Page 5 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

She led him to a small partly open door and gestured for him to go inside. “There’s a tiny linen closet behind the door. Take a towel and get yourself cleaned up.”

She stepped away and headed back to the main area of the apartment.

He glanced over to where the small kitchen was visible through a pass-through. The candies were neatly stacked on the Formica countertops.

“So about those treats. Did I earn myself one?” he asked, joining her.

She blinked in surprise. “Why didn’t I think of that?” She rushed to the kitchen, returning with a pop and handing it to him.

He bit into it once, then twice, quickly swallowing the sweet, delicious candy. “Mmm. Damn, these are good. S’mores flavor?” he asked.

She nodded, a grin on her face. “It’s like a taste of home,” she said softly.

Sensing this meant something to her, he wanted to know more. “How so?”

She sighed. “My mom and I used to make candy all the time when I was growing up. She always wanted to open a store in our small town, but she didn’t have the ability. Things were … out of her control. And she needed to work to take care of me and my brother. But this was her favorite recipe and it reminds me of her.”

“What happened?” he asked. “If you want to talk about it.”

“She died recently.” Faith blinked and looked away.

Recognizing raw pain, he changed the subject. “Well, your candy is delicious and I hope you succeed,” he said, treating her to a warm smile, realizing their time together was coming to an end.

“I have a meeting I need to get to,” he said. But he wasn’t ready to leave.

“Oh, right.” She rushed over to the kitchen and returned with a basket in her hand. “Take this. As a thank you. You’re a Good Samaritan, Jason Dare.”

He accepted her gift, their skin brushing as it exchanged hands. A shot of electricity jolted up his arm and went straight to his cock. Something about this woman got to him, from her gorgeous face and curvaceous body to her strength and the hint of occasional fragility beneath. He knew with everything in him he ought to stay away. From the fact that her tire might have been slashed to the fact that she didn’t radiate one-night-stand type of woman to him, he should say goodbye and walk out the door.

“Have dinner with me.” He blurted out the words before he could think them through.

She stared at him in surprise, those pretty lips pursing in thought, green eyes huge. “Umm … I really don’t think it’s a good idea. I have too much going on right now and I don’t date and … well, we shouldn’t.” She sounded sad, as if she didn’t want to say no.

He rolled his shoulders, deciding it was for the best even if he didn’t like being turned down by her. “I understand.”

She stared at him for a heartbeat. “Well, thanks again.”

He inclined his head. “You can thank me by locking your door and being careful out there.” Her slashed tire stayed with him, bothered him, even.

Sure, this was New York City and not the best neighborhood, so it really could have been done by someone who considered vandalism a good time. He’d probably have gone with that theory, too, if not for her slightly panicked reaction she’d tried to hide.

“Don’t worry. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself,” she said, striding toward the door. “But I’ll take your advice.”

He stepped out the door she’d opened for him. “Bye, sweetness,” he said. “It was nice meeting you, Faith Lancaster.”

She wrinkled her nose at the nickname.

“Would you prefer candy girl?” he asked, chuckling at the blush on her cheeks as he walked away.

* * *

If Faith dated anyone, she would date Jason Dare. She leaned back against the door and sighed like a teenage girl crushing on her first date. My God, that man had an ass to die for.

When she hadn’t been carrying candy baskets upstairs, she’d been ogling his rear end in his suit trousers. She could only imagine him naked, and that was the idea that had her shivering when her thoughts should be on whether her slashed tire was a freak incident as she’d told Jason or a warning sign from the brother she’d run away from.

When they were younger, she’d loved her brother, but as he grew up, Colton developed … issues and that was putting it mildly. Drugs took over his life.

She stepped away from the door, hating that she was going down this train of thought, but she couldn’t help it. The tire had brought up all sorts of fears. And memories.

Colton showing up after her mom died unexpectedly, demanding his share of the estate, only to find out he’d been disinherited. His rage and anger. Though her mom hadn’t been wealthy, she wasn’t poor. She’d had money from her parents, which she’d saved, and she’d taken out a life insurance policy with Faith as the beneficiary.

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