Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6)

by Carly Phillips

  * * *

  The flight had been bumpy, and by the time Tyler landed, the wind was whipping through the trees. His goal was to get Ella settled safely into the hotel before the hurricane hit. He arrived at the hospital to find pure chaos. Unlike an American-run place with generators and general preparedness, the staff was more concerned with getting themselves home than with the welfare of their patients.

  He stopped a few people before someone, finally, directed him to the American woman down the hall. Considering she’d been mugged, the fact that they didn’t ask him for ID or worry that maybe he was out to hurt her concerned him. It made him all the more determined to get her out of here as soon as possible.

  During the trip down, he hadn’t stopped to ask himself why he was doing this. He’d said no to his sister before. Not often, but he managed when he wanted to. So why put himself in the position of rescuing a woman he had such a messy history with? One who surely wouldn’t be happy to see him, and whom he’d have no choice but to apologize to?

  And there he had his answer. He’d let her down, and she wasn’t the first person in his life he’d disappointed when they needed him, and he was trying to make amends and correct his past mistakes.

  Tyler, like all of his siblings, had idolized their father, Robert Dare. After his other life and family had come to light, he’d shattered each child in different ways.

  Ian had stepped up and taken over as man of the house. Sure, Tyler and Scott had helped look after their sisters, but it was Ian who’d held them together. And by taking care of the family, Ian had made sure Scott could be a cop and Tyler could do what he wanted with his life.

  And what had Tyler done? Instead of facing the anger he felt at his father, Tyler had run away, joining the Army, telling himself it was a big F.U. to his dad. In reality, it was a cowardly act of betrayal to his family. And when he’d come home on leave and treated Ella so badly, had he faced her the next day? No, he thought, combing a hand through his hair. He’d run again.

  He wasn’t ready to delve back into how he’d learned these lessons courtesy of Jack Gibson, who’d bailed on his family, on life in the worst possible way. Tyler visited that in his nightmares often enough. But learn them he had. And if Ella’s mugging and the damned hurricane gave him the chance to make things right, he would. He owed her a lot more than an apology.

  For the last nine years, he hadn’t been able to get the night with Ella or the morning after out of his head. Now was his chance to make it up to her and get rid of some of the guilt he’d been carrying around for being a dick.

  For calling her a mistake.

  For a lot of things.

  He walked down the hall and stopped outside the room he’d been directed to. He drew a deep breath and stepped inside.

  Ella was asleep, her light brown hair spread out over the white pillowcase, her face pale. Though she looked fragile, he knew she was strong. He admired her and had never stopped thinking about her over the years … as more than a family friend. As the woman he’d treated so badly … and the one he’d let get away. Not that there was anything he could or would do about that now. He still didn’t trust his ability to commit. And Ella, with her painful past, needed someone who wouldn’t bail on her again.

  Seeing her in this bed brought him back to the time when they’d met. She’d been small for her age, a ten-year-old waiting to give bone marrow to her stepmother, much like Avery. Except Avery was giving her bone marrow to a half sister they’d known nothing about until a few weeks before.

  Avery and Ella had bonded over their mutual situation, and all the Dare brothers had become extremely protective of Ella Shaw. It was what made his reaction to her that Christmas so damned … wrong. And why he’d treated her so badly afterwards. Self-disgust turned at the wrong person. Because he’d enjoyed her hot, slick body too much.

  He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside.

  He stepped farther into the room, and as he made his way toward her, those protective instincts he’d always had for her kicked in, combined with a healthy dose of desire for the woman lying helpless in the hospital bed.

  “Excuse me. Who are you and what are you doing in here?” a female dressed in white, presumably a nurse, entered the room and asked.

  “I’m here for Ella Shaw. I’m … family,” he said, forcing out the words, because what he felt when he looked at her was anything but familial or brotherly.

  The nurse narrowed her gaze. “Well, she’s been through a trauma and—”

  “It’s okay, he can stay,” Ella said, her voice raspy and low.

