Page 69 of The Dating Dare

“Well, as far as I know, Tara only dates out-of-towners.” Roger let that hang between them.

“Is that so?”

Seth felt a hot tingling at the base of his neck. So this guy was one of Tara’s former lovers? From the way he tried to greet her, maybe Roger wasn’t exactly herformerlover. She might be planning to get back with him once Seth was out of the picture.

“And never for long.” Roger’s smirk made Seth’s hands curl into fists. “I tried to convince her to make what we have more permanent, but she balked at the idea and threatened to break things off completely.”

“Why exactly are you telling me this?”

“Because I saw the way you looked at her. You’ve got it bad for her.” He stopped to observe Seth’s reaction. When he got nothing, he shrugged. “But you won’t be able to hold on to her.”

“You know nothing about me and Tara,” Seth said through clenched teeth.

“No offense, man.” His expression told a different story. “Just offering you some free advice.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I don’t intend to lose her.” Blood pounded in Seth’s ears. He meant every word. He wasn’t going to lose her. He couldn’t.

“Well, good luck with that,” Roger said with a humorless laugh and walked out of Comfort Zone empty-handed.

Seth’s head was spinning. He wanted to keep her. Although he had shoved aside his bubbling questions this morning, his subconscious seemed to have already chosen what he wanted. He wanted Tara. He didn’t want their relationship to end when he left for Paris. The realization was too new, too bright to put under the microscope, but he was certain they had something that was worth keeping. His heart shook off its bindings and pumped with renewed life, and bliss spread through him as bright and warm as the first light of day.

It had been so long since he had wanted something. Really wanted it. He’d been content with safe. With superficial success and satisfaction. But the thought of going back to that life made him feel hollow. The happiness he’d felt in the last few weeks with Tara ruined him for anything less than real.

He had let something that happened during college impact his life choices for the last seven years. Because of one broken heart, he’d sworn off love. And he’d let the pain of that heartbreak lead him to give up his art. His dream. How could he not have realized how foolish that was? Sure, he’d worn his heart on his sleeve and allowed himself to love Jessica with all his loneliness and desperation. But had it even really been love? Or had he been so desperate for someone to belong to that he’d glommed onto her like she was his lifeline?

He was nineteen back then. He knew nothing. The last few years should’ve been spent on figuring out what he wanted out of life instead of closing himself off to it. Well, that was going to change, starting now. There was so much to explore and learn about himself and who he wanted to be. But he was already certain of one thing. He didn’t want to live the rest of his life without Tara in it.

Seth didn’t fully understand what was happening between them, but he wanted to explore it further. She made him feel so alive, and he hadn’t known happiness greater than when he made her laugh. He wanted to make her happy. He wanted her to know that she was an amazing person and she could do anything she wanted with her life. She was the most confident and driven person he knew, but there was a vulnerability to her that he ached to protect.

The bustle of the busy bakery receded into the background, and an acute stillness overcame him. Sunlight seemed to bloom inside him and hope filled him to the brim. He was going to reclaim his life, and allow himself to live to the fullest. The thought of returning to art still frightened him, but if his soul commanded him to create again, he wouldn’t fight it. He would throw himself in headfirst as he used to. Art wasn’t about being safe and secure. It was about taking risks and facing the fear of uncertainty. It was life and it was beautiful. And maybe he would allow himself to love again. He wasn’t sure he had the choice anymore. He was already halfway in love with Tara. The realization shocked him, and fear—fierce and overwhelming—rose inside him again.

Like an unforeseen thunderstorm, dark clouds blew in to hide the light and hope inside him. Knowing that he wanted her didn’t mean Tara felt the same way. What would she think of his epiphany? Could he be just another out-of-towner to her? Someone briefly passing through her life? That didn’t ring true. She cared about him. But Tara wouldn’t sleep with someone she didn’t care about. Maybe she cared about all her hookup buddies.

Seth knew Tara. She wouldn’t just pick up any guy off the street. Whoever these passersby were, she would choose them carefully. Maybe she’d accepted his dare because he happened to meet her criteria. A vicious claw tore at his heart. Anger, jealousy, and pain. He wanted to be more than a temporary fix. He could be so much more for her.

His pain fueled his anger, and soon he allowed fury to overtake him because it was more bearable than anguish. He didn’t know how long he sat at the counter fuming, seeing nothing. All logic lost to him.

“Hey, look at what I have.” Tara appeared beside him and held up a bagged box. “Justine hooked us up. Her new desserts are so delicious.”

“Are you ready to leave?” he asked without emotion.

She blinked in surprise then shrugged. “We have what we came for.”

“Let’s go.” Seth stood abruptly from his seat and headed straight for the door.

“Hold on. You’re like a runaway train. I can’t keep up.” Tara gave him a sideways glance. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he said curtly.

Apprehension dawned in her eyes, and she stayed silent and stiff beside him as they walked back to his car. Once they were seated and speeding through the streets, Tara finally spoke.

“What happened with Roger?”

“What could possibly have happened between Roger and me?It was a pleasure meeting one of your hookup buddies.” He stared straight ahead as the vicious words cut the air between them.

“Seth…”

“So you only date out-of-towners, do you?”

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