Dare to Tempt Read online

  DARE TO TEMPT

  Dare Nation Novel #2

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

  Carly Phillips

  Copyright © Karen Drogin, CP Publishing 2020

  Kobo Edition

  Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar

  Cover Design: Maria @SteamyDesigns

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DARE TO TEMPT

  He’s a smooth talking jock in trouble

  She’s the solution to his problems.

  Love is the last thing they expected to find.

  Damon Prescott had it all. Star quarterback. Money. Fame. Now? He’s being accused of taking performance enhancing drugs and banned from the sport and team he loves.

  Determined to prove he’s innocent, he hires tough as nails private investigator, Evie Wolfe. She’s able to bring a man to his knees with a glare, yet sensual in ways that take him off guard—and she’s everything Damon didn’t know he needed.

  Evie’s used to men dismissing her, especially playboys like Damon Prescott so she’s not buying the sexual lines he’s trying to sell. She’s with him to do a job, nothing more. But you know what they say about the best laid plans? Sometimes you end up between the sheets with an arrogant football player anyway.

  But when the case is over, can Damon convince Evie she’s the only woman for him or will she leave him tied up in love?

  A stand-alone novel

  Chapter One

  Damon Prescott’s life had gone from golden to shit in an instant. Or rather in one violent football play gone wrong. He refused to watch the reviews of his injury. The slam of his head against the turf and the shattering pain before he blacked out were vivid enough in his mind.

  Another concussion should have been the worst of his problems. Instead he’d also tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in a random test and had been suspended immediately. As if he’d touch the stuff. No unknown supplements went into his body. Period. So how the fuck had he tested positive not just once but on a second check as well?

  A knock sounded at his door and he pushed himself up from his couch, his head still pounding a week later. Even his ears continued to ring. He walked slowly to the front entrance, opened up, and let his family into his home. It was the second meeting since the results had come back.

  The people entering his house weren’t just family, they were his team. That team included Dare Nation, a sports management firm his brother Austin owned along with their uncle Paul Dare.

  Austin, his oldest sibling and his agent, strode in first, his executive assistant and girlfriend, Quinn Stone, by his side. Austin patted him on the back. Quinn smiled and murmured her apologies for what was going on.

  Next came Bri, his sister and publicist. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered,” she promised him, pulling him into a hug.

  He’d deliberately kept this gathering tight. He didn’t want his mother, Christine, here. She was already upset by the situation and his injury. His brother Jaxon was at baseball practice and couldn’t be here. And Braden was abroad with Doctors Without Borders. Paul was at the office, fending off the press and holding down the fort.

  But they did need a plan. First of all, the season started in two weeks, and Damon didn’t want to miss being allowed on the field for the first four games due to a suspension. He was appealing and should hear soon what the verdict was.

  Austin cleared his throat. “Let me start by saying everyone in this room knows you didn’t cheat. But we also know the likelihood of winning on appeal in this zero-tolerance era and it’s not good.”

  Damon clenched his fists at his sides. “I did not take a banned substance.”

  His brother stared at him, his expression somber. “Players are responsible for what is in their bodies and a positive test will not be excused because a player was unaware he was taking a prohibited substance.” He repeated the words from the players’ collective bargaining agreement.

  Words Damon already knew by heart.

  “Golden Tate was taking fertility treatments he didn’t know contained prohibited substances,” Austin continued. “And if that doesn’t tug on the committee’s heartstrings, I don’t know what will.”

  “Tate self-reported before he tested positive and they still didn’t cut him any slack,” Bri said.

  Despite the fact that Damon heard his siblings, he refused to give up without a fight, and believing in himself was priority one. “I still say we go forward as if we’ll win. We thought we’d hear by now. Maybe it’s a good sign they’re taking their time.”

  His brother and sister glanced at each other and nodded.

  “We figured you’d say as much,” Bri said. “So, I’ve got an idea. Well, thanks to Quinn, I have an idea.”

  Damon grinned. “You’re the family fixer. Of course you do.” But he rubbed his chest, which grew tight any time he let himself think about the mess he was in.

  Without admitting it to his siblings, even he knew that the only out given on appeal was when the testing had been compromised. He couldn’t prove his had. But he refused to give up until forced to.

  He was one of the team captains despite his young age, and it was a contract year, for fuck’s sake. The positive test gave Ian Dare, his team owner, every reason not to offer him the deal he deserved as the up-and-coming star quarterback of the Miami Thunder.

  “You’ve spoken to Ray Benson’s PI?” Damon asked of the lawyer Dare Nation used and Austin himself had used when his baby girl had been left on his doorstep.

  So much had changed in such a short time.

  Bri shook her head. “Nope. I have someone better. A licensed PI whose work I value.” She clasped her hand behind her back and rocked on her heels, grinning in a way Damon didn’t trust.

  His gut churned and he glanced at Austin. “You wouldn’t let her fuck me over, right?”

  Austin rolled his eyes. “We’re all on your side. Though I will say Bri’s plan is a little … unorthodox.”

  Before either could elaborate, the doorbell rang. Damon raised his eyebrows. “Who is that?”

