Daring Her Love

by Melissa Foster

  “You’re messing with my head,” she finally admitted.

  He set the coffee mug on the ground beside his chair and stood, taking her gently into his arms. “Then tell me not to, Kat. Tell me to leave you alone once and for all.” His words were rough, challenging, belying the way he embraced her. His grip on her hips tightened. She loved his strength and had thought all night about how hard he’d thrust into her, reliving the intensity of their sex for hours upon hours.

  He rocked his hips against hers, and her breath left her lungs in a rush.

  “You’re all about hookups,” she said, pushing at his chest, and wanting to keep him close at the same time. “It’s too easy to get swept up in you,” she finally managed.

  “How do you know I’m about hookups?” His gaze was unyielding.

  “You picked me up in the airport bar,” she reminded him.

  “One could say you picked me up.” He smiled, but it didn’t dampen the heat in his eyes.

  She fisted her hands in his shirt, unsure if she was holding him close or keeping him at bay. “You followed me to the bathroom.”

  “You wanted me to.”

  “I did not. You kissed me!”

  “That’s not how I remember it. I remember asking you to send me away, the same way I just did, and you grabbed my cock.”

  Oh shit. He was right.

  “The truth is, I have always enjoyed fast women. You read me right, darlin’. No doubt about that.”

  Aha! See!

  “But that’s not why I approached you in the bar. You looked familiar, not fast. Yes, you were sexy and gorgeous with a killer body and eyes that make my cock take notice, but you felt familiar. You felt different, right, in a way other women don’t. And when I tasted you…”

  Her knees weakened as his lips brushed against hers.

  “There was no going back. There is no going back. You feel it too, Kat. I know you do.”

  “I…” Do not say it. Do not tell him you want him. “I don’t want to be a hookup.”

  His eyes narrowed, and his voice filled with desire. “What do you want to be?”

  How the hell should I know? A girlfriend? A date? A lover? She was a woman who conquered her fears and took life by the horns, but she couldn’t come up with an answer to save her life. All she knew was that she wanted to be something to him, which was probably a very bad idea.

  “When you’re ready to tell me what you want, let me know.” He released her, leaving her weak and confused as he picked up the coffee cup and headed for the door. He reached for the handle, and she swallowed to keep her heart from climbing out of her throat.

  “I want what you can never be,” she finally managed.

  He stopped with his hand midreach. His chin dropped, as if in defeat. He turned slowly, and the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. She swallowed hard at her misinterpretation of his actions as he closed the distance between them.

  “How can you possibly know what I can and cannot be?” His tone was so dark and serious that it momentarily numbed her.

  “You said you were all about fast women.”

  “No. I said I have always enjoyed fast women.”

  “What is it with you and words?” She crossed her arms, a barrier between his heat and her heart.

  “Words are clear. If you use them well, they leave no room for misinterpretation.” His gaze softened. “I have always enjoyed fast women. Past tense. That’s a true fact. But for whatever reason, I find myself completely and utterly captivated by you. I want to know everything about you, what fears you want to conquer, what emotions you’re hiding. I want to explore and enjoy you, Kat. Present tense.” He paused, and the silence pulsed and swelled between them. “So tell me, Kat. What is it that you want?”

  The door to the patio slid open and Layla ran out, barreling into Kat. “Auntie Kat!”

  Kat tore her eyes from Eric’s, relieved at the interruption. If they’d been alone for one more second, God only knew what answer she would have given him. The man was so intense, and everything he said was so impassioned, she was surprised the sparks between them didn’t ignite.

  “Hey, sweetie!” She hugged Layla, eyeing Eric over her head and still floundering for an answer. “Look how tall you’ve grown, and your hair has gotten so long. You are gorgeous, just like your mom, but you look twelve, not ten.”

  Layla giggled. “I’ve missed you so much. Mom’s giving Christian a bath and Daddy is making breakfast.” She was the spitting image of her mother, with cocoa-colored eyes, shiny dark hair, and a sparkling smile. She turned to Eric and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Uncle Eric, I’ve missed you, too.”

  As Eric scooped Layla into his arms and kissed her cheek, the tension Kat had felt only moments ago disappeared. “I’ve missed you, too, kiddo.”

