“I’m sure they think about things like this when they set these stunts up.”
“Yeah. They probably do. Do you think they are filming us right now?”
He stares ahead. “Pretty sure, they are?”
This is for Mom. This is for Mom. This is for Mom. Maybe if I say it enough, I’ll feel better about what I’m going to do.
The women’s section comes up first, and I can barely put one foot in front of another. “What should I choose?” I mutter, looking around.
“Something close to what you’re wearing,” he advises, looking me up and down. “Do they even sell clothes like that anymore?”
“I swear to God.”
“Sorry, sorry. Reflex.”
“It’s a stinking sweater and jeans, dick,” I whisper as we start looking for something suitable through the casuals. “I mean, people wear sweaters and jeans all the time.” I thought I looked pretty cute when I left the house.
“Not in this weather they don’t, but calm down. I was just busting your balls. We need to work together. We have less than ten minutes left.” He picks out a cable-knit sweater in a similar shade of cream to the one I’m wearing. “What do you think?”
“Fine, fine.” I put it over my arm.
We stop in front of a wall of folded jeans. “So. Do I dare ask what size we’re looking for?”
“I’ll look for my own, thanks. Why don’t you worry about you?” I snap hastily.
“Fine. I will.” He turns to leave—then freezes in place.
“What’s the matter?” I ask filled with panic again.
When he spins back around, his eyes are twinkling and he’s wearing a huge grin. “Son of a bitch! We totally missed the obvious.”
Chapter 9
DAKOTA
“What do you mean?” I ask round-eyed with curiosity.
He leans in to whisper in my ear, “There’s nothing in the message about brand new clothes. Just clothes that are different from the ones we’re wearing.”
Oh, how I hate the little shiver that runs down my spine when the heat from his breath hit my skin. “Huh?” I can’t think straight when all I can smell is his cologne.
He pulls back and looks me in the eye. “All we have to do is switch clothes, Dakota. We’ll go out in clothes that we did not come into the store in.”
It sinks in slowly, and I feel like dawn just broke. “Switch clothes with each other. Oh, my God. Don’t let it go to your head, but that is genius!” I toss the sweater aside. “Okay. Nearest dressing room, then.” We make a beeline for the changing room. It’s a women’s room, but there’s nobody in any of the little stalls, so I think it’ll be okay. I wave him in behind me and immediately lock myself in one stall while he takes another.
“Strip down,” he orders.
“Thanks for making that clear,” I whisper back as I pull my sweater off and toss it over the partition. Boots come next, then jeans. I can’t imagine how he thinks he’ll fit into them, but maybe he can think of something. I pull off my socks next and ball them up, lobbing them over as well.
“Shit. None of these fit.”
I roll my eyes. “No kidding.”
“You haven’t given me everything yet,” he points out.
“Oh. Right.” I look down at my bra and panties. “You won’t fit into these, either.”
“I’ll make something work.”
“Jesus Christ. My favorite goddamn underwear and you’re going to stretch it all out.” I peel off the panties and unhook the bra, thanking God the entire time that I wore my best set. If I were wearing period panties, I’d kill myself. I hand it over instead of throwing it.
“Hmm. Nice.”
I jump up and swipe my arm over the top of the partition, hoping to take a swipe at him. “Shut it and give me your things, please.” I’m completely naked, for God’s sake.
“Okay. Here you go.” He even took the time to fold everything.
Compulsive, I decide. It’s all huge. Even the boxer briefs. “Huh. Men’s underwear is way more comfy than women’s,” I observe.
“I wish I could say the same in reverse,” he groans.
I can’t help but giggle as I pull on his jeans. “Oh, jeez, these are falling down even with the belt cinched all the way,” I complain. “Then again, the shirt will probably be a dress on me, anyway.” Sure enough, it comes almost to my knees. I carry what doesn’t fit. “Are you ready?” I ask, freaked out all over again. At least the shop’s entrance is not too far from where we’re getting dressed, but there’s still the escalator to get down and the concourse to navigate. Oh, and then the street. A very crowded, very public street complete with buses, taxis, and people. Hell, what am I worried about? Millions are going to see it on their TV screens.
“I don’t think I could ever possibly be ready for this,” he mutters.
I bite the side of my tongue to keep from laughing too hard. “Come on. I bet you look pretty.” I open my door and step out, then rap on his with the backs of my knuckles. “Come on. Let’s see.”
“I look ridiculous.”
“And that’s different from any other time?” I ask, rolling my eyes.
“Good point.” The knob turns and the door opens.
I take a deep breath and get ready to laugh, but instead—I just about fall to my knees and praise Jesus because damn.
“They were all that fit,” he says, striking a pose in nothing but my panties.
It takes me a few seconds to recover from the first rush of blood to my nether regions. How long has it been since I? “Umm—did you stuff my socks in there?” I say waving my hand in the vague direction of his package.
“No. Why?”
“Do you have an erection?”
“No.”
This no had a meaning all of its own. Jesus what is he packing in there? My poor underwear is straining with all the man meat stuffed into it. I clear my throat. “Well…I can’t say it thrills me that my panties fit you. I don’t know if I should be insulted or what.”
