The Dare

by Lauren Landish

  “They know who cares for them. If you only appear for the show, they’ll never give you their best ride. Daily care and attention, you working for them . . . that’s how you earn their respect, how you get them to work for you too.”

  He’d been a bright spot for far too short of a time, and standing in front of his home, the home I’m claiming, feels like I’m finally doing right by him.

  “Colton? You okay?”

  Elle’s quiet question pulls me from the past, and when I look at her, I see the future I could have. Right here at the Estate.

  If Fox chooses my proposal.

  I nod several times, letting the rattles shake away the cobwebs of the memories in my mind. “Yes, of course. Just a lot to think about. Let me show you around.”

  I help her out of the car, keeping her hand and tucking it to my elbow.

  “This was my grandfather’s estate. The house will need a full renovation, but that’s nothing to do with Fox. It can be whatever we want, modern and sleek, rustic and old-world, or anywhere in between. The kitchen, living areas, and main bedroom should probably be first after making sure the bones are safe.” I look at the house critically. “Definitely need tradespeople to certify the foundation, redo the roof, and check the plumbing, electric, and gas. Then we can get started on the fun stuff.”

  Elle pulls at me, her eyes wide as I turn back to look at her. “We?”

  I blink, hearing what I said again. “I . . . I . . . I shouldn’t have assumed. I’m sorry, but I thought you’d come with me.” My words trail off as I see the play of emotions on Elle’s face.

  I cup her cheeks in my palms. “What is it, love? What’s going through that head of yours, because I can see there’s something dancing in the chaos there?”

  Her smile is soft but pushes her cheeks against my palms. “It’s all hitting me, I guess. Dad’s talking about apartments for me in Tennessee, and you’re talking about moving me to London. It’s a lot when two weeks ago, my biggest concern was whether or not Miranda was going to be in a bad mood or a good mood and my mission of the day was to dare Tiffany to do something crazy.”

  My hands fall to my sides. “You’re lumping me in with your father. I’m sorry if it seems like I’m trying to pull you one way and push you another, without regard for what you actually want. I thought this was . . .” I gesture around to the Estate, able to picture it so clearly.

  Elle and me having breakfast on the veranda. Me with tea and her with coffee.

  Heading across the property to Fox HQ2 to work for the day, slipping away for dares at every opportunity, whether we should or not.

  Coming home to our home in the evening. Falling into bed and into each other, only to do it all again the next day.

  “I’m not ‘lumping you in with him’, and don’t say that like it’s a bad thing. He means well and is trying to take care of me because he loves me—”

  “I love you too.”

  The words burst from my mouth unintentionally, but no less true for their spontaneity. Silence stretches between us, save for a lone bird calling somewhere in the distance.

  “What?”

  I gather Elle into my arms, her hands on my chest, but she’s not pushing me away. I’m going for it, for her. I’m going to be this daring, brave man she’s taught me to be. It might’ve been with silly, small challenges, but the lessons I’ve learned at her side have taught me one thing. Fortune favors the bold.

  Indeed, she was wasting away working for Miranda mere weeks ago, but by following her own wild instincts and desire for a touch of danger, she’s landed somewhere I’d like to think is far more favorable. In my heart.

  So I jump off the platform, just like she did.

  “I love you, Elle Stryker. I know it’s utter craziness and ridiculously fast, and I’ll wait if that’s what you want. But I love you. So . . . yeah, I love you.” I think maybe the more I say it, the less shocked she’ll be? Like I can acclimate her to it by overdose.

  She’s biting her lip so hard it’s turned white and I can’t read her eyes, which terrifies the fuck out of me. “Are you done? Got it all out?” she asks, still not giving me a hint where she’s at.

  I nod, standing tall to face her firing squad but not letting go. In fact, I hold her a bit tighter, preparing for her to knee me like she taught Lizzie and possibly even make a run for it.

  “I love you too.”

  My arms sag, and my whole body droops. “What?”

