Page 15 of Dare
Damnit.
“Youreally didn’t have to strip me. I feel so violated.”
“Shutup. You know I didn’t touch you.”
“It’sjust a matter of time, babe.”
Ifhe only knew how badly I want to touch him. “Don’t you have a job to get to orsomething?” Actually, I have no idea what he does for a living. His hours areas erratic as mine.
“Orsomething,” he agrees. “I’m bringing you dinner tonight.”
“Nothanks.”
“Doyou like Italian?” Now I seriously want to strangle him. Instead, I choose toignore his last question and head to the shower.
Todayis Halloween, and I need to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters, so aftergetting cleaned up, I make a quick trip to a nearby Superstore. After tossing afew big bags of candy in my cart, I’m lured in by a display of chocolatecupcakes with tiny sprinkles that look like bats. The movie rental box at thefront of the store features an array of horror movies, so my evening plans aredecided. Cupcakes, chocolate, and gore.
It’sbarely dark outside when I get the first knock on the door. Sunny greets mewith a smile and her little boy, Brody, holds up a plastic pumpkin. “Hi, Ayda.How have you been?” Sunny asks. I haven’t seen her or her son since the day weran into each other at the pool.
“I’mgood. How about you?”
“Hekeeps me busy.” She grins down at Brody, who’s wearing an Elmo costume. “Whatdo you say, Brody?”
“Candy!”he cries, holding up his pumpkin.
“Trickor treat,” she corrects him.
“Closeenough,” I laugh, giving him a handful of candy.
“Westarted a little early. He couldn’t wait.”
Afterhesitating for a second, I ask, “Would you like to come in and have a cupcake?”
“Sure.”Smiling, she grabs Brody’s hand and leads him inside. While he sits on theliving room floor devouring a cupcake, Sunny and I chat and get to know eachother. “He’s going to get that everywhere,” she worries, glancing at her son,whose chin and nose is now coated in chocolate.
“Don’tworry about it. I need to mop anyway.”
“So,what do you do?” she asks.
“I’ma graphic designer.”
“Really?That’s awesome. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.”
“Whatdo you do?”
“Iwork at The Children’s Museum.”
Turningtoward her on the couch, I laugh. “I used to love going there when I was akid!”
“It’sa pretty great place to work. They have a built in daycare, so it saves me aton on babysitters.” She seems to sense the question I’m hesitant to ask. “Hisdad isn’t in the picture anymore. Didn’t want the responsibility.”
“Oh,what an asshole.”
Weboth burst into laughter. “Yeah, that’s a pretty good description,” she agrees.
Aknock at the door gets me to my feet, and I grab the bowl of candy, preparedfor more trick or treaters, but instead I’m nearly bowled over by two tons ofsexy man in a black suit. “Dare! What are you doing here?”
“Bringingdinner. You don’t listen too well, do you?” His smirk turns into a smile when hesees Sunny gazing at him with her jaw hanging. I’ll bet that’s exactly how Ilooked the first time I saw him. He puts the bags he’s carrying on the kitchentable, then turns to stick out his hand to Sunny. “Hi, I’m Dare.”
