Dare To Resist (Dare Nation 1)
Realizing he still held Quinn’s hand and his sister was watching them carefully, Austin deliberately didn’t let go. She was his for as long as she’d stick by him and right now he needed her.
* * *
Along with his family and Quinn, Austin traveled on Ian Dare’s private plane to New York. The trip was silent, everyone worried about Damon.
Quinn kept her hand inside his, giving him strength as he brooded, worried about his brother. He called Ian but all the other man could tell him was that they were running tests and when they had answers, he’d let them know.
They were an hour from landing when Austin’s phone rang. “Ian. Talk to me.”
“It’s a severe concussion and it’s not his first, as you know.”
“Is he conscious?” Austin asked.
“Yes. But symptomatic.”
Austin swallowed hard, knowing his mother and the rest of the family were listening. “We won’t know anything about a return until he passes protocol.” If he passed concussion protocol.
Something that would devastate his brother this early in a year that was supposed to lead to a new contract.
“Look—”
“No, I know. Let’s focus on his health. Call me if you know more. We’ll be there soon,” Austin said, disconnecting the call. “Mom. It’s a concussion. He’s going to be okay.”
His mom was sitting beside Bri and nodded, visibly relieved, but her tension would remain. She needed to see Damon for herself. They all did.
“Hey.” Quinn spoke softly beside him. “What’s going through your mind? Did Ian really say he’s going to be okay or are you keeping the family calm until you know more?”
He turned and they were face-to-face, her lips inches from his. “Do you have any idea how much I appreciate you coming with me?”
Her smile warmed him inside. “I can’t imagine how scared you all are feeling. I mean I’m worried and he’s not my brother. I wouldn’t leave you to deal with this on your own.”
“That’s twice now you’ve stood by me.”
She grinned. “That makes you a lucky man,” she said, brushing off what she’d done for him. “So how badly is this going to affect Damon’s contract negotiations? I’m not trying to be cold, but I have a feeling that’s what he’s going to be focused on.”
Austin smiled grimly because Damon’s future was exactly what he’d been trying not to dwell on. “He has a solid history behind him with the Thunder. But I won’t lie. A lot depends on his recuperation. What the doctors say. Whether it’s safe for him to even return to play given that it’s not his first or even third concussion. And even if he can return, it depends on whether Ian sees him as a liability.” Ian might be family, but he had a team to run and a salary cap to keep in mind.
“Then it’s a good thing Damon has the best agent in the business.”
Her faith was humbling. “I’ll do what I can for him.”
“I know.” She sighed. “When I was a year out of high school, my brother fell out of a tree house. I had to take him to the hospital because he was screaming in pain.” She glanced out the window into the darkened sky.
“Where were your parents?” he asked.
“At work. They met us at the hospital, eventually. But I had to stay with him through x-rays, diagnosis, and getting his arm set.” She turned to meet Austin’s gaze. “I held his hand, not that he’d admit that to anyone,” she said with a wry grin. “Guys are tough, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. And I hope the doctors don’t tell him he’s had too many concussions to continue playing. He’s had his share since he was a kid.” He leaned his head against the back of the seat and turned toward her. “I hope your parents realize how lucky they were to have you holding down the fort on their behalf.”
She shrugged. “It was expected. But don’t get me wrong. Even if they’d been home, like you are now, I’d have been in the car with them going to the hospital to make sure he was okay.”
“You just shouldn’t have had to play parent or make decisions at nineteen.”
“Yeah, well, that’s the way it was. And it made me pretty self-sufficient. And a great executive assistant.” She laughed, then said, “Which reminds me. I booked hotel rooms close to the hospital where they took Damon so everyone can come and go easily,” she said.
He glanced at the woman who’d become so integral to his life. “Thank you. I didn’t even think about where we’d stay.”
She squeezed his hand. “You’re welcome.”
Not caring who was watching, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers, rubbing his lips back and forth, tasting her since it was all he could do at the moment. She moaned softly into his mouth. “I need you, Quinn.”