Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

After extricating themselves, he grasped Evie’s hand, and they made their way back to Austin and Quinn. “Welcome to the family,” he said, giving her a hug.

“Thanks, Damon.”

“How are you doing?” Quinn asked, looking at him with concern in her eyes.

He forced a smile at the unspoken reason for the question. “I’m okay. Really.” He didn’t want anything ruining her day.

After a few more minutes, someone pulled Quinn away.

Damon turned to Evie. “Ready to go?”

“More than ready. Who knew meeting all these people was going to be ridiculously exhausting?”

He took her hand. “Then let’s go home.”

As they approached the car, with the sun shining overhead and Evie looking gorgeous, he turned and pulled out his phone. “Let’s take a picture,” he said with a grin.

She stopped and met his gaze. “What? Why?”

He laughed, knowing this was a complete role reversal. Damon Prescott taking a selfie. It was enough to make him gag. “We need to make us Instagram official.”

Her eyes opened wide. “But we aren’t a couple!”

“We are in the eyes of everyone in my world, aren’t we?” And the deeper he could embed her in his life, the harder it would be for her to dig her way out.

“Won’t this piss off John? Push him into doing something else?”

He’d considered that. “Or maybe it’ll force him to come out of hiding. And make a mistake.”

With a shrug, she came to his side. He wrapped one arm around her, held up the camera with the other, and snapped the perfect shot.

Then he took the time to upload to social media.

* * *

Meeting Damon’s family. Being invited to lunch by Damon’s mother. Damon taking a selfie to make them Instagram official. What world had Evie landed in? This was all more than she’d anticipated when she’d agreed to this charade, and she was exhausted.

“You okay?” Damon asked as he pulled the car into the driveway.

Oh. Maybe she should add to her bizarre list getting used to riding in a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar vehicle. She glanced at her slacks, bought on sale at Marshalls, the blouse she’d found at Target and sighed.

The sound of a car horn had her jumping in her seat.

Damon turned and let out a whoop, turned the vehicle off, and practically flew out the door. Evie climbed out in time to see him engulfed by three large men, their laughter and joy in seeing each other obvious.

She walked over and waited for the back slapping and brother-like hugging to end.

Finally, Damon stepped back and caught her gaze, gesturing for her. “Evie, come meet the guys!”

She looked up and into the startling blue stare of Harrison Dare, A-list actor, action movie hero, and eye candy for most women in America. With his jet-black hair and muscled body, he had presence most other guys would envy.

“Hi … I … I’m—” She stuttered like any normal woman would.

“Evie, I take it you recognize Harrison Dare. Am I going to have to beat up my cousin?”

Harrison laughed, dimples framing his mouth. “Nice to meet you, Evie.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” she managed.

“I’m Nick,” another good-looking, dark-haired man said.

Evie shook his hand.

“And this bozo is Asher,” Damon, looking more relaxed than she’d ever seen him, said with a smile.

Asher, also gorgeous, grinned and, without warning, pulled her into a hug. “Hey, pretty lady.” He released her. “Are you why Damon’s been ducking my calls? He’s too busy with a new girlfriend?” He looked her over in what she’d call a respectful way. “I wouldn’t blame him.”

Evie felt a blush rise to her cheeks. “He’s got enough on his plate without worrying about romance, wouldn’t you say?”

“That’s why we’re here.” Asher, who had darker hair, hooked an arm around Damon’s neck. “We’re going to take his mind off his problems. Zach and Emery are sorry they couldn’t make it, by the way.”

“It’s all good.”

Damon ushered them into the house, handed out drinks, and soon they were sitting around the family room. The guys had beers, and Evie, still wiped out after the day she’d had, just kicked back in one of the recliner chairs at the end of the couch.

“How’s your head?” Asher asked Damon. “And don’t fucking lie to me.”

“I got the green light to start light workouts this morning.” Damon took a pull of his beer.

Asher glanced at Evie. “He’s okay?”

She nodded. “He is.”

Damon scowled. “Since when isn’t my word good enough?” he muttered.

“Evie, what’s your story?” Asher cocked his head to the side, those golden eyes focused on her.

She shrugged. “I’m—” She glanced at Damon for permission to tell the truth and he nodded.

“I’m a private investigator. I’m looking into who could have slipped Damon performance-enhancing drugs and caused him to test positive,” she admitted.

Harrison frowned. “Fucking sucks, man.”

“So that means you guys aren’t a real couple?” Asher asked.

“We’re together for now,” Evie said before he could answer.