Dare Me

by Jo Leigh

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “The irony is,” she said, “I never knew what a real family was until I met yours. That sounds crazy, but it’s true. I didn’t know many people who were outside of the foster system growing up. I used to think that TV families were nonsense. Make-believe.” She paused for a breath. “It’s okay, though. Phillip and Simone like me. And they believe in my potential. What they’ve offered me is the opportunity of a lifetime. But they’re not family.”

  “You wanted them to be.”

  She nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I did.”

  “I think Simone and Phillip love you, though. I can’t imagine anyone knowing you and not loving you.”

  Her own smile couldn’t even reach bittersweet. “I’m grateful to know there are families like yours, even if I never have one of my own. It’s nice to think there are kids who grow up like you.”

  He gave her a squeeze, but didn’t say anything for a while. “You know,” he said finally, his voice deep and thoughtful. “There are big pharmaceutical firms in Europe. In France, in fact.”

  She laughed a little. “You know French?”

  “No, but I could learn. I’ve got great credentials. You know MIT is still the top-rated school in the world, especially in the sciences.”

  Oh, how she loved him right this minute. She’d loved him before, but now the feeling engulfed her completely. Tears spilled from her eyes, and her heart tightened so hard, it was difficult to breathe. “Would you still be working on the antibiotic-resistance problem?”

  “Maybe.”

  His hesitation said all she needed to know. “I love that you suggested it. Thank you. But no. This is your dream come true, and I wouldn’t take that away for the world.”

  Another squeeze was followed by a gentle hand rubbing her back. Oddly, she wasn’t in any rush to make love to him, although she was sure they would later. Right now, though, felt like a perfect moment. One she’d think about for years to come. The way he cared for her was so complete. It was about the sex, the laughter, the work, their chemistry and so much more.

  He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too,” he whispered.

  And there it was. The dream she’d never dared to have had just come true. She was loved by the best man she’d ever met. Unconditionally.

  * * *

  “KNOCK, KNOCK.”

  Cameron looked up from his packing box to find Emmy at his door. “If you’re here to talk about Molly, don’t bother. I told you, we’ve discussed our options.”

  “Once again, Dr. Smarty-Pants, you are being a dope.”

  “Because I’m supportive of Molly fulfilling her goals and having the life she’s always dreamed of?”

  Emmy stepped inside and sat on the bed, facing him. “Because you’re not fighting hard enough. You’ve finally found the magic chemistry you’ve been waiting for all your life and you’re letting her get away. You two are stupidly in love. It’s completely obvious. It’s everything you’ve ever believed in.”

  “Not quite,” he said. “This situation is far messier than any formula I could have ever conceived.”

  “Welcome to the real world. It’s always messy. But slogging through that mess is what makes all the difference.”

  “Or, in some cases, there isn’t a happy ending and all you’re left with is pain. Look at Dad.”

  Emmy turned her head for a minute before she said, “Dad isn’t a very good example. I don’t want to burst your bubble, but he’s a dope, too. His marriage to Mom was good, but he’s made it into something sacred. It wasn’t. They argued—she hated that he spent so much time at the bar. She didn’t even like living in New York. Her dream was to move to the Midwest somewhere and have a big house where her kids could have land to play on and she could grow her own vegetables.”

  “What?”

  “Ruby’s old enough to remember the real thing, not the stories, and the two of us shared a bedroom for a long time. Don’t memorialize Molly. Think about how much she means to you. What it might take to keep her.”

  He looked at his half-filled box of books. “I offered to try to find a job in France.”

  “Good for you. Now try harder.”

  He didn’t know his sister had left until he looked up twenty minutes later.

  * * *

  HER PLANE WAS leaving in one hour and eight minutes. If she caught a cab right this second, she’d make it by the skin of her teeth.

  Instead, she reached for the door of The Four Sisters brewpub.

  How she’d ended up here, she wasn’t sure. She could have gone to Donna’s. Or to France. But no. She’d come to Sunnyside Gardens, Queens. Odd. Especially considering Cameron was in Syracuse for the night. Because of her. Because she’d told him she’d never be able to leave if he’d come to the airport. Because he couldn’t stand the idea of being in town when she took off from LaGuardia.

  She could have saved him a long trip.

  Her belongings had been sent in stages, with the last shipment going out early this morning, to be delivered in Bordeaux in five days. All she had with her now was a well-stuffed carry-on. That was it. Nothing else.

  The pub wasn’t terribly crowded for a Friday. The music wasn’t even pounding. There were a few empty seats at the bar, but she didn’t recognize the bartender. It was the first time she’d been here when there hadn’t been at least three people behind the bar.

  “What can I get you?”

  “Do you have Molly’s Dark Ale on tap?”

  “We do. One second.”

  She folded her hands on the cool mahogany countertop and studied them so she had something to do. When her draft came, it wasn’t the new guy who brought it over.

  “Gordon.”

  “Cam’s not here, sweetheart.”

  “I know.” She shrugged. “I’m not even sure why I’m here.”