  She smiles now, and I finally feel my heart start beating again. “It is fast, and my dad’s going to absolutely murder you, so there’s that. Fair warning.”

  She shrugs like her dad putting me six feet under is no biggie, a minor inconvenience at best. “But in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly a think-things-through kinda girl. So yeah, I love you too.”

  I smile as I realize what she’s saying. She loves me. And not because I’m some rich bastard or a hot-shot executive or because of my family name. In fact, it might be in spite of those things, because Elle could give a rat’s ass about any of that. The animal thing makes me laugh out loud, and she eyes me with one raised brow.

  “One, you should see yourself right now. Big, bad Wolfe? More like cute, dopey dog. And two, it’s rude to laugh when someone says they love you. Really rude, Wolfe.”

  Oh, shit, she’s calling me by my last name only. Reverse, reverse! I hold her tight, pinning her hands so she doesn’t start smacking me again. “I’m just happy. You make me so bloody happy, Elle.”

  “Well, okay then. Show me around.” She gestures to the Estate surrounding us. “Oh, by the way, if Dad wins this whole HQ2 bid thing, we’re moving to Memphis. He found me . . . I mean us” —she winks exaggeratedly— “a cute little place nearby. Should be perfect, don’tcha think?”

  I’m not a stupid man, and I know she’s throwing darts to see if she can get a bullseye and hit me where it hurts.

  “He’s not going to win this, and you know it as well as I do. We’ve worked too hard and it’s too perfect. But if, and that’s a huge if, he does, I’ll find us a place in Memphis. Where is that, anyway, other than in Tennessee?”

  She laughs like I’m an utter dolt. I’m faking. I obviously know where Memphis is and am more than familiar with the basics of Daniel’s proposal since he made it to the whole board. But I know I’m right. London is the better choice. There’s no doubt.

  As long as I can get the trust and zoning squared away.

  “Come on, the council rep will be here any minute, and I want to show you around first.”

  And I do. I take her into the house, not gloating at all, or at least not out loud, as she talks about kitchen appliances and wanting an actual dining room table. Who knew that was a big deal? We walk the property a bit, and I show her the pond with so many fond memories. She listens as I talk about my papa as though it was yesterday when it was so very long ago and for far too short.

  Then I have Oliver drive us down the side of the property to the site I have in mind for the actual Fox HQ2. Getting out, I see the council rep has already arrived.

  “Baron Berkman, so lovely to see you. Thank you for coming out to the Estate, and Fox Industries’ new secondary headquarters.” I say it as though it’s a foregone conclusion, planting the notion in his mind.

  We shake hands, politely and professionally. “Very good to see you, Colton. I hear it’s been quite some time since you’ve been home?”

  “It has. But I’m here now, and ready to bring some brilliant things home to roost. Can I show you around, tell you what I envision?”

  Baron Berkman nods, and we spend the next hour poring over the blueprints Debra sent me, discussing the actual build-out itself. As we move on to the economic benefits a Fox headquarters would offer the surrounding areas, I can see that I’ve won him over with the facts and figures Elle and I have been painstakingly working on round the clock.

  “The property is currently in family trust, which is being handled. Once that’s been done,
I will offer a small portion of the overall plot to Fox as a long-term lease, maintaining family ownership as well as presence on site.”

  “You intend to live here and run the company as well? Bloody brilliant, I do say.”

  He scans the paperwork and then the land surrounding us once again. I give him the moment to visualize it the way I do, the positive impact a Fox HQ2 can have, not just for me, but for London.

  His lips press together, and I can tell he’s impressed. “Excellent presentation, Colton. Do the same for the entire council, and I don’t foresee your having any issues with your zoning changes. Especially with you at the helm.” He looks at Elle for a moment, as though debating what he’s about to say. “If it were an American company coming in and placing one of their own at the top, I’m not sure they’d go for it. But with your name attached, the history of the Estate returning to its grandeur under its heir, you’re an absolute shoo-in”

  I dip my chin in acknowledgement. “Thank you, sir.”

