Dare to Stay (Dare Nation 4)

His words did the job. She looked at him and rolled her eyes, grinning at his ridiculous comment.

“Of course, I wouldn’t mind if all my children were settled.” Thankfully, his mother then turned her gaze to Bri. She sat beside Hudson, who hadn’t left her side for most of the afternoon.

Braden didn’t have a problem with his best friend having a thing for his sister as long as Hudson had good intentions. The problem was, Bri didn’t trust men outside her small circle of family.

“Do not go there, Mom. Marriage and babies don’t have to be in everyone’s future.” She placed her napkin on the table and excused herself before walking out.

Hudson followed.

“Well, forget I said anything,” his mom said and lowered her glass. “I meant well.”

“She’ll come back,” Austin assured her as everyone else began quietly speaking again.

“What’s going on?” Willow asked softly.

He groaned because Bri, like Willow, had her emotional walls high and for good reason. “Bri’s been hurt before by men who have used her for her connections through Dare Nation or our brothers, who are in the sports world. It’s going to take a man without an agenda to win her over.”

“Makes sense,” she murmured. “And Hudson? Do I sense an attraction there?”

“Looks like it to me. He has his work cut out for him if he’s serious.”

Willow met his gaze, her brown eyes full of understanding. “Then it looks like you have a lot in common.”

Reaching out, he placed a hand on her leg beneath the table, squeezing her thigh. “Then it’s a good thing I’m up to the challenge.”

* * *

Willow had to admit that the holiday at the Prescotts’ had been fun. The women had all welcomed her and made her feel comfortable, as had Braden’s brothers. Of course, she knew the teammates who’d come for dinner, and that had helped. And despite Braden’s mother’s push for the twins to settle down and her pointed look at Willow, the day had been a success. And the rest of the weekend was busy.

Willow insisted Aurora pack her things and move into her place immediately, and when she saw where the young girl had been living, she had no regrets or hesitation. The air conditioning barely worked in the back room, and Braden had been right. The room was the size of a closet, and ironically, it had none. Closet, that is. So Willow and Braden loaded up what little Aurora owned and moved her into Willow’s apartment.

Despite it being Thanksgiving weekend and the stores being extra crowded, she took Aurora shopping for clothes to wear to her new job, lending money, which the young woman promised to pay back as soon as possible. Willow didn’t care as long as she knew she was helping someone in need. She loved watching Aurora blossom as she tried on new maternity clothes that fit and made her feel good about herself.

Because she and Braden weren’t alone after Thanksgiving, they hadn’t discussed that kiss or where they stood now. He gave her space, and when she saw him at the facility on Friday and Saturday, and at the home game on Sunday, he was professional as always in front of other people.

And through the week, though she expected him to corner her in her office or sneak time alone, he did neither. In fact, he seemed uptight, and when he didn’t have patients, he left the facility altogether. Which led her to question if he’d changed his mind about pursuing her and wanting to prove he’d changed and would stay around. He wasn’t the type to play games, so she assumed he really had been busy.

At home, despite Aurora’s objection, Willow took the pullout sofa, and they settled into an easy routine. Willow left for work before Aurora woke, and the bathroom was in the hall, so Willow didn’t have to worry about waking her up. She just picked her clothes out the night before. Meanwhile, Aurora took the bus to work, and Bri was getting her settled at the office.

This weekend was an away game, and Willow was packing a few extra things when a knock sounded on her door. She walked through her living area, which, considering it was now her bedroom, was well cleaned. Every morning she put the blankets and pillows she’d used away in the linen closet and made sure any of her clothes were in the hamper. Keeping her living area neat was a holdover from her days when she wanted the foster family she lived with to want to keep her with them. Even when she didn’t like them all that much, the thought of starting over had always been daunting, and yet time after time, she’d had no choice.

Shaking her head, she checked the peephole and let Steffy inside. “Hi! How are you?” She shut the door behind her friend.