Dare You To

by Rhian Cahill

“Got kicked out of home.”

  “What?” West had to be joking. “Kelsey kicked you out?”

  West laughed. “Don’t look so stricken. It’s only for the night. She’s having a girls’ night, and seeing how I’m equipped with a cock, I’m not invited.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “Are you going to invite me in?”

  “Ah, well, I was on my way out.”

  “Yep. I bet you were.” West shoved past and entered the house. “But you won’t be getting close to what you were going out for right now.”

  Coop arched an eyebrow at his friend and closed the door. “You got a crystal ball now?”

  “No. But Shaye’s at my house with Kelsey, and there’s no breaching those walls by individuals with cocks tonight.”

  “That bad?”

  “I think they’re plotting. Or implementing.” West shrugged. “There’s been a lot of whispered conversations this week, and I’m not really sure what’s going on. Hell, they could be planning to take over the world and have a tank parked in my garage and if Kelsey doesn’t want me to know, you can bet your arse I won’t.”

  “Not knowing would drive me insane.” Coop led the way to the kitchen.

  “I don’t need to know everything. I know the important stuff. Kelsey loves me, and if she were planning world domination, she’d be taking me with her. No doubt on that.”

  “I’m not lucky enough to have that kind of knowledge.” Coop opened the fridge and held up a beer. “You want one?”

  West nodded. “What knowledge?”

  “That the woman I love loves me.” Cooper handed over a beer and cracked one for himself. “I don’t know a damn thing.”

  “You don’t know?” West gave him an are-you-stupid look. “Well, shit. No wonder they’re plotting.”

  “What does that mean?” What did his best friend know that he didn’t? Because it was obvious that West knew something.

  “You’re telling me you have no idea how Shaye feels about you?”

  “She’s hot for me. We can’t be in a room together without being all over each other.”

  “We all know that. You two have been sparking for months, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”

  “What then?”

  “She’s in love with you.”

  “Huh?” Shaye is in love with me? “Since when?”

  “Years.”

  “What?” Coop’s voice had gone up an octave or two.

  “Well, maybe not in love, but she’s had a thing for you for as long as I can remember. You’ve been too blind to see it. Or stupid.”

  Shaye has a thing for me?

  Stupid.

  He’d been stupid. So fucking dense he’d wasted years where he could have had Shaye all to himself. “Fuck.” Coop spun around, headed for the door.

  “Not so fast, buddy.” West grabbed the collar of Coop’s shirt and pulled him to a stop. “Sit down and think about it. Shaye’s got a heap of shit to sort through right now. You can’t just go barrelling in there.”

  He swung back to face West. “The hell I can’t. Don’t you get it? Nothing else matters but me and her. The rest is incidental. It’ll work itself out once we’re straight. And we’re going be straight because I’m not spending one more night without her in my bed.”

  West looked at his beer. “Right. So I’m not finishing this then.”

  “Up to you, but I’m out of here.”

  “No beer and storming the castle.” West shook his head and sighed. “I swear, if you fuck this up and I end up going without sex again, you’re a dead man.”

  Cooper laughed thinking about when Kelsey had held out on West during Coop’s brother’s rough road to happy-ever-after with West’s sister Freddie.

  His friend needn’t worry. Coop had no intention of coming home alone.

  And the only thing he planned to fuck was Shaye.

  Shaye sprang to her feet as Cooper charged into Kelsey’s living room.

  “What the fuck, Coop? West!” Kelsey yelled.

  West entered the room at a lazy stroll. His hands were up in front of him. “Don’t yell at me. I’m just here so he doesn’t break the front door down.”

  Shaye looked back at Coop. His fists were clenched at his sides. A muscle in his jaw ticked, his nostrils flared and his eyes…shit. Whatever the hell was going on, West was right. There was no stopping Coop.

  “Get in the truck. We’re going home.” He spoke through clenched teeth.

