He hated needles. They were right up there with seeing the dentist and attending parent-teacher conferences.
“How long will it take to set the bones?” he asked.
“A few seconds. Probably.” Gideon shrugged.
“Then I’d rather not have the needle.”
“You can’t be serious?” He glared at him. “Dare, this isn’t going to be a picnic.”
“I know. Just do it already.”
“All right. If you’re sure.” Gideon set down the needle, and Dare relaxed.
Somewhat.
He knew what was coming next would hurt worse than punching Bart’s granite jaw and breaking the damn hand.
“Lie down, please,” Gideon instructed. “Jack, if you want to hold down his other arm.”
“Sure thing, doc.”
“Why?” Dare asked.
“So you don’t take a swing at me when I set this.”
“Come on,” he scoffed. “I’m not going to do that.”
“You’re right, which is why Jack will hold you down. Your only other choice is to let me use the needle to deaden your hand.”
“Fine,” he mumbled, lying down. His dad stood on the other side of him and clamped his hands over Dare’s other arm.
“Ready?” Gideon asked.
“Just set the damn thing. I need to get out of here.”
He had to talk to Morgan, needed to mend fences. He’d broken more than his hand tonight. That was his last thought before pain sliced through him like fire, and he screamed like a little girl.
Chapter 16
“What is going on between you and Dare?” Gabi asked Morgan once they were inside Morgan’s sad excuse for living quarters. Ryder stayed quiet, looking over the place as though fascinated while Gabi took center stage in the small, one-room cabin.
“Nothing,” Morgan said, tossing her coat on the bed.
“That wasn’t nothing at the Pump House. He asked you to marry him for God’s sake.”
“Yeah, well…” How did she explain that? How the hell did she compartmentalize it herself? She had no clue why he’d done such a crazy thing…and in front of so many people. The whole town would know what happened tonight by morning, if not sooner. The Heart to Heart Network usually worked overtime with juicy stuff like this.
“Morgan, what’s going on?” Gabi glared at her, giving her that stubborn look of hers that said there was no fibbing her way through this.
“Uhm, I think I’ll take a walk outside,” Ryder said.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Gabi pointed a finger at him. “You stay put. Knowing Dare, you have an idea of what is going on here more than both of us.”
“Oh God, did he tell you?” Morgan asked, horrified, staring at Ryder, who acted more nervous than he should.
Holy hell, he knew.
Ryder held up his hands. “Please keep me out of this.”
“Oh, no, he did tell you.” Morgan covered her face, wanting to disappear under the floorboards.
“What did he tell you?” Gabi demanded of Ryder. “When did he tell you, and why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
Ryder held his hands up in front of him. “I don’t want any part of this.”
“Well, you’re in it, so give.” Gabi planted her fists on her hips, blocking the only exit.
“I can’t.” He gave an imploring look toward Morgan, and she took pity on him.
“I asked Dare to rid me of my virginity,” she said, closing her eyes and flinching, waiting for the fallout. When there was no immediate explosion, she opened one eye and looked at Gabi.
She stood still as ice. “You did what?” she asked softly, dangerously.
“You heard me.”
“What did he say?”
She fidgeted on her feet. “Well, he said no, and that we had to date each other, which is totally unnecessary.”
Gabi sucked her lips between her teeth and began pacing in a circle. Morgan waited her out, still wondering when the explosion was going to happen. She glanced up at Ryder, who seemed as confused and wary as she felt.
Gabi turned and pointed at Ryder. “And you knew about this?”
“Uh…yes,” Ryder admitted, looking down at the floor.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Well…”
“Don’t get on his case,” Morgan said. “It has nothing to do with him and everything to do with Dare and me. Really, this is none of your business.”
Ryder whooshed out a breath of air and took a step back as Gabi’s expression became thunderous.
“Nothing to do with us?” Gabi said, looking incredulous. “With me? You are my sister.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t give you any say in my sexual escapades.”
“Sexual escapades?” Gabi repeated. “Are you kidding me?”
“Not at all. Did I have anything to say about you and Ryder? Of course not. That is your business, and this is mine. So, stay out of it.”
“You’re my sister,” she repeated. “How am I supposed to stay out of it?”
“You dated Dare. Is he a bad person?”
“Well, no, but…”
“No buts. He’s a good guy, despite what happened tonight. Hell, I have no idea why he did what he did.” She rubbed her hands over her face.
Ryder held up a finger. “I might be able to help with that.”
Both of them turned toward him, but it was Gabi who spoke first. “Do enlighten us.”
“He’s in love,” Ryder said with a shrug.
“That’s ridiculous. How can he be?” Morgan asked, her heart clenching in her chest.
“Us Wilde men know what we want when we see it. We fall in love fast and forever.” He looked at Gabi and then back to Morgan. “Granted, while Dare didn’t go about it in the right way, he has deep feelings for you, Morgan.”
Gabi immediately softened. “You’re sure?”
“Totally.”
“Well, then.” Gabi smiled and then frowned again, turning back to Morgan. “What about Bart?”
