When You Dare (43 page)

Molly gave him a stern and direct stare. “I think this is your way to avoid telling me what my dad wanted with you.”

“Wrong.” He let her go to return his hand to the wheel again. “Your dad asked for a little time before I break the big story. That’s all.”

“But you aren’t planning to break a story anyway.”

“We know that. He doesn’t.”

“What was his reasoning?” A horrible thought occurred to her. “Did he offer you something in exchange for your silence?” She wouldn’t put that past her dad. Public humiliation would be hell on earth for him.

“He did.” Dare took an exit off the more rural streets and onto the I-75 highway. “He offered to hand over the one responsible.”

Her stomach lurched, and pain squeezed around her heart. Damn it, she’d thought herself immune to her father’s vitriolic machinations.

Apparently not.

Trying to hide her reaction, Molly nodded. “So he does know who’s responsible?”

“Not exactly, no. But he has a few ideas, and in an effort to exonerate himself, he’s going to do a little checking on his end. At this point, I don’t think his snooping around will hurt anything, so I told him to go ahead. Later in the week, I’ll call him to find out how it’s going.”

“He really believes that you would throw the story out there for the media?”

“I was convincing, wasn’t I?”

“Not to me, but then I know you better than he does.” Molly wasn’t at all sure that she really wanted to know, but neither did she want to hide her head in the sand. “So who does Dad suspect?”

“He wouldn’t say.” Dare worked his hands on the wheel. “But I believed him that he has an idea or two. And you know…” He thought about it, glanced at her and away, then admitted softly, “I’m rethinking him as the one responsible.”

It felt like a weight had been lifted from her, with just that possibility. “Really?”

“Something didn’t fit. I don’t know. I’m sure your father is a slick liar.”

“He’s a shark, in business and out.”

Dare nodded. “But he seemed genuinely insulted to be accused of having you hurt.”

Ridiculous hope sprang to life. She knew her father would never love her, but apathy would be easier to bear than deep hatred.

With tentative caution, Molly admitted, “To me, too.”

Dare slanted a measuring look her way. “You didn’t say anything.”

She looked down at her hands. “I guess my trust in you outweighs my need for my father’s affection.” When Dare’s silence wore on her, she looked up to see a very thoughtful frown on his handsome face. “I didn’t want to obviate your instincts with my own, likely jaded, perspective.”

“Actually,” he told her, “I trust your instincts, too, so always feel free to tell me what you’re feeling.”

“Do you mean that?”

His frown darkened more. “Of course I do.”

“All right.” She took a breath. “Then why are you keeping me in the dark?”

That accusation didn’t sit well. “I tell you everything you need to know.”

Now, that hurt. “So, I’m on a need-to-know basis?”

“No. Don’t twist my words.”

“You’re the one who said it.” Her throat felt thick. It was insane that something so small could hurt her feelings on the heels of everything else she’d been through.

Dare made a visible show of striving for patience. After another glance in the rearview mirror, he took an exit toward a newer strip mall.

He said nothing, so she didn’t, either. But she hated the tension between them.

After he parked, he watched the mirrors, waiting, and when the black car didn’t show, he turned off the SUV, released his seat belt and reached for her.

Molly stiffened in surprise. “What—”

Holding her shoulders, Dare pulled her over the console and kissed her. This was no friendly peck. His lips worked over hers until she parted them. Then his tongue stroked in. The kiss was hot and deep, and oh-so-stirring.

Molly came up for air and straight-armed him. “If that’s your way of shutting me up—”

He laughed and kissed her again, this time for a tickling, teasing smooch. “That was my way of making myself feel better.” He smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “From the very beginning I’ve been irresistibly drawn to you. If you’re near enough, I’m going to want to touch and kiss you for no reason other than that I like it.”

Oh. Grudgingly, she said, “I like kissing you, too.”

“I know you do.” Smiling, he dropped his hands and stared out the windshield while he gathered his thoughts. “I always work alone, Molly. Other than Trace, there’s never been anyone that I confided in to help me sort out details when I was on a case. When I’m not sure about things, I don’t want to alarm you, or give you false hope.”

