"Tess!" Every adult with the last name of Barron yelled at the teenager at the same time.

Liza shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

In the silence that followed, Liza realized Dare was staring at his sister with distinct anger in his gaze. Liza didn't want to be the cause of problems and was about to nudge Dare to let it go when Tess spoke.

"Sorry," she said, looking at Liza. "I was just kidding."

"Some things aren't funny," Dare told her.

"That's okay, Tess. I'm just not used to big joking families." Liza didn't know what possessed her to admit such a thing, but though Tess had a smart mouth, she didn't seem to mean any harm.

And a part of Liza wanted Dare's sister to like her, she realized, the thought taking her by surprise.

"Okay, then," Faith said. "Let's talk about something else."

Tess nodded, picked up her fork and began to eat once more. Liza followed her cue. Thankfully, the rest of the meal passed with easy conversational talk about things like scheduling a meeting in the next few weeks to go over the fund-raiser details, Tess's art and school, and other innocuous things. All earlier tension gone, the easy banter returned, and an hour later Liza realized she'd just experienced the real Barron family.

The night showed Liza that her instincts about Tess were right. She hadn't gone after Liza to be mean. Tess tested everyone in her orbit. Over and over again. She held nothing back, not in teasing her siblings or showing surprising moments of openness and vulnerability, and in return the Barrons gave back to Tess in equal measure.

The overwhelming emotion at the table was love and acceptance. It was obvious this family had become a unit, no matter how hard the road getting there had been. For anyone else, the night might have been normal, but Liza's experience with family was anything but. She'd never been on the receiving end of love or acceptance, and Liza grew increasingly uncomfortable despite the fact that they all tried to include her in the conversation. She was grateful Nash and Kelly weren't there or she would have been even more overwhelmed.

She hadn't realized she'd completely spaced out on what was going on around her until Dare placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Ready to go?" he asked quietly, so no one else could hear.

Liza blinked, startled.

"Unless you want dessert, but you look exhausted and I'd guess your head hurts?" he asked softly. His understanding gaze told her he knew she'd had enough.

Her head had begun to throb and her anxiety level had kicked up a notch. His suggestion came just in time and she nodded.

"I'm going to take Liza home," Dare said to Ethan and Faith.

"Thank you so much for dinner," Liza said. "It's just been a long day."

"It's been a long weekend, I imagine." Ethan's wry tone expressed a combination of seriousness while still mocking his brother.

Liza couldn't help but grin.

Dare pulled out her chair and Liza stood. They said their good-byes, and as Liza passed by Tess the teenager slipped her one of the precious chocolate-chip cookies she'd taken from the kitchen while Rosalita had her back turned.

As acceptance went, Liza was officially blown away.

Dare walked Liza up to her front door. She'd been deliberately quiet on the drive back home, and as if sensing her need, he'd left her alone with her thoughts. Liza had used the time to compose herself and think about how her insular existence had changed in such a short time. Her brother had gone over the edge and Dare Barron had insinuated himself into her life.

She didn't mind his presence. Far from it. She liked him too much, even if his family could be overwhelming. And though she hadn't been good company and she'd been asleep more often than awake, he seemed to want to spend more time with her too.

The sun had dipped below the horizon and the lights outside her house had gone on while the summer heat pulsed around them.

It seemed the right time for questions to be answered. "So how did you know I needed to leave?" She'd been wondering since he'd declared it was time for them to go.

His eyes twinkled with amusement as he shrugged his broad shoulders. "A hunch."

"It was more than that. It's like you know me." As well as she knew herself. He'd picked the exact moment her flight instinct was kicking in.

He exhaled a long, hard breath. "It's more like I can read you."

She let herself process the statement and it made her squirm. Not that he'd be able to read her but that he'd want to try. Thanks to the humidity she'd broken into an uncomfortable sweat, which didn't help the discomfort in her head. She searched her purse and found her key.

"Do you want me to come in?" he asked before she could invite him.

She didn't hesitate and merely nodded, hoping she knew what she was getting herself into with this man.

She locked up after him and leaned against the door, palms braced behind her.

"Now where were we?" he asked. "Ah, yes. I said I'd read you. And realized you were uncomfortable with my family. Not that I blame you. They can be overwhelming on a good day and Tess wasn't exactly on her best behavior."

"I like her, though." Liza couldn't help but grin. "And it's not that I don't like your family. I do. A lot. I definitely appreciate how nice they've been to me."

"I know. But you withdrew into yourself at dinner. You'd stopped talking, you weren't listening to anything anybody said." He raised his hand before she could argue. "You were polite and friendly, but I could tell you weren't comfortable."

"Am I that obvious?" she asked, embarrassed.

"Only to me, I hope." His intimate smile heated her from the inside.

She bit the inside of her cheek. "You're right. I was uncomfortable," she admitted. "I'm not used to close friends and family."

He nodded, his understanding gaze meeting hers. "I know that too and I wanted to give you the space you needed. And I'll make sure you aren't put in those situations often."

She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his words. Enough that her breath caught in her throat. Her flight instinct was screaming at her again, but she understood she was facing a crucial moment. He'd given her an opening, one where she could find out what exactly he wanted from her and whether it was something she was willing to give.

Before she lost her nerve.

Liza ran her tongue over her lips. "Umm, just why would I be in that situation again?"

"I'd think that was obvious. He grinned and stepped closer. "Because I hope you'll be seeing a lot more of me." He said hope, but he spoke with the certainty of a man comfortable in his own skin. Comfortable with himself and with her.

