Dare to Submit (NY Dares 2)

She panicked at the thought but only because she couldn’t imagine her two lives colliding. But it was only days and she missed him already. “What are you thinking?”

“That I have time off coming to me and I’d like to come to visit.”

She ran her tongue over her lips. “Umm…”

“Nothing heavy,” he promised. “We can spend time alone like we do when you’re in New York. I just want to see you. I want to know where you live. I want to see your bed, so I can imagine you lying there at night … thinking of me.” His tone dropped an octave.

Just like that, her body reacted, arousal a sudden companion.

“Would you like that? You, me, this weekend? You can show me the places you like to hang out. Like, where do you get your coffee in the morning? What’s in your fridge?”

She shook her head and laughed. He made it sound so simple and easy. But what stood out was that he wanted to know her. “Okay,” she said before she could think it through.

“You won’t regret it.”

She smiled. “No, I don’t think I will.”

They made plans for him to arrive on Friday and for her to pick him up at the airport. Then he received a call, and since he was at the station, he had to take it.

She disconnected, holding the phone to her heart, which was beating hard inside her chest.

“So what’s put that smile on your face?” Brad asked.

She jumped, startled. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I knocked, but the door was open and you were lost in thought. Your hot cop?” he asked, gesturing to the telephone.

She nodded and placed her cell on her desk. She glanced at Brad, took in his The Big Bang Theory tee shirt with a picture of Sheldon front and center, shook her head, and groaned. “God, we need to dress you better.”

He shrugged, not a care in the world. “It was the last shirt in the drawer. Guess it’s time for laundry.”

“You’re a billionaire! Hire someone to do it for you.”

“Keith likes to do it, but he was out of town on business. So what did Hot Cop want?”

She met Brad’s gaze, turning serious as she told him. “He wants to come visit this weekend. And I said yes.”

“You’re letting someone in! This is cause for a celebration. Lunch at The Ritz. On me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to make it sound like a world event.”

“Oh honey, we both know it is.” He settled on the side of her desk. “So … have you returned your mother’s calls?”

“No.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to deal with her.”

“Works for me. I think the less you have to do with the viper the better.”

“Well, we both know it won’t last. She’s relentless when she wants to be. And though she isn’t happy with me, she won’t leave me alone either. She still thinks she can change me.”

“You mean berate you into changing,” Brad muttered.

Amanda shrugged. “As long as I keep my distance, it’s fine. I can handle her.”

“Someone needs to cut her off at the knees.”

“One day she’ll go too far and someone will.” Since her therapy when she was younger, Amanda had focused on accepting herself and not changing for her intractable mother.

Brad rose. “Well, forget about her and enjoy this weekend.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.