Dare to Hold (2 page)

She hid a yawn behind her hand, and when her bladder informed her she needed a trip to the restroom, she nearly groaned out loud in relief.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to go … freshen up. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Meg rose and Ken followed, helping her pull out her chair.

Allie met her gaze. “Gentleman,” she mouthed in approval.

Meg swallowed a groan.

“I’ll be waiting,” Ken said as she walked away.

“Oh, please don’t be,” she said to herself, making her way to the bathroom at the far back of the restaurant.

She spent a long time in the restroom, checking her phone, swiping some gloss on her dry lips, and washing her hands, twice, in her effort to stall returning to the table.

When she did, she paused by Lizzy’s chair and whispered in her friend’s ear. “I’m going to bail. I’m not up to this. I’m really sorry. Will you be okay driving?”

“Of course. I barely had a sip. But I can leave and take you home.”

She shook her head. “No need. You seem to be hitting it off with Mark. I can get Uber,” she said of the car service in most cities, including Miami.

“I’d be happy to drive you,” Ken said.

She hadn’t realized he’d left his seat and had overheard them.

“No, really. Stay and have fun. I’m just not feeling too well.” Which was a lie, but it was nicer than
go away, I’m not interested
.

Which was ironic, since not too long ago, Meg would have been all too willing to see where things went with a guy who showed her any interest at all. Maybe the baby really was changing her, making her more self-reliant and aware as well as giving her better taste in men.

“Then you really shouldn’t go home alone,” Ken said, grasping her forearm.

Oh no, he didn’t. She pinned him with an annoyed glare. “Let. Go.” And what was it about her that attracted assholes anyway? she asked herself, as she tried to extricate herself without resorting to insults or calling management.

Lizzy jumped up from her seat just as the jerk released her arm, and a familiar voice reverberated in her ear.

“Touch her again and you’ll answer to me.”

*     *     *

Scott Dare arrived at Mel’s and found his brother Tyler waiting for him at the bar. He and Tyler often hung out at Mel’s on Scott’s rare nights off duty. He was a cop, and after disobeying a direct order by going into a situation without backup, he was currently enjoying administrative leave. He was chafing under the rules and no longer finding the same satisfaction in the job as he once had. Meeting with his brother was the highlight of his week so far.

Scott tipped his beer back and took a long pull.

“So seriously, what’s up your ass other than boredom?” Tyler asked.

“Boredom isn’t enough?” Scott scanned the room, his gaze landing on a table of women he hadn’t noticed before that included one very familiar face. His boredom instantly vanished.

Any time he saw Meg Thompson, every part of him took notice, and tonight was no exception. He didn’t know what it was about her. Her brown hair was just that. Brown silk that hung just below her shoulders, but there were highlights that turned some parts a sexy reddish-blonde under the right light. Brown eyes the color of his morning coffee framed by thick lashes that too often showed a vulnerability she tried hard to hide. It was that forced strength that got to him. She was alone, dealing with a difficult situation that would break most women.

But she wasn’t like any other woman he’d met. And completely unlike Scott’s ex-wife.

“Do you know them?” Tyler tipped his head toward the table of women.

“I know the brunette.” Scott rose … only to find a blond guy had beat him to it. The man leaned closer to Meg, and Scott stiffened, forcing himself to sit down and watch.

“Who is she?” his brother asked.

“She’s Dylan’s friend, Meg Thompson.”

“Aah. Liv told me about her. She thought Meg would be a problem when she got involved with Dylan, but they ended up being friends.”

Scott nodded. “That’s her.”

“And I’m guessing you two have history since you can’t take your eyes off of her?” Tyler nudged him in the side.

“Yes. No. Shit,” he muttered, wondering how to explain his reaction to Meg.

From the minute Scott had seen her, looking small and defenseless in a hospital bed after nearly losing her baby thanks to her angry ex-boyfriend, Scott had been invested. Not even her pregnancy had put him off. Which, all things considered, should scare the shit out of him. Since Leah, he didn’t get seriously involved.