  “Daddy said to tell you to stop bothering Auntie Kat and to go inside and help him cook breakfast.”

  He set Layla down on the patio, but his focus never left the little girl. “Then I’d better go help. Your father is a mess in the kitchen.”

  “No, he’s not,” Layla said with a laugh. “He loves to cook.”

  Eric crouched beside her and whispered something in her ear that made Layla giggle. She looked up at Kat and nodded. Kat wondered what the heck he was whispering, but she wasn’t about to ask. Eric reached behind Layla’s ear, and when he opened his hand, there was a gold charm bracelet in his palm.

  Layla gasped as he hooked the bracelet around her slender wrist and rose to his feet, then bowed dramatically. “I bid you farewell, my beautiful ladies.”

  After he walked inside, Layla held her wrist up for Kat to admire the pretty bracelet with the heart charm dangling from it.

  “That’s beautiful, Layla. Does Uncle Eric bring you gifts often?”

  “Uh-huh. Sometimes he sends them in the mail with a card. He sends them to Christian, too.” She blinked up at Kat with mischief dancing in her eyes, and Kat felt her heart squeeze at Eric being so thoughtful. “He said soon you were going to call him Prince Eric.”

  Kat’s jaw fell open. She remembered when Hugh and Brianna had first met, right before Layla’s sixth birthday, when Layla was going through a major princess phase. She’d called Hugh Prince Hugh. What in the hell would make Eric say such a thing to a little girl who obviously adored him? It was one thing to mess with her feelings, but a little girl’s?

  She didn’t know how to respond, and she really didn’t know what to make of the man who was so sweet with Layla, fully engaged, warm, and loving, while he oozed sexuality and possessiveness with Kat. How would she make it through the weekend when every time they were close he nearly brought her to her knees with desire?

  Chapter Five

  ERIC SPENT THE afternoon catching up with Hugh and discussing the setup of the foundation scholarship while futilely trying not to think of Kat. She and Brianna had been chatting and laughing and carrying on with the kids just outside the open window, drawing his attention at every sound of her sweet voice. Kat’s laugh was so carefree and full of life, and it tweaked his heart at every turn with a whisper of familiarity.

  “Dude, you’re fading out on me here,” Hugh said.

  “I was just thinking about something.”

  “You mean someone?” Hugh lifted his chin toward the window.

  “There’s something so familiar about her. I feel like I know her, Hugh. It’s weird as shit and a little unsettling.”

  “Unsettling in a bad way? Because as I mentioned last night, the vibes you two give off are not at all unsettling.” He pushed from the table and retrieved two bottles of beer from the fridge, giving one to Eric.

  “Thanks.” He opened the bottle and took a swig, then sat back and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I feel like I know her. She reminds me of this girl I knew as a kid.”

  “Hey, stranger things have happened,” Hugh said. “Ask her. Maybe it’s her.”

  No way was he asking Kat if she went to Camp Kachimonte. He’d snuck
into the camp the summer he’d turned nine, when he’d needed a reprieve from his stoned parents—and, embarrassingly, when he’d needed to eat. His parents weren’t big on providing for him as much as feeding their drug habits. Hugh knew about his parents, but what he didn’t know was that Eric had snuck into the camp cafeteria most afternoons that summer. He didn’t have many distinct memories of those afternoons, as most of them blended together in a jumble of fear and shame, but three instances stuck out in his mind. Once when he’d stopped a big kid from picking on a younger boy, and a little doe-eyed, blond girl who couldn’t have been more than five or six years old had told him that he was the bravest boy she knew. The second time was when that same little girl had dropped her ice cream sandwich in the dirt and he’d snuck into the kitchen after it was closed to get her a new one. She’d told him that he was the kindest boy she knew. Those things shouldn’t mean much to a nine-year-old boy, but Eric hadn’t received many accolades when he was growing up, and he’d held on to those little golden nuggets of praise and used them to pull himself through the harshest of days.

  “No. There’s no way it’s her, and it was a long time ago. She reminds me of her, that’s all.”

