When You Dare - Lori Foster [141]
“Wrong.” He let her go to return his hand to the wheel again. “Your dad asked for a little time before I break the big story. That’s all.”
“But you aren’t planning to break a story anyway.”
“We know that. He doesn’t.”
“What was his reasoning?” A horrible thought occurred to her. “Did he offer you something in exchange for your silence?” She wouldn’t put that past her dad. Public humiliation would be hell on earth for him.
“He did.” Dare took an exit off the more rural streets and onto the I-75 highway. “He offered to hand over the one responsible.”
Her stomach lurched, and pain squeezed around her heart. Damn it, she’d thought herself immune to her father’s vitriolic machinations.
Apparently not.
Trying to hide her reaction, Molly nodded. “So he does know who’s responsible?”
“Not exactly, no. But he has a few ideas, and in an effort to exonerate himself, he’s going to do a little checking on his end. At this point, I don’t think his snooping around will hurt anything, so I told him to go ahead. Later in the week, I’ll call him to find out how it’s going.”
“He really believes that you would throw the story out there for the media?”
“I was convincing, wasn’t I?”
“Not to me, but then I know you better than he does.” Molly wasn’t at all sure that she really wanted to know, but neither did she want to hide her head in the sand. “So who does Dad suspect?”
“He wouldn’t say.” Dare worked his hands on the wheel. “But I believed him that he has an idea or two. And you know…” He thought about it, glanced at her and away, then admitted softly, “I’m rethinking him as the one responsible.”
It felt like a weight had been lifted from her, with just that possibility. “Really?”
“Something didn’t fit. I don’t know. I’m sure your father is a slick liar.”
“He’s a shark, in business and out.”
Dare nodded. “But he seemed genuinely insulted to be accused of having you hurt.”
Ridiculous hope sprang to life. She knew her father would never love her, but apathy would be easier to bear than deep hatred.
With tentative caution, Molly admitted, “To me, too.”
Dare slanted a measuring look her way. “You didn’t say anything.”
She looked down at her hands. “I guess my trust in you outweighs my need for my father’s affection.” When Dare’s silence wore on her, she looked up to see a very thoughtful frown on his handsome face. “I didn’t want to obviate your instincts with my own, likely jaded, perspective.”
“Actually,” he told her, “I trust your instincts, too, so always feel free to tell me what you’re feeling.”
“Do you mean that?”
His frown darkened more. “Of course I do.”
“All right.” She took a breath. “Then why are you keeping me in the dark?”
That accusation didn’t sit well. “I tell you everything you need to know.”
Now, that hurt. “So, I’m on a need-to-know basis?”
“No. Don’t twist my words.”
“You’re the one who said it.” Her throat felt thick. It was insane that something so small could hurt her feelings on the heels of everything else she’d been through.
Dare made a visible show of striving for patience. After another glance in the rearview mirror, he took an exit toward a newer strip mall.
He said nothing, so she didn’t, either. But she hated the tension between them.
After he parked, he watched the mirrors, waiting, and when the black car didn’t show, he turned off the SUV, released his seat belt and reached for her.
Molly stiffened in surprise. “What—”
Holding her shoulders, Dare pulled her over the console and kissed her. This was no friendly peck. His lips worked over hers until she parted them. Then his tongue stroked in. The kiss was hot and deep, and oh-so-stirring.
Molly came up for air and straight-armed him. “If that’s your way of shutting me up—”
He laughed and kissed her again, this time for a tickling, teasing smooch. “That was my way of making myself feel better.” He smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “From the very beginning I’ve been irresistibly drawn to you. If you’re near enough, I’m