Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)

“Probably not.” He chuckled and headed into his office to go over a current contract that had already been vetted by the firm’s lawyer.

An hour later, they were standing at a table with his youngest brother. “Quinn, this is Damon, my youngest brother. Damon, my new executive assistant, Quinn Stone.” Austin made the introductions.

When Damon first looked at Quinn, his eyes opened wide with approval before he quickly schooled his features. Their mother would kick both their asses if they treated any woman with less than complete respect.

“It’s nice to meet you, Quinn. How are you managing working for this guy?” Damon jerked his thumb toward Austin.

“I just started but I’m enjoying myself so far.”

Austin held out a chair and she settled into it.

“So Austin tells me you play football,” she said. “And from what I’ve read, you’re a quarterback for the Miami Thunder?”

“Best there is. But I’m in the last year of a three-year contract and I need it to go well. And I also need my agent to kick some managerial ass when the time comes and get me the contract I deserve.” Damon followed his words with an arrogant smirk.

At the thought, Austin met Quinn’s gaze and grinned. “Does he fit the mold?”

“To a T,” she said, laughing.

He liked the sound.

“Why do I feel like I’m the only one not in on the joke?” Damon asked, looking from Quinn back to Austin.

“Quinn thinks she’s got us athletes pegged, and you just proved her right.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” a waitress asked, leaning in very close to Austin. So close her breast brushed against his sport jacket.

It was typical when they were out. Women picked one or the other brother to flirt with. Austin had seen her assessing them from behind a support beam, making her choice. Given the nine-year age difference between them, Austin at thirty-four, Damon at twenty-five, the woman had to have a type in order to choose. That and she looked a little older than the typical groupies who picked Damon.

Quinn’s eyebrows lifted high. She wasn’t used to how blatant the come-ons could be. If she was going to do her job, she’d get accustomed to seeing it.

“Excuse me but I’d like to order, too?” Quinn deliberately called the woman’s attention away from Austin, and he had to wonder if she was doing him a favor or if there was a touch of jealousy involved.

The waitress straightened and barely glanced at Quinn, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

“Quinn, what do you want to drink?” Austin asked.

“A club soda with a splash of cranberry juice. Thanks.” She treated him to a genuine smile.

“And you, gentlemen? What would you like?” the waitress asked in a syrupy sweet voice.

They both ordered Pellegrino. Austin was keeping his body clean for the organ donation and Damon was in training.

They made small talk for a little while, Quinn holding her own on discussions of the game, plays, and positions.

After they ordered their meals, Quinn placed her napkin on the table. “If you’ll both excuse me, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She rose and headed for the ladies’ room, and as he expected, Damon watched her go.

He waited until she was far enough away before letting out a low whistle. “Damn, bro. You should have fucked her, not hired her.”

Austin narrowed his gaze. “Watch how you talk about her, asshole.”

“Whoa.” Damon raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it. Since when are you so damn sensitive about any woman?”

Austin forced himself to relax. Damon was right. Unless someone insulted the females in his family, he was usually calmer than this. Something about Quinn fired up his protective instincts, not that she needed him to look out for her. She could clearly hold her own. But he didn’t like the sound of his brother demeaning her in any way.

“So she’s different.” Placing his hands behind his head and stretching, Damon met his gaze.

“Yeah. But she’s off-limits.” Austin pinned his brother with a steady stare, making sure the kid knew he meant back off.

“Message received.” Damon looked past Austin and gave a short incline of his head, letting him know Quinn had returned.

She rejoined them at the table and they had an enjoyable lunch. One where he was damned glad the tablecloth blocked the view of his dick, because everything about her did it for him. Her laugh, her stories, her expressive words, and the full pink mouth. He didn’t care what color lipstick she wore, he wanted to taste her. To feel her lips around his cock.

This hiring was going to be the test of a lifetime.

* * *

Quinn had been on the job for three weeks, and Austin had been out for the last seven days following surgery. She drove up to the house where he lived. It was more like a mansion, located in an exclusive neighborhood in South Beach. She asked herself what she was doing here and the answer was simple. She wanted to reassure him she had things under control.