  He picked up her glass again and said, “Come on. Let’s go someplace a little more private. Have ourselves a talk.”

  Her purse in one hand, her luggage in the other, she followed him through the kitchen to his office. He settled down in his big old rolling chair while she took one on the other side of the desk.

  “I imagine this week has been pretty hectic.”

  “You have no idea. I don’t think I’ve slept for more than four hours in the last seven days.”

  “France is far away. It’s a big move. I can’t imagine the decision to go was easy.”

  She sipped her beer, thankful beyond words Gordon had assumed she’d missed her flight. “It’s been the hardest decision of my life.”

  “So Cam’s said. He’s very proud of you.”

  “Of me?” She dismissed the remark with a shake of her head. “He’s one to talk. He’s amazing. Brilliant. The whole world should be thrilled that he’s working on something this important.”

  “Well, the world as far as we know it is. But I’m wondering if it’s worth the sacrifice. Not just for him, either.”

  Before she could even think of hiding them, tears welled in her eyes and fell. “I can’t turn down this job. It’s what I’ve worked for since I was sixteen. Everything I own is on a ship. I’ve given up all my jobs. And he certainly can’t give up his work. He already told me it was the most important thing he’d ever done.”

  Gordon got up and took the chair next to her, moving it close enough for him to put his arm over her shoulders. “For what it’s worth,” he said, “I’d have been so proud and happy if you were my daughter. No matter what you do. You’re a wonderful girl, Molly. Wonderful.”

  That was it for her. She was getting his T-shirt all wet, but he never let go of her. Not until the well ran dry.

  “Do you want help getting another flight?” he asked, when she’d finally finished off the last tissue.


  She shook her head without hesitation.

  “All right. How about you get some sleep, huh? Tomorrow things will be a lot clearer.”

  She picked up her carry-on and followed him upstairs to Cameron’s apartment. Once she was inside, he kissed her forehead good-night before locking the door behind him.

  * * *

  CAMERON CLIMBED OUT of the taxi in front of the pub. He was exhausted. He hadn’t had a breather since he’d gotten on the early train for Syracuse. Once there, he’d met with a Realtor and seen a half dozen great-looking condos, duplexes and town houses, only to realize he wanted a house with a yard and a big kitchen, a barbecue outside, a couple of extra bedrooms for whoever might come over. It would have to be a fixer-upper, but that worked for him. He didn’t want to have any spare time to think.

  Molly was gone. Really gone. On a plane halfway to Bordeaux.

  If he’d had any working brain cells left he would’ve stayed in Syracuse overnight. The train trip home had been even more tiring than searching for a place to live, if that was possible. Instead of sleeping, which he’d meant to do, he’d worked on a problem that had no apparent answer. He’d come up with solutions to impossible problems before, so he couldn’t let it go untested.

  Sadly, no magic solution had appeared, but at least he’d tried. And he’d continue to try, because he was built for hope.

  The stairs up to his apartment, however, seemed insurmountable. But he climbed them before someone walked out of the bar and ambushed him. He doubted he could be pleasant.

  Of course, his key stuck in the lock and he had to jiggle it. The instant he opened the door he swore he could smell her. Talk about fate being cruel.

  He automatically reached for the light switch before he realized he’d obviously left the lamp on. He froze at the threshold and blinked. “Molly?”

  She was on his bed. Sitting there, looking at him. It was midnight, her flight had left hours ago, and yet here she was. Wearing his New York Jets jersey. Eyes puffy and red. Smiling.

  “Hi,” she said.

  He dropped his duffel bag with a thunk. “What happened? Did you miss your flight? Is it delayed?”

  “Nope. You look like you could use some sleep.”

  “I would have agreed a minute ago,” he said. “But I seem to have found a second wind.”

  She stood, pressed her lips together, clenched her fists and released them, only to clench them again.

  In four steps he was in front of her and pulling her close until they were pressed against each other. First he kissed her because he could. A long, sweet kiss that settled him like no pill or drink ever could. Finally, when he could stand to part, he said, “What’s going on?”

  “I’m not going to France.”

  He didn’t know what to say at first, though she looked serious enough.

  “Today?” he asked cautiously. “Or ever?”

  She smiled and used her thumb to soothe the wrinkle that must have been between his eyebrows. “Well, if I ever have the money I’d like to visit someday.”

  “You’re telling me you’re staying. Here. In New York.”

  She nodded. “Unfortunately, all my belongings are already on their way.”

  “Oh. Okay. Uh, how about we both sit down?”

  “Yes, I think so.” She settled back onto the bed and he pulled up a chair in front of her. Close enough to reach over and touch her.

  “Are you sure about this?” If Cam was dreaming, he’d be really pissed later. He closed his hand over her soft warm flesh. “You seem sure. But you seem nervous, too.”

  “Um, when I said all of my belongings are gone, I wasn’t joking. And of course, I have no apartment. No job to speak of. I can still count on Donna and the magazine, but that’s all.”

