Dare to Tease: A Dare Nation Novella by Carly Phillips (best novels for students .txt) 📕

at the hotel.” Bri took a long sip of her coffee and all but moaned, she needed the caffeine so badly.

“That sounds so formal.”

“You should meet these people. They’re the epitome of wealth and utter disdain for anyone they find below them in social status. And they’re still trying to fix Hudson up with someone suitable.” She rolled her eyes at that, because she’d seen Hudson stand up to his parents. For her.

The thought warmed her all over again.

“Were they rude to you?” Macy’s outrage sounded over the phone.

“If they were rude to my baby sister, I’m going to kick some ass!” Jaxon said.

Bri rolled her eyes. “Remind him I’m older than him, will you?”

“Be quiet!” Macy yelled, then a muffled sound reached Bri’s ears.

“Eew. Tell him not to kiss you while we’re on the phone!” Bri wrinkled her nose at the thought of hearing or seeing anything about her brother’s sex life.

Macy giggled, and Jaxon muttered something before saying louder, “Love you, Bri!”

“Tell him I love him, too.”

“And I love hearing you so light and happy. It sounds like Hudson is good for you,” Macy said.

Putting her coffee cup on the table in front of the sofa, she curled her legs beneath her and sighed. “He is. We have a lot in common, and we like each other without conditions or strings. He doesn’t need or want anything from me, and that’s not just refreshing, it’s what I’ve been looking for in a man.” And she’d fallen hard for him. Faster than she’d let her guard down with anyone before.

“Well, when you get back, let’s have lunch or coffee and you can tell me more. I have to go help Emma with something, so we’ll talk soon?” Macy asked.

“Sounds good. Thanks for checking in. Bye.” Bri disconnected the call and settled in to finish breakfast.

She needed to shower and be ready to go when Hudson returned from talking to his father. And she couldn’t wait to hear the end result. She prayed he got access to his trust fund so he and Braden could move forward with their plan for the health center they envisioned.

* * * *

Hudson stood in the doorway of his father’s study, apprehension filling his veins. He hated to have to ask the man for anything. This was Hudson’s money, and he shouldn’t have to fight that hard for something that belonged to him. He wished his grandfather had lived long enough to see how different Hudson and his father were, but Gerald Northfield had died when Hudson was young, the trust had been set up for all the grandchildren for tax purposes, and his choice of trustee had made sense at the time.

Hudson’s father sat at his desk, head bent as he looked over some papers. Hudson cleared his throat, and Martin raised his head.

Catching sight of him, Martin removed his reading glasses and rose to his feet. “Good morning. I trust you had fun at the wedding?”

Hudson stepped inside and shut the door, not wanting any interruptions. “We did. I’m happy for Serena.”

“Yes, well, her choice of grooms leaves something to be desired,” Martin said as he stepped around and gestured to the two Queen Anne chairs in front of the mahogany desk.

Since this wasn’t the best time to argue, Hudson let the derogatory comment stand, as much as it galled him to do so.

They each took a seat, his father crossing one leg on top of the other. “So. You wanted to talk?”

“I do.”

“I admit I’m hoping you’ve changed your mind about staying in Florida and playing doctor when there’s a lucrative business that needs to be run here and its future to be considered.”

Hudson drew a deep breath and again ignored the comment he didn’t want to address. The last thing he needed to do was get drawn into a fight and lose his higher ground.

He gripped the armrests of the chair tightly. “Actually, I’m staying in Florida.”

“Is this about that girl?” His father’s face grew red with anger.

“No. This is about me.” He hated the denial but knew it was necessary.

At this point, Bri had everything to do with his choices, but he’d already known his plans for his career prior to spending the weekend with her and falling in love. Had it happened fast? Sure, but he trusted his gut. She was it for him.

“Then why? Your family is in New York. The business is in New York.”

Leaning forward in his seat, he appealed to a place inside Martin that Hudson wasn’t sure existed. “Look, Dad. I’m happy there. And I’m not playing doctor, I am a doctor, and I’m damned good at it. Not only do I have a great job with the Miami Thunder but I’m volunteering at a health clinic in a neighborhood that is desperately in need of medical care.”

“And that’s more important than your family legacy?” His father sounded horrified.

“Frankly, yes. The clinic is in a depressed area of the city, and my friend and fellow doctor Braden Prescott and I have a plan to remodel the place, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, and treat people who don’t otherwise have access to care.”

His father narrowed his gaze. “And you’re here because you want access to your trust fund, I presume?”

Hudson nodded. “I do. I think your father would like that his money was going for a good cause.”

The deep sigh echoed around the room as his father steepled his fingers together in thought. Tense silence passed, and Hudson did his best not to tap his foot impatiently or otherwise rush Martin’s thinking process despite his own nerves being on edge. The sound of a clock ticking added to his stress.

“I’ll tell you what. I have a proposition for you. A quid pro quo.”

Wary now, Hudson clenched his jaw and indicated his agreement to listen with a curt nod.

A pleased smile lifted his father’s lips, and Hudson knew he wasn’t going to like the proposal. He steeled himself to hear it, certain his father was going