He’d questioned Meg, taken her statement, and guided her through the restraining order process. And he’d been dumb enough to try and help. To be there for her afterwards, but she wasn’t interested. Not in a helping hand.

Not in him. He’d been forced to see her at occasional get-togethers in the last month at Olivia and Dylan’s, had run into her in the supermarket. He’d offered to take her to dinner, to be her friend. Despite the undeniable chemistry between them, she’d declined.

Two other men joined the first, and soon the women at Meg’s table were paired off. And Scott was pissed. A low growl escaped his throat.

“Easy, bro.” Instead of giving him a hard time, Tyler placed a hand on his shoulder.

Scott blew out a long breath. Logically, he knew he didn’t have a say in what Meg did. Or with whom.

He ordered a Patron. Neat. And settled in to do what he did best. Keep an eye on her from a distance. To his relief, as time passed, she didn’t look at all interested in the guy. Her body language screamed
don’t touch
, and the asshole didn’t appear to be listening.

“I’m going to bash his head in if this keeps up,” Scott muttered.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “First Ian, now you. Are you really going to leave me as the only single Dare guy in the family?”

“She’s made it clear she’s not interested in me, and besides, marriage? Been there, have the divorce papers to show for it. Not happening again,” Scott reminded his brother. At twenty-nine, he was finished with that stupid dream. Leah had screwed with his head on so many levels he was lucky he wasn’t still dizzy two years later.

He had no intention of letting his brother in on the fact that Meg was pregnant. His sibling would have a field day with Scott’s interest based on that alone. He’d be wrong. But it wasn’t worth the hassle or discussion.

“Sorry,” Tyler muttered, obviously uncomfortable.

Scott wasn’t sure if he was referring to the divorce, the reason behind it, or Meg’s lack of interest. All were enough to shit on his ego.

Meg shoved her chair back and headed for the back of the restaurant, where the restrooms were located, and Scott breathed easily for the first time since realizing she was here.

“You going after her?” Tyler asked.

“No.”

“It’s not like you to give up when you want something.”

Good point, Scott thought, but he remained seated. Watching but wary.

Meg returned and stopped by one of her friends, whispering something in her ear. The women spoke, and suddenly the guy who’d been inching closer to her all evening walked up to them. They talked. Looked more like an argument.

And then he grabbed Meg’s arm. Scott bolted out of his seat and came up behind Meg. Her soft scent invaded his senses, but his focus was on the asshole who hadn’t released her.

“Let. Go,” Meg said through clenched teeth.

Scott’s hands fisted at his sides. “Touch her again and you’ll answer to me.”

*     *     *

Meg didn’t know where Scott Dare had come from. She hadn’t noticed him in the bar earlier, and she was always aware when he was near. How could she not be? He was everything that appealed to her in a man. Tall with jet-black hair that always looked as if he’d just run his hand through the inky strands. Full lips. Straight nose. So damned handsome.

Though he had a dominant streak a mile wide, one she couldn’t miss during their few encounters, he’d been warm and caring when taking her statement in the hospital. And he was a cop, which meant he wasn’t her typical bad boy, but he gave off a masculine vibe that just did it for her.

“Who the hell are you?” Ken asked Scott, interrupting her blatant perusal.

“A friend who heard her tell you to get lost.” If Scott’s pissed-off tone and much bigger build wasn’t enough to make his point, he pushed his jacket back, revealing his holstered gun. “I’m off duty but it still works.”

Ken raised both hands and took a step back. “Easy, man. It’s not my fault she gave off the wrong signals.” He shook his head and stormed off, his friends pushing their chairs back and quickly following.

“Are you okay?” Lizzy asked, her hand protectively on Meg’s arm.

“I’m fine.”

“And who is this?” Allie asked, coming up on Meg’s other side.

She tipped her head toward Scott, still not meeting his gaze. She wasn’t ready. “Liz, Allie, this is Scott Dare.”

“Holy hell, girl,” Allie whispered none too softly. “I can see why you weren’t interested in the Ken doll.”

Meg’s cheeks burned.

“Nice to meet you both,” he said in that voice that Meg heard in her dreams.

