Dare to Tease: A Dare Nation Novella Read online

  Dare to Tease

  A Dare Nation Novella

  By Carly Phillips

  Dare to Tease

  A Dare Nation Novella

  By Carly Phillips

  1001 Dark Nights

  Copyright 2021 Carly Phillips

  ISBN: 978-1-951812-40-9

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by 1001 Dark Nights Press, an imprint of Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  Dare to Tease by Carly Phillips

  A Dare Nation Novella

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carly Phillips returns to her sexy Dare world of rich billionaire sports heroes in her new DARE NATION SERIES!

  She handles cocky jocks for a living, but her love life isn’t as successful.

  Brianne Prescott, publicist for Dare Nation Sports Agency, grew up the only girl with four brothers, three of whom are sports royalty. She’s a pro not just at work but at being used by men who want access to her famous family. She’s learned the hard way that everyone wants something from her, always.

  He’s her brother’s best friend and the first man who sees her for who she really is.

  When Dr. Hudson Northfield rescues Bri from a homeless man outside the clinic where he works, he really notices her for the first time. Soon she’s accompanying him to New York for a family wedding, and despite her siblings’ overprotective protests, they’re falling in love.

  But Hudson has a secret he can’t reveal. If he wants access to a trust fund in his name, his father demands something in return. Hudson has to marry and provide an heir or his dream of opening a state-of-the-art health center will be destroyed. Suddenly the man who didn’t need anything from her appears to be the biggest user of them all. Unless Hudson can convince her he can live without money but he can’t live without her.

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Carly Phillips

  Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire, and she loves everything about writing romance. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. She has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a romance author. Carly is the author of over fifty romances, and is a NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller. She loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

  Also From Carly Phillips

  Click to purchase

  The Kingston Family

  Just One Night

  Just One Scandal

  Just One Chance

  Just One Taste

  Dare Nation

  Book 1: Dare to Resist

  Book 2: Dare to Tempt

  Book 3: Dare to Play

  Book 4: Dare to Stay

  The Sexy Series

  Book 1: More Than Sexy

  Book 2: Twice As Sexy

  Book 3: Better Than Sexy

  Novella: Sexy Love

  The Knight Brothers

  Take Me Again

  Take the Bride

  Take Me Down

  Dare Me Tonight

  Rosewood Bay

  Fearless

  Breathe

  Freed

  Dream

  Bodyguard Bad Boys

  Rock Me

  Tempt Me

  His to Protect

  Dare to Love Series

  Dare to Love

  Dare to Desire

  Dare to Touch

  Dare to Hold

  Dare to Rock

  Dare to Take

  Dare NY Series (NY Dare Cousins)

  Dare to Surrender

  Dare to Submit

  Dare to Seduce

  Billionaire Bad Boys

  Going Down Easy

  Going Down Hard

  Going Down Fast

  Going In Deep

  Hot Zone Series

  Hot Stuff

  Hot Number

  Hot Item

  Hot Property

  Lucky Series

  Lucky Charm

  Lucky Streak

  Lucky Break

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Click here to explore

  COLLECTION ONE

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black ~ CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham ~ CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart ~ SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom ~ DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake ~ AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione ~ NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones ~ SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair~ ROPED IN by Lorelei James ~ TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian ~ THE FLAME by Christopher Rice ~ CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  COLLECTION TWO

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham ~ EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby ~ MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair ~ CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner ~ ADORED by Lexi Blake ~ HADES by Larissa Ione ~ RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton ~ DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James ~ RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright ~ DRAGON KING by Donna Grant ~ PURE WICKED by Shayla Black ~ HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye ~ STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian ~ ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham ~ KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice~ DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster ~ TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti ~ THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION THREE

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham ~ SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst ~ DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice ~ ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey ~ DEVOTED by Lexi Blake ~ Z by Larissa Ione ~ FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige ~ EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby ~ UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton ~ HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye ~ DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant ~ KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright ~ STRUNG UP by Lorelei James ~ MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian ~ TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti ~ DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black ~ THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely ~ SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FOUR

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley ~ ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg ~ SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde ~ RAZR by Larissa Ione ~ ARRANGED by Lexi Blake ~ TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti ~ HOLD ME by J. Kenner ~ SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst ~ TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey ~ HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton ~ EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye ~ BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright ~ DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant ~ TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James ~ STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely ~ MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian ~ HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham ~ DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige ~ THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan ~ NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss ~ NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby ~ DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FIVE

  BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti ~ ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley ~ HAWKYN by Larissa Ione ~ RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye ~ ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde ~ THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst ~ SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton ~ INKED NIGHTS by Ca
rrie Ann Ryan ~ ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken ~ PROTECTED by Lexi Blake ~ THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ PLEASE ME by J. Kenner ~ WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James ~ STRONG by Kylie Scott ~ DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant ~ TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby ~ HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham ~ CONTROL by K. Bromberg ~ HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan ~ THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

  COLLECTION SIX

  DRAGON CLAIMED by Donna Grant ~ ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ ENSNARED by Elisabeth Naughton ~ EVERMORE by Corinne Michaels ~ VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti ~ ELI’S TRIUMPH by Joanna Wylde ~ CIPHER by Larissa Ione ~ RESCUING MACIE by Susan Stoker ~ ENCHANTED by Lexi Blake ~ TAKE THE BRIDE by Carly Phillips ~ INDULGE ME by J. Kenner ~ THE KING by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley ~ ABANDON by Rachel Van Dyken ~ THE OPEN DOOR by Laurelin Paige~ CLOSER by Kylie Scott ~ SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst ~ BLOOD NIGHT by Heather Graham ~ TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis ~ MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU by Shayla Black ~ WONDER WITH ME by Kristen Proby ~ THE DARKEST ASSASSIN by Gena Showalter

