DOES SHE DARE?
Tawny Weber
TORONTO NEW YORK LONDON
AMSTERDAM PARIS SYDNEY HAMBURG
STOCKHOLM ATHENS TOKYO MILAN MADRID
PRAGUE WARSAW BUDAPEST AUCKLAND
MILLS & BOON
Before you start reading, why not sign up?
Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!
SIGN ME UP!
Or simply visit
signup.millsandboon.co.uk
Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.
To my incredible critique partners Beth and
Sheilathanks for holding my hand.
To Karin and Poppy for the challenge,
to Trish for ishing, and Kimmi for advising
the best use of a pool tableI couldnt have
done it without any of you!
In loving memory of two beautiful souls who
believed so much in my ability to do anything I set
my mind to:
My Grampa, who really could do anything.
And Carol, an inspiration of strength and love.
I miss you both so much.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Prologue
Ten Years Before
WE DARE YOU TO KISS the baddest boy at Western High, Suzi said, wicked glee coating her words.
Isabel Santos dug her heels into the grass to keep herself from running away. Kiss some strange boy, and a bad one at that? Were they crazy? What the hell had she been thinking?
You want to play with the big girls, Suzi continued, youve got to prove youve got what it takes.
Thats the rule, Isabels best friend, Audra, explained in a soft, slightly apologetic tone. If you hang with the Wicked Chicks, you have to prove you can handle it by taking a dare.
Isabel shot her a look that said duh. But inside she was shaking. It wasnt so much that she wanted to be a Wicked Chick. It was more that Audra was in the club. And Isabel felt left out. Thanks to uptight, overprotective parents, Isabel now attended an all-girls private school and hardly ever saw her friend anymore. Lately, all Audra talked about was the Chicks and what theyd done, or who theyd done. Wild times, apparently. Not that Isabel was the wild type; she really was more content daydreaming than partying and chasing boys. But she wanted to belong. So shed lied to her parentstold them she was spending the night at a friends since they didnt approve of Audra anymoreand snuck out.
I can handle a dare, she vowed with a lift of her chin. She tried to push out her chest, too, but that was just depressing. The Chicks were all busty, definitely way ahead of her in the development department, as proven by the boobs overflowing their low-cut tops. When she made it into the club, shed have to get a new bra.
She looked around the party. The moonlit backyard was filled with bodies gyrating to the bubblegum beat of pop music blasting from someones boom box.
Her eyes stuck on the guy in chains and leather with greasy hair and a mean look. He looked bad, all right, as in smelly bad. Could she do this? She swallowed and pulled back her shoulders. Yes, she could. She was sixteen, not six. Shed planned it all out. If she wanted to hang out with her best friend more often, shed have to be a part of the club. She pressed a hand against her churning stomach. Even if it meant kissing smelly guys.
Whos the baddest boy? she asked.
Dante Luciano, Audra, Suzi and the third Chick, Bea, declared in chorus.
Her churning stomach almost jumped out of her throat. Oh no. She shook her head. Not Dante Luciano. They even talked about him at her school. Usually in whispers, of course.
Shed heard he was hell on wheels. Hed done more girls and drank more booze than a rock star. Everything from vandalism to public brawls. If he was even half as bad as his reputation, she was better off with the stinky guy.
Hes the dare, Bea insisted. Her red pigtails waved in concert with her adamant nod. The pigtails went with the naughty-schoolgirl outfit, Isabel supposed. Being wicked isnt just being wild, its being brave. Attitude is everything, you know.
I dont even know what he looks like, she answered in a faint voice. Like it mattered. Shed made a plan, she was sticking with it. She could hold her breath for the thirty seconds it would take to kiss and run.
Audra pointed across the lawn to a group of guys doing keg stands. The one in jeans and black T-shirt.
Her heart did jumping jacks. Shed never seen anythinganyoneso beautiful.
Wow, she gasped.
Suzi and Bea laughed.