“They’re really stretchy.” He turns to show me the back view, and it’s about the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen.
He’s not eye candy. He’s practically the enemy. Stop this.
Only I can’t help it. He’s so fine.
They used to be boy shorts. Now they’re a bikini. I swallow hard and try to shake off the odd sensation in my belly, but it’s nearly impossible.
Silence falls heavy between us.
Something flashes in his eyes.
I’ve seen that look before. In other men’s eyes. I shake my head. What the hell am I thinking of?
“Okay, well, we’d better get going. We have four minutes to make it out of here.” He gathers up the rest of my things and turns to me. He catches me staring at him.
“You ready for this?” I ask.
His grin is positively feral. “Dakota, I’m wearing women’s underwear and trying to feel secure in my manhood.”
“Okay.” I peek outside the dressing area to the main floor. The ladies perusing casual wear are about to get a real treat.
“Alright. Let’s get this over with.”
We do. I step out first and lead the way with him right behind me.
“Oh my God, everybody is looking at us,” I say from between clenched teeth. I can’t believe this! I can’t believe I’m going to walk out of here in a man’s shirt and with Trent following in my panties.
I hear a gasp, followed by what sounds like somebody dropping an armload of clothes, and maybe a purse, and maybe even a small child, but I can’t be sure because I’d have to look over to be sure and that would mean possibly making eye contact and I can’t do that, no way. Absolutely not. I keep my eyes front and center, a smile plastered on my face.
“I bet none of these ladies expected a show today,” he says cockily behind me.
I turn around and my heart flips. He’s actually strutting behind me like he owns the world. “I should’ve known you would get off on the attention,”
I mutter. Silly me, thinking for even a split second that he’d be embarrassed to wear my underwear in public. Then again, why should he be? He looks like a sex god come to life. A very tall, very cut, very handsome sex god.
“You look pretty hot yourself,” he says with a wicked grin.
We step on the escalator and now I can hear flat-out laughter, catcalls and whooping. My cheeks burn from it and from him calling me pretty hot. Do I look hot? This is the second time he’s called me that. I hear the clicking of phone cameras coming from just about every direction and tell myself it’s not time to think about flirting. “How much time do we have left?”
He looks at his watch. “Two minutes.”
We start running down the escalator. “Excuse me, excuse,” as we pass people who stare openly at us.
“Get out of the way!” he yells as we hit the main concourse. A security guard catches my eye. Trent must see him, too, because he grabs my hand and we both burst out onto the street, breathless and laughing.
“I can’t believe we just did that!” I gasp.
“We’re not finished yet!” He takes my hand and pulls me behind him at a dead run, heading for the parking lot.
Horns honk, people cheer, I even hear one woman ask Trent to marry her as we rush past.
He looks over his shoulder with a wide, brilliant smile and shouts, “Sorry, sugar tits. I’m married to her.”
Whoa! That sends a weird thrill down my spine. “Did you just call that woman sugar tits?” I pant.
“I never thought I’d see the day. You’re jealous,” he says with a chuckle.
“You want me to ride this with no pants on?” I gape as we reach his motorcycle, which is basically the most macho piece of machinery I’ve ever seen.
“Here,” he says handing me my clothes. “And I’ll need my pants too. I don’t want to be arrested for indecent exposure.” His pants are all he puts on before sliding into his shoes and throwing one leg over the chrome beast. Sunlight hits his skin making it gleam as he kicks the starter and the engine’s roar fills my head as he turns back to look at me. “Hop on.”
A funny warmth spreads through my core when I realize I’ll be plastered up against that bare back, my arms around his waist.
“Hurry before somebody comes looking for us!” he orders.
I throw one leg over the way he did and immediately, the vibration from the engine moves all through me. Between that and the contact with Trent’s bare skin, I feel myself getting wet. Hungering for him.
Only the buzzing of my phone pulls me out of it. Trent reaches for his at the same time.
Congratulations Dare Me Contestant.
You have successfully
completed your first stunt.
Prize money: $10,000
“Woo hoo!” I squeeze him a little tighter than I technically need to as we pull out of the parking garage and onto the street.
Chapter 10
DAKOTA
Thank God, Mom is asleep when I get home. There’s no way I could explain riding up to the house on a motorcycle, holding onto a bare chested hunk, wearing a shirt that clearly isn’t mine. I’m sure I couldn’t explain away the color in my cheeks, either. I can feel them burning with a mixture of excitement and pride.
I’m actually proud of myself for pulling off what we just did.
I owe most of it to him, of course. If it wasn’t for him being so smart, we would’ve ended shoplifting and knowing my luck, I would have got caught. I wonder if the other teams had to perform the same stunts. I wonder how many of them tried to shoplift. Did any get caught? It’s one way to pare down the number of competing teams. If it weren’t for Trent being so level-headed, my ass would probably be in a jail cell downtown right now. I never would’ve pulled off stealing a new outfit.
I dash upstairs to change, intensely aware of the fact that I’m still wearing his briefs under my jeans. They are soaked and I’m feeling aroused and horny. My insides feel as if they have liquefied. I wish I could slip under the covers and end this torment.
