Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

“Thanks.”

“I have an appointment with a potential client. I need to go,” Evie said.

“I think my car is blocking yours. And we said what we came to say.” Ian nodded toward Emerson. “Ready?”

He nodded. “Sorry again.”

Evie met Damon’s gaze, her eyes alight with pleasure. Sure, she’d solved how Damon had been drugged, but he sensed there was more.

That she was happy for him.

Chapter Ten

After Ian and Emerson left, Damon called Austin and asked him to come over so he could fill him in. They sat on his back patio by the pool, and he felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He’d be back with his team as soon as the suspension was removed, and his dignity and reputation would be restored.

“It sucks, man. I can see Jesse pulling such a dumb-ass stunt to get one of us an opportunity we either weren’t ready for, didn’t deserve, or hadn’t yet earned,” Damon said, speaking the thing he couldn’t get off his mind. “And Emerson’s going to have to live with what his old man did.”

Austin rolled his shoulders. “You got through it, but did you put it behind you?”

“I thought I did but this whole situation stirred up a lot of shit. After I tested positive, memories of how Dad would make me feel when I disappointed him ran through my head. Now this situation with Emerson and his father … I think it’ll always be with me one way or another. I’ve just started to realize that the blame lies on him and not me.”

Austin put a hand on his shoulder. “Good. You know I’m always here to listen. So is Uncle Paul. The man’s got a good heart, and I know if it weren’t for his counterbalance of Dad, life would have been harder.”

“Yeah, I know.” And Damon did. Some people weren’t as lucky. He stretched his legs out in front of him, letting the sun hit his skin.

“I’ve also got Quinn. She centers me.”

Damon felt his brother’s pointed stare and groaned. “Just ask, okay?”

With a shrug, Austin nodded. “Okay, what’s going on with Evie?”

He stared up at the blue cloudless sky. “I wish to hell I knew. I believe she feels the same way I do about her, but she’s got walls a mile high.”

“From what Quinn tells me, she’s got good reason to be wary, but damn, you’re solid.”

Frowning, he picked up a sports drink he’d left on the table beside him. “Hasn’t seemed to matter. Maybe once this shit with her ex is over, when he’s caught, she’ll let her guard down.” He took a sip from the bottle. “There’s also the little fact that I’ve never had a relationship. Maybe she doesn’t believe I can settle down.”

Austin chuckled. “Hell, if I did, you can.”

“Truer words, brother. Truer words. So, when is the wedding?” Damon asked.

“We haven’t gotten that far. You try planning with a baby.”

“Whoa.” Damon held up both hands. “Let me get the girl first, would you?”

With a shrug, Austin said, “It worked for me the other way around.”

Damon rolled his eyes just as his cell phone rang. He caught Evie’s name on the screen and took the call. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Damon, I’m at the police station. I had a run-in with John.”

Ice ran through him with no regard to the heat from the sun. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He told himself to relax but it didn’t work. “Text me the address. I’ll be right there. Then call Mack.” He disconnected the call and turned to his brother. “I’ve got to go. Evie had a run-in with the asshole.”

“Want me to tag along?” Austin rose from his seat, but Damon shook his head.

“I’ve got it, but thanks.” He pulled his brother into a brief hug. “Tell Quinn we’ll get in touch when I know what’s going on,” Damon said, knowing Austin’s next move would be to call his fiancée and Evie’s best friend.

He sped to the address she texted him, shocked he didn’t get ticketed on the way.

* * *

Evie pulled out of Damon’s driveway behind Ian’s luxury vehicle and headed to a Starbucks coffee shop a town away from Miami, about fifteen minutes from Damon’s house. A woman’s teenage daughter had run away six months ago, and the police were out of leads. She wanted to hire Evie to see if she could track her child down or find clues the police had missed. After an hour with the distraught woman, Evie was determined to help her.

Coming off the high of Damon’s case and success, her adrenaline was pumping through her veins. She bought herself a cup of coffee to go. Despite the summer heat, she liked her coffee hot, and she walked back to her car, parked behind the row of stores.

She’d forgotten to take her keys out of her purse and had to juggle her coffee, putting it down on the top of her car so she could dig through her handbag. Which wasn’t easy because, since living with Damon, she’d taken to carrying way too much around in her purse.