Tall and leanly muscled, he had a body like one of the Greek gods shed studied. His black hair curled over his forehead, falling in loose waves to his shoulders. Shed only known boys. Dante was very obviously a man. Her eyes traced the wide set of his tanned bicepsrumor had it from working construction after school for his father. What would it feel like to touch him? To feel that smooth skin under her fingers? Her breath caught at the image.
Shed never understood the fuss over sex. Sure, guys were cute, some really cute. But to want to rub her hands all over one? To want to press her lips to his shoulder just to taste his skin? Until this moment, shed had no clue. But now? She wanted to do some fussing herself.
She had no clue what shed say to him. How did they think she could kiss him? What was she supposed to do? Isabels vision wavered as fear nipped at the edges of her awareness. Did she introduce herself and ask for a kiss? Just walk up and plant one on him? Did he have to kiss her back? Questions raced at a frantic pace through her head.
She shot Audra a panicked look, but her friend just shrugged. A look of worry, combined with doubt, lurked in the other girls heavily lined eyes.
You dont have to take the dare, Audra murmured.
If she wanted to be in their club, she did. She eyed Dante again, odd sensations zinging around in a wild, tempting dance in her belly. She really did want to kiss him. Suddenly, the dare was simply an excuse.
With a quick squeeze of Audras hand, she made her way across the lawn. Moonlight flicked in and out of the trees, adding to the surreal feeling inside her.
She had no idea what to do. Her brain was on autopilot. Even the questions and panic were gone now; all she knew was she had to kiss Dante Luciano. She started to move forward, but another guy stepped between them.
Dude, youre out of booze.
Dante slipped his hand into the front pocket of his jeans. Moonlight sparked off the small metal key. Here, hit my dads liquor cabinet. Hes got plenty.
With a start, Isabel realized this was Dantes house. Her breath hitched. He really was bad.
Real nice of your dad to share. His buddy grinned.
Right. Like he shared his truck, Dante said with a smirk. You gotta help me get it out of that ditch tomorrow.
Even his voice was sexy. Low, husky and filled with what she imagined sin sounded like. Dante Luciano had the worst reputation in the county. Even Audra, who was a known hell-raiser herself, was in awe of how much trouble he stirred up.
Looks like someones waiting for you, the guy said, his laugh a little mean this time. It took Isabel a few seconds to realize he meant her. At their stares, her cheeks flamed and she would have turned away except the look on Dantes face had her rooted in place. She barely noticed his friend snicker and stalk off.
Hey there, Dante said with a slow grin. The world ground to a slow halt around her.
Hi, Isabel squeaked after a few gulps. Her heart raced so fast, she worried it was going to fly out of her chest. When he beckoned her closer, she tamped down a hysterical giggle and stepped forward until she was near enough, for the first time, to stare into his eyes. They were vivid green, like the emeralds in her mothers anniversary band.
Maybe his gaze was cloudy with an alcohol haze and he was swaying more than the trees, but Isabel didnt care. If only she could think of something to say.
He reached out and flicked one of her curls, then let his finger trace over her shoulder. Isabels nipples hardened. Something intense, damp and sticky, tightened deep in her belly. She didnt know what was going on inside her body, but it felt good. In a scary, confusing kind of way. What should she do? Should she touch him? Should she say something? Her mind, already fogged with nerves, shut down at his touch.
Which was fine with her body. It had plenty going on.
As the host of this little get-together, he said, his hand now tangled in her hair, its my duty to welcome you to the party. My momma insists I be polite, you know.
His idea of welcome was friendlier than a handshake, Isabel realized, when, with his hand still in her hair, he pulled her against his body.
Her gasp was lost in his mouth. Her hands curled into the smooth delight of his chest as he took advantage of her shock to slip his tongue between her lips. Terrified pleasure filled her. Romantic notions of love-at-first-kiss filled her head, tangled with the incomplete images of dark, forbidden touches.
Shed been kissed before, but never like this. Dantes mouth was pure magic. Soft and sweet, his tongue danced along hers. Something wild, something intense coiled low in her belly. Isabel shifted, trying to find relief, trying to figure out what to do about the power of the feeling.
