Dare to Tease (Dare Nation 4.5)

She’d seen the price on this dress, and by the time she bought the shoes and bag, she’d have a hefty credit card statement next month. Even with her generous salary, this was a big hit.

She glanced in the mirror one more time. Her dark hair and tanned skin provided the perfect contrast to the lighter-colored gown. If Hudson’s chocolate eyes darkened at the sight of her in this dress, the money would be well spent.

* * * *

Hudson had his suitcase open on the bed, his tuxedo hanging on the door waiting to be placed inside the garment bag. He’d actually had to buy a tuxedo for the wedding because his clothing consisted of khaki shorts and collared T-shirts from his time in Brazil. When he’d moved to Florida, he’d purchased pants for clinic and stadium work. Not a formal or overly dressy item could be found in his closet, and though his mother would be horrified, Hudson liked it that way.

He added his Dopp kit to the suitcase, zipped it up, and rolled the bag near the door. He was about to turn around and grab his tuxedo when a knock sounded.

He swung open his door to find Braden standing outside. “Hey, come on in.”

Braden strode inside, his gaze going to the carry-on. “Ready to go?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be to deal with the family.”

Braden made himself comfortable, dropping onto the leather couch Hudson had splurged on. “Are you looking forward to the wedding at least? I know you haven’t seen Serena in a while, and you two are close.”

Joining him, Hudson sat down on the opposite end of the sofa. “That’s the one thing I’m excited for. She deserves to be happy.”

Braden nodded. “Where are you staying?”

This was starting to feel like twenty questions, Hudson thought, narrowing his gaze. No, he hadn’t told Braden he was taking Bri, but there was every chance Braden already knew and was testing him, in which case he had no problem playing the long game and making his friend work for the answers.

“I made a reservation at the Four Seasons.” In fact, he’d pulled family strings, and he’d managed to book them into a suite. He wanted to make a good impression with Bri.

Folding his arms across his chest, he met Braden’s gaze and waited for the explosion.

Braden raised his eyebrows. “I hope you mean you made reservations, as in plural?”

“None of your business, and I take it the family grapevine is alive and well?” Hudson asked with a grin and heard the grinding of his friend’s teeth.

The last time he’d seen a scowl that deep on Braden’s face was during a walk through over-one-hundred-degree heat to a village that was a few miles away after their Jeep had broken down.

“Bri went dress shopping with Macy. She told Jaxon, and Jaxon told me. I can’t believe you weren’t going to mention it,” Braden muttered.

He leaned forward in his seat and met Braden’s gaze. “Look, she’s your twin. I get that you’re overprotective, but this is me, okay? I’m not going to hurt her.”

“You’d better not or you’ll have four Prescotts to answer to.”

Hudson was smart enough not to reply and to let his actions speak for him.

Chapter Four

Hudson said he’d pick her up by noon on Thursday, and Bri was ready when a town car pulled into her driveway. Both the driver and Hudson exited the vehicle, but she couldn’t tear her gaze from her date for the weekend.

Wearing a pair of jeans and a crew-neck shirt, aviators covering his eyes, Hudson strode toward her, looking sexy as hell.

He met her at the bottom of her front steps and glanced at her bags. “It’s one weekend,” he said, taking in the largest suitcase she owned, a carry-on for her toiletries and personal items, and the tote she always carried with her when she traveled.

“Well, hello to you, too.” She grinned and lifted the handle on the luggage, pulling it higher so she could drag it behind her when she walked.

He smiled and brushed his lips over hers. “Sorry. Hello. You look great.” His gaze raked over her, and though she wore a simple outfit, a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, and a casual black blazer with sleeves that easily pushed up on her arms, from the heat in his eyes, she might as well be naked.

“Thank you. And as for the bags, I’m a woman. Enough said.”

He chuckled and took the luggage from her hand. “I didn’t have sisters. I wouldn’t know the drill.”

She wasn’t about to ask him about past girlfriends who’d made themselves at home in his apartment. She didn’t want to know, but one thing was certain. After sharing a bathroom with her this weekend, he would definitely learn.

He handed the luggage to the driver, who loaded the trunk, and they headed to the airport. Hudson had splurged on first-class, and the trip to New York was as fast and easy as their conversation. He was interested in her job and what she did for her clients on a daily basis, and she was only too happy to fill him in on the details, omitting names where the stories and history weren’t public knowledge.