  He thought about the third, most powerful memory, the one he revisited most often. Not for the praise, but for the look in the little girl’s eyes when she’d said the words that to this day he still struggled with. He’d been swimming in the lake a good distance away from the kids from the camp when he’d seen the little girl flailing in the water. He’d been caught a few weeks earlier sneaking into the camp, and when the police had brought him home, his stoned father had taken the belt to him. He knew what was waiting for him if he got caught again, but when he’d seen the little girl go under, he didn’t hesitate to save her. He dragged her up to the beach and turned her on her side, the way he’d seen the lifeguards teaching the older kids during one of their safety lessons. She’d spewed water, coughing and gagging, and when she’d finally sat up, her tear-soaked eyes had widened and she’d pressed two tiny palms to his cheeks. He could still feel the pressure of them on his skin. You saved me. You’re my real-life hero, she’d said before pressing her lips to his. She was a little girl, and there was nothing sexual about the kiss. It was a frantic, relieved expression of gratitude, but when the counselor saw them, his eyes had blazed with fury and a chase had ensued. Thank God Eric was a fast runner. He’d scaled the fence and taken off like a bat out of hell. He’d had lots of practice running in those early years—and he’d spent every day since trying to escape his past.

  HAL BRADEN CAME through the patio door and scooped little Christian into his arms, pressing his lips to the squirming boy’s forehead. He was a formidable man at six foot six. Even at almost seventy, he had a commanding presence, with shoulders that filled a doorframe, a barrel chest, and a deep, gravelly voice that rivaled Clint Eastwood’s. He was a man made of love and loyalty, having raised six children by himself after losing his young wife to cancer, and Kat loved him dearly. He’d not only embraced Brianna and Layla like they were his own flesh and blood, but he’d welcomed her into their tight-knit family, too.

  Layla ran from the table where they’d been sitting and hugged him. Holding Christian in one arm, he leaned down and kissed her head. “How’re my favorite girls?”

  “We’re about ready to do our photo shoot,” Brianna said. Today they were taking candid photos and headshots of Kat for her promotional materials and website. She could still hardly believe her business was coming to fruition.

  “Are you ready to go see Uncle Rex and Auntie Jade?” Hal asked.

  “Yes! Yes! Uncle Rexy said I can ride his new horse!” Layla ran to Brianna and hugged her goodbye.

  “Take your riding boots, Layla, and tell Auntie Jade I said not to pump you full of chocolate this time.”

  “Aw, Mom. Auntie Jade says you can’t rule me when I’m there. I’ll go get my boots.” She ran for the door, and Hal laughed.

  “You might as well give that up, darlin’. Jade’s got a bun in the oven, and she’s bubbling over with mama love. Let her spoil the child a little.” Hal settled a hand on Brianna’s shoulder and kissed her head the same way he’d kissed Layla’s.

  “Well, paybacks will be fun, I suppose,” Brianna said. “I’ll sugar up her little muffin baby and then give him or her back buzzing with energy.”

  “That’s what family’s for. Love ’em up the best you can. No harm in that.” Hal turned his dark eyes on Kat and spread his large hand on her shoulder. “How about you, darlin’? You have a beau on the horizon?”

  His use of darlin’ touched her heart, and she realized it was the same endearment Eric used for her. She wondered how much time Eric had spent with Hal over the years.

  As if on cue, Hugh and Eric sauntered outside. They were both gorgeous men, but heck if Eric didn’t make her weak in the knees even though she was sitting down. He was still barefoot, with a beer in one hand and a crooked smile hovering somewhere between scorching and volcanic. Was she the only one who felt his potent masculinity like a vibrator set on high?

  “Not at the moment, Hal,” she finally answered as Eric took the seat beside her, bringing a heat wave with him.

  Hal’s knowing eyes shifted between the two of them. “Uh-huh. Well, don’t you worry, darlin’. Your heart’ll lead the way.”

  “Pop, are you preaching love again?” Hugh put an arm around his father’s shoulder and kissed his son’s pudgy cheek.

  “Preaching truth, son. Preaching truth. I’m taking the kids over to Rex’s now so y’all can get on with your evening.”