  “I’ve got it,” Bri said and rushed to the front of the house to let the unknown visitor in.

  Damon waited, and seconds later, Bri strode back into the room with his biggest nightmare by her side. Evie Wolfe, Quinn’s best friend, a licensed PI, and a woman Damon hadn’t been able to get out of his head since the day they’d met, walked in.

  Evie wasn’t anything like the typical female he was used to. No red-soled stilettos or designer handbags for her. A pair of scuffed leather boots and ripped jeans that fit her like a glove, along with a black leather jacket she rarely removed, were her normal attire. And damned if it wasn’t sexy.

  “Hi, Damon.” She eyed him with an amused grin.

  “Evie.”

  They’d met the first time at Dare Nation. She’d come off an all-night watch and strode in to meet Quinn for lunch wearing a similar outfit, jeans that hugged her ass, a long-sleeve tight top that showed off her full breasts and ample cleavage, her face makeup free and her mouth sassy.

  Damon had been sitting outside Austin’s office while he was on a phone call, taken one look at the woman with the gorgeous dark hair hanging loose around her shoulders, not his usual type, yet he’d been drooling. Not literally.

  “Staring at something?” she’d asked him with snark.

  H
e’d held up his hands. “Just admiring the view.”

  Austin had walked out of his office at that moment and smacked him in the head with the papers in his hand. From that day on, they’d gotten under each other’s skin. He didn’t know what it was about her, but he was more comfortable across the room and not close enough to smell her musky perfume.

  “Well, who wants to hear the plan?” Bri asked.

  He folded his hands across his chest and glared at his sister, who was enjoying her moment way too much. “Go on.”

  “You tested positive for PEDs and you think you were set up,” Evie said.

  “I know I was set up,” he said through clenched teeth.

  Evie nodded. “And you need to know who did it, how, and why.”

  “Which is why I need a private investigator.”

  She grinned. “One who can stay by your side and get into places a regular PI can’t. Places a girlfriend can go.” She sidled up to him, rubbing her leather-clad arm against his bare one, and damned if his body didn’t respond, his cock perking up.

  Then her words registered. “Oh, hell no.” He didn’t date women, for real or pretend.

  He fucked them and sent them on their way. And he didn’t think he had a shot in hell of anyone believing he was together with Evie and her leather-clad body. Despite what his dick wanted, something he’d yet to understand.

  “Damon, think about it. You need someone who can evaluate the people in your life.”

  “In case you forgot, the suspension means I can’t do much with anyone on the team,” he reminded her.

  “Yes, but they can’t stop you from running into someone in a public place.” She put quotation marks around the words she’d emphasized. “So, if there’s anyone you want to meet, he can subtly arrange it. This is exactly what we wanted,” Bri said with excitement in her voice. “And most importantly, I trust her.”

  Evie checked him with her hip. “Come on. How can it hurt? Unless you’re afraid of me?”

  He gritted his teeth. “Of course I’m not afraid of you. I just don’t think we’re … compatible or that it’ll look real,” he said, scanning from her scuffed boots to her windblown hair, ignoring the fact that he thought she was gorgeous in an understated and quite unique way.

  She stepped in front of him and braced her hands on her hips. A flush of red stained her cheeks.

  “Embarrassed to be seen with me?” she asked, telling him he’d been right. He’d hit a nerve. “Because I promise you I can dress up and play a role as well as any one of those cleat chasers you and your buddies hang out with,” she assured him.

  From across the room, Austin glared. Because Evie was Quinn’s best friend? Or because Damon was being stubborn about a plan Austin had faith in? Probably a combination of both.

  “Tell you what,” Austin said. “Let’s go to Allstars tonight and test the theory of you two as a couple.”

  Damon considered the idea. The upscale bar would have enough people there to see them together and for them to get a feel for whether people familiar with Damon bought the concept of Evie as his girlfriend. He could handle testing things out. “Fine.”

  “Don’t sound so thrilled.” Evie scowled at him. “I’m going home. Apparently it’s going to take me a long time to pull myself together for His Highness over here.” She jerked a thumb his way, making Damon feel like shit.

  He hadn’t meant to insult her, just explain why he didn’t believe this plan would work.

  “I’m going with you.” Quinn picked up her purse, shot a nasty look at Damon, and followed her best friend out, leaving Damon with his siblings. And he damn well knew if Quinn was pissed at him, Austin was, too.

  “Well, that went well,” he said aloud.

  “Because you’re an asshole,” Bri said. “Evie didn’t deserve to be insulted, considering she was willing to help you.”

  Damon stiffened his shoulders. “I didn’t think I was offending her. Just being honest.”

  “You as much as told her people wouldn’t think she was your type, bro.” Austin leaned against the wall unit in the family room.

  “Actually, the way he looked her over all but insinuated she wasn’t feminine enough,” Bri said.

  He winced.

  “Okay, look, you’re not in a position to fight this,” Bri reminded him. “A regular PI can’t talk to the people around you. She can. So suck it up and make nice.”