“What about him?” Morgan edged.
“Are you seeing him too?”
“Not anymore.”
“When were you dating Bart, and why was Dare so mad at him?” Gabi touched her shoulder, her forget-me-not blue eyes huge pools of worry. “Did Bart do something to you?”
“He’s done nothing to me, okay. I don’t know why Dare did what he did tonight.” Though she had a pretty good idea. Maybe she should have told him what happened between her and Bart? At least then, he wouldn’t have gone off on Bart halfcocked. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to put this night to bed.”
“Come on, Gabriella. Let’s give her some space.” Ryder reached for Gabi’s hand and attempted to pull her toward the door.
“Maybe I should spend the night?”
“Why? I’m perfectly fine.” Confused as all get out, but still fine. “I’d like to be alone.” Lord knew, she needed time to think.
“All right. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Please, no more talking.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she took the hug Gabi gave her and showed them the door, locking it behind them, and embracing the quiet.
She collapsed onto her bed, kicked her shoes off, and stared unseeingly at the ceiling.
Dare loved her?
It was preposterous.
What did she feel about him? Attracted, for sure, but did she feel more for him than desire? She had a sneaky suspicion she did because when he shouted that he wanted to marry her, her heart had leapt in her chest.
Dang it, she wasn’t supposed to fall for him. Samantha in Sex and the City wouldn’t have. She’d sleep with him, have a good time, and then move on.
She heard a truck pull up outside and bounced off the bed and hurried toward the window.
Speak of the devil.
Chapter 17
Dare raised his cast-covered hand to knock on Morgan’s door, and then thought better of it and knocked with his left.
“Morgan!” he hollered when she didn’t immediately open the door. He knew she was home. The lights were on, and he’d seen her silhouette behind the curtain-covered window when he climbed out of his truck.
“Go away, Dare,” she hollered back.
“We need to talk.”
“Not tonight. Go home.”
“You are home to me.” He paused awkwardly—more platitudes like the ones he used at the Pump House. He needed to change up his game and be more authentic in how he expressed what he felt for her. “Please. Let me fix this.”
“Fix it? You busted it all to hell.”
“I know. Bart’s jaw broke my hand too.” Maybe that would soften her heart enough to open the door, knowing he was hurt.
“Serves you right.”
Guess not. So much for her resolve weakening with sympathy. But then what had he expected? He’d acted like an ass tonight.
“Please, Morgan.” He flattened his good hand against the door and leaned his forehead against the rough plank. “Please, let me see you, hold you, tell you how very sorry I am,” he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. He couldn’t lose her. He’d just found her, just realized how much she meant to him. If he could just see her, touch her, he knew—hoped—he could fix this.
“Go home, Dare.”
He stayed where he was, his mind spinning with what to say next to get her to see him. Then she shut off the lights, and his heart sank into the pit of his stomach.
That’s it. He straightened and walked back to his truck. Getting in, he sat there for a minute. He couldn’t let it end like this. It was time to ask the experts for help.
Turning the key, he started the engine and headed toward the barn.
It was late, but he had calls to make. He wouldn’t rest until he put things back to rights.
Chapter 18
“Thanks for meeting me,” Dare greeted both his dad and Morgan’s dad, Luke. He called them last night to set up this emergency meeting, asking them to join him at Wilde Log Homes. He didn’t want anyone catching wind of what he was up to, and since Wilde Log Homes was closed on Saturday, no one would know about this clandestine gathering.
At least he hoped not.
“You really screwed the pooch last night, son,” Luke said, obviously already filled in about what happened at the Pump House even though he hadn’t been there.
The Heart to Heart Network was alive and well.
“I know, which is why I need help from both of you.” Dare took a seat at the table.
His dad ran his business out of the log cabin that showcased what he offered, and it was set up much like a home with couches, a dining room table, and a fully functional kitchen.
Thankfully, his dad had made coffee. He poured Dare a cup and then joined him and Luke at the table.
“I take it my girl is refusing to talk to you,” Luke said.
“Yep.”
“Talking isn’t going to work,” his dad said. “Wild Streak, you need to show her how you feel.”
“I did that already. I asked her to marry me.” He reached for the coffee with his right hand, remembered he couldn’t use it due to the restrictive cast, and picked up the cup with his left. Not being able to use his right hand was driving him crazy. The damn thing needed to hurry and heal, he had dogs to run.
“That wasn’t a proper proposal, and you know it,” Luke said.
“I know. First, I should have asked you for your permission. I’m sorry about that. So, I’m asking now. Would you consent to me marrying your daughter and give us your blessing?” He held his breath. Luke was a bear of a man, and Dare had dated two of his daughters. Well, dated Morgan so far only the one time. He wouldn’t put it past Luke to not give him his blessing. His track record with Gabi and Morgan wasn’t the best to date.
“I’d be happy to have you as a son-in-law, Dare. Hell.” Luke laughed. “I wanted you for Gabi, but that all worked out as it should. Ryder makes her a much better mate.”
