Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips

Author:Carly Phillips [Phillips, Carly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: CP Publishing
Published: 2014-04-09T14:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

Madison found herself sitting at a small private table with Olivia, shots of tequila in front of her. Olivia worked as assistant travel secretary to the team. She also sat in on high-level meetings with Ian because he valued her advice and was training her in all aspects of team business. Madison didn’t know her well, but Riley spoke highly of her, which vetted her enough for Madison. If she was going to drink with her and ultimately let down her guard, she needed that kind of assurance.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Madison asked, gesturing between them.

“I wanted to get to know you better,” Olivia said.

“And take a breather from Dylan?”

Olivia laughed. “And now I know why Riley likes you.” She raised her tequila glass. “Lick, salt, drink, and bite. Ready?”

“Oh good Lord, you’re really going for this.” Madison shrugged. One or two wouldn’t kill her.

Madison licked her hand, salted, drank the burning liquid, and immediately bit into the lime wedge to kill the taste.

“Men are such a pain in the ass,” Olivia said after pulling the lime from between her lips.

Madison’s eyes watered, and she drew a deep breath. “They can be, yes. They can also be…” She turned her head and found Alex, leaning against a gleaming silver railing, his gaze never leaving her. “Hot.” She turned back.

Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Exasperating. That’s the word you were supposed to use. But it looks like my half brother got under your skin.”

“The way Dylan’s gotten under yours?” Madison asked.

Olivia gestured to another shot, and Madison drank along with her. “Damn men who want too much.”

Madison shook her head and laughed, but the sound hurt. “That hasn’t been my experience.”

“I think it is now. Alex hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since I pulled you away.”

Her cheeks warmed, but Olivia was right. “Things are changing between us,” Madison said, suddenly light-headed from the effects of the liquor.

“I’ve been close with Alex since I was a kid. When Avery gave Sienna her bone marrow, the kids got to know each other.”

“Except Ian.”

Olivia shrugged. “My big brother bore the weight for all of us. But Alex? It’s been a long time since anyone but family saw him for just himself.”

“I do,” Madison whispered, thinking of the man who’d knelt down beside the teenager in the wheelchair. The man who’d held her as she’d bared her soul and relived her painful childhood. The man she wanted to feel filling her body tonight.

“I know. And I’m glad.”

“What about you? Why are you leading Dylan around by his—”

Olivia waved her hand, cutting Madison off. “Is it that obvious?”

“No. It was just a guess based on what you’ve said. And not said. He seems like a decent guy.”

“Let’s dance,” Olivia said, hauling Madison to her feet.

“There’s a way to avoid answering,” Madison muttered, thinking Olivia was more closed off than she was.

Before she could hit the dance floor, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifted her into the air, and carried her to a darkened hallway before setting her down.

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