eyebrows. He smiled, showing straight, white teeth. Even in the muted light of the cocktail lounge, she could see the flash of a tiny dimple at the corner of his mouth.

Where had he come from? Had she dreamed him, or was he actually standing right next to her? Well, she had asked for a hot, sexy guy, and, like magic, one had appeared. Did it have something to do with those New Orleans spells she always heard so much about? Could she possibly lock him away?

She took a sip of wine to steady herself.

“Uh…. Um….”
Oh, good answer, Sarah. Very smooth.

The smile dimmed slightly. “Sorry. I saw you sitting here by yourself and thought….” He shook his head. “Never mind. This was probably a bad idea. If you’d rather send me on my way, just say so.”

That deep, husky voice seemed to reach right inside her and vibrate through her body. Somehow, she found her own voice.

“Um, no, please. Sit down. Here. Uh, with me.”

Great conversationalist, Sarah.
Okay, she must be taking stupid lessons. She was a college graduate with a law degree and a major in English, and all she could say was
um
? But the sheer magnetism and sexuality of him froze her brain cells.

He pulled out the chair nearest to her and folded his big body into it. In the soft light from the little lamp on the table, she could see that his eyes were a deep chocolate with tiny flecks of gold. The lashes framing them would be the envy of any woman. Sarah thought maybe she could fall into them and drown in their heat.

The cocktail waitress hurried over to clear the table of the debris left by the others and took Mr. Hot Stuff’s drink order. He indicated she should bring another for Sarah, also, then turned his very penetrating gaze back to her.

“I happened to notice all your friends got up and left you here by yourself.”

“Yeah.” She chuckled. “I guess they had more interesting things to do.”

He shrugged. “Mine did, too. I thought maybe we could keep each other company.”

“Sure. That would be nice.” Hookups with strange men in cocktail lounges, no matter how swanky the surroundings, weren’t even in her wheelhouse. But tonight was different. He was different. And, somehow, because of everything, she was different, too. She held out her hand. “Sarah York.”

His hand, when he wrapped it around hers, was warm and strong and slightly calloused. It sent sizzling tingles racing up her arm. “Beau Parisi.”

She widened her eyes slightly.
Really? Beau Parisi?
“Former running back for the LSU Tigers? Star running back?”

Good lord!
The fantasy gods were obviously working overtime tonight.

One corner of his mouth ticked up in a half-grin. “The same. I take it you’re a football fan?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “But not LSU, sorry to say. University of Michigan all the way.”

Beau picked up his bottle of beer, poured some into his glass, and swallowed a little of it. “Too bad.” He winked. “But I’ll forgive you.”

Sarah watched with fascination as he drank from the glass again, the corded muscles of his neck flexing smoothly as he swallowed. She had an unexpected urge to smooth her hand over his skin and feel those muscles shift and play beneath her touch. As she studied him, a little piece of information niggled in her brain. “You play for the New Orleans Panthers now, right?”

He lowered the glass and nodded. “Busted.”

“Sorry.” She shrugged. “Work’s hard, but I hang onto my Sundays. My family thinks I have an uncontrollable addiction to the game.”

“I’ll bet you have brothers who are pigskin hounds,” he guessed.

“No. Only a dad I idolized who taught me everything there was to know about it.”

“In that case, I’ll drink a toast to him.” He lifted his glass, tilted it slightly, and took a deep swallow. “So, how come you only get Sundays to yourself?”

Sarah sipped her wine again, savoring the smooth taste of the Riesling. “Law school. Grind, grind, grind.” She chuckled. “I figured out they think if they don’t kill us, we’ll survive in the legal world.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t even get Saturdays off?”

“Ha! Saturdays are no different than Wednesdays when you’re a law student, except you spend them in the library or a study group instead of in class.”

“But you’re finished now,” he guessed.

She nodded. “Just got the word that I passed the Bar.” She flipped her hand at the empty chairs. “All of us. We went to law school together and were in the same study group. We decided we’d treat ourselves to a weekend blast to celebrate.”

BOOK: Dare To Love Series: Dare Me Again (Kindle Worlds Novella)
6.25Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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