Maximum Dare

by Fewings, Vanessa

  Max rolled his eyes. “For God’s sake, Daisy. He’s fine.”

  Whipping out my phone, I brought up the Instagram app and Morgan’s page, turning the screen so he could see the latest photo she’d posted.

  He kept his gaze on me instead. “Daisy, you need to delete Instagram off your phone.”

  “I did.” Okay, that sounded batshit crazy. “Then I went and reinstalled it.” Because someone has to watch out for your brother.

  Max looked down at the photo and flinched. “Whoa, what is that?”

  “That’s your brother’s bum. Morgan had him do a moony out of a limo window.”

  Max shook his head, his hands scraping his face in exasperation. “That’s one for National Geographic.”

  “Now do you see?” I snapped.

  “Can’t un-see it.”

  “This is not funny.”

  “Don’t give Morgan the pleasure of seeing you following her on there.” He sounded annoyed. “She’ll only taunt you with worse photos.”

  “Don’t you see? She’s taunting everyone.”

  “Daisy, you need to move on,” he said.

  “I don’t think I can.”

  Max reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a gold envelope. “You probably won’t be interested in this, then.”

  My cheeks burned as I stared at the same envelope I’d pinched from Morgan’s purse.

  “It’s an invitation,” he said, passing it to me. “Thought you might like to go.”

  “Not sure I should.” Though curiosity had me wanting to know what event it was for.

  “Why not?”

  “It’s not meant for me.”

  He looked away. “All you have to do is turn up. Have fun.”

  Fun?

  I’d given up on fun. My fingers traced along the broken edge of the envelope. Reluctantly, I shoved it into my handbag. This was karma reminding me of my wayward behavior at Isobel’s.

  Getting those new glasses was a sign my connection with Nick’s family was over. Max had merely ensured there’d be no hard feelings. It meant I’d be wearing evidence of their pity. They could keep their money.

  Max climbed out of the Tesla and it was impossible for me to drag my gaze away from him as he strolled with confidence around the front of the car. He seemed unaffected by our tension-fueled conversation. Whatever chemistry we’d had back at the optometrist had seemingly evaporated into thin air.

  My crush on Max had morphed into feelings of doubt and humiliation.

  He opened my car door and helped me climb out onto the pavement.

  We shared an awkward hug. My face squished against his firm chest in an annoyingly perfect fit as he held me there, as though he were forcing an apology on me.

  He suddenly broke away from me and headed around to the other side of his car without looking back. Because I was firmly in the history zone to him.

  I stood on the curbside with my heart still racing and watched Max pull into traffic. Remembering the way his cologne made my nipples bead with pleasure caused fury to surge through me.

  It turned out that hating Max Marquis was easy. He was an arrogant bastard with a pretty face. His full lips had a magnetic pull that could make you believe all your problems would go away with just one kiss.

  I pulled the invitation out of my purse and peeled open the envelope.

  The Dare Club

  Fun events to bring you closer to a new you.

  7 PM

  The Waldorf Hotel

  Upper Floor Bar

  Casual Attire.

  Well, this was stupid and so not me.

  The event was tomorrow night.

  I was not having anything to do with this crappy idea. I’d never been the daring sort before and I had no interest in being that kind of girl now. This invite was going in the trash bin.

  Max obviously had no idea what he’d given me.

  Once inside the house, I paused at the bottom of the staircase. The invite had been addressed to Morgan because she was daring. She was fun. She was everything a man could want in a woman.

  You know what…

  Morgan wasn’t the only one who had an Instagram page. I had one, too. And Nick still followed my account. Posting a snapshot of me at a Dare Club might get his attention. All I needed to do was tweak his curiosity by letting him see I was attending the event, making me look spontaneous—even if I remained on the sidelines.

  No daring deeds required.

  Riding the lift to the top floor of the Waldorf Hotel, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the walled mirror. I looked pretty in my new glasses. Even if they were the result of Max Marquis’ evil meddling—his way of getting me to let my guard down so he could pay me to go away.

  Shortly before leaving home, I had changed my outfit for the third time. Now I had on jeans and a white blouse. I’d also added some delicate silver jewelry to round out my casual I-haven’t-really-tried look.

  I almost bit through my lip at the thought that I would soon be ready to post photos of me dabbling in the spontaneous—or pretending to, anyway.

  Stepping out of the lift, I hurried toward the small crowd gathered near the bar. A young man wearing a Dare Club T-shirt was talking to a group of people, all eager-looking adventurers. The mood was as ebullient as you’d expect it to be, coming from a bunch of losers like me.

  “Hi, there, I’m Ted,” he greeted me. “I’m your Dare Club guide.”

  I gave him a nervous smile. “Daisy.”

  “We’re thrilled you decided to join us.”

  Join is a strong word.

  He looked down at the envelope I was holding out, his expression one of confusion. “You signed up online?”

  “I just have this,” I said, tucking the envelope back in my handbag.

  “What’s your last name?”

  “Whitby.”

  Ted glanced at his clipboard. “Yeah, I have you down.”

  He turned to address the group. “Welcome to my Ted talk! I’m assuming everyone created a Last Will and Testament?”