  “Cooper.”

  “Now, Shaye.”

  She could see the restraint. See the control he had over himself and knew he was close to breaking. Shaye didn’t want to break him.

  “I’ll grab my bag.”

  “Shaye.” Kelsey grabbed her hand. “You don’t have to go.”

  She smiled at her friend and then glanced at Coop. “Yeah. I do.”

  “But—”

  Shaye pulled Kelsey into a hug. “I’ll call you, but you know I’ll be fine with Cooper. He’d never do anything to hurt me.”

  Kelsey squeezed her tight. “I know that. Just don’t let him bully you into anything you don’t want.”

  She laughed. “I think he might want what I do, Kels.”

  “If he doesn’t, he’s an idiot.” Kelsey let her go and turned to Coop. “Do. Not. Fuck. Her. Over.”

  Coop nodded but didn’t speak. His eyes remained glued to Shaye.

  Taking his unspoken message, she left the room to get her bag. It didn’t take her long to pull her stuff together. She’d only brought the bare essentials to Kelsey’s last weekend. Everything else was still at her house. Waiting for her to make a decision on her future.

  It looked like that decision was getting made tonight.

  She entered the hallway to find Coop waiting by the front door.

  “Let’s go.” He held out his hand.

  Shaye took it without hesitation and let him lead her out to the truck.

  They were quiet on the drive. Both of them lost in their own thoughts. Shaye’s centred on how she was going to tell him that she’d fallen in love with him. That she’d probably been in love with him when she’d suggested their thirty-day affair.

  She was still wondering how to start the conversation when Coop pulled up in front of his house.

  “Inside.”

  To an outsider, Coop would sound angry. But Shaye knew him well enough to know he was holding himself tight. Waiting until he was able to unleash whatever it was swirling inside him. And it wasn’t anger.

  She’d seen the hungry look in his eyes at Kelsey’s. There might be a little irritation in there, and Shaye figured that stemmed from frustration more than anything. She was feeling a small amount of frustration herself. Of course, hers was aimed at herself, not him.

  Unfortunately, Shaye had the feeling Coop’s annoyance was aimed at her too.

  She sighed. Grabbing her bag, she exited the truck and followed Coop into the house.

  “Go put your bag in my room.”

  His order had her stumbling. “What?”

  “My room. Our room.”

  “Cooper.”

  He held up a hand. “No. Don’t say a word. I don’t what to hear any arguments before you put that bag away.”

  “But I—”

  “Shaye.”

  He didn’t yell. He didn’t have to. It was all in the tone, the way he looked at her. Coop could make her do anything with that voice.

  She headed for the bedroom where she deposited her bag just inside the door. Making her way back to the foyer, she wondered what it meant that he wanted her bag in his room. She knew what she hoped it meant.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” Coop called.

  When Shaye entered the kitchen, she came to a complete stop. Cooper was pulling food from the fridge. “What are you doing?”

  “Getting stuff out for dinner. I’ve got steak. Thought I’d chargrill some veggies to go with it.”

  Okay. This was surreal. “Um…”

  He
glanced over. “You’re not hungry?”

  “No. Yes.” She shook her head. “What are we doing?”

  Coop straightened, unloaded his armful of food on the counter and walked towards her. When he stood right in front of her, he just stared. For ages.

  “What?”

  “I have no idea where to start.”

  “About?” She licked her lips. Swallowed through the lump suddenly lodged in her throat. Shaye was sure it was her heart. In fact, the thing must have broken apart and travelled to various parts of her body to pound like a team of miniature jackhammers.

  “Us.”

  “Oh.”

  “You can’t go to Perth, because I can’t let you.”

  “I don’t—”

  He placed two fingers over her mouth. “Let me have my say, then you can have yours.”

  Shaye nodded.

  “I’ve been an idiot. I never knew, and believe me, out of everything that’s happened between us, that’s the one thing I’m sorry for.”

