Page 40 of Safe and Sound

“My brothers and I are bound to our business. It’s just who we are. I can’t let them down just because I want more freedom.”

“You're honorable to a fault,” I remarked.

His mask slid back into place with a wide smile. “Don’t tell anybody. It’ll ruin my reputation,” he teased.

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Dare hadn’t been lying when he said he was just ten minutes away. Even with Friday night traffic, it didn’t take us long to arrive at his building. After the SUV pulled up at the entrance, the driver hopped out and came around the side of the car.

When he opened the door for us, Dare hopped out first and then turned to help me down. “Thank you, Thomas,” Dare replied before we started into the building.

“Good evening, Mr. Kavanaugh,” the doorman said, as he stepped aside for us.

“Good night, Loren,” Dare replied pleasantly.

While Dare reached in his jacket pocket for his keycard, I couldn’t help staring wide-eyed at the extravagantly designed lobby. Not that I should’ve had any doubt about Dare’s finances, but it certainly reiterated what different worlds we came from.

Sure, I’d grown up spoiled and pampered. My parents’ restaurant provided a good life for the three of us. Although they never talked very openly about their finances, I knew they had given up a lot from their former life in Greece to come to America.

From the way I saw it, they did very well. We lived in an upper-class neighborhood, and I even attended private school. They paid for my college tuition along with my nieces and nephews.

But we were worlds away from Dare and his family.

Not that it mattered to me. I’d never been the type of woman to be attracted to wealthy men. I sure as hell wouldn’t have come home with Dare had he acted like most of the rich men I knew.

When he put the keycard in for the penthouse, I tried hiding my smile. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“Let me guess. You weren’t surprised my pretentious ass had the penthouse?”

I laughed. “Your ass is delectable, not pretentious.”

“Why thank you,” he drawled while pinning me to the elevator wall.

Placing my hands on his chest, I shoved him back. “Just because I complimented you, it doesn’t mean you get to maul me in the elevator.”

Dare groaned before burying his head in my neck. “But I can’t help it. My hands and body just gravitate to yours.”

“I already let you molest me on a public dance floor. Let’s not have all the really big fun the first night,” I teased.

Dare’s chuckle rumbled through him, shaking the both of us. As he pulled away to look at me, a sexy smirk curved on his lips. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave for the next few floors.”

“Good boy,” I pronounced.

He grunted. “Keep that up, and I won’t behave.”

The elevator dinged, sending the doors opening to the foyer of Dare’s penthouse. Untangling myself from him, I then stepped out to take in everything. I stared wide-eyed at the opulence surrounding me.

“Do you like it?”

“Like it? It’s stunning.”

Dare gave me a genuine smile. “Thanks.”

He then took my hand and led me through the front door. My head appeared like a bobblehead doll as I tried taking in everything around me. I was on sensory overload.

My mouth dropped open as I stared at the floor-to-ceiling windows. I crossed the floor to get a better look. “Holy shit. What an amazing view,” I remarked.

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