He was irresistible, Liza thought, which meant one thing. She was in deep trouble.

Eight.

Dare took a step closer to Liza, crowding her against her front door, wanting to be sure they had a clear understanding. "Did you hear me? I want to see a lot more of you."

She ran her tongue over her lips. On any other woman he'd take it as a tease. With Liza, he knew it was an honest statement of nerves. "I want that too," she said.

He smiled and brushed her hair off her shoulder, pleased to see her tremble. "Good."

"But Dare?"

"Hmm?" He leaned in and inhaled her fragrant scent. His body hardened immediately.

"I don't do relationships."

He stiffened but didn't back away. He wasn't about to let her innate fears rule what he knew could be damned good. "Let's clarify that." He placed a kiss on her jawline. "You want to see me too?" He followed that question with a lick of his tongue.

"Mmm hmm." Her words came out like a moan.

"Well, I don't share. So if you're seeing me, you won't be seeing anyone else. Agreed?" He braced one hand on the door behind her and nuzzled her neck. Damn, she tasted sweet.

She exhaled a trembling breath. "As long as when you're with me, you're following the same rule."

He swallowed a pleased laugh. "That's fair. So, is there anyone you need to end things with before we..."

She ran a finger down the razor stubble on his cheek. "No, anyone I've seen is in the city and to be honest, it's just an occasional thing that has no strings, no expectations."

"What about that work guy?" He hated asking but he had to know.

"Just a work guy. I don't date co-workers and I'm not interested in him anyway." She paused. "What about you? Any women who might come after me with a butcher knife? Boil a bunny in my kitchen?"

He tipped his head back and laughed. "Hell, no. I don't do those kinds of games. I already told you I'm a relationship guy. When I'm with a woman, I'm with her."

Needing to taste her, he followed a trail of kisses up her neck until he was at her ear and bit down on her lobe. Her knees shook and her response to him eased any lingering jealousy.

"You're kind of a rare breed, huh?" she asked him.

He hoped she'd find that a good thing. "I'm just me." He kissed her sweet lips, licking lightly with his tongue. "And we're just us. And just so you know?" He deliberately paused a beat. "That's what I call a relationship," he murmured before sealing his mouth over hers.

The kiss started hot, letting him know she was equally invested-in sleeping with him at least. But he wasn't interested in a quick fuck and he certainly didn't plan on doing anything with her while she was injured. He'd already gotten what he wanted tonight, an acknowledgment that she knew he was in this and she wasn't pushing him away. So he slowed things down, trying to calm his body, and instead planned to do something he hadn't concentrated on in a while.

Enjoying a kiss.

He stepped back and grabbed her hand, leading her into the family room and over to the couch, where he pulled her onto his lap and picked up where he left off. Threading his fingers through her hair, he returned to her luscious mouth, kissing her slowly and thoroughly. She curled into him and they made out like they were teenagers. There was no other word for the greedy kisses they exchanged. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and he groaned at how good she tasted, how aroused she made him with just one kiss. Her fingers gripped his shoulders and little sighs of delight escaped from the back of her throat and made him rethink his plan to just kiss her senseless and leave her to get some sleep. Obviously her head wasn't hurting all that badly after all.

He threaded his fingers through her hair and nibbled at her lips. "Mmm. I taste chocolate chips."

She laughed. "That's Tess's fault."

"Yeah, I saw her slip you a cookie. She likes you." He looked into her flushed face and glazed eyes. "So do I."

"I suppose you want me to say it?" she asked, blushing.

"I can handle it if you don't." But he wouldn't be happy.

She smiled and nearly blew him away. "I like you too. But don't let it go to your head. And don't think just because you seduced me into accepting your version of a relationship that I've changed my mind."

He forced an easy grin. "Wouldn't think of it. As long as we're on the same page."

She nodded. "For as long as we're together."

"Works for me." He wasn't going anywhere for a long while, he thought, and brushed another kiss over her lips. "Now let's get you tucked into bed. You're still recuperating." It wasn't what he wanted, but he had to make the suggestion.

Her frown gave him hope and his cock jumped inside his pants at the possibility.

"Do you think you're leaving me worked up like this?" she asked, deliberately squirming in his lap.

He blew out a relieved breath. "I hope not. But being a gentleman, I had to make sure you're feeling up to anything more."

He wanted to stay, Liza thought, and everything inside of her eased. She wanted the same thing. Because let's face it, he made her heart race faster and just being with him put a smile on her face. She could even learn to deal with the intimacy of being around his family every once in a while. He kissed that good. He took care of her that well. Not to mention he made her feel a whole host of other things she wasn't about to look into too deeply.

"I'm up to it," she assured him.

He grinned. "So am I."

"I see that. Or should I say I feel that." She laughed and wriggled in his lap.

"Okay, you. Up. Unless you want me to take you here on the couch."

To her surprise, the thought had its appeal.

"Didn't I tell you not to look at me that way unless you were prepared for the consequences?" he asked gruffly.

She hadn't realized she telegraphed her desire on her face and swallowed hard. "I don't believe you finished the thought last time. At least not in words." It had led to their first kiss, though, and her body flushed with heat at the memory and pulsed at the hope of going further tonight.

"That's it." Somehow he stood with her in his arms. "Bedroom?" he asked in a dark, desire-laden voice.

This was her last chance to say no. "What are