Dare To Love Series_Don't Dare Me

by Jen Talty

  The stunned crowed stared at him with questioning eyes. He had no idea if he’d accomplished anything and didn’t care if he got fired for going off script at this point. He said what he needed and he said it from his heart.

  His mother would be proud. Right before the conference, he’d spoken to his dad, who gave him the green light and so did his mother.”

  “I would appreciate it if you could give me and my family some space. Not only do we have some challenges coming up with Heather’s surgeries, but my mother is dying of cancer, a battle we don’t want to become the center of attention.”

  A collective gasp from the crowd.

  “I’m begging you to let these matters rest and focus on my coaching, which might be more controversial anyway considering my reputation as being a hot-head on the field.”

  The crowed laughed, and pictures resumed.

  “Thank you for your time,” he said.

  “Coach Greer,” a voice from somewhere in the crowd yelled. “Thanks for clearing all that up. But what about the girl you’ve been seen with, Jessica Roads, director of social media for the team. Is she your girlfriend?”

  He glanced in Jessica’s direction and she stared at him with an open mouth. He could really hurt her if wanted to, but this media circus wasn’t her fault and if he were being honest with himself, she had done a good job with regard to this story, and she did it with grace and style. Most of all, she didn’t beg him to spin their kiss a certain way, knowing he could make her look bad.

  However, that didn’t change she’d believed the worst of him.

  “I shouldn’t even dignify that with a response. My love life is none of your concern.” Nolan didn’t care that his tone came off as clipped, but by the way the publicist had glared at him, he figured he should change his attitude a little when it came to Jessica.

  “But you’ve been see out with her on two different occasions, kissing,” the same voice yelled. “Do you have time to coach, take care of a child with special needs, and date a girl like Jessica Roads?”

  He gripped the podium, feeling the wood bend in his bare hands.

  “Don’t engage,” someone whispered from behind him.

  “It’s been rumored that Jessica—”

  “Stop right there.” Nolan felt that snap in his brain that happened every time he wanted to take a ref and put his fist through his face. Not literally. Nolan wasn’t a violent man physically, but he could tear you apart with words. “I will not let you trash someone else’s reputation as you tried to trash mine based on any kind of rumor. Nor will I let you judge myself or whomever I chose to date. The focus should be on my ability to coach the offense of this team and help take us to the playoffs. So, I ask once again, give my family, and my girlfriend, some space and concentrate on football. I’m sure my outbursts on the field will give you plenty to talk about.” He held up his hand as more people shouted questions. “Thank you for coming.” He stepped back, letting the publicist handle the rest, realizing he’d told everyone he and Jessica were indeed romantically involved.

  He shouldn’t have answered the question in the first place.

  As the crowed disappeared, Nolan searched for Jessica, but she was nowhere to be found. He’d expected her to stick around and either read him the riot act for going off script, or give him shit for implying something that wasn’t true.

  He checked her office and the door had been locked. He texted twice. No response. When he finally arrived at the parking lot, her car was still there.

  Fuck. He’d forgotten to give her the keys.

  He pulled out his phone and called.

  Right to voice message.

  He texted, again.

  Where r u? I have your keys…

  The caption thing with three dots indicated she was responding.

  Got a ride. On phone with my mother. I’ll get keys tomorrow.

  Like hell you will. Not often did he over step boundaries, but he needed to talk to her and tell her he’d been hurt, but also, he owed her an apology and she was going to hear him out.

  Tonight.

  He pulled the keys out of his pocket and got in her car. Opening the glove box, he found her registration and address. He knew the area well. Not a bad section of town. Safe. The building she was in had been one he looked at, but decided on a townhouse with a yard, hoping someday his daughter would be able to run and play. He smiled.

  Pulling out of the parking lot, he called his father.

  “Well, hello there. Nice way to handle that situation,” his father said without saying the standard hello, something that always annoyed Nolan.

  “Hopefully, it will put an end to it and I can get on with my job.” His family had been super supportive his entire life, always giving their two cents, but never forcing their values or opinions on him.

  “Mom wants to know if you were planning on telling her about your new girlfriend.”

  Nolan groaned. His mother constantly worried about his single status, wanting him to settle down. He had, when Heather came into his life, but not the way his mother had hoped.

  It would break her heart if he told her the dating game wasn’t real.

  “I’ve only been out with her a couple of times. I didn’t like where that reporter was going with his questions and the word girlfriend just kind of flew out.”

  His father laughed. “How does this Jessica woman feel about that?”

  “I’m going to see her now, so we will find out soon enough.” He half expected to be slapped, but considering the kiss…two kisses…he hoped maybe they could actually start dating for real, assuming the media left them alone.

  Nolan’s pulse increased as he turned down Jessica’s street. Women never made him nervous. He’d always been able to get the ones he liked, not that he was a player, but he hadn’t been much interested in a relationship during the height of his career. “I’m pulling into Jessica’s now. I’m not going to make it home before bedtime.”

  “Perhaps you should tell her that,” his father said.