  Back at the hotel, I want nothing more than to make love to Elle. Especially after our rather revealing day, but she’s a wicked taskmaster who won’t let me rest. Not that I want to rest, exactly, but at least take a break buried to the hilt inside her.

  “Not yet. Call Gary and Debra before they head home for the day. I’ll go . . . get ready.”

  The light in her eyes is naughty, and I know she’s up to something, which only makes me want to follow her into the bedroom more. But she shuts the door in my face.

  I stand there, nose to the wood, shocked at her audacity. And delighted at her cheeky boldness.

  Sulking a bit, I do as she bade and call the US office. "Hi, Gary, what do you have for me?”

  “Quite a bit, actually. I spoke with Roger, working as your liaison—not a Fox representative, to be clear.”

  “Of course. I understand and appreciate your attention to detail.” I know Gary’s walking a fine line, helping me personally while maintaining his own standards professionally, all the while, keeping his contract with Fox at the forefront.

  “Thank you. So, Roger says the trust is pretty clear-cut. If I may speak frankly?”

  I hum an agreement, and he soldiers on.

  “To be honest, you should’ve done this ages ago, Colton. Once you turned twenty-one, the property was available to you exclusively as part of your grandfather’s will. Even if you weren’t going to do anything with it, the Estate should’ve been under your purview for the last several years. But because you didn’t pursue it, it fell under a larger trust, an umbrella, if you will. Edwin Wolfe is primarily in charge of that umbrella in practice. There’s nothing he can really do to stop you from taking ownership of it, though. It’s yours. It always has been.”

  Wow. So many thoughts rush through me. It’s mine. It’s always been mine. Dad can’t stop me. I’m going to make this dream a reality, in London, with Elle at my side.

  I’m going to succeed. Not that I care in the least about showing off to my father anymore or to prove myself worthy of his love. But for myself, for Elle, and for our future.

  “Thank you, Gary. Truly, I can’t express how much I appreciate your help on this.”

  He chuckles. “You’re quite welcome, Colton. Glad to hear you say that, actually, because changing gears . . . I do hear London is quite a lovely city. Perhaps I can come across the pond, as you say, and help you get HQ2 up and running when the time is right?”

  “Abso-fuckin’-lutely, Gary. That’d be brilliant.” I know my accent is thicker with excitement, but I don’t care.

  “That means yes, right?” Gary replies, but he heard me loud and clear.

  We hang up, and I make calls to Debra and Helen.

  Debra graciously receives the high praise I heap on her for her drawings, expressing gladness that her blueprints helped sway the council representative. She needs minimal leadership, mostly telling me her next steps in pricing out the plans.

  Helen is almost giddy when she answers my call. “Mr. Wolfe, it’s been better than expected without you here. I mean . . . not that we, that I don’t miss you. But nothing I haven’t been able to handle, sir.”

  She gives reports on several projects and how she’s addressed them, correctly at every turn. Operations are running smoothly under her guidance, and she and Miranda even handled a shipping issue that could’ve been a hassle with ease.

  “And Tom Givens?” I question, the only potential concern I’m left with.

  “Who?” Helen says smartly, then giggles. “He tried to come in and throw his weight around a bit, but I set him right. I heard through the grapevine that he’s tossing about the idea of retiring early.”

  I smile at that too. It would not be an early retirement for Tom since he’s over seventy. In actuality, he should be enjoying his days with his grandchildren, taking up a hobby, maybe, not trying to be a big shot in a situation where he’s allowed himself to become obsolete with his lack of growth. It didn’t have to be that way. Allan Fox is getting on in years too, but he’s constantly learning, exposing himself to new ideas, and welcoming the march of time and progress. Tom simply sat on his laurels, which he can happily do at home in his easy chair. He’s earned that luxury.

  We should all be so fortunate.

  “Well, if he retires before I return, make sure to send a bouquet, please. Or a plant, perhaps? Something he could care for while home.”

  “On it, sir.”