When his hand cupped her breast, she gasped. Not able to help herself, she pulled back.
He laughed. Youre a sweet little thing, arent you?
Thats bad, isnt it? she asked, her tone as soft as the night air. Shed screwed up. Ruined it. Tears filled her eyes as emotions she didnt understand gripped her.
He flashed a half-smile, then brushed his finger over the strap of her tank top. Its not bad. Ill bet you taste as sweet as you lookeverywhere. Like a ripe, fresh-picked peach.
The image of his mouth on herlicking, tastingstopped Isabels breath. Like the scariest ride at the amusement park, she wanted to try it. But at the same time she was terrified. Torn between desire and fear, she stared up at him.
Dante?
They both glanced at the redhead standing to the side. Her heavily made-up eyes slid over Isabel in instant dismissal.
Dance? she said to Dante, her hand tracing down her throat, over her plump breast, then to her hip.
Sweet, Dante repeated, giving Isabel a look so hot, she swore she felt her heart melt. He leaned forward again to brush a soft kiss over her cheek. But I dont do good girls.
A minute later, Isabel blinked back the tears as Dante swayed to As Long As You Love Me, with the redhead wrapped around him like plastic wrap. From the looks of her, that girl would definitely know how to handle Dante. When the girls hand slid down the back of his jeans, Isabel clenched her jaw and turned away. She couldnt watch.
She scanned the couples curled up on loungers or lying together on the lawn. She wanted tohad toget out of there, but she didnt see Audra. She hurried inside. As she reached the door, a kid ran through, almost knocking her on her butt.
Parents! Cops! he yelled. Run.
Panic seized her. Couples shot apart and flew left and right. Cops? Oh, shit.
A half hour later, she sat in the Lucianos living room, listening to the policeman lecture her and the dozen other kids who hadnt escaped into the woods. This was definitely bad.
Her parents were going to kill her. And worse, be disappointed. Shed never let them down, never given them a single reason to lecture her. Panic flitted, inky black, at the edges of her awareness. The only thing keeping Isabel from sobbing was the fear that if she did, shed throw up.
Dammit, what had she gotten herself into? She didnt belong here. Her response to Dante proved that. She was just a kid, definitely not ready for the big leagues. Suzi leaned over and nudged her. Apparently, Audra had managed to escape, just like Dante and most of the others.
Hey, Id say you made it. Busted like a Wicked Chick, huh? From the grin on Suzis face, she wasnt afraid. Unlike Isabel, who was sure this was her last night on earth.
With a weak smile, Isabel slid down the worn fabric of the couch. Maybe she should have planned this better. Blinking back tears she realized she didnt want to be wicked. The only thing she wanted now was Dante Luciano.
1
I NEED A REAL MAN, Isabel Santos decided. She shot a bleary look across the table at her best friend, then squinted to take in the rest of the cozy Italian restaurant. Although she and Audra were still seated, there were a few couples on the dance floor, swaying to the soft rock music.
At half past eleven in the evening, the only men left were a pair of waiters who were obviously into each other, a teenaged busboy and the cook. Considering the pasta had been overdone, Isabel crossed him off her potential list.
I have to admit, a man would have been a more imaginative birthday gift than the nightie I gave you, her friend mused, snagging Isabels attention back from her useless hunk-search. But I wasnt sure what size you were in the market for.
Isabel snickered.
Its not the size that matters, its the quality, she insisted, careful to enunciate her words through the fog of wine curling through her head. She really should have quit at one glass, but shed been so bummed over being dumped, turning another year older and discovering she was as desirable as a dried-up prune, shed ordered a second. Then a third. I need a real man. A hot, sexy man. The kind that makes a girl squirm, but doesnt require conversation and pampering. You know, a stud.
Audra Walker-Martinez, Isabels oldest friend, was probably the only person in the world who shed feel comfortable saying that to. Then again, Audra was an expert on hot, sexy men.