  Her words slowly sank in. That foundation she’d built to keep her safe? All gone. But here she was, looking less freaked-out than he was. His heart was ready to explode. God. Molly was staying.... Her hand moved beneath his and he saw he was squeezing too hard.

  “I didn’t know anything about wine until I met Phillip and Simone,” she said. “I didn’t know you could get a degree in enology or a master of wine or even what a sommelier was.

  “And I now have two of those, with one coming next year, all because of my own efforts. I even have the student loans to prove it. The point is, though I learned a great deal from them, I did the work that got me where I am. I’ve been supporting myself since I went away to college, and I work hard to pay off my debts. But I always manage.”

  “Smart, determined, brave and beautiful,” he said. “I can’t see a single thing that will stop you from achieving all your goals.”

  She nodded, her lips pressed together. “Yes,” she said. “I will. Whether the journey is by jet or by train, I’ll get there in the end, because I can. I know it.”

  Something stirred in his chest that he didn’t want to acknowledge. He might be built for hope, but he wasn’t a fool. “You’re not afraid to start over?”

  “Of course I am. But I’m more afraid of not having a life. Donna warned me, and she was right. I never let myself dream that I could have more than a career, but now...”

  He leaned forward, needing to read her as well as he possibly could. “Tell me what you mean. Please.”

  “I can’t give this up, Cam. I can’t. I would regret it forever. I hope you still want me.” She was on the verge of tears and he was close himself.

  He cupped his hand around the back of her neck. “Oh, honey—”

  “I mean, your family. I barely know them, and I feel more affection for your father and sisters than I have for anyone except for Donna. And then there’s you, of course.”

  “Yeah, always the afterthought.”

  She smiled. “Never. Not since the night we met.” She pulled him over to the bed. They turned so they were touching knees, close enough that she could sink into the comfort of his scent and the depths of his eyes. “I fell in love with you. That’s not supposed to happen with a one-night stand. I was right to be worried about you being a distraction.”

  “I wish I could say I was sorry about that, but I’m not. You know I feel the same. You’re the woman I’ve been waiting for all my life. But the last thing I wanted to do was derail your dreams. I fell in love with exactly who you are, with all that drive and energy and determination. I want the best for you. Always. Even if that means I need to stand back.”

  “I know. And that’s exactly why I can stay. Why I know this is where I belong. I’m not willing to settle for being the number one wine critic in the world. That’s not enough. That’s half a life. You and me together. That completes the picture.”

  She kissed him. A sweet kiss with a dash of sass as she nipped his bottom lip before she pulled back. “I want the same for you, Cam. You belong with your team in Syracuse, and I think I might have thought of a way to make everything possible.”

  She hopped off the bed and went to one of his packing boxes. She pulled out his big atlas of America and brought it back to the bed and laid it in front of him.

  “That’s Syracuse,” she said, pointing to the top of the map of greater New York. “And that’s the East Village, which I’m using as a central point because most of my work is there—or I should say, will be there.” She moved her finger to Queens. “This is the apartment. Why are you smiling like that?”

  “You’re so...organized.”

  “And you’re surprised?”

  Cam shook his head. “Turned on. Please continue,” he said and nuzzled the spot behind her ear.

  “You can’t do that and pay attention at the same time. My plan won’t necessarily be inexpensive or easy.”

  “Don’t care. You’re here.” He bit her earlobe. “We’ll make it work.”

  “Wait,” she said, la
ughing. “Scranton, Pennsylvania, is 138 miles from right here, 130 miles from Syracuse.”

  He reared back. “Scranton?”

  “See? I told you—”

  “I’m kidding. I know what you’re saying. I already thought of it myself. We’d have this apartment, find a place in Scranton and I get an inexpensive place in Syracuse—”

  “Yes! Sometimes I’d have to stay close to Manhattan, and sometimes you’d work too late or what have you. We wouldn’t see each other every day, of course, but we’d manage. Because both of us can work on the train. It wouldn’t be lost time.” She paused. “When did you think of this?”

  “Last week,” he admitted and shrugged. “I was a drowning man looking for a lifeline.”

  “Don’t you dare make me cry.”

  “Fine. I’ll be the only one, then,” he said, brushing the hair off her face.

  Molly sighed. “What do you think, Dr. Crawford?”

  “I think I looked for houses in the wrong place.”

  Her forehead furrowed. “I made a big assumption about this place, though.”

  “Believe me. The family’s going to be so happy, they’d give us Dad’s house if it meant we stay together.”

  “That’s...” She sniffed. “You weren’t supposed to make me cry.”

  “Happy tears are allowed, I think,” he said, his gaze intent on hers. “This is going to work. You know that?”

  She nodded.

  “I love you, you brilliant woman.”

  “I love you, too, you brilliant man.” She pulled him down on top of her, and his kiss was the first of their brand-new life together.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from COMMAND CONTROL by Sara Jane Stone.

  Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.

  Austin Treffen has the plan… Hunter has the money… Alex has the power!

  Read each of their stories in the captivating Fifth Avenue trilogy,