Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

“I guess everyone wants to see the game.” Quinn answered Evie’s question, grinning when she looked Evie over. “Nice shirt.”

“Hey, I have to represent,” Evie said, turning to show her friend Damon’s number eleven on the back of Evie’s jersey and the name Prescott across her shoulders.

Quinn, who had left Jenny at home with her niece/babysitter because of the ungodly noise in the stadium, merely laughed. “That’s a far cry from the woman who was running away even when you were living with the man.”

“Hey, pot, kettle,” Evie said, calling out Quinn for doing the same thing, trying to keep Austin at an emotional distance even after she’d moved in to help him with Jenny.

“Well, it all worked out for me.” Quinn held up her hand and admired her ring, which was freaking gorgeous but too big for Evie’s taste. Something more simple would suit her… Wait. What the hell was she thinking?

Life was great now. She’d never left Damon’s and had been living with him ever since. Over the last three months, they had moved almost all of her clothing and personal items into his house. They’d even brought over some other favorite pieces of furniture that Damon could fit into the SUV he’d purchased. He’d given up using their small cars after one too many trips in a day.

He’d been correct. Living with Damon meant he could spend his free time with Evie. True, he didn’t sleep at home the night before Miami games when the team stayed in a hotel or when they had away games. And his schedule was insane. But she kept plenty busy. Thanks to her work on Damon’s case, her name had been mentioned around the NFL, and she had bigger clients now. And Damon worked hard to allay any fears she’d had about him not adjusting to a relationship.

And he liked her just as she was. She glanced down at her scuffed black boots beneath her jeans. He complained when she overdid makeup, thinking she needed to impress him in any way. He loved her. Period.

Warmth filled her and she couldn’t help but smile.

She heard familiar voices and turned to see her brothers and parents making their way toward her. She jumped up from her seat. “What are you all doing here?”

Before they could answer, music sounded, coming from the field, and she spun back in a rush, not wanting to miss the team’s charge. To her surprise, all she could see was one man in the center of the field. Suddenly every screen above the stands lit up and she realized it was Damon.

She could see him up close, and then she heard his voice over the microphone. “Indulge me, everyone.”

“What’s happening?” Evie looked around the room to find all eyes shifting from Damon to her. She glanced back at the screen to see him grinning. “Have you figured it out yet, Evie?”

She narrowed her gaze, her heart pumping in her chest.

“In case you haven’t…” He took out a ring box and got down on one knee. “Remember when you were worried I would change my mind about wanting a relationship with you? That football would get in the way of us? I think we’ve had enough time for you to see nothing will get in our way.”

Behind her, her mother squealed.

Beside her, Quinn looked at her with tears in her eyes and happiness on her face. The same expression Evie probably had had when Austin proposed to Quinn.

“These Prescott men have a flare for the dramatic, don’t they?” she asked, cheeks burning, her eyes also filling.

“Marry me, Evie Wolfe.”

Leave it to Damon not to ask but to state what he wanted.

The crowd erupted in a roar.

“Yes!” She waved from the box, which was caught on the screen.

“Get down here!” he yelled.

She worked her way through the family members, who she now understood had come for the proposal. She’d have time with everyone during the game. The immediate moment was for Damon. She bolted out of the box and rushed down toward the field. All the while, she heard the clapping and whistling of the Thunder Stadium spectators.

Finally, she reached the tunnel, where a security guard was waiting for her and escorted her to the field. And then she ran until Damon swooped her into his arms and spun her around.

Dizzy, happy, and in love, she grinned as he settled her on her feet and held out the open box. “So, you know I wanted to outdo Austin,” he whispered in her ear. “But I know you.”

She looked down and stared at a sapphire emerald-cut stone with small diamonds on either side. Perfect for her, and the tears she’d been holding back began to fall.

“Oh, Damon!”

He slid the ring on her finger and pumped his fist for the home crowd.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to show you I’m in it forever.”