Take My Dare (Stark International Trilogy 4)

"What's that look for?" Cass demands.

I shrug innocently. "Just thinking about family resemblances."

Beyond our circle, I see my dad and Ronnie heading inside, probably for more cookies. Wyatt doesn't follow. Instead, he walks a slow circle around the patio, his camera clicking as he photographs the men and then aims the lens toward us.

I look at Cass, trying not to pay attention to Wyatt. I'm the one who asked him to take candids, after all. "Where's Siobhan tonight?"

"Working." She makes a face. "This new job is a killer, and she hates it, but so far she hasn't found anything better."

"I remember those days," Nikki says. "Tell her good luck."

"Will do. She'd like to do what we're doing--run her own business. But she's not ready to make the leap. I've told her she can be the marketing director at Totally Tattoo," Cass adds, referring to the tattoo parlor she owns, "but I think she's nervous about working together. Oh!" she adds, "guess who I saw yesterday when I was having lunch. You'll never guess."

I roll my eyes. "In that case, just tell me." Jeffery stirs in my arms. I bend over and kiss his forehead, and out of the corner of my eye, notice that Wyatt has snapped a photo.

"Mila Sanchez."

My brows rise; she's right, I never would have guessed. "No kidding? Where?"

"I was over at Blacklist," she says, referencing the funky bar that's just two doors down from her shop.

"Did she recognize you?"

"I'm not certain, but I think so. She didn't say anything, but she got this pinched look on her face, like she was holding back something really nasty she wanted to say to me. Or maybe she just needed to fart."

I snort, but I have to admit the mental picture is accurate. Whenever Mila got irritated, that was exactly the expression she'd have on her face.

"Wait," Nikki says. "Who is Mila?"

"You never met her?" I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Nikki might be married to Damien, but that doesn't mean she's met all of the thousands of people who work at Stark International. "She was a floater secretary. I had to fire her ages ago. Cass met her a few times at the office and after work happy hours."

"She seemed so normal," Cass adds.

Nikki twirls her hand, urging us to continue. "So? What happened?"

"Gross incompetence coupled with extreme stupidity," I say.

"Oh, please," Cass protests. "Gross incompetence sounds dull. Like forgetting to mail a package. Or putting a call through without screening it. But I'm totally on-board with the extreme stupidity assessment."

Nikki laughs. Wyatt moves in closer, his expression one of intense concentration. I figure he's trying to get a better shot of her very camera-friendly face.

"Well, don't just leave me hanging," Nikki says, when neither Cass nor I jump in to fill the conversational gap. "What did she do?"

"Hit on Jackson," Cass says, in the kind of voice a judge would use to pronounce a death sentence.

"No way!"

"Yeah, well, there's more," I add.

"She hit on Damien, too," Cass blurts. "And she insinuated that the three of them were having a thing. Like a three-way."

Nikki clamps her hand to her mouth, obviously in an effort to keep from spewing her wine. "How did I not know this?"

"I think you and Damien were out of the country when it went down. At any rate, good riddance." I shudder. "I haven't seen her in ages. I sincerely hope it stays that way."

Wyatt's back in my field of vision, and he honestly doesn't look too comfortable. I suppose that's a downside of candid photography; you're always overhearing conversations you'd rather not. I flash a smile to let him know it's hardly confidential, but he looks quickly away. Then aims his camera at Ronnie, who's skipping toward Jackson, this time without my father nearby.

I watch as Jackson scoops her effortlessly up and perches her on the edge of the bar so she can be part of the conversation with her two uncles. The motion is so gentle and automatic and loving that I feel my heart squeeze. And when Jackson meets my eyes across the fairy-lit patio, I sigh from the wash of heat and love that bubbles inside me.

"--mansion tomorrow?"

I jerk toward Nikki, realizing I'd zoned out. "Sorry, what?"

"I asked if you were still going to the costume party at the Segel mansion tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah. I think so." She's talking about Anika Segel, the four-time Academy Award winning film icon and one of Hollywood's grand dames. She's invited Jackson and me to her annual charity event because Jackson is designing a second home for her in Costa Rica. "I wish you and Damien were coming, too." They, of course, were invited simply because Damien is Damien.

"So do I," Nikki says. "It sounds like fun. But we'll be in Austin by tomorrow evening. As much as I'm looking forward to the South by Southwest conference, I'm still a little bummed. I mean, even I know who Anika Segel is, and I know next to nothing about Hollywood."

Nikki's company was hired to put together a smart phone adaptation of a popular board game, and they're rolling out the app at Austin's long-standing film, interactive media, and music event. Damien's going mostly to be with his wife, but since the man never stops working, he's also scheduled a few meetings with some tech start ups.

I may not be his assistant anymore, but I haven't broken the habit of keeping an eye on his schedule.

"Well, I'm incredibly jealous," Cass admits. "I think it sounds fabulous."

"Jackson thinks it's silly," I admit. "Not the idea of a charity event, but the costumes. His take is why not just have black tie and be civilized with scotch and martinis?"

"It's a valid question." The deep, sensual voice behind me sends shivers down my spine, and I twist around to see that Jackson has moved away from the bar and circled over to us.

He bends lower so that I feel his breath on my ear as he says, "To be honest, I've had a change of heart. I'm looking forward to it. Immensely."

I swallow as both Cass and Nikki look amused. "Really?"

He presses his hand to the back of my neck, sending a cascade of warmth through my whole body that pools between my legs so that I have to fight not to squirm a little in my chair.

"I've had an attitude adjustment," he admits.

Case's brows lifts, and she glances at Nikki. "I think that's our cue to leave."

"Not at all," Jackson says. "I'm just taking a detour before I go push Ronnie on the swings. But you," he adds as he puts both hands on my shoulders. "You should consider this a promise of things to come. Tomorrow night. Edward will pick you up here at eight. I'll meet you at the party at nine."

"Meet me there?" I'm breathless. "Why?"

"Because we're going to play a game. It's a costume party, right? So I expect you to do it up. If I find you within an hour, I win. Any longer, you win." His grin promises all sorts of wicked delights. "And since I know you so well, baby, it won't be a challenge at all."

I raise my brows. "You've thrown down the gauntlet, mister."

He chuckles, then kisses me. "Let the games begin."

I catch Cass's eyes; she's grinning.

"Wait!" I call after Jackson. He pauses, then turns back to me. "What do I get if I win?"

He lifts a shoulder casually. "Whatever you want."

"And if you win?"

He rakes a heated gaze over me, and my heart skips a beat. "You."

"Oh," I say, my body just a little bit numb. "Then I guess either way, I win."

His mouth twitches, but he doesn't respond. Just holds my eyes for a moment before turning and walking away.

I watch him go, thinking that yeah, I'm going to enjoy this party.

I'm still basking in the glow when Nikki sighs. "Nice to know that little one hasn't turned down the heat," she says, smiling fondly at Jeffery, still asleep in my arms.

"He really hasn't," I say, and feel a blush rise on my cheeks.