She could understand that. “But nothing is ever really concrete, is it?”

“I can usually narrow things down to some pretty damn good guesses.”

His lack of modesty amused her. “I know. And I understand why at first, you tried to…shield me.”

“It hasn’t been that long yet.” He turned his head to give her a long look of consideration. “Yeah, you’re more relaxed every day, but it’s there, Molly. I see it in your eyes still. The fact that someone is following us—”

“Still?” She twisted around to peer out each window, and saw no one.

“You see? You’re jumpy as hell about it, when there’s no reason. Do you honestly think I’d stop here if there was any danger to you?”

Venturing the right reply, she said, “No?”

“So much confidence in me.” He shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t. We’re being followed, but not aggressively. Whoever is on my tail is a pro and probably just wants to know where I’m going with you. Hell, it could be your dad just keeping up with you out of concern.” She snorted.

“Yeah, I doubt that, too. But it’s possible.”

“Want me to call him and tell him to back off? If he knows we’re on to him—”

“No.”

“Because…?”

“It might not be him, and I don’t want to tip off anyone.”

Molly let out a sigh, and insisted on the truth. “So, what’s the most likely scenario?”

After gauging her interest, Dare shrugged. “I’d say it’s probably someone who wants to know where I’m taking you in the hopes of getting to you again.”

Oh, God. She bit her lip. Hard. Then nodded. “Okay, so I assume that you have a plan?”

“Yeah.” Blue eyes glittering, Dare said, “To kill anyone who tries to touch you.”

“Oh.” Rubbing her forehead didn’t relieve the sudden pressure there. “You know, maybe if it’s possible
not
to kill anyone—”

“And that’s why I don’t tell you everything.” He opened his door and circled around to her side. When she stepped out, he held her face to kiss her again, this time with measured gentleness. “It’s not on you, Molly. You have no reason for guilt over anything or anyone. Understand?”

She nodded. In reality, she didn’t blame herself. But the idea of someone dying just because he followed her father’s orders…

Growling in exasperation, Dare put his arm around her and started her forward. He kept his gaze straight ahead when he said, “If it’s at all possible to safely detain without killing, then I will.”

He made it sound like the grandest concession. Odd that she had to fight a smile over something so serious. “Thank you, Dare.”

Drily, he said, “Don’t mention it.” He opened the door to a wireless store, and they went inside to pick out a phone. While Molly perused the selections, Dare got a call and stepped over by the door to talk. Molly used the time to make her purchase, paying for the phone in cash before Dare could give her more frowning looks over it. It was the oddest thing, how he objected to her spending her own money.

In some ways, he was the most old-fashioned man she’d ever met. In other ways, he was by far the most advanced. In every way, he was unique.

The small shop also had a supply of cell-phone covers with matching wallets, so she was able to kill two birds with one stone. With her bagged purchases in hand, she went over to Dare just in time to hear the tail end of his plans with Trace.

Dare closed his phone and put it away. “All done?”

Nodding, Molly told him, “I got a wallet here, too, so I don’t need to stop anywhere else.”

He scanned the parking lot before opening the door and leading her out. “You getting hungry? We’ll meet Trace and Alani right before we get to my place, so not for three hours or so, depending on traffic. We can grab something before then if you want.”

“Are you hungry?” Big as he was, Dare probably needed to refuel often.

“Getting there.” He looked around the area and spotted a bakery a few doors down. “How does a bagel sound?”

“Not as good as a few donuts.”

Grinning, he conceded that and together they picked out a bag of mixed donuts with large coffees. “Anything else?” Dare asked her.

Thinking of the long ride ahead, she said, “I’ll take a juice, too.” And at the last minute she snagged kettle chips and added them to the purchases.

When Dare made a point of not saying anything, she elbowed him. “It’s awful, I know. But I eat when I’m stressed.”

As he paid the cashier, he said, “I don’t want you to be stressed.”

“Tough.” She hooked her arm through his, and they headed back for the SUV. “I know I’m safe with you, Dare, I really do. It’s just that I hate the necessity for you to have to protect me.”

