Just One Dare (The Kingston Family 5)

“Among other pursuits,” he said vaguely. He grinned and Aurora immediately knew Zach Dare had secrets. “You two made one adorable kid.”

“Yeah, we did.”

She loved the warmth in Nick’s tone when he spoke of their daughter.

“I think so, too, but thank you,” she said.

“Mom, Mom, Mom!” As if on cue, Leah came running in but before Nick could grab her, Zach scooped her into his arms. “Mom!” she yelled once more.

“Yes! Right here. What’s up?” Aurora asked.

“Uncle Zach got me Unicorn Poo!” Leah’s excitement was palpable but Aurora shook her head.

“You got her what?” she asked, envisioning something she’d have to clean up after.

“You heard the lady. Unicorn Poo.” Zach treated her to an unrepentant grin.

“What the he…heck, man?” Nick obviously caught his word choice in front of his daughter.

“Relax. They’re bath bombs, right kid?” Zach juggled Leah in his arms and she giggled, then he put her back down on the floor.

“Leah, come have a snack,” Serenity called and Leah darted over to where her new grandmother stood by a plate of cookies.

Nick turned to his brother. “What do you know about bath bombs?” he asked, obviously confused. Based on Zach’s un-dad-like appearance, Aurora knew why.

“One of the waitresses has a daughter Leah’s age. I asked her what a good gift would be.” Zach shrugged. “Easy.”

“So you chose Unicorn Poo.” Aurora shook her head, laughing.

“Gotta be the cool uncle.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “You think you’re cool, huh?”

“Compared to Mr. Three Dates and I’m Out? Yeah, I’m the cool one.”

“Umm what?” Aurora glanced from Zach to Nick. “Three dates? What does that mean?” She had no idea what to make of Zach’s comment.

Nick glared at his brother.

“And on that note, I’m gone.” Zach took Aurora’s hand. “Great meeting you. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” He leaned in and brushed a friendly kiss on her cheek. “Don’t kill him for who he used to be,” he whispered in her ear.

And then the enigmatic brother was gone, leaving Aurora with questions she wouldn’t get answered when surrounded by people. And not on the ride home, either, as Leah repeated her interactions with every relative she’d met until she passed out. But Aurora would find out. Soon.

* * *

Nick parked the SUV in Aurora’s garage and shut off the engine.

“Are we home?” Leah asked.

“I thought she was asleep?” he asked.

Aurora turned to glance at the child in the back. “She sensed the car shutting off. We’re home but it’s late. Bath and bed.”

“Can we use the Unicorn Poo in the bath?” Leah asked, unbuckling herself and opening the car door.

They exited the vehicle and Nick knew enough to let Aurora handle things tonight.

“It’s late. Let’s save Uncle Zach’s gift for tomorrow. You can even skip a bath now and take one in the morning with the bath bombs, if you like. But you have to promise to go right to sleep.”

“Yes!” Leah raised a victorious hand in the air and as Aurora shut the electric garage door and opened the door to the house, Leah darted inside.

Nick stepped up behind Aurora, his mouth close to her ear. “Good call, mom.”

Her body trembled and she turned to face him. “You’re trouble, Nick.”

“Only for you.” He backed her against the door frame. “Today was successful, wouldn’t you say?” His goal was to stay the night but he had no idea where her head was.

“I’d say so. Everyone was kind and welcoming. You’re very lucky to have them all,” she said.

“I am.” Seeing her fit in with his family cemented what he already knew—they were meant to be together and not only because they had a child. If she let him, he’d make her a part of his family, the way the Kingstons had made her part of theirs.

She just had to realize where—and with whom—she belonged.

She stepped inside and he followed, the house door closing behind them. Before she could head upstairs, he caught her hand, and she turned to face him.

“Ask me,” he said.

She wrinkled her nose in question. “Ask you what?”

He bracketed her against the nearest wall. “No games. Ask me about the three-date shit Zach mentioned.” Nick knew how bad it sounded.

He’d seen her reaction and sensed that was the reason she’d been so quiet on the way home. But his explanation would go a long way towards smoothing out the rough waters between them.

She sighed. “Fine. I was going to ask anyway. What did Zach mean by three dates and you’re out? Is that how you treated women?”

“Here’s the thing. I dated. If I found a woman I could see a future with, I would have kept seeing her. But I always knew within three dates if that was even a possibility.” He shrugged because he never set out to hurt anyone. “It made sense to me. Why string someone along if I knew it wasn’t going to work?”