  The nurse studied him for a long moment, finally treating him to a curt nod before rushing out of the room.

  Tyler turned back to meet her gaze. “Hey, short stuff,” he said, the nickname from when she was younger falling off his tongue.

  “When I feel better, I am going to strangle Avery,” she muttered. “I take it you’re the cavalry?”

  “You could sound more grateful.”

  “And you could speak to me like an adult,” she snapped back, both falling into recent patterns.

  To keep his distance and not show how attracted he was to her, he’d put up a wall, treating her like an annoyance or a pesky younger sister. That shit had to stop now. She was right. They were both adults, even if he hadn’t been acting like one for the last few years.

  He pulled up a chair, his knees touching the metal frame of the bed. “How are you?” he asked more gently.

  She blew out a breath. “My head hurts badly and I’m a little dizzy. Nothing out of the ordinary for a concussion,” she said, eyes suspiciously damp, telling him she was in more pain than she let on.

  Without overthinking, he reached for her hand. “I’m sure you’ll feel better when we get you out of here.”

  “I was mugged. My money, passport … everything’s gone.”

  “I know. But the good news is you don’t need any of those things to fly out on a private jet.”

  The noise she made sounded more like a snort. An adorable snort but one nonetheless. “Of course not.”

  “Got a problem with that?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never flown that way before but … I’m grateful you came for me,” she said, looking past him, toward the window, obviously unable to meet his gaze. “I’m sure you didn’t want to and Avery had to twist your arm.”

  He squeezed her soft hand. “We’ll talk about all that when you’re stronger. Right now let’s find a doctor who can release you.”

  It took awhile. Finally a harassed-looking man agreed she could leave as long as she had someone to watch over her. Since Tyler wasn’t letting her out of his sight, that wouldn’t be a problem.

  The trip back to the hotel was more difficult, costing Tyler a fortune because, again, most cab drivers wanted to get home, not take passengers out of their way.

  The palm trees swayed dangerously as they drove, the driver holding tight to the wheel of the small car.

  Ella was oblivious. No sooner had he bundled her into the back of the cab than she’d curled up beside him, laid her head on his shoulder, and passed out. She might have been hospitalized, but she still smelled pure female. He hadn’t thought anything could distract him from the fury of the hurricane, but one whiff of Ella’s hair, an inhale of her scent, and he wasn’t thinking about wind or rain. He was immersed in a force of nature of a whole different kind.

  What kind of perv got an erection when a hurt, unconscious woman lay trustingly against him? Shit. The things this woman did to him always had him questioning his common sense.

  When they reached the hotel, he woke her, and she leaned against him as they walked inside. He explained the situation to the desk clerk, who, thankfully, because of the photo shoot, remembered Ella and was willing to give her a key. With his hand on her back to steady her, they took the elevator up to the sixth floor, and she directed him to her room, 618, with a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

  “Wait. I didn’t leave that
on there,” she said, pointing to the door hanger.

  He narrowed his gaze. “Wait here.”

  He glanced around, but there was no safe alcove in which to hide her. He pushed her against the wall, same side as the room in case someone came running out, then pulled out his gun.

  Her eyes widened but she didn’t argue.

  He slid the key into the door and let himself inside. The bathroom was immediately to the right, and he pushed open the door. Empty, as was the bathtub. The closet was on the left. He slid open the door. Also empty. He checked the balcony, which was still locked tight from the inside.

  But the room had been ransacked, all her things tossed around. This unexpected turn of events told him the mugging probably hadn’t been random. “Shit.”

  He stepped back only to find her waiting in the room, mouth open.

  “Didn’t I tell you to wait in the hall?” he asked, pissed she hadn’t listened.

  She frowned at him and stepped inside. “Why would someone do this?” she asked, taking in the mess.

  “That is a damned good question.”