“Molly—”

Knowing he didn’t understand, she cut him off. “I wish I was just safe, without any qualifiers, you know? Like I used to be.”

“I understand.” He opened her door and then handed her their goodies. “It’s unfortunate, but now you know that no one is ever truly secure. There are dangers out there, always, and sometimes you can’t avoid them. It’s a hell of a lesson.” He kissed her and then shut the door.

Is that how Dare felt? Is that how he’d always felt? Did he live his life forever on guard against peril? What a terrible way to live, always waiting for something to happen.

When he got behind the wheel, she said, “Dare?” And when he looked at her, she stretched over the console so that she could initiate the kiss this time. Smiling, she told him, “I like this kissing business, too.”

He didn’t smile back. Instead, he put one big hand around her neck and drew her forward for a deeper, firmer kiss that left her coiled with need.

While Molly tried to regroup, he reached around her to fasten her seat belt, then prepped his coffee and put it in the cup holder.

Molly licked her lips. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Since she didn’t do it herself, he fixed her coffee, too. “We have some powerful chemistry going on between us.” He put the SUV in gear. “Now, how about a donut?”

He really could rattle her thoughts. She put a donut in a napkin and started to hand it to him. “You really don’t think my dad is the one behind this?”

Though she’d asked that totally out of context, Dare knew exactly what she meant. “I think we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions at all.”

That nonanswer had her withholding the donut before he could get it. “Dare?”

The grin flickered before he grew serious again. “I’m leaning away from him as the instigator.” He took the donut. “By tonight, I should be able to give you a more definitive answer. How’s that?”

She supposed it would have to do. And if he had a straight answer tonight, if he discovered the one who’d orchestrated it all…then what?

Molly took one more look in the mirror, but didn’t see anyone.

“He’s still there,” Dare told her. “But he’s not going to be a problem. Relax, eat your donut and trust me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

F
EW PEOPLE WERE
inside the restaurant when they got there. Dare had chosen it because he knew the owners, it had decent home-cooked food and it was right off the highway.

He spotted Trace and Alani, already inside and seated at a back, more private, table. With just a look from Dare, Trace understood that he’d set this up for a reason well beyond socializing.

Dare and Molly headed toward them.

As usual, Dare made note of how Molly was different from other women. At five feet six inches, Alani was close to the same height as Molly, but Alani had a more willowy build. With her long pale hair and golden eyes, she always looked a little ethereal to Dare. Like a whimsical creature of the night. Those who knew Alani always treated her gently, which was one reason the kidnapping had devastated Trace so badly.

Dare knew that Alani was beautiful, but for him, he saw her as a little sister, without a single ounce of sexual magnetism.

Molly, on the other hand, was so intrinsically sexy that Dare didn’t understand how she’d stayed single so long. There was real substance to her, not in weight or height, but in attitude, in her bearing and her determination.

Trace stayed behind his sister as they rose to greet Dare and Molly.

After a nod at Trace, Dare said, “Alani.” He pulled her into an affectionate, one-arm embrace while keeping a hold on Molly. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Dare.” Distracted with curiosity, she peeked past him to Molly.

Dare put a hand to the small of Molly’s back. “Molly, I don’t know if you remember Alani or not, but—”

“Of course I do.”

With her bottom lip caught in her teeth, her eyelashes fluttering, Alani showed her nervousness.

Molly was just the opposite. She stepped right up to Alani and took her hands. “How are you, Alani?”

Alani nodded. “I’m fine.”

Laughing, Molly looked over her shoulder at Dare. “Don’t let him hear you say that. He has an objection to sugarcoating things.” After giving her a long, sympathetic perusal, Molly drew her into her arms. “You were so brave, Alani. I had hoped that we’d get to meet again. I’m so glad to see you looking so well.”

Alani put her face in Molly’s shoulder and clung to her.

Trace lifted a brow.

So softly that no one else could hear, Molly spoke to Alani, which earned her a tighter hug and a shuddering nod.

Dare drew his friend aside. “Let’s let them talk a moment in private.”

Reaching back with one hand, Molly shooed them away, then urged Alani to sit down while still staying close to her, holding her hands, talking to her.