A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [61]
Moments later, after parking her car Shelly strolled up the walkway and rang the doorbell. It didn’t take long for Dare to answer.
“Hi, Shelly.”
“Hi, Dare.” Her heart began beating rapidly, thinking she would never tire of seeing him dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a chambray shirt. As she met his gaze, she thought that she had definitely missed him during the two days he and AJ had gone to North Carolina.
“Come on in,” he invited, stepping aside.
“Thanks.” She glanced around Dare’s home when he closed the door behind her. Nice, she thought. The layout was open and she couldn’t help noticing how chic and expensive everything looked. “Your home is beautiful, Dare.”
“Thanks, and I’m glad you like it.”
Shelly saw that he was leaning against the closed door staring at her. She cleared her throat. “You mentioned AJ finally got around to admitting that you’re his father.”
Dare shook his head. “Yes.”
Shelly nodded. “I’m happy about that, Dare. I know how much you wanted that to happen.”
“Yes, I did.”
A long silence followed, and, with nothing else to say, Shelly cleared her throat again, suddenly feeling nervous in Dare’s presence, mainly because he was still leaning against the door staring at her with those dark penetrating eyes of his. Breaking eye contact, she glanced at her watch and decided to end the silence. “Speaking of AJ, where is he?”
Dare didn’t say anything for a moment, then he spoke. “He isn’t here.”
Shelly raised a brow. “Oh? Where is he?”
“Over at my parents. They dropped by and asked if he could visit with them for a while. I didn’t think you would mind, so I told them he could.”
Shelly nodded. “Of course I don’t mind.” After a few minutes she cleared her throat for the third time and said, “Well, I’m sure you have things to do so I’ll—”
“No, I don’t have anything to do, since the important package I was waiting for arrived already.”
“Oh.”
“In fact, I was hoping that you and I could take in a movie and have dinner later.”
Her dark gaze sank into his. “Dinner? A movie?”
“Yes, and you don’t have to worry about AJ. He’ll be in good hands.”
With a slight shrug, she said. “I know that, Dare. Your parents are the greatest.”
Dare smiled. “Well, right now they think their oldest grandson is the greatest. Now that the secret is out, you should have seen my mom. She can’t wait to go around bragging to everyone about him since it’s safe to do so.”
Shelly’s stomach tightened. Now that the secret was out, things would be changing…especially her relationship with Dare. He wouldn’t have to pretend interest in her any longer. Even now, she knew that probably the only reason he was inviting her to the movies and to dinner was out of kindness.
“Well, what about the movies and dinner?” Dare asked, reclaiming her attention.
She met his gaze. This would probably be the last time they would be together, at least out in public. There was no doubt in her mind that until they got their sexual needs under control they would still find the time to see each other at night in private.
“Yes, Dare. I’ll go out to the movies and to dinner with you.”
“Thanks for going out with me tonight, Shelly.”
“Thanks for inviting me, Dare. I really enjoyed myself.” And she had. They had seen a comedy featuring Eddie Murphy at the Magic Johnson Movie Theater near the Greenbriar Mall. Afterwards, they had gone to a restaurant that had served the best-tasting seafood she’d ever eaten. Now they were walking around the huge shopping mall that brought back memories of when they had dated all those years ago and had spent a lot of their time there on the weekends.
Dare claimed the reason he was in no hurry to end their evening was because he wanted to give his parents and siblings a chance to bond with AJ, and he thought the stroll through Greenbriar Mall would kill some time.
“How do you like the type of work