  She bent down to pick up a piece of clothing.

  “Don’t touch!” he barked out, harsher than he intended.

  “What? Why not?” She rose slowly to her feet.

  “So when the cops here investigate, at least they’ll see things exactly how we found them.” Although with the hurricane coming, Tyler doubted anyone would have time or care about a burglary.

  A glance at Ella, who was pale and shaky, and Tyler knew—he, on the other hand, cared a lot.

  Chapter Two

  Ella barely stayed on her feet while Tyler reported the break-in to the front desk and insisted on a new room. If she’d had the strength, she’d think about the fact that the sexy man she’d wanted forever had come to her rescue and currently had an arm wrapped around her waist, holding her up. Preventing her from sliding to the floor with his sheer strength.

  He also smelled so good she wanted to bury her face in the crook of his neck and inhale the masculine scent that always affected her so strongly. But all those things also meant she’d be forced to recall the reasons they barely spoke in the first place, and when they did, it was rarely pleasant. And Ella never wanted to go there again.

  Never wanted to revisit her stupid mistake and greatest shame. But from the look in his eyes when he’d said they’d talk later, she had a feeling she wouldn’t get her wish. So for now, all she wanted was to lie down and rest her pounding head.

  “You’re going to report this to the police, I assume?” Tyler asked to the desk clerk, who was currently looking for an open room in which to place them.

  Luckily a lot of people had fled the island in anticipation of the storm, so they could move to someplace that hadn’t been broken into. Another thing she’d focus on if her vision and mind weren’t fuzzy.

  “Of course, but you should know that all the island personnel are busy with the state of emergency due to the hurricane,” the woman said, clicking away on what she claimed was a very slow-working computer. Also due to the storm.

  “In other words, it may take awhile,” he muttered.

  “I’m sorry. Here is your key,” she said, sliding a card across the counter. “It’s an inside room, no terrace. I figured, with the winds, you would want as few windows as possible.”

  He nodded. “Thank you. Come on.” Never letting Ella go, he steered her toward the bank of elevators across the hall.

  A few minutes later, he opened the door to a new, freshly cleaned room. Without missing a beat, she crossed the floor, headed straight for the king-size bed, the only bed in the room, and crawled on top of the mattress with a loud groan.

  She distantly heard Tyler pick up the phone and order food, though she couldn’t imagine having the energy to eat.

  She didn’t remember or register anything else until the sound of a cell phone alarm penetrated her senses. She opened her eyes and found herself facing Tyler’s bare, muscular chest. Her head rested on his forearm, and she was smothered in delicious, masculine warmth. Unable to resist, she took that inhale she’d been dreaming of earlier, and his musky scent sent tingles of awareness rippling through her veins.

  Apparently a concussion didn’t prevent desire from kicking in, because headache or no headache, her nipples pulled into hardened peaks, and slickness coated her panties. She couldn’t imagine a more inappropriate response considering he was here to rescue her, not be seduced. Again.

  Bathroom time, she thought, seeking an escape. She rolled to the side, groaning at the unexpected pounding in her head.

  “Still in pain?” he asked in a gruff voice.

  “Only when I move.”

  “Then don’t,” he suggested, laughter in his tone.

  She closed her eyes tighter and said, “I need the bathroom.”

  He was up in an instant, coming around her side of the bed. “Let’s go. I’ll help you.”

  She managed not to shake her head, catching herself in time. “I’m okay. I just need to brace myself for the movement.”

  He waited for her to push into a sitting position before bending down and wrapping an arm around her, pulling her slowly to standing. Between his lifting and her shifting, her tank top pulled down beneath one breast, exposing her to the cool air. And she’d been in such a rush to leave the hospital, she hadn’t put her bra back on.

  “Shit.” Tyler quickly yanked her top back in place, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

  “I can go myself. Please,” she said in a small voice.

  “Call me if you need me. Don’t be a martyr.”

