Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

After they finished eating, like his mother, Evie’s mom had trained her boys to help at the table, so over her protest, Damon helped clean up and bring everything to the kitchen. Before he knew it, they were sitting back down with coffee and dessert.

“If you don’t get a lead on John soon, I decided I’m going to move back home,” Evie said.

Damon hadn’t seen that coming. Neither had anyone else, because every man at the table put his fork down, including Damon. Suddenly her brothers began yelling at once. Knowing it would only hurt his cause, Damon remained silent, which didn’t mean he supported her idea. He wanted her where he could keep her safe.

Evie braced her hands on the table, rose to her feet, and yelled, “Quiet!”

Her brothers muttered complaints but did as she said.

“I can’t stay with Damon forever. He’s been great, but if things go as we hope, he’s going to be back to practice soon. I’ll be alone, anyway.”

He heard the excuse for what it was. She was definitely using all her self-protection skills to make sure she didn’t put her heart on the line. Well, tough shit, he thought. He was in this with her and he’d damn well have a say. Just not in front of her family. She deserved respect for her feelings and opinions on how to live her own life.

“Honey, I know you want to prove you can handle yourself, but John’s mentally ill. He’s a sick man and we don’t know what he’ll do next. I felt better knowing you weren’t alone,” her mother said.

Damon rose to his feet. “I think,” he said, hating every word that was about to come out of his mouth, “that Evie knows what’s best for her. What if she agrees to install an alarm at the apartment? Will that calm everyone down?”

The brothers and her father grumbled their agreement. “That would be a start,” Mack muttered. “I could sleep on your couch and—”

The look Evie shot her brother was deadly.

“Fine.” He held up his hands in surrender. “Would you agree to wait a few days? Give me more time to dig and try and find the rock John’s hiding under?”

Evie glanced around at her family and nodded, accepting the compromise. “Fine.”

“I can’t believe you’re okay with this,” Mack said to Damon.

He wrapped an arm around Evie’s waist and pulled her to him. “I trust her judgment and her ability to take care of herself.” Which he did.

He just didn’t trust her bastard ex.

And what her family didn’t know was that Damon didn’t intend to let things get as far as her moving out. Not if he could help it.

But for now, she nodded at Damon, surprise and gratitude in her wide, beautiful eyes, and he knew he’d scored necessary points.

“Thank you,” she mouthed with obvious feeling.

He smiled back at her. By giving her the freedom she both needed and deserved, he planned to win the war for her heart.

* * *

The cool air conditioning blew on her face as Evie sat in Damon’s car on the way home. She leaned back against the seat and went over tonight’s meal, shocked by how well he’d done with her siblings and parents and twisted up by the fact that he hadn’t insisted she stay with him until John was caught.

On the one hand, she was grateful for his support and, on the other, a little disappointed he hadn’t insisted she stay. And didn’t that say something about her confused state of mind when it came to men in general and a relationship with Damon in particular.

“You held your own with my family,” Evie said, breaking the silence. “And thanks for not jumping down their throats when they asked about Emerson.”

Damon let out a low, sexy chuckle. “Hey, I expected the questions. I’d have asked them myself if the situation was reversed. Besides, I like your family. They look out for you and that’s what’s important.” He drove with one hand on the steering wheel, every so often glancing her way. “So, you dropped a bomb on everyone tonight.”

She curled her fingers into fists beside her. “And you stood up for me. That was also a surprise.”

“You didn’t think I’d have your back?” He shot her a look before glancing back to the road.

She shrugged, opting for honesty. “I thought you’d hit the roof. Be as worried and upset as they are.”

“Who says I’m not worried? And I’m guessing that’s why you decided to spring the news on me with everyone else at dinner. You didn’t want an argument if you told me when we were alone.”

She couldn’t help the small smile that lifted her lips at getting caught. “I don’t mean to worry you. Or them. I just can’t stay with you forever. And an alarm was a brilliant idea. I was going to ask my landlord for permission, anyway. I don’t mind giving Mack a few more days to do his job. I can’t think of where John would go, so I’m going to leave it to Mack and focus on getting you back on the field.” Make sure Ian had everything he needed to go to the league on Damon’s behalf.