Read Online If She Dares (Contemporary Romance) by Tanya Michaels - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tanya Michaels
Tags: Fiction, Erótica, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Adult, fear, fling, neighbor, wicked, dangerous, Protection, Past, Spontaneous, naughty, Challenges, Dares, Mugging, Elevator
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descriptions of Savannah’s charm.
Sheryl had kicked off the evening by saying Riley and Mitch had a lot in common because they were both “marketing experts.” Riley designed sites to help her customers best promote themselves, and Mitch leased billboard space for freeway ads. That had led to a few minutes of small talk, but hardly the instant connection Sheryl seemed to expect. It turned out, they
were
both pet owners. Mitch had two snakes and proudly showed her pictures on his phone. She’d smiled politely, but frankly, she found the idea of snakes around the house far creepier than Jack occasionally visiting the morgue as part of his law-enforcement career.
Riley hadn’t appreciated Mitch’s attempts to bond with her by getting Mags to like him. He kept baby-talking to the dog in a way that became embarrassing to listen to and giving her scraps of food, even after Riley pointed out that some human foods were downright dangerous to dogs. Even Jack, who didn’t like dogs, had taken care not to give Mags risky treats.
And of course, no matter what a dog ate, overfeeding was a bad idea—a point illustrated when Mags barfed on the cream carpet. Sheryl had glared daggers, as if the dog was responsible for killing a romantic mood.
When they rolled up to the parking-lot gate, Riley was so relieved she almost threw herself from the still-moving vehicle. “Well...thanks for dropping me off, and have a wonderful time at the wedding tomorrow.”
“You know, just because I didn’t RSVP with a plus one doesn’t mean—”
“I myself,” she babbled, “will be working all day. Work, work, work. I’m afraid I got behind this week trying to track down whether Mags had an owner, taking her to the vet, shopping for dog food and leashes.”
She managed to evade being invited to the wedding, but she couldn’t dissuade him from walking her to her apartment.
Just to my door
, she vowed to herself. Not a single millimeter farther. If he or her mother thought for one second she was inviting him in for coffee—
“Wait, don’t you want to take the elevator?” he asked when she automatically headed for the stairs.
The elevator would be faster. And in the entire time she’d lived here, it had only malfunctioned once. “Right.” She followed him inside and punched the appropriate button. As soon as the door closed, she was assailed by memories of being stuck in the elevator with Jack last weekend—his genuine concern when he asked if she was discomfited by small spaces, the wry humor in his voice when he’d proclaimed himself her crisis buddy. His wicked, teasing tone when he suggested she practice her strip poker skills.
Before she knew it, the elevator dinged and the doors parted again. Mitch put a hand at the small of her back and gently propelled her forward. Given that she hardly needed his help navigating her own hallway and that they’d only met a few hours ago, the gesture seemed overly familiar. She used sliding her purse off her shoulder as an opportunity to step away from him, her movements purposeful but not urgent.
Progress!
She didn’t experience any jitters at his touch, no panicky sense of her personal space being invaded.
She hadn’t retreated because a man got close. She’d retreated because it was the wrong man. Her gaze shifted toward Jack’s door. How differently would this night have ended if she’d been free to accept his dinner invitation?
* * *
A S J ACK ROUNDED the corner for the last set of stairs before the fourth floor, he couldn’t help thinking about last night, when he’d been here with Riley. He wished he had that conversation to do over again. When he’d seen her in the mailroom, she’d been all smiles and flirty glances. The way she’d been looking at him had been flattering—and hot as hell—but what he’d liked most was how different she’d seemed from the night they’d met. There’d been no trace of haunted wariness in her eyes.
Of course, then he’d pushed
Sheryl had kicked off the evening by saying Riley and Mitch had a lot in common because they were both “marketing experts.” Riley designed sites to help her customers best promote themselves, and Mitch leased billboard space for freeway ads. That had led to a few minutes of small talk, but hardly the instant connection Sheryl seemed to expect. It turned out, they
were
both pet owners. Mitch had two snakes and proudly showed her pictures on his phone. She’d smiled politely, but frankly, she found the idea of snakes around the house far creepier than Jack occasionally visiting the morgue as part of his law-enforcement career.
Riley hadn’t appreciated Mitch’s attempts to bond with her by getting Mags to like him. He kept baby-talking to the dog in a way that became embarrassing to listen to and giving her scraps of food, even after Riley pointed out that some human foods were downright dangerous to dogs. Even Jack, who didn’t like dogs, had taken care not to give Mags risky treats.
And of course, no matter what a dog ate, overfeeding was a bad idea—a point illustrated when Mags barfed on the cream carpet. Sheryl had glared daggers, as if the dog was responsible for killing a romantic mood.
When they rolled up to the parking-lot gate, Riley was so relieved she almost threw herself from the still-moving vehicle. “Well...thanks for dropping me off, and have a wonderful time at the wedding tomorrow.”
“You know, just because I didn’t RSVP with a plus one doesn’t mean—”
“I myself,” she babbled, “will be working all day. Work, work, work. I’m afraid I got behind this week trying to track down whether Mags had an owner, taking her to the vet, shopping for dog food and leashes.”
She managed to evade being invited to the wedding, but she couldn’t dissuade him from walking her to her apartment.
Just to my door
, she vowed to herself. Not a single millimeter farther. If he or her mother thought for one second she was inviting him in for coffee—
“Wait, don’t you want to take the elevator?” he asked when she automatically headed for the stairs.
The elevator would be faster. And in the entire time she’d lived here, it had only malfunctioned once. “Right.” She followed him inside and punched the appropriate button. As soon as the door closed, she was assailed by memories of being stuck in the elevator with Jack last weekend—his genuine concern when he asked if she was discomfited by small spaces, the wry humor in his voice when he’d proclaimed himself her crisis buddy. His wicked, teasing tone when he suggested she practice her strip poker skills.
Before she knew it, the elevator dinged and the doors parted again. Mitch put a hand at the small of her back and gently propelled her forward. Given that she hardly needed his help navigating her own hallway and that they’d only met a few hours ago, the gesture seemed overly familiar. She used sliding her purse off her shoulder as an opportunity to step away from him, her movements purposeful but not urgent.
Progress!
She didn’t experience any jitters at his touch, no panicky sense of her personal space being invaded.
She hadn’t retreated because a man got close. She’d retreated because it was the wrong man. Her gaze shifted toward Jack’s door. How differently would this night have ended if she’d been free to accept his dinner invitation?
* * *
A S J ACK ROUNDED the corner for the last set of stairs before the fourth floor, he couldn’t help thinking about last night, when he’d been here with Riley. He wished he had that conversation to do over again. When he’d seen her in the mailroom, she’d been all smiles and flirty glances. The way she’d been looking at him had been flattering—and hot as hell—but what he’d liked most was how different she’d seemed from the night they’d met. There’d been no trace of haunted wariness in her eyes.
Of course, then he’d pushed
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