  COLLECTION SEVEN

  THE BISHOP by Skye Warren ~ TAKEN WITH YOU by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ DRAGON LOST by Donna Grant ~ SEXY LOVE by Carly Phillips ~ PROVOKE by Rachel Van Dyken ~ RAFE by Sawyer Bennett ~ THE NAUGHTY PRINCESS by Claire Contreras ~ THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT by Darynda Jones ~ CHARMED by Lexi Blake ~ SACRIFICE OF DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy ~ THE QUEEN by Jen Armentrout ~ BEGIN AGAIN by Jennifer Probst ~ VIXEN by Rebecca Zanetti ~ SLASH by Laurelin Paige ~ THE DEAD HEAT OF SUMMER by Heather Graham ~ WILD FIRE by Kristen Ashley ~ MORE THAN PROTECT YOU by Shayla Black ~ LOVE SONG by Kylie Scott ~ CHERISH ME by J. Kenner ~ SHINE WITH ME by Kristen Proby

  DISCOVER BLUE BOX PRESS

  TAME ME by J. Kenner ~ TEMPT ME by J. Kenner ~ DAMIEN by J. Kenner ~ TEASE ME by J. Kenner ~ REAPER by Larissa Ione ~ THE SURRENDER GATE by Christopher Rice ~ SERVICING THE TARGET by Cherise Sinclair ~ THE LAKE OF LEARNING by Steve Berry and MJ Rose ~ THE MUSEUM OF MYSTERIES by Steve Berry and MJ Rose ~ TEASE ME by J. Kenner ~ FROM BLOOD AND ASH by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ QUEEN MOVE by Kennedy Ryan ~ THE HOUSE OF LONG AGO by Steve Berry and MJ Rose ~ THE BUTTERFLY ROOM by Lucinda Riley ~ A KINGDOM OF FLESH AND FIRE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  To Liz Berry, MJ Rose, and Jillian Stein, thank you for making me part of the 1001 family. It means more to me than you could ever know. You’re the warmest, sweetest, most generous people and I’m so glad to call you all friends.

  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Carly Phillips

  Also from Carly Phillips

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Foreword

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Eight

  Discover More Carly Phillips

  An excerpt from Just One Night by Carly Phillips

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Chapter One

  “Today was one for the ages,” Brianne Prescott said to her sister-in-law Quinn, her brother Austin’s wife and his personal assistant. They all worked at Dare Nation, the sports agency her brother and uncle owned and where Bri was a publicist.

  Quinn shook her head and laughed. “What was it you once told me? Athletes are like babies with big bank accounts?”

  “And big dicks.” Bri grinned at her own joke.

  Quinn chuckled. “Considering I’m married to your brother, I won’t comment.”

  But she’d insinuated it anyway. “Eww. Don’t even make my thoughts go there,” Bri muttered.

  “Sorry,” Quinn said, but she sounded more amused than apologetic. “Bad day?”

  Bri nodded. “If it could go wrong, it did. I’m sure you heard about most of the fires I had to put out.”

  It was her job to keep the babies she’d mentioned in line, and for whatever reason, today had not been the day for good behavior. She’d had a client test positive for PEDs, one married guy accused of fathering a baby with an obvious gold-digger, and another who’d accidentally posted said big dick on Instagram, getting himself banned but not before the news had gone viral.

  Quinn tucked a strand of her dark hair behind one ear and shook her head. “It makes you wonder what some of these guys are thinking.”

  “Amen.”

  Although Quinn knew firsthand what it was like to get involved with an arrogant former pro football player. Austin had come home one night to find a baby on his doorstep, and in a panic, he’d called Quinn. She’d moved in to help and never left, the two falling in love and Quinn taming the former playboy and becoming a mother to one adorable baby girl.

  Wheeling her desk chair back, Bri stretched her legs with a groan. “All I want to do is go home, undress, pour myself a glass of wine, and relax.” She glanced around the office she considered her sanctuary and sought peace.

  The walls were painted turquoise, the shelves white. Her intention had been to give the room a beachy feel that would relax her during stressful times. Like now. Breathing in and out and enjoying Quinn’s company, she began to chill out.

  A knock sounded at her door, and Tara, Bri’s secretary, popped her head in. “I’m leaving for the day. Do you need anything?”

  “No, thanks
. I’m good. Have a nice evening.”

  Tara smiled. “You, too. Oh! And you asked me to remind you to stop by the health clinic on the way home and take Braden the dress you borrowed from Willow.”

  Bri groaned at the reminder, and Tara rolled her eyes. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

  Both Quinn and Tara laughed, causing Bri to hold up her hands in defeat. “Hey, I knew I would. That’s why I asked for the nudge!”

  As Bri’s second hand, Tara was used to Bri’s never-ending lists and reminders.

  “Night,” Tara said to both Bri and Quinn before walking out.

  “Guess I’m not going straight home after all,” Bri said to Quinn. “Willow needs the dress for an event this weekend, and I had it cleaned after I wore it.”

  She glanced at the garment she’d borrowed from another sister-in-law, hanging on the back of her door. Willow was engaged to Bri’s twin brother, Braden, a doctor at a downtown healthcare clinic and the team physician for the Miami Thunder football organization, where Willow worked as an athletic trainer.

  “At least it’s not as far as driving to the stadium to give it to Willow yourself,” Quinn said, obviously looking for the bright side of Bri’s never-ending day.

  “True.” Glancing out the window behind her, Bri noticed the sun beginning to set, the orange glow lowering on the horizon. “It’s getting late, and I don’t want to walk through that part of town alone after dark, so I’d better get going.”

  “Good point. I heard the clinic isn’t in the best neighborhood, but Braden and Hudson are doing really good work.”