He turned toward her, giving her no choice but to look into those sexy navy—almost violet—eyes, made more vibrant by his light blue shirt. “Meg, a word?”

She shook her head. She’d managed to put him out of her thoughts, which hadn’t been easy, and here he was, coming to her rescue and making demands. If she wasn’t so determined to turn over a new leaf, be independent, she’d respond to his sexy tone and probably do anything he asked. Her damp panties were proof of that.

“I was just telling my friends I’m going home.” She kissed Lizzy on the cheek and squeezed Allie’s hand, reassuring them both she was fine.

She strode past Scott knowing full well he’d follow. He waited until they were on the street away from the crowds before he grasped her hand and turned her to face him. “Meg.”

“Thank you for getting rid of the creep.” She pulled her phone from her bag and scrolled for the app that would let her call for a car.

He caught her wrist. “I’ll drive you home.”

“Was that an offer or an order?” she asked, unable to help her sarcastic mouth. He brought that out in her.

He shot her a look. One that had her quivering inside. And giving in to his demand. “Okay, you can drive me home.”

And then she planned to walk herself inside, close her front door, and forget about Scott Dare.

Without a word, he grasped her elbow and led her to a parking lot where his Range Rover was parked.

“I can’t believe what a mess tonight turned out to be,” she muttered once they were settled in the plush leather seats.

“What were you doing there in the first place?”

She swung around to face him. “I can’t go out to a restaurant with friends?”

“Of course you can.”

He wanted to say more. She could tell from the tense set of his jaw.

She sighed and decided to save him the trouble. “No, you’re right. Lizzy and Allie had this idea of taking me out so I could pick up a guy and have one last fling before I start to show.” She slid her hands over her stomach. “And before I’m busy being a mom.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “You were going to hook up with some stranger?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“What? No! I said they thought I should. I just went out to see my friends. Then that guy sat down and—Why am I explaining myself to you?” she asked, trailing off.

But it had been this way with Scott, from the first time they’d met. She found him easy to talk to. Understanding. Like he heard what she said and cared, unlike her ex. Or any of the men in her past.

She watched the palm trees and scenery as he drove. She’d already told him where she lived when she’d explained how she’d ended up in the hospital a little over a month ago. She just couldn’t believe he remembered. All too soon, they reached their destination. He pulled into a parking spot at her apartment complex.

He put the truck in park, cut the engine, and turned to face her. “You talk to me because you know that you can trust me.”

Point proven. He remembered what she’d said at least five minutes ago.

“But I hardly know you.”

“Instinct.”

She shook her head at that. “Mine’s failed me many times before.” And miserably, at that, she thought.

“Not this time.” He let himself out of the truck and started to walk around to her side.

Realizing his intent, she opened the door and hopped out just as he reached her. He shut the door behind her. “Let’s go.”

“I can see myself up.”

“You could. But since I took you home, I’ll get you safely to your door.”

He slid a hand to the small of her back, and she felt his heated palm through the fabric of her top. Goose bumps prickled along her skin.

She lived in a first-floor apartment, and they reached her door. He turned her around to face him. “Your friends want you to have one last fling? Is that what you want too?”

She hadn’t given a fling any thought. Not until Scott said the word, a husky bent to his voice and determined intent behind his words. “I don’t want sex with some random stranger.”

She glanced up and found herself pinned by his stare. His lips lifted in a sexy grin. “I’m not a stranger.”

She opened then closed her mouth as she processed his words and the meaning behind them. He wasn’t a stranger. Not really. He knew more about her than most people, and her best friends could vouch for him.

She ran her tongue over her dry lips. His darkening gaze deliberately followed the movement, and her body responded, nipples puckering beneath the cotton of her shirt. He wanted a fling. Sex. With her.

And she wanted him, every rock-hard inch of his toned, muscled body. Had from the very first moment she’d seen him, and every time since. She’d evaded him, certain that was the right thing to do for herself and for her baby, because she had new standards and rules she had to follow for her own sanity and for her future. But this
thing
between them wasn’t going away. If anything, it was becoming more intense, growing more heated, and she couldn’t deny it or walk away from him again.