When You Dare
Page 93

Dare nudged the pizza toward Molly again. She needed to keep up her strength to get through the emotional shit-storm ahead.
He waited for her to take a bite before saying to Natalie, “When would be a good time to catch your father and stepmother both at home?”
Around her mouthful of food, Molly asked, “Why?”
“Because it’s time that we paid them a visit. The sooner the better.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
DARE WATCHED AS Molly all but deflated.
It couldn’t have been more plain how she dreaded seeing her father. And no wonder. She was the smartest woman he’d ever met, so she probably already suspected her father’s involvement.
Under the table, he clasped her thigh. When he got her alone, he’d comfort her in a hundred different ways. He only hoped that part of the comforting could be done in the nude, preferably on a soft bed.
Thinking that stirred him, so he had to push the erotic image aside. “I’d like to see both of them at the same time, if possible.”
Oblivious to the undercurrent, Natalie shrugged. “Only time to catch them both at home is pretty early. Right after breakfast, Dad takes off to the gym, and Kathi takes off for one of her many scheduled things.”
“Bishop goes to the gym every day?”
Molly smirked. “His personal appearance is real important to him.”
“Kathi encourages him. She likes it that he stays in shape.” Natalie wrinkled her nose. “The two of them are really big on image.”
Molly slumped back in her chair. “Kathi means well, but she’s forever telling us that we need to exercise more.”
That insulted Jett. “The hell you say?”
Natalie added, “According to Kathi, we’re too soft.”
“We should tone up,” Molly chimed in, saying, “because we jiggle.”
Dare shared an incredulous look with Jett, before ruling out such nonsense. “I think it’s safe to say that men enjoy women who are soft.”
Getting a handful of Natalie’s soft hip, Jett agreed. “Hell, yeah.”
Laughing, Natalie moved his hand to her waist. “Don’t worry. Molly and I don’t take it to heart. We both learned long ago to just let the criticisms roll right off.”
“Good.” Jett cupped her neck and drew her face to his. “Because you can take my word for it—you’re beautiful.”
Molly watched them share a kiss, and she smiled at Dare. He could almost read her thoughts and see the wistfulness in her expression. She was happy for her sister, but did she want the same for herself?
When he didn’t return her smile, she sighed and shook her head at him, as if he were a lost cause.
Was that how she saw him?
Rubbing the back of his neck didn’t really ease his sudden tension. “What about your stepmother? You said she takes off in the morning, too? To do what?”
Molly picked a piece of pepperoni off her pizza. “Kathi stays involved in a lot of stuff. Tennis, swimming, aerobics and a whole slew of fundraisers and public projects. She stays busy, but she always sets things up around Dad’s schedule.”
Nodding, Natalie added, “Because God knows he doesn’t try to accommodate her.”
“Most times,” Molly said, “he barely acknowledges her. I don’t know why she puts up with him, if you want the truth.”
“I wouldn’t,” Natalie said. “But for Kathi, I guess it’s a trade-off. She likes the prestige of Dad’s wealth. The fancy parties with the upper crust of society. The respect and…” She searched for the right word.
“Power,” Molly supplied. “Dad has a certain level of authority, and they both know it.”
Dare twisted to look at the clock on the kitchen wall. “How early are you talking?”
Following his gaze, Natalie, too, checked the clock. “You’ve probably got three and a half hours. They’re always up by six and out of the house by seven-thirty. You can call on them anytime in between that and catch them at home. After that it’s a guessing game. They both stay überbusy with stuff.”
“Thanks.” That would give him some time. He watched Molly take her pizza apart, eating the pepperoni ahead of the rest. She had feminine hands, despite the short nails. She licked pizza sauce off the tip of one finger, and everything in him clenched in need.
He wanted her again, bad. Soon as he got her sister and Jett out the door, he’d work that out.
With that end goal in mind, he sent a pointed look at Jett. “If you’re done eating…”
“Dare.” Sounding stern, Molly admonished him. “Don’t be so rude.”
“Not a problem.” Jett stood, bringing Natalie to her feet with him. “We should get going anyway. And I’m sure you two have plans to make.”
Natalie wavered. “I don’t understand why you want to visit Dad and Kathi.”
“You said it yourself.” Jett put an arm around her. “Your dad has influence, so he probably has connections that’ll assist their inquiries.” Over Natalie’s head, he gave one small negative shake at Dare.
Both Dare and Molly understood: Natalie didn’t need to know that her father might be complicit in Molly’s kidnapping. She was in love, looking toward a bright future. No reason to drop a black reality on her right now.
“I guess.” The strain of exhaustion and worry showed on Natalie’s face. “But I really hate to let you out of my sight. I’m so afraid you’ll disappear on me again.”