Page 70 of Safe and Sound

While Mom tittered, I elbowed Dare. “Suck up.”

“I’m just calling it as I see it.”

Giving me a pointed look, Mom said, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware Ava had a boyfriend.”

“Mom,” I groaned while Dare chuckled at my outrage.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Carras. Your daughter and I just met last night.”

Mom’s expression told me she thought we were a little too intimate for just meeting. She would’ve had a stroke if she realized what had transpired between us last night at the club and Dare’s penthouse.

“How nice. I’ve been wanting her to find someone new.”

“And I’ve been wanting to find someone like Ava,” Dare said. At the sincerity of his tone, butterflies danced through my stomach.

“We’re just going to have something to eat, and then I’ll come back to dance and help out,” I said to Mom.

She waved her hand. “Take your time.” Smiling at Dare, she replied, “I hope you enjoy our food.”

“I’m sure I will.”

Once Mom headed over to talk to the cooks, I covered my face with my hands. “I cannot believe she caught us practically making out.”

“Easy now. You’re thirty, not thirteen.”

Peeking at him through my fingers, I snapped, “Thanks for reminding me.”

He grinned. “My sexy cougar.”

“I would choke you out for that, but you would probably enjoy it.”

“While I’ve never partaken in autoeroticism, I would for you.”

With a roll of my eyes, I said, “Let me go get some food to stuff in that out-of-control mouth of yours.”

Chapter Sixteen: Dare

With a smile, I watched as Ava bustled around the kitchen, eyeing pots and pans and chatting with the cooks. She appeared to be putting a lot of thought into what she was going to feed me, and man, if that wasn’t a fucking ego trip.

Considering her expression when she first saw me, I wouldn’t have imagined us having a moment like this. I’d had to pull out all my stops to get her to give the idea of us a shot. The egotistical side of me was quite pissed that she hadn’t fallen into my waiting arms. But at the same time, it just once again reiterated how different she was than most of the women I dated…or fucked.

When Ava returned to the table, the platter in her arms overflowed with different dishes. After she eased it onto the table, I grabbed her by the waist and dragged her onto my lap.

She squealed in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“Sit.” I commanded like she had me earlier.

“On your lap?”

“Do you have a better suggestion?”

“Maybe a chair?”

“Not to feed me.”

A laugh bubbled from her lips. “Excuse me?”

“You wanted me to try Greek food, so you can feed it to me.”

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