  She had no idea what he was talking about.

  “If I’d known what you were feeling, what the tug I felt whenever I was around you meant, I’d have done something about it, Shaye.”

  Air rushed through her teeth as she sucked in a breath. “Who told you?”

  “West.” Coop smiled. “He took great pleasure in calling me stupid.”

  She’d just bet he did. “I didn’t know he knew. I tried to hide it.”

  “Why?”

  Shaye shrugged. “When we first met, you were dating someone, so there was no way I was making a move.”

  “I’ve been single a lot of times over the years.”

  “Yeah, and you’ve been taken just as many too.” She smiled. “I can’t explain it really. It became a habit to hide how I felt. To live with just the fantasies I conjured up.”

  Cooper groaned. “Do not tell me you fantasised about us being together. No. Wait. Do tell me, but not yet. Once we get things sorted out, I plan to make every one of your fantasies come true.”

  Shaye’s insides clenched. “We should get back on topic.”

  “We’re still on topic.” He stepped closer, cupped her face in his work-roughened hands. “What’s your heart’s greatest desire? What does Shaye Adams want for now? For the future?”

  “I want a job. In my field of expertise.”

  “Besides that. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?”

  Could she tell him? He seemed to want more than the thirty days she’s set, but… “I…”

  “C’mon, Shaye. Tell me.”

  “You. I want to be with you.” She bit her lip.

  Cooper grinned. “What else do you want?”

  She’d gone this far, there was no point stopping now. Taking a deep breath, she blurted, “Everything.”

  He outright smiled now. “I can help you get it all, but you have to take a chance. I want everything in return.” Coop brushed his lips over hers. “Give it to me, Shaye. I dare you to.”

  Epilogue

  “For fucks sake, Shaye, just pee on the stick!” Coop yelled through the bathroom door.

  “I don’t think I can,” she yelled back.

  “You gotta go, right?” How hard could it be? Pee, dip the stick and wait.

  “It seems pointless…”

  He knew what she meant. She was three weeks late. All signs pointed to her being pregnant. But they needed to know. “Shaye.”

  “I know. I know. Just pee on the stick.”

  She went quiet for long minutes. He almost gave in and put his ear to the door, but he held back. This wasn’t a deal-breaker for them, but it would change everything.

  They’d spent the last four weeks moving Shaye into the house and meshing their lives. She’d had a job interview that looked promising just this past week, but until she got an offer she was happy with, she worked for him.

  Coop loved working with her on renovating the house. She had a good eye and she was a hard worker, listened when she didn’t know how to do something and needed him to show her. The place was coming together. And with each new splash of paint, new appliance and blind, the house became theirs.

  He didn’t think they’d be flipping this one. It felt like home.

  The door opened in front of him. Shaye stood there, an arm wrapped around her waist, the other bent at the elbow with her hand to her mouth so she could chew a nail.

  “Hey.” Coop moved to her, rescued her nail from certain death. “None of that. Whatever happens. We’re good.”

  “I know.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist, laid her head on his chest. “I don’t want to look.”

  “Why?”

  “Because right now it’s this vague possible thing, but once we look at that stick… God.”

  “We’ll cope with whatever happens. Together.”

  “I know.” Shaye sighed again. “I seem to be saying that a lot.”

  “I love you, Shaye. Whether you’re carrying my kid or not won’t change that.”

  “I still can’t look.” She squeezed his waist.

  He chuckled. “C’mon. Take a look. I dare you to.”

  Shaye took a deep breath and slipped out of Cooper’s arms. She grabbed his hand and wove her fingers through his. “Together?”

  “Together.”

  They stepped into the bathroom and moved to the counter where she’d left the stick. “Is it time?”

  “Oh yeah, it’s time.”

  She glanced up to see him grinning. Except he wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was trained on the countertop. Oh God. Turning her head, Shaye squeezed her eyes shut and tried to build up the courage to look at that stupid pee-coated stick.

