A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [31]
“And I have another idea,” he said, meeting Shelly’s gaze, trying not to notice how beautiful her eyes were, how beautiful she was, period. Just being in the same room with her had his mouth watering. She stood in the middle of his office silhouetted by the light coming in through his window and he thought he hadn’t seen anything that looked this good in a long time.
“What?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“AJ is probably hungry and I was on my way to Chase’s restaurant where my family is dining tonight. He’s welcome to join us, and I can drop him off at Ms. Kate’s later.”
Shelly nodded. Evidently Dare felt he’d made some headway with AJ for him to suggest such a thing. She glanced across the room at AJ who had his eyes glued to his book, pretending not have heard Dare’s comment, although she knew that he had.
“AJ, Dare has invited you to dine with his family before dropping you off at Ms. Kate’s. All right?”
It seemed AJ stared at her for an endless moment, as if weighing her words. He then shifted his gaze to Dare, and Shelly felt the sudden clash of two very strong personalities, two strong-willed individuals, two people who were outright stubborn. But then she saw something else, something that met her breath catch and her heart do a flip—two individuals who, for whatever reason, were silently agreeing to a give a little, at least for this one particular time.
AJ then shifted his gaze back to her. He shrugged. “Whatever.”
Shelly let out a deep sigh. “Okay, then, I’ll see you later.” She walked across the room to place a kiss on AJ’s forehead; ignoring the frown he gave her. “Behave yourself tonight,” she admonished.
She turned and smiled at Dare before walking out of his office.
“The only reason I decided to come with you is because I want to meet Thorn Westmoreland. I think he is so cool.” AJ said, and then turned his attention back to the scenery outside the vehicle’s window.
Instead of using the police cruiser, Dare had decided to drive his truck instead, the Chevy Avalanche he’d purchased a month ago. He glanced over at AJ when he brought the vehicle to a stop at a traffic light. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “I figured as much, but you won’t be the first kid who tried getting on my good side just to meet Thorn.”
AJ scowled. “I’m not trying to get on your good side,” he mumbled.”
Dare chuckled again. “Oh, sorry. My mistake.”
For the next couple of miles the inside of the vehicle was quiet as Dare navigated through evening traffic with complete ease.
“So, how was your day at school?” Dare decided to ask when the vehicle finally came to a complete standstill as he attempted to get on the interstate.
AJ glanced over at him. “It had its moments.”
Dare smiled. “What kind of moments?”
AJ glared. “Why are you asking me all these questions?”
Dare met his gaze. “Because I’m interested.”
AJ’s glare deepened. “Are you interested in me or in my mother? I saw the way you were looking at her.”
Dare decided the kid was too observant, although he was falling in nicely with their plans. “And what way was I looking at her?”
“One of those man-like-woman looks.”
Dare chuckled, never having heard it phased quite that way before. “What do you know about a man-like-woman look?”
“I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Not for one minute did I think you had been.” After a few moments he glanced back at AJ. “Did you know your mom used to be my girlfriend some years back?”
“So?”
“So, I thought you should know.”
“Why?”
“Because she was very special to me then.”
When Dare exited off the interstate, AJ spoke. “That was back then. My mother doesn’t need a boyfriend, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Dare gave his son a smile when he brought the vehicle to a stop at a