  At least he’d left her with a tiny bit of dignity, she thought, and made her way across the room. She took care of business and washed up, splashing cold water on her cheeks and cleaning herself up as best she could. She was surprised to find a travel-sized toothpaste on the counter along with a small deodorant and figured he’d called down to the front desk and asked for whatever toiletries they had on hand. She used those too, then ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

  One look in the mirror told her she was a mess, but Tyler had already seen … well, everything. It wasn’t like she was going to impress him. He was here to do his sister a favor and rescue her best friend. Nothing more.

  She groaned and headed back out to face him.

  “So I called downstairs while you were sleeping, and apparently the chef took off for the night. Everyone’s in a panic, trying to make sure their families are safe. I had them bring up what they could. We have fruit, crackers, chips, and cookies. The best the hotel has to offer,” he said wryly.

  She hadn’t thought she’d be hungry, but her stomach grumbled loudly and he grinned.

  “Take your pick.” He pointed to the table of food.

  Outside, through the one window in the room, the wind whistled through the trees. It was dark and impossible to see what was going on there. “Is it bad?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “I’m hoping it’ll blow over by morning. The pilot can get us out of here once the winds die down and the runway is clear.”

  She nodded and settled into a chair at the table. “Thank you again for coming.”

  He waved off her comment as if his appearance on the island meant nothing. “You’re family.”

  “You’re a liar.” She looked up at him and caught the flush highlighting his cheekbones.

  “You’re right,” he admitted.

  She winced but knew she deserved that comment. She’d stopped being family the night she’d snuck into his room.

  Forcing herself to do it, she met his gaze. “I’m sorry. I climbed into your bed and that was stupid. Wrong.” Of course, she’d been in love with him for years, and had spent the evening prior to that drinking schnapps with his sister. She’d been tipsy and gotten her bravery from alcohol. All idiotic and childish.

  “I appreciate that, but I didn’t handle things much better.”

  She forced a smile. “Maybe not, but when the sex su
cks, can’t really blame a guy for saying so.” Of course, she’d been in heaven up until that point.

  True, he’d tried to push her away, but she’d plastered herself against him, her flimsy shirt no barrier against his warm, hard chest. And he’d smelled so good she’d buried her face against his cheek for a minute before kissing him … and he’d kissed her back. Especially once her sex slid over his boxer briefs. There’d been no going back then.

  And Ella, in her tipsy state, with her silly, girlish dreams, had thought it’d meant something to him. That she’d meant something. Sure, it’d hurt at first, and he’d been shocked when he’d discovered that barrier, but soon he’d been thrusting into her and she hadn’t cared about the discomfort. It was Tyler. Tyler, who she’d secretly longed for for years. It was a dream come true.

  Until it wasn’t.

  “Tell me you’re on fucking birth control,” Tyler had said, his handsome face contorted with anger.

  She’d managed a nod, her hair hanging over her shoulder, and she was grateful for it, hoping maybe if she looked away, he wouldn’t see her tears. She’d been on the pill for period problems. She hadn’t been that stupid. Well, she had been. He hadn’t used a condom. God, what had she been thinking, crawling into his bed uninvited?

  Sure, he’d had his own wing of the house, but still … his mother was on the other side, and so were his sisters. Horrific embarrassment flooded her.

  “It’s okay,” she’d said, not wanting him to be mad at her. She’d been upset enough with herself.

  She’d reached out and touched his bare chest, his skin hot to her fingertips. And she’d wanted to kiss him again, to go back to where they’d been when this had started.

  Before she could try, his lips had curled downward in disgust. “No, it isn’t okay. It was a big fucking mistake. A mess and you better believe it won’t be happening again.”

  Horrified, she’d scrambled off him with tears falling down her cheeks as she’d grabbed her clothes, pulled on her long shirt, shaking and trying not to lose it in front of him. Finally she’d gotten herself together and run, slamming the door behind her.