Dare to Stay (Dare Nation 4)

“Hey, Braden. How are the States treating you? Enjoying all the comforts of home or do you miss us down here in Brazil?”

Willow stiffened then forced herself to breathe. Braden was entitled to talk to friends from his time with the relief organization. It didn’t mean he was leaving. Only her mind immediately went there, she tried to reassure herself.

Braden glanced her way before answering. “I’m happy to be home,” he told the other man. “How’s it going?”

“We’re good.” He went on to tell Braden a story about one of their colleagues marrying a nurse he’d been dating and talked about the vaccinations they were focusing on giving to the villagers nearby.

It was obviously a long-distance call and one he couldn’t easily return if his friend was in the field, so Willow stretched her legs out and waited while he talked. It was clear Braden felt a connection to the man on the phone and the people Adam updated him on.

On the surface, everything was normal, a typical call, two friends catching up, but Willow couldn’t stop her stomach from churning with nerves. The call reminded her of the times the phone would ring in her foster homes, and from the way her foster mom or dad had looked at Willow, she knew bad news was coming.

Telling herself it was all in her head, she took deep breaths and waited patiently.

Finally the other man wrapped up his end of the call. “Well, it was great talking to you.”

“Same here. Say hi to the team,” Braden said.

“We all miss you, buddy,” Adam said before clicking off.

Braden disconnected the call and immediately turned to her. “Sorry about that. I haven’t spoken to him since I left.”

“It’s fine.” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find her center. “So what’s next on our agenda for the day?” she asked with a forced smile. She was determined to enjoy their time together.

No matter what her unwarranted panic attack told her.

* * *

After their trip to the health care center, Braden drove them back to her place so she could put on her bathing suit, and since he’d had his trunks in the car, he’d changed at her place, too.

She walked out of her bedroom in time to see Braden in his swim trunks, pulling a tee shirt over his head. His tanned, lean stomach and the six-pack that showed he worked out had her drooling.

Meeting her gaze, he grinned. “See something you like?”

“Put your ego away,” she said, laughing.

He stepped closer, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her against him. His rock-hard erection told her that if she wanted to skip the beach, he’d probably be all too willing. But he’d promised her a special day, and she intended to see what he had planned.

“I’d like to see what’s beneath that cover-up. The lace is just a tease,” he said in a gruff voice.

“And that’s all you’re going to get until we’re at the beach.” She spun out of his arms and picked up the tote bag she’d packed, giving him a wink over her shoulder.

She liked this side of her, the light, easy side he brought out. It had been too long since she’d let go, if ever.

As they drove downtown to South Beach, he slid his fingers into hers and rested their coupled hands on his muscular thigh, and she relished the small intimacy. She glanced out the window and saw the sun shone brilliantly overhead. Palm trees and expensive cars lined the street, and people walked on the sidewalks, browsing in store windows. She closed her eyes, enjoying the ride and the way they could be together in peaceful silence without it feeling awkward in any way.

He signaled to pull the car into a garage, and she opened her eyes at the sound. “Where are we?”

“It’s a garage to the apartment building Ian lived in before he and Riley had kids and moved. He kept the place and it’s on the beach. He lets family use it when they want a day to themselves.” Braden parked the car and met her on her side, helping her out.

As they made their way to the pool area and the beach beyond, she took in the private cabanas and the people sunbathing on beach chairs, some under umbrellas, others soaking in the rays. Something she wanted to do herself.

“Are we sitting on the beach or out here by the pool?” she asked.

“Lady’s choice.”

She lifted her sunglasses and looked around. “Would we have one of those cabanas?” she asked.

He nodded. “We would.”

“Hmm. I love the sand but this pool looks like heaven,” she said of the infinity-edge pool.

“But the cabanas have curtains that can give us complete privacy inside.” He met her gaze and, like her, raised his sunglasses, giving her a view of his seductive indigo eyes. “I mean, think of the things we could do in there,” he said in a husky voice.