  “I’ll see you tonight. I’ll text you the time. Want us to pick you up? You shouldn’t drive if you’re still having symptoms,” Austin said.

  “I’ll take a driver.” He had a feeling Quinn would lay into him if they were alone. And the three of them might show up with Evie.

  Damon needed time to prepare himself for the acting job of a lifetime.

  “I’ll see you tonight. I expect you to be on your best behavior,” Austin said.

  Damon frowned. “Are you speaking as my brother or my agent?”

  “Both.” Austin stood up straight and started for the door. “And you could start with an apology to Evie.”

  Bri smirked, liking when someone else was getting called on the carpet. “Hang in there, Damon. You can trust Evie to get the job done.” She paused. “As long as you’re not an asshole to her, that is.”

  Ignoring her comment, he let his family out and leaned against the door with a groan. He was exhausted and needed to lie down if he was going to go out for an hour or so tonight. At least Allstars was quiet, known for letting athletes and famous people mingle in peace without groupies begging for autographs or signed boobs.

  Speaking of boobs, he wondered how much cleavage Evie would show. Jesus, he was an asshole. Blaming the concussion, he headed upstairs to take a nap before his performance later tonight.

  * * *

  Evie yanked a hairbrush through her long hair, knotted from the ride in her convertible. She stood in front of the mirror on the wall in her bedroom, trying to get the tangles out while she was thinking about Damon.

  “Stupid jackass,” Evie muttered. “Brainless, no-good, dark-haired, sexy, tattooed, bastard with full lips, tanned skin, and indigo-blue eyes.” She blew out a puff of air and ignored the tingling of her skin and the rush of arousal that always accompanied her thinking about Damon Prescott.

  Quinn sat cross-legged on the bed and Evie could see her in the reflection. “He didn’t mean to be a jackass. He’s in pain and he’s frustrated.”

  Evie turned to her best friend. “Are you standing up for him?”

  “No.” She held up her hands, making it clear whose side she was on. “I just don’t want you to lose out on a good job.” She didn’t want to lose it, either.

  Six months ago, she’d left her job as an investigator at the Miami District Attorney’s Office for reasons she didn’t like to think about and had gone into business for herself. Proving Damon Prescott innocent would boost her business, and as a new PI, she needed a high-profile client.

  “Not to mention we need you,” Quinn went on. “Ignore Damon’s attitude. I’m sure Austin straightened him out when we left.”

  “Fine but if he says anything rude tonight, he’s getting a stiletto in his foot.”

  Quinn grinned, a genuine smile. Since falling in love with Austin and taking on the role of mom to the baby girl he’d found on his doorstep, she was lighter and happier than she’d ever been.

  “Or we could sic your cop dad and all four of your brothers on him. That could be fun. If he wasn’t injured, that is.”

  Evie rolled her eyes. “Now that you’re attached to the family, you’re no fun,” Evie said. “You’re too nice.”

  “What are you going to wear tonight?” Quinn ignored her comment, slid off the bed, and headed to her closet to look through her dresses.

  Evie narrowed her gaze, remembering how that handsome jerk had looked her over and found her lacking. Damon Prescott pushed all her wrong buttons. From the day she’d been introduced to him at Dare Nation, he’d treated her like an annoyance. She couldn
’t deny the idea of dressing up and seeing his jaw drop at the sight of her held a lot of appeal.

  “This.” She joined Quinn by her walk-in and reached for the black one-armed dress that draped her body and hit mid-thigh.

  “Oooh, pretty. Reminds me of my red gown, and Austin nearly ripped that right off me.” She grinned at an obvious memory Evie didn’t want to know about.

  “Keep the dirty details to yourself.”

  “You know … you don’t need to cover your arm. The scar has healed and—”

  “We don’t discuss it, remember?” Evie laid the dress out on the bed and smoothed her hand over the soft fabric.

  “You don’t discuss it. I do because the past doesn’t define who you are, no matter what you think.” Quinn put her hands on her hips and faced Evie. “Now I’d love to lend you a gold dress that would look gorgeous with your skin tone. It drapes down the back and both arms are bare.” She went back to the subject at hand.

  Evie shook her head. “A married woman hired me to catch her husband cheating and it turned out he was my fiancé. A man I hadn’t pegged as dangerous and I should have. I’d say that shows a decided lack in judgment on my part when I prided myself on being a smart chick.” And that was just one of the reasons she’d left her job. She couldn’t face people giving her that sympathetic look or questioning her skills because she hadn’t seen what was right in front of her.

  “You’re still a smart chick. John was a slick bastard. He conned his wife as well as you and she’s an investment banker. I don’t think she’s stupid. Do you? What about the other women who’ve been duped by pathetic men? Who’s at fault?”

  “I hear you, but it isn’t the same thing. I need my instincts, and if I can’t trust those, then I have issues I need to work through. And this is a reminder of my mistakes.” She held out her arm with the angry red scar running along her forearm.

  “I don’t want it exposed for me to see every day or be asked about it and have to explain the knife wound.” Because John, once he’d been caught, had been so angry, he hadn’t hesitated to hurt her.