  “Thanks, Dad. You sure you don’t want to go to dinner with us after Bree and Kat wrap up their photo shoot?”

  “I’m going to hang around here in case Rex and Jade need me to take over. Christian here loves his grandpappy something fierce, right, Christian?” Hal kissed the little boy’s cheek, and Christian giggled. “You kids have a good time.” Hal patted Hugh on the back and smiled at the others as he said, “I love y’all, though.”

  The open affection Hal lavished on them tugged on Kat’s heartstrings and reminded her why she wasn’t interested in being a weekend hookup, not even for mega-hot, ultra-orgasmic Eric. She wanted more for herself.

  “Bree,” Hugh said with a hopeful smile, “it would be great to have some professional shots for the announcement of the foundation’s scholarship next month. We were thinking that in addition to the pictures you’ll take at the foundation picnic tomorrow, maybe you could take a few shots of us today?”

  “Sure. We should take those at the track, though, right? With you guys in full race attire?” Bree asked.

  Kat pictured Eric in the jumpsuit she’d seen racers wear. She loved a man in uniform. Cringing inwardly, she realized how superficial that was, a little too reminiscent of her past, and again she reminded herself that she was supposed to be taking charge of her future, not hooking up for a weekend.

  “That would probably be best,” Eric said. “Kat, I hope you’ll be joining us at the picnic tomorrow.”

  Kat’s stomach flipped at the prospect of spending more time with Eric. So much for her resolve to remain distant. She’d go anywhere he asked. Twice.

  “Oh my gosh,” Bree said. “I forgot to mention it. I’m so sorry, Kat.”

  “I’d love to go. It’ll be a great experience to watch your PR people in action. Thanks for the invitation. I guess I’ll go change and fix my makeup for the pictures.” Kat stood, and Eric rose beside her.

  He smiled as he pulled her chair out for her to step around. “Kat, is it okay with you if we tag along? I don’t want to take over your shoot, or make you uncomfortable by being there.”

  Little did he know that he made her the best type of uncomfortable by doing hardly more than breathing. She knew that his being there when she was having her picture taken would be distracting, but this was take-charge Kat. She was facing her fears and she was not going to run from this one—fear of falling for a player who cou
ld make her body sizzle with nothing more than a glance.

  “Thanks for asking, but I’m fine with it. It’ll be fun.”

  The wicked glint in his eyes stayed with her long after she walked inside, and she knew her attraction to him was too intense to be ignored.

  Chapter Six

  DOWNTOWN WESTON HAD been built to replicate an old Western town, complete with old-fashioned storefronts and hitches to tie up horses, although Kat imagined those were just for show. She couldn’t imagine anyone riding a horse into town for business. It was late enough in the afternoon that the streets weren’t crowded but still early enough that Brianna and Hugh were garnering attention from people walking by while they set up the photography equipment. Bree smiled and answered their questions easily, as if this were what she’d done every day of her life. Kat knew better. Becoming a professional photographer had been a lifelong dream for Brianna, and although she’d worked with a well-known photographer in Richmond and she was talented beyond belief, it wasn’t until she and Hugh had come together that she’d allowed herself to indulge in the activity she loved most as something more than a hobby.

  Kat tried to calm her nerves by looking herself over one last time in the full-length mirror Brianna had brought with them. She’d had no idea that taking pictures would be such a production. They’d had to take two cars to allow for all of Bree’s equipment. Kat assumed they’d find a few locations in town and then maybe take a couple of candid shots with the mountains in the background. She’d thought the whole photo shoot might take an hour, but Hugh and Brianna were setting up big white umbrellas and plugging lights and fans into generators. It looked like a movie set, and it had Kat’s nerves going all sorts of crazy.

  The longer she looked over her cap-sleeved navy blue dress, the more she worried that the neckline was too low or the dress was too tight. She caught sight of Brianna and Hugh in the mirror, wondering if she should ask Brianna if she should change since they’d brought several outfits for the photo shoot. Hugh touched Brianna each time he walked past. He leaned in close and whispered something that made Brianna blush and turn toward him. When Hugh wrapped an arm around Brianna and lowered his lips to hers, Kat shifted her eyes away from their reflection and caught Eric’s.