“Thank you.” He breathed a sigh of relief. One hurdle down. “I went about this all wrong, and I can’t make it right until Morgan agrees to see me so I can apologize and propose to her properly. That’s where you two come in. I need some of your matchmaking magic.”
Luke and Jack shared a superior look.
“We are pretty good at it,” Jack admitted.
“Got that right,” Luke agreed.
Dare was surprised they didn’t fist-bump each other.
“Apologizing to Bart would go a long way in softening her heart,” Jack pointed out.
Dare squirmed in his seat. That he didn’t want to do.
“Agreed,” Luke said. “You were in the wrong there. Bart’s a decent fellow. I don’t know what happened between him and Morgan, but I do know that Bart wouldn’t have done anything that justified what you did last night.”
“Fine,” he mumbled. “I’ll apologize to him. What next?”
“Did you have any plans scheduled with Morgan?” Jack asked.
“We were supposed to drive to Chatanika on Sunday to see Lynx Maiski, but I don’t know if she’ll go now.”
“Leave that up to us,” Luke said. “She’s been wanting to talk to Lynx for a long time now. I’ll have a chat with her since I know her heart is set on becoming a wildlife refuge officer, but don’t discuss your hopes to marry her on the trip.”
“Agreed,” Jack piped in. “We’ll make sure she shows for the meeting, but you need to agree to whatever demands she’ll make, and believe me, after what you did at the Pump House, she’s going to try and put up roadblocks. Let her.”
“Let her?” Dare asked, his jaw dropping.
“For now,” Jack said. “The worst thing a man can do is make demands on a woman.”
“Damn right,” Luke agreed. “Shuts you out in the cold faster than quills shooting from the ass of a porcupine.”
“So, what do I do today?” Dare asked. “Take her flowers? Chocolate?” He wanted to head to Morgan’s cabin right after this meeting and try to get her to open her door to him.
“Nothing,” Jack and Luke said together.
“Nothing?” What? He was just supposed to sit and cool his jets?
“Apologize to Bart,” his dad said. “That’s your first step.”
Well, shit.
Chapter 19
“How’s the hand?” Bart asked.
Dare had tracked him down at Bleu Carpentry thanks to Ash who informed him that Bart was working on an off-the-clock project for his mother, making cabinets for a party kitchen in her basement.
“Hurts like a son of a bitch,” Dare muttered.
“Good.” Bart rubbed his jaw, which was only slightly showing a bruise. “You pack a mean punch.”
“Not as mean as your jaw, apparently,” he mumbled, holding up his casted hand. He took a deep breath and decided to get this over with as fast as he could. “I’m here to apologize. I shouldn’t have gone after you like I did.”
Bart slowly nodded and narrowed his eyes. “Why did you?”
Dare shifted his footing. “I’m in love with Morgan, and I know you two have history. History that affects what’s between us. What happened between you two?”
“That’s really none of your business.”
“I’m making it my business. Did you force yourself on her?”
“What? Hell, no. You know me, man, I would never do something like that. Is that what she told you?”
“She’s not telling me anything, but if you know what’s good for you, you’d better tell me what happened.”
Bart dragged a deep breath into his lungs and leaned against the cabinet he was building. “Listen, Morgan isn’t…well…she’s never…”
“I know that. Get to the next part.”
“Well, when she told me, before we were about to…well, you know. I freaked, and I’m ashamed of how I reacted. I could have handled it better, but I don’t sleep with virgins. They expect things.”
That’s what he’d always thoug
ht. Give it to Morgan to be an enigma.
“I made a big mistake,” Bart continued. “I hurt her and I plan on rectifying it.”
Dare clenched his good remaining fist. “The hell you will. I love her. Do you?”
“I could. Maybe.” He shrugged.
“Back off,” he growled. “She’s mine.”
“It didn’t look like she was yours the other night. She thinks you’re insane.”
This wasn’t going well. Dare wanted to take another swing, but according to his dad and Morgan’s dad that would be a bad thing. But why the hell did it feel so damn right?
“I am crazy in love with her. And you know what they say about a man who is crazy in love—there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do. Got it?”
Chapter 20
“Hey, baby girl,” Luke greeted. “You got this dump looking downright comfortable.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Morgan said, having a good idea why he’d suddenly stopped by this morning even though he was just here days ago with Jack Wilde, helping with the electrical, installing a wind generator and a gas-powered backup.
“Why are you here?” she asked. Might as well get this part of the conversation over with, as it most likely had to do with what happened at the Pump House.
“Do I need a reason to check up on my second oldest daughter? Especially when I think her heart might be bruised?” He nodded his head. “Yeah, I heard what happened at the Pump House. Both your mom and I are worried about you. And well, you know how she is. She demanded I come on over here to see how you’re holding up.”
Morgan highly doubted that. While her dad was big and gruff, he was more the nurturer than her mother had ever been.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled, moving into the kitchen and pouring him a cup of coffee, topping off hers too.
“You sure?” He took the cup and settled his considerable size at her little bistro table, looking like he was sitting on doll furniture. “I think Dare is nuts about you.”
Nuts definitely was the right word.
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