  Of course, she is. “Thank you, Helen. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you, these last years or this last week.”

  “Fallen on your arse, is what.” I love it when she uses my British lingo back at me, speaking to the early days when we could barely understand one another at all, though technically, we were both speaking English. “I expect the same consideration as I adjust to London life.”

  “What?”

  “Well, I don’t know what you’d do without me, so I’ve been making plans to move with you. And no, that wasn’t a question. I won’t let anyone else fill that role, Mr. Wolfe.” She’s professionally respectful using my formal name as she tells me what-for.

  “I would be delighted to have you aboard, Helen. In fact, I think you’d get along with my Nan. Peas in a pod, you are.”

  We hang up after a few more updates, and I sit back on the couch, my hands locked behind my head.

  I’m doing this. Everyone back in the States has virtually declared me the winner in this race, even wanting to follow me across the pond. It feels good, amazing, actually. And I want to celebrate, dance about the room, perhaps the way Elle did when we arrived.

  But no. I want to open that door and celebrate with her. Not just this professional success, though it is what I’ve worked tirelessly on for so long, but to celebrate us. A much bigger and more important achievement.

  I’ve captured her heart, and she, mine. And that’s the greatest success of all.

  I knock on the wooden door, smirking at the oddity. It’s my door, it’s my hotel room, but it’s not any longer. It’s ours, and I can’t wait to see what my daring girl has gotten up to while waiting for me to do her bidding.

  “Come in.”

  I fuckin’ hope so, I think.

  I open the door slowly, letting the anticipation build. And then I see her.

  She’s draped across the center of the bed in blush-colored lingerie that makes her look nude but somehow is sexier than just bare skin. It must be the thigh-highs, which she knows I adore.

  “Fuckin’ hell, Elle,” I whisper.

  She stretches luxuriously, highlighting the curves and swerves of her lithe body. “Good reaction. I told you Tiffany would pack me everything I’d need for any situation. Now, come here.” She beckons me with a finger, but it’s her eyes that draw me in.

  I’m dropping bits of clothing on my way to the bed, which is more her messy habit than mine, but right now, I just need to be bare with her.

  I perch over her, my fists denting the fluffy bedding on both sides, our bodies al
igned and legs intertwined, but I hold us separate. It takes every ounce of willpower I have.

  “Tell me. What’s the dare this time?”

  She bites her lip seductively. “I’ve been thinking about that while I waited for you. This time, I think I don’t want any dare at all. Just you and me, doing whatever we want. No rules, no challenge. Just free to be us.”

  I freeze, searching her eyes. “I think that’s the most daring thing you’ve ever said. I love you.”

  She says it back, but it’s mumbled against my mouth as I drop my weight onto her gently, pinning her beneath me with a kiss. It’s a soft, sweet sipping at her lips, memorizing her taste again and again. Because I know what I want, and she did say for us to each do whatever we want.

  I let my kisses follow the line of her jaw to her ear, where I can’t help but suck her lobe into my mouth. Eventually, she writhes, wanting more, and I whisper into her ear.

  “Put your hands up and hold the headboard, love. I’m going to lick and kiss, suck and nibble every fuckin’ inch of you.”

  “Yes, sir.” There’s a tease there, but she does as I order, her hands slipping between the mattress and headboard as she carelessly knocks the pillows out of the way. I grab one and slip it beneath her hips, lifting her up like a smorgasbord for me to feast upon.

  “Beautiful.” Just the one word, but goosebumps break out along her flesh. I chase them, kissing from her wrists at the top of the bed, across her breasts, down her belly and legs, to her toes, which makes her giggle. I think her previous declaration of no-feet had less to do with our putt-putt activities and more to do with . . . “You’re ticklish!”

  She squirms, laughing and smiling, and while I file the information away for future fun, I move back up her long legs to where we both want my tongue.

  I lick her clit, teasing and suckling the nub gently at first and then more intensely as she gets closer to coming. But I hold off, edging her. “Wait, not yet, love.”