Page 45 of Dare
Momturns to me the second he walks away. “I was hoping to get a second alone withyou.” She sits back in her chair and sighs. “Things have been really toughlately, and I know you got that settlement money from Talbot. Since you’vesworn not to touch it, I could really use a few thousand to get us through thewinter.”
Ishould have known. This is the reason she wanted me to come home. She wantsmoney. Dare returns to the table, his forehead creasing at the thick tensionnow surrounding us.
“Yourmortgage is paid off and I paid this year’s property taxes. What’s behind?” Iask, not hiding my exasperation.
Herglare attempts to slice me in half, but I don’t care. I’m not giving her moneyto fund Gil’s drinking and shopping. “I’m asking you for help and you wantwhat? An itemized list?” she hisses.
“Preferablyone that doesn’t mention Gil.”
“Hehas been like a father to you!”
That’sit. I’m done. “If you want to spend your life worshipping at the feet of adrunk narcissistic asshole, that’s your choice. I want no part of it, and he’scertainly not living off of my money.” I get to my feet, and Dare silentlyaccompanies me. “When you’re ready to throw his worthless ass out, call me andI’ll help you any way you need. But you can forget about the settlement money.I gave it to charity.”
Herface burns bright red and she shouts across the crowded restaurant as we walkaway. “This is why no one can love you! You aren’t just ugly on the outside,but to the bone!”
Darestops cold and turns, his eyes blazing. Shit. I squeeze his hand and look himin the eye. “Let’s just go, please. I don’t feel well, and it’s nothing Ihaven’t heard before. Nothing all these people haven’t heard before,” I mumble.“Just get me out of here.”
Hewraps his arm around me so tight it’s hard to breathe and walks me out to hiscar. Silence fills the car on our drive back to the hotel. I can feel hisanger. We walk to our room and I flop down onto the bed, exhausted. “I’m sorry.I tried to get you not to come with me.”
“You’resorry!” His hands run through his hair and he sits beside me, pinching my chinbetween his fingers, making me look at him. “You don’t have one damn thing tobe sorry about.”
ChapterEleven
Dare
I’venever wanted to hit a woman until Ayda’s mother screamed across thatrestaurant. What pissed me off even more was the expression on Ayda’s face.There was no surprise or hurt, just resignation. Like having her mother screamthat she’s ugly and no one can love her is an everyday occurrence. Fuck, maybeit was.
Hereyes gaze into mine as we sit on the edge of the hotel bed. “What was thatabout?” I ask softly, and she sighs.
“Herhusband has managed to spend all her money, so now she expects me to let himhave mine.”
“Nooffense, Ayda, but you aren’t exactly raking in the cash. What makes her thinkyou can afford to give her money? What was the settlement she mentioned?”
Aydakicks off her shoes, and scoots up the bed until she’s leaning against theheadboard. “First, you have to understand that it doesn’t matter to her whetherI have the money, her tunnel vision is only focused on one thing. Give Gil whathe wants. And the settlement money, well, I lied. I didn’t give it to charity.I dumped it into an account and left it there. It’s nothing but a payoff.”
Herbrow creases. “I lost everything, my looks, a career in dancing I worked forsince I was a child, everything. Two-hundred thousand dollars was what myfuture was worth. I didn’t want his daddy’s fucking money, I wanted him to payfor what he did to me.”
Herbody stiffens before relaxing into mine when I pull her into my arms. “Youdidn’t lose your looks, darlin’. You’re beautiful, and you’re a beautifuldancer. I’m sorry he ruined your career. And trust me, he’s going to pay forthe pain he’s put you through.”
Ithread my fingers into her soft hair, gripping it and tilting her head untilI’m met with those defeated eyes. “You amaze me. You are the strongest womanI’ve ever met in my life. Even after all that’s happened to you, you haven’thardened against people, or lost your ability to empathize. The kindness youshowed to Tucker when the rest of us just walked past him without a glancedemonstrated that.”
“Iknow what it’s like to be invisible, or worse, to be gaped at like a circusanimal.” She shrugs. “I keep my head down. I guess that allows me to see otherson my level.”
“Thereare no levels, but fuck, babe, if there were you’d be miles above the rest.Miles above me,” I murmur. It’s not the first time the thought has occurred tome. She deserves better than me, better than an ex-con still involved incriminal activities. I don’t doubt what I do is necessary and for the greatergood, but it could still land me back in prison.
“That’snot true,” she argues, cuddling against me.
“There’sa lot you don’t know about me, and as much as I don’t want to scare you away,you should know what you’re getting into.”
Thegravity of my voice makes her sit up, her gaze wary. “You aren’t married or anythingare you?”
“No,darlin’. There’s no one else but you. You are the first woman I’ve dated forover four years.”
Herlips tuck in. “I heard other women in your apartment. Not that it’s any of mybusiness, but you don’t have to lie.”
“I’mnot lying. I’m about to give you more truth than you probably want, and maybe Ishouldn’t considering the night you’ve had, but not telling you is starting toseem like lying, and I don’t want to lie to you.”
“Okay,I’m ready.”