Not now.
I slip out of his underwear and for some strange reason hold it close to my cheek. Knowing him, he’ll ask for them back. I blush again when I imagine my body rubbing up against his. I giggle to myself. Yes, he’s a pain in the ass, but he’s also…intriguing.
And hot. Very hot.
And fun. And sexy. Oh, God the way his hard body felt.
I feel more like myself once I’m in my own clothes again. I can breathe easily as I sit on the edge of my bed and reflect on the insanity my life has become. We’ll get another stunt tonight. I wonder what they’ll have us do this time.
I hear a sound from the baby monitor I have fixed up in my room. Mom’s stirring. Good thing I came in when I did. I jog downstairs.
She jumps in surprise. “I didn’t know you came in.”
“I only did a few minutes ago.” I bend down to kiss her forehead and immediately regret it when Mom crinkles her nose.
“You smell different,” she notes, looking up at me with those sharp eyes of hers.
“Probably because I just spent part of the morning with a man, but not the way you think I did,” I add hastily. I haven’t done anything to be ashamed of. Not yet. I would’ve shoplifted if Trent hadn’t thought fast though.
“Expensive cologne,” she murmurs with a sly smile. “Must be quite a man.”
“He’s not a big deal,” I tell her with a shrug. “I mean, he obviously thinks he is, but he isn’t.”
“Obviously?”
“You know what I mean. He’s handsome, but he knows he’s handsome. It’s annoying.”
“Annoying?”
“Are you a parrot now?” I ask with a smile.
“You’re a little edgy when it comes to this man, aren’t you?” She smooths her hands over her blanket with a thoughtful expression on her face.
I take a mental picture of her in this moment to look back on whenever I question why I’m doing what I’m doing. “Edgy? Maybe a little. That man has a way of exposing my edges.”
She chuckles softly. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you, believe me. It’s just the way you’re talking about him. I could swear you have a crush.”
“Me?” I point to myself. “A crush? I don’t think so.”
“Which is exactly what people say when they have a crush they don’t want anybody to know about.” She chuckles. “Don’t worry, honey. I won’t tell anybody.” She pulls an invisible zipper across her lips, then twists an invisible key and tosses it away.
“You might think I have a crush, but I don’t,” I say firmly. “He is definitely not the sort of person a girl should develop a crush on. There’s more to life than a handsome face or a nice body.”
“Oh, he has a nice body, too?” Her eyebrows shoot up.
“Mom.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a…nice body. I was very partial to a nice body when I was your age.”
“Mom, you’re too much.”
“Handsome, nice body. Is he rich? I mean, that would make him every girl’s dream.”
“Nothing about whether he’s a nice person? I thought that was important too.”
“Sure, it’s important.” She winks. “I was going to ask about that next.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, Mom.”
“What? It’s a valid question. This old lady wants to know if her daughter is going to be taken care of when she’s gone.”
I frown. “You’re not old, Mom and you’re not going anywhere for a many years to come. Remember, you said you wanted to see your grandchildren.”
She shakes her head. “I asked a simple question.”
“Well, to be honest, I really don’t know if he has money or not. He drives a nice car and he has a big motorcycle.”
“Ooh, a motorcycle. You didn’t mention a motorcycle. I need to meet this hunk.” She runs a hand over the side of her face, then grins. “Though I don’t exactly look my best right now.”
“You’re a
lways beautiful,” I tell her, leaning over to pat her other hand. “So like I said, maybe he has a little money, or he did, but he seems to be just as desperate for cash as I am.”
Chapter 11
DAKOTA
“How do you know?” she asks, looking at me curiously.
“Uh … we’re both doing the same work. We’re—umm—sort of working together.”
“Oh, I see. Now the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Thrown together by destiny, both of you working toward the same goal. Falling in love while you do everything you can to make money and improve your life.”
“You’re a hopeless romantic. Sometimes I think all those cheesy romance movies you love have warped your brain. Life doesn’t really work that way.”
“You can’t believe that.” She grows suddenly serious. Very serious. “You used to believe in true love. It’s the only thing that makes life worth living. When you’ve had a terrible day and the wolf is at the door, wanting money for the gas, electric, phone, the mortgage, and you just don’t know where it’s going to come from, it is love that keeps you going. When your boss is a bastard and makes you wonder why you even bother working for him in the first place, all you have to do is go home and look into your daughter’s innocent eyes.” She sighs deeply. “Suddenly, even all the bastards in the world cannot take away the true joy of life because of her sweet smile. Hell, when you miss the bus and it starts pissing down with rain and of course, you left your umbrella at work, you walk home from the bus station to your house soaked and frozen, then you open your door, and there’s your baby safe and sound, and it warms you up from the inside out. Love is everything, Dakota. Everything.”
“Oh, Mom.”
“I’m serious. I’ll be gone soon and you need to find someone for yourself. A man. Someone to turn to when times are tight. Somebody to lean on and share your troubles with.”
“I’m not interested in getting a man, Mom. I can take care of myself and right now my priority is you.”
Dare Me Page 5