  Ted was a right comedian.

  He laughed raucously. “Welcome to the Dare Club! Designed for people who want to challenge themselves and push past their personal boundaries. Previous members have gained the courage to apply for that promotion, or ask for that pay rise—and they’ve gotten it. There are so many benefits to joining us! We help you stretch yourself beyond what you believe you’re capable of achieving. Over the next three weeks, you’ll push yourselves to the limit. This is going to be the most fun you’ve ever experienced. Can I hear a hurrah?!”

  “Hurrah,” I said weakly and then shot up my arm. “I have a question.”

  “Sure, Daisy.”

  “For tonight only, can I watch? If that’s all right? See if I like it?”

  He looked amused. “Good one. No.”

  We were each handed a badge. I scribbled my name on mine and stuck it to my chest. I was ignored by Ted as he continued to spout passionately about what the evening would entail. Us facing our fear of the unknown, apparently.

  The first dare was imminent.

  I tugged on Ted’s shirt. “Excuse me. Have you got a brochure about the dare? So we can prepare.”

  I meant bail.

  He gave me a strained smile. “We’ll meet up at a designated location, emailed to you a few hours before, and only then inform you of your dare for that day. It prevents members from backing out.”

  My mouth went dry. “That doesn’t seem very…safe.”

  He turned back to the crowd. “Are we ready for our first dare?”

  There was cheering, accompanied by my inner moaning.

  “I’m going with no,” I mumbled.

  That earned me a look of disapproval from the group.

  “Of course, you’re not ready, Daisy,” said Ted. “That’s the point!”

  “It’s just that…”

  “What do you need?”

  “A few more details, perhaps. Like, has anyone died doing whate
ver it is we are about to be doing? That kind of thing.”

  Ted’s long hard stare of disdain came with a side of impatience. Instead of answering, he addressed the crowd once more. “Follow me!”

  He led us down a long hallway with all the charisma of a museum tour guide—not like someone who was leading us into danger. We trailed along behind him like lost sheep and followed him through a door.

  No bloody way.

  Along a glass wall was what looked like a glass chute outside the building. Considering we were hundreds of feet up, it was terrifyingly spectacular. No way was I going down that slide. Anyone stupid enough to try it out would see the sheer drop below them to the pavement as they skidded along. If that thing cracked, you’d fall through to a very squishable end. No one would recognize the parts of you that were left.

  And I was wearing my new glasses. The most expensive ones I’d ever owned.

  We handed over our handbags to Ted’s assistant, who brightly told us she’d return them when we joined her at the other end. I kept my phone and tucked it into my shirt pocket.

  I watched in horror as members of my group got in a queue, ready to climb into the glass tube that jutted away from the building. The first volunteer, a young woman with the name Debbie written on her badge, made her way through the small space. She sat down on a blue mat that had been provided for this debacle, seemingly enjoying the anticipation.

  She shot down and out of view at a million miles an hour.

  Suddenly I couldn’t get my legs to move.

  One by one, my fellow adventurers ducked into the glass tube and moved out onto the edge, plopping onto the mats and zooming out of view.

  I was the last to go.

  Ted turned to me. “You’re up, Daisy.”

  “Where does that lead?” I pointed at it with the fear it deserved.

  “Five floors down.”

  “But…why?”

  This was why my life had stalled out. Morgan had been able to lure away my one true love because she was the spontaneous type. The come-hang-with-me-and-we’ll-have-fun type.

  This was something she’d do.

  The proof was in my handbag. That envelope had been meant for her, someone who would never turn down a dare. Had I been less cautious and more open to taking bigger risks, maybe Nick wouldn’t have gotten bored with our relationship.

  “Daisy, it’s perfectly safe,” whispered Ted. “You could sue us if the glass broke and you fell to your sudden death.”

  “Funny.”

  “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he coaxed.

  “What could I possibly gain?”

  “Why are you here?”

  To win him back.

  In a daze, I leaned over to avoid bumping my head on the low ceiling and climbed into the glass square. The drop below was only slightly more distracting than the glass structure that disappeared around the corner of the building. What was I willing to do to win Nick back?

  It was easy imagining how Morgan would react to an adventure like this—she’d glide majestically forward without hesitation, looking like a goddess with her golden locks flying—doing it all for her adoring fans who were ready to applaud her bravery. She’d film her glamorous risk-taking adventure and showcase it to the world. Her antics would be posted all over social media.

  I sat on the mat and tried to get comfortable—as comfortable as you can be when seeing your life flash before your eyes. I lifted my iPhone and pressed the LIVE button on Instagram.

  I spoke into the camera. “I’m currently thousands of feet in the air, ready to take on gravity.” I felt like a reporter providing moment by moment feedback of a dangerous mission. “I’m going down a death slide!”

  “It’s called the fun slide, Daisy!” Ted interjected from behind me.

  Ignoring that, I went to kick off and then froze—live on the air—my face reflecting terror. Instead of showcasing my bravery, I was caught mid-panic and unmovable.

