Wallflower by Cookie O'Gorman (best romance ebooks .TXT) 📕

"You're playing with fire."  A forced laugh left my lips, and I lifted my gaze to his.  "I thought you said you didn't want to get benched."

He grinned.  The next moment his hand had moved up, but he pulled my shirt along with it.  There was no way to know if that was his intention.  But his palm now rested against a small stretch of my exposed skin, and I tried not to hyperventilate.

"Think Coach would like this better?" he asked.

"I don't know," I said, trying to keep my heartrate steady.  "But I draw the line at kissing.  There will be absolutely none of that."

Dare nodded.  "Okay.  If that's what you want, we won't kiss."

I felt both relief and disappointment even though it had been my suggestion.

"Great," I said, trying to convince myself.  "That's great."

"We're just flirting, flower."  Dare tilted his head as he leaned forward.  "No big deal.  Take a deep breath and try to relax."

Easy for him to say, I thought.  My hand wasn't on any part of his body but his neck.  I had the strangest urge to plunge my fingers into his hair.  My fingers itched to move, but I wasn't that daring.

"You can do what you want," he said as if reading my mind.

God, I hoped he couldn't.

As I glided my hands up into his dark hair, feeling the smooth strands fall through my fingers, I paused there a moment.

"This okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.  "You're good."

I allowed one hand to drift down past his shoulders, chest and finally ending on his abs.  The material of his t-shirt was still between us, but as I ran my fingers over the hard ridges there, Dare huffed.

"Who's the one playing with fire now?" he said and then did something I didn't expect.

In the next breath, he'd closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against mine.  It made me feel delicate and protected—but I also felt powerful for getting that kind of reaction from him.  Talk about swoon.  Foreheads kissing was one of the things I'd always dreamed of doing with a guy.  But never thought I'd get the chance.

"Maybe you do know something about romance," I said softly.

"Oh yeah?" he said.

"You're really good at this."

Dare gave a slow shake of his head, and I felt it all the way to my bones.

"Nah, you're just easy to please."

Before he could say more, I heard the distinct sound of a car pulling into the driveway.  That was followed by a door opening and closing.

"Hey, you guys," Dad said, coming up next to us.  Dare stepped away then, and we both looked to him.  "I didn't expect to see you two out here.  Viola, did you give Dare a ride home?"

"Yeah," I said.

My father put his hands on his hips as his eyes traveled to Dare.  "And you guys have been hanging out all this time?"

"We have," was Dare's response.

We waited to see what my father would do.  He'd seen us together for a second time.  Our foreheads had been together when he drove up for goodness sakes.  Neither of us offered any explanation other than the brief answers to his questions.  Dad had to be at least a little suspicious…right?

His reaction was less than satisfying.

"Awesome," he said.  "I love that you two are hanging out now."

Hanging out?  Gracious was he blind?  Dare's hand had been resting against my face, and mine had definitely stayed on his stomach for an almost indecent amount of time.  We were pressed against each other.  He could've been about to kiss me for all Dad knew.

My father elbowed Dare.  "And I understand I have you to thank for finally getting my Viola out to a game.  Thanks for that."

"Uh, no problem," Dare said.

"I'll see you kids later," Dad said and walked by us.  "Frost, you can stay for dinner if you want.  My wife requested pizza, so that's what I'm cooking."

"No, that's okay, Coach.  I should be getting home."

"Okay, good seeing you."

And with that he went inside.

I couldn't contain my frown.

"I really do have to go," Dare said.  "Phase four was a bust, but no worries, Vi.  We'll make him see the light."

"I'm not so sure," I said.  "This is turning out to be harder than expected."

Dare pointed a finger at my face.  "That's what she said."

"Ew," I said but laughed despite myself.

"It'll be alright, flower," he said.  "You'll see.  It's like soccer or the cello.  We just have to keep playing until we master the proper technique."

"Using a sports and musical reference to drive your point home?"  I cocked my head.  "You should go into motivational speaking."

I'd been kind of serious, but Dare rolled his eyes.

"Speaking of, I've got a game coming up next week.  You don't have to come or anything," he said.  "But will I see you there?"

Thinking back, I remembered how his parents never made it to his games, and I knew it meant something to him that I'd come last week.  Also, he'd asked the question with nonchalance, but I could tell it mattered.  There was only one answer I could give.

"Of course," I said.  "I can't wait to see you play again."

Dare smiled, and it was worth it.  He was worth it.

"Besides," I added, "I have to see if you really are as good as they say or if that game was just a one off."

His eyes narrowed, but I could still see the happiness there.

"Challenge accepted," Dare said and started jogging backwards.  He tossed me a wink.  "Later, girlfriend."

It was like being blasted with cold water.  I suddenly remembered the truth.  The only reason he was hanging around, why we were talking at all, was because I'd blackmailed