  “Before you put her on, how’s mom doing? Are you both okay with her battle being public now?”

  “In our world, it has always has been public. All our family, friends, co-workers, members of the church have known since mom got sick.”

  “I’m just worried about the press being parked out in our street.”

  “I think you’re worrying for nothing,” his father said. “Here’s your munchkin.”

  “Hi Daddy!” her little screechy voice filled his heart with joy. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like not to have the privilege of being her dad. It humbled him in so many ways.

  “Hey sweetie, how goes things? Did you have a good day?”

  “I helped Auntie Karen make cookies!”

  “Oh, can’t wait to have some when I get home.” He pulled into the parking area, hitting the button on the visor, hoping that was how to get into Jessica’s garage. The gate hummed and lifted. But he had no idea where her parking spot was. He pulled off to the side, in case anyone needed to get by. He tried to never cut a conversation short with his baby girl.

  “Can we watch your press confrance? I only got to see some of it.”

  He smiled at her pronunciation. “I’m sorry, but daddy has to work a little late tonight and I might not make it home until after bed. But I’ll wake you up early and we can have breakfast just the two of us.”

  “Breakfast in bed?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay daddy. Love you!”

  He loved how happy and easy going she’d always been. Even after the first surgery, she had this way of cheering everyone else up around her when it was supposed to be the other way around. He tapped his chest. “I love you more.”

  He hung up and called Jessica.

  Right to voice mail.

  Once again, he’d have to text.

  What parking spot is yours? I’m in the garage with your car.

  He waited a few moments until a text flashed on his scree
n.

  What? You’re here? 54 is the spot. You can leave the keys under the floor mat. I’ll get them in a bit.

  Nope. Not gonna happen. He parked the car and strode into her building.

  Damn, this woman made him do crazy things.

  Chapter 7

  For the last twenty-five minutes, Jessica’s mother had gone from lecturing her on how a lady is supposed to act in public to wondering when the wedding would be.

  “Mom. I’ve got to go.”

  “If you don’t want to come home for a visit and bring your new man, perhaps dad and I should come down.”

  Jessica rolled her eyes. “You’re welcome anytime, but just know how much traveling I do when the season starts and the first pre-game is next week.” Her parents had visited her once at the end of the last season and all they did was beg her to move back home.

  The buzzer rang.

  “I’ve got company. Talk soon. Love you.”

  Before her mother started on another ramble, she hung up. She did that often, and it always caused a pang of guilt. Her mom, even with all her quirks, has always been there for Jessica. Her parents were good people with big hearts and always meant well, a sentiment that she constantly had to remind herself of when she got frustrated with her mother.

  “Hello?” She pressed the buzzer, wondering who on earth was stopping by.

  “It’s Nolan.”

  Her heart skipped a beat before her pulse raced out of control. She couldn’t tell if the sudden adrenalin was because she was still pissed about how he treated her before the press conference, or what he said during it.

  “You didn’t have to bring my car here, but thank you.” She dropped her forehead to the wall, hoping he’d go away.

  “You’re welcome. Now can I please come up? I need to talk to you.”

  She could say she was busy, but that would be a lie and since she was pissed over his lying through omission, it wouldn’t be right.

  And now he’d hand delivered her car.

  “Sure. Fifth floor, apartment 503. I’ll leave door open, so just come in.” She’d loved his impromptu speech about his daughter, but cringed the moment her name was tossed into the mix. She took a bottle of red wine she’d opened yesterday, pouring herself a hearty glass, making sure she got a good gulp in before she heard the elevator doors ding.

  The doors swished closed and she heard his footsteps walking the ten feet down the hallway. A quiet tap on the door.

  “Jessica?” he called.

  “Come in.” What didn’t he understand when she’d said the door would be open. She rolled her neck, trying to relax.

  He held up her keys as he did his sexy swagger across her small family room. “I meant to give these to you before the press conference.”

  “You didn’t have to bring my car all the way here.” When she took the keys, her fingers touched his and they both froze for a moment, staring at each other. “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

  He released his hand and pointed to her glass of wine.

  “Oh. This is my first drink, so I can drive.”

  “I’ll Uber, but I was hoping I could get one of those?”

  She laughed, pulling down a wine glass. “Yeah, sure.” What the hell was she doing? Get the keys, then kick him out the door.

  They clanked glasses, toasting to nothing. An awkward silence came over the room as he sat at the breakfast bar, staring at her with a stupid grin.

  “What?” she asked, not hiding her annoyance.

  “I’m sorry about how I treated you when the story broke. It threw me and I needed someone to blame. I know you had nothing to do with it.”

  “You owe that same apology to Brad.”

  He nodded, still grinning, which more than annoyed her. Not to mention he started with his insane tirade in the privacy of her office and not his public declaration.

  “He didn’t deserve that any more than you deserved to be judged and called nasty, untrue names in public and have your character challenged,” she said, doing her best to pretend the man in front of her did nothing to mind, body, and soul.

