Page 91 of The Dating Dare

“You’re someone who knows your mind and aren’t afraid to speak it. You never do something just for the sake of being nice.” He lifted his hands as though to ward her off when she snarled at him. “For example, if I was struggling with these table legs, you would’ve offered your help without hesitation. But you know I enjoy fiddling with woodwork, so you usually leave me to it. You only offered to help this time because you were beingnice.”

“Fine. You could’ve just told me you don’t need help. I don’t know what the big deal is.” Tara looked everywhere but at him. Something about this conversation was making her really nervous.

“Tell me what’s going on, Tara. It’s as though you’ve been tryingto pay penance for something these last few weeks.” Jack laid a big warm hand on her shoulder. “We know that there is something seriously wrong, but have no idea what. We’re all worried—Mom, Dad… all of us. Please. Let us help you, or at least bear some of the burden with you.”

Paying penance. Oh, God. He was right. Her guilt was making her find ways to make up for what she did to Seth by helping others. But how did that help Seth? She was such a mess.

“It’s a long story, but here’s the short version. I fell in love with Seth, but when he told me he loved me, I told him that I didn’t love him and never would. So he flew away to Paris with a broken heart, thinking I don’t love him.”

“Why the hell would you tell him that when you love him?”

“I was afraid. I was afraid we would end up hurting each other in the end, and I didn’t want to risk that.”

“Seems to me you’re suffering deeply right now, and I doubt Seth is in any better condition.” Jack pulled her into a hug, and ran a gentle hand down her hair. She burrowed into him to soak up the solace he offered. “How is this any better than a hypothetical heartbreak in the future? Which might never happen? Why give up the chance for happiness when you have nothing to lose? Do you think it’ll be harder than what you’re going through now?”

“Jack, I broke his heart. How could I have broken his heart just because I was scared?”

“Because you were scared, Tara. People make foolish decisions when they’re afraid.”

Something that felt like life fluttered in Tara’s chest. She’d chosen wrong because of her fears, but maybe she could change that. Maybe she deserved another chance. She stepped back from the hug and said, “Hey, are you calling me a fool?”

“If the shoe fits.” Her lovely big brother grinned back at her. “So what are you going to do now?”

“Fix my monumental mistake, of course.” Hope and fear were duking it out inside her. “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”

“Are you going to let ‘what if’ make the decision for you again?”

“No.” Tara shook her head resolutely. “Never again.”

“There is the little sister I know and love.” Jack tousled her head. “Now go and do whatever you need to do. I have you covered with the fam.”

“Thanks, oppa.”

She ran for the back office. There was no time to drive home right now. Tara needed to get to Paris as soon as possible. She woke the sleeping computer with a jiggle of the mouse, and jumped on the web. Heart pounding, she searched for the earliest flight to Charles de Gaulle. Luckily, there was a redeye to Paris tonight. It would take a chunk of her savings to buy a one-way ticket, but she would deplete her unborn child’s future college savings to get to Seth. Without blinking an eye, she hitbuy.

Tara didn’t bother with a return ticket because she had no idea when she would be returning. She planned on staying there as long as necessary to win Seth back. She didn’t want to leave her family in a lurch, but Weldon Brewery would be fine with the four of them for a while. With her decision made and her ticket bought, her urgency to go to him only grew. Almost a month had passed since Seth had left. Why the hurry now?Who knows?But every fiber in her being was telling her to go to him. Now.

“Jack,” she yelled out to him. “I’m going home to pack.”

“Okay,” he said nonchalantly. “Bring me back some macarons.”

The drive home was slow because she was shaking and had to payextra attention to the road. She wouldn’t be able to handle the long drive to the international airport.

“Call Aubrey.”

Her car obediently dialed Aubrey, who picked up on the second ring.

“Hi, Tara.” When she didn’t respond right away, her friend asked in an alarmed voice, “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve been asking me that every time I call you lately. Can’t a girl call her best friend just to say hello?”

“Of course, you can. But are you?”

“No. To hell with hello,” Tara said, suddenly impatient. “I need your help, Bree.”

“Anything.”

“I need a ride to the airport. I have a flight out at ten o’clock tonight.”

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