  Positive.

  Oh my God.

  She was pregnant.

  Her knees wobbled and her head spun. Black flecks flashed in her vision. “I think I’m going to faint.”

  Coop scooped her up in his arms and carried her back into the bedroom. He turned and fell backwards onto the bed. They didn’t talk. Just lay in each other’s arms for long minutes.

  “Well, I guess we need to rethink the theme for one of the bedrooms,” Cooper murmured.

  “We’re staying here?”

  His shoulder lifted beneath her head. “If you want to.”

  “I like it here.” And she did.

  She’d met a couple of the neighbouring families and she had to admit she’d gotten attached to them quickly. Especially the kids. They were always playing in the street in the afternoons. She wanted that.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “Staying here. Raising a family here.” Her tummy dipped. Fluttered.

  Cooper hugged her close. “I like that.”

  “What?”

  “Raising a family. With you.”

  Shaye tipped her head back to look at him. “Kinda got no choice now.” She frowned.

  “None of that.” He rubbed the crease between her eyebrows. “I want this with you. No one else.”

  “I still can’t believe we did this. We got pregnant in Kelsey and West’s bathroom.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head. “I prefer to think it happened here. In the foyer. Against the wall.”

  She smiled. It could have happened either of those two times. They’d been so careful after that. Of course, it had been too late. The deed had been done. “We’re having a baby.” Saying the words out loud might help it sink in.

  “That’s what the stick says.”

  “I’m not sure I can believe it.”

  Coop laughed. “Well you better get sure. There’s going to be a small bump making itself known in the very near future.”

  “Eight months.”

  “It’ll be making itself known long before that.” He rolled her to her back, placed his hand over her flat belly. “I can’t wait to feel you grow.”

  “Grow fatter?”

  “You’re not fat. You’ve got curves in all the right places. And I love every inch of them.”

&
nbsp; She knew he did. The proof was in the fact he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Especially her boobs. Cooper was definitely a boob man. Of course, they were bigger and bound to continue to grow with her pregnancy.

  It was hard to believe the man she’d held a secret crush on for so long had fallen for her. She gotten everything she’d always wished for.

  All because she’d dared to.

  About the Author

  Years of slavery to four young aliens and their sire failed to squash the love of writing or reading hiding behind the facade of a boring stay-at-home mum. Escaping from the mother-ship with vivid imagination intact, Rhian uses her superpowers for good.

  Okay, so that’s not quite how it happened. A twenty-year marriage to her very own hero and raising a family of four kept writing on the back burner, but with more time to spend on the things she loves most, Rhian and her accomplice, Mr. Muse, have taken over. Writing in a multiple of genres keeps life interesting and busy.

  An Aussie who’s spent years living overseas Rhian is now happily residing with her family back in their native land of down under. Rhian can be found in numerous places online where her love of talking is well satisfied.

  To learn more about Rhian and her writing visit her website, www.rhiancahill.com. You can contact Rhian at rhian@rhiancahill.com.

  Look for these titles by Rhian Cahill

  Now Available:

  Party Games

  Truth or Dare

  Spin the Bottle

  Are You Game?

  7 Minutes in Heaven

  Catch ’n’ Kiss

  Red Light, Green Light

  Don’t Miss the other title in Rhian’s Hearts Are Wild series

  It’s all…or nothing.

  Hearts Are Wild, Book 1

  Zac Moreland knew he shouldn’t act on the sizzling attraction between him and his best friend’s little sister. But act he did, and he can’t forget that one night he let the heat between them burn.

  Now, after months of doing everything in his power to avoid a repeat performance, he’s ready to admit defeat—and ready to go up in flames all over again.

  Freddie never understood why Zac gave her the hottest night of her life and then the cold shoulder. But what she does know is that her eyes are wide open when it comes to Zac, and he better understand that this time she isn’t settling for anything less than everything.