  The mat slipped forward with me on it and a scream tore from me as I shot down the chute with my ass sliding over the glass bottom at warp speed. Horrified, I slid left until my butt was now on the outer wall of the glass. My balance righted itself as I bounced awkwardly toward the other side of the chute, moving swiftly back and forth as I raced along like an Olympian bobsledder going for gold.

  I rounded a bend and saw the end of the slide approaching. There, standing a little ways back, were my cohorts—all of them wearing shocked expressions as I flew toward them like a bat out of hell.

  I shot out of the end of the tube, my legs trying to slow my projectile speed as I stumbled forward unable to slow down. Then I saw a blur…a man moving forward to catch me.

  I fell into his arms with force.

  He staggered backwards and crashed to the ground with me landing on top of him, straddling him like a pony.

  I stared down into the face of Max Marquis.

  I finally overcame my mortification enough to speak. “It’s you.”

  He smiled. “Your glasses still look nice.”

  My lips came crashing down on his with the sole purpose of letting him know I was forever in his debt for saving me…for simply existing in the world.

  He nipped my lower lip, his tongue darting into my mouth, his hand reaching around to the back of my neck to pull me closer as we forgot time and place…forgot that we hated each other…and that we had an audience.

  Finally, he broke away.

  “Daisy,” he whispered.

  I sat up quickly, realizing what I’d done.

  Sitting astride Max with my face on fire, I let out a shaky breath. “You…saved me.”

  Max managed a grin. “Right up until you knocked me into tomorrow.”

  I climbed off him and leapt to my feet, vaguely aware of the applause coming from my teammates.

  Max stood up and gave a charming bow to the cheering crowd, acknowledging his act of chivalry.

  You kissed him.

  You actually kissed Nick’s brother.

  Have you lost your mind?

  “Sure you’re okay?”

  He stretched as though realigning his spine. “I don’t think there’s any permanent damage.”

  He wasn’t mentioning the kiss. Not now, not ever, hopefully. The embarrassing mistake I’d made in front of everyone was running through my mind on repeat.

  I covered my flushed cheeks with my hands.

  Max reached out to pull my hands away from my face. “I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”

  His touch sent a shiver through me.

  As though rising from a trance, I almost began jumping up and down with happiness at the realization that I’d completed the first dare. Somehow, I’d done the unthinkable. I’d risked my life for one moment of bravery.

  Seeing my elated expression, Max gave my shoulder a friendly pat. “Well done.”

  All he was doing was standing there, being Max, and I was bewitched.

  He brushed off his trousers. “That actually looked like fun.”

  I beamed at him. “It was amazing.”

  Everyone was still buzzing from the rush. The daring few who had risked life and limb to partake in this ridiculous scheme were laughing, adrenaline spiking their veins like the people you see coming off a rollercoaster.

  My thoughts cleared enough for me to ask Max how he had come to be at the hotel.

  “I’m staying here.” He ran a hand through his tousled hair. “I set up my office at the Waldorf when I’m in town. Thought I’d grab a drink at the bar.”

  Thinking back, I seemed to recall he’d mentioned staying here before. It was an amazing coincidence.

  Ted walked over and handed me my phone. It had slipped out of my grasp during the bumpy landing. I stopped the recording and then tucked it into my back pocket.

  “That was quite some performance, Daisy,” he said, grinning.

  I tried not to feel self-conscious. “Thank you for the near-death experience, Ted.”

  �
�Plenty more of that to come. We’ll send out an email with tomorrow’s meet-up location.” He slapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s all have a drink together.”

  Ted’s assistant approached me to return my handbag.

  I noticed that Max was staring at me intently, tilting his head as though he were intrigued. Maybe he was trying to work out what his brother saw in me. Or maybe he was trying to look into my soul. That’s what it felt like when Max Marquis’ focus was solely on you.

  He knows. He knows you’re falling for him.

  “I have to go now.” I pivoted and hurried toward the lift.

  Ted called after me, “You don’t want to stay for a drink?”

  With a wave and a shake of my head I hurried out.

  Summoning the lift, I waited for the doors to open, my heart racing with a swirl of emotions. I’d kissed him. That alone had me reeling. Making eye contact with Max now was impossible.

  A hand rested on my shoulder. I knew that touch, that presence.

  “At least let me escort you out,” said Max, his voice husky. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  With a quick nod, I stepped into the lift.

  Max followed me in and stood watching me, as though he wanted to make sure I was really okay.

  I couldn’t stand the embarrassment any longer. “I’m sorry I kissed you.”

  He did that thing with his lips…that curling of the mouth that ended in a devastating expression of joy. “Really?”

  “Yes, it won’t happen again. I was just so glad to be alive.”

  “That’ll do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “Inspire you to be spontaneous.” He lowered his sights on me. “Daisy?”

  “Yes,” I said breathlessly.

  “Are you going to do the honors or shall I?”

  “Excuse me?”

  He leaned over and pressed the DOWN button.

  I let out a sigh. “You know that gold envelope you gave me yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  “It was for membership to a Dare Club. That’s what this was all about.”

  Max’s expression was inscrutable.

  “Did you know about it?” I asked.

  He smiled. “I must admit that I love seeing you in those glasses.”