  His grin faded. “Did you really think I was ashamed of my daughter the night you met her? After seeing the way I am with her, and by the way, bitchy move to call an Uber and leave when we were getting an x-ray and subsequent cast. It wasn’t easy to explain to Heather why my new girlfriend left without saying good-bye.”

  “Pay back is a bitch.” Her heart pounded heavily in her chest. The word girlfriend hung over her like a puffy cloud with the sun trying to peer through. It would either downpour in a second, or the sun would brighten the sky. She wanted the latter, but figured it was the former.

  “I had a family emergency that first night.” He cocked his head, holding his wine glass near his mouth. “Answer my original question.”

  “I didn’t want to believe it, but think about this from my perspective.” Pressing her hip against the counter top, one arm folded across her middle, the other holding a nearly empty glass of wine, which was already going to her head. “The guy I thought I loved had been lying to me for way too long about being married and that has done a number on my ability to trust not just men, but myself. So, the shock of finding out that you had a daughter, especially after being so open with me, and…well…those kisses that’s been spread all over social media, it was a little much for me to handle in one night. And I did say good-bye, you just chose to believe I would stay. Sorry, I felt a little betrayed. I wondered why you’d share something so personal as your mother and not tell me about Heather. Would you have ever told me?”

  “Yes.” He set his glass down, leaned back and folder his arms. His was serious as the first time she’d met him, with the grim glare and tight lips. “That first night, when you jumped me at the bar, I had come because I knew you were going to be there.”

  She coughed, then sucked in air, coughing more. “What? Don’t mess with me.”

  “It’s the truth, but I never thought anything would happen, but then you kissed me and I thought maybe I would ask her out.”

  “Wow. Up until that night, you’d been an ass to me.”

  “I’m an ass to everyone.” He laughed. “I’m the youngest coach on this team and I’m trying to gain the respect of the players. Being a tough read helps, I think.”

  “Still doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me about your daughter.” Mentally, she flicked her cheek like her mother used to do when she continued to be inquisitive, not letting people avoid answering questions that made them uncomfortable.

  “I thought about telling you when I talked about my mom, but then we jumped right into the interview and you were taping it.”

  “And you didn’t trust me.” She bit her lip. What did it matter? They barely knew each other and his reasons certainly made sense.

  “Trust has nothing to do with it. We went from personal to being professional and that’s how I handle all interviews” He shook his head. “I don’t regret protecting my family, but I do feel bad about how I treated you.”

  She nodded, letting her anger and frustration float out with each exhale. She had no right to be upset with him about anything, but his harsh words, and he’d apologized.

  “Also, I didn’t mean to blurt out you’re my girlfriend. That reporter really ticked me off when it appeared he was going to say something nasty about you.”

  She swallowed, clearing her mind of any hope she and Nolan could be anything other than friends. It was too complicated between his family life and the way the press was reacting and she couldn’t, no wouldn’t, push him like that. “I didn’t expect them to ask the question. Honestly, all the information we had and looking at the press’s response to the story, our relationship or lack thereof seemed like yesterday’s news. It does bother me that the reporter who asked the question is a gossip columnist and has a reputation for stirring up trouble.”

  “That’s all you’ve got to say about that?” He set his glass down. Red wine sloshed to the top. “I just
announced to the world that you’re my girlfriend.”

  “I just spent the last twenty minutes on the phone with my mother trying to explain to her that we were not dating, but gave up. She wants me to bring you home to meet her, or maybe she and my dad will fly down here.”

  “I’d love to meet our parents.” He grinned like a little kid.

  “I was petrified you’d tell the truth and I think that would have sucked less than my mother asking if we’d get married here or at home.”

  His eyes went wide as he started coughing.

  “I do think the relationship thing will die a quick and painless death,” she said, needing to stop beating around the bush and get to the heart of the matter. “If we’re not seen together, the talk and gossip will stop.”

  He sipped his wine, staring out the window. “I like you,” he said so quietly she wondered if she’d heard him correctly. “I find myself thinking of you at the oddest times. I enjoy talking with you.” He turned, his green eyes mesmerized her, making her stand perfectly still. “I like kissing you, but—”

  She blinked, understanding what the ‘but’ meant and where he was headed with the conversation. She didn’t really need a rundown of why he was rejecting her. “Forget about it. We got caught up in a couple of moments.”

  He shook his head. “Do you always interrupt people when they are speaking?”

  “I don’t need a laundry list of why it’s not the right time for you when I have my own list.”

  He set his glass down and did that sexy, saunter around the breakfast bar into the kitchen. He pressed his hand on the counter next to her hip. His eyes keeping their gazes locked. “What I was going to say is that I have very little time between trying to prove to this team I’m man enough for the job and helping to take care of my mom, so my dad gets a break. There is also my daughter, who is the most important thing in my life.”

  “That’s a laundry—”

  He pressed his long, thick finger over her lips. “I’m trying to tell you my time is limited, but I want to make time to be around you. Dates might have to be lunch at work. An occasional night out on the weekends after I put my daughter to bed, and it’s possible I could have to cancel because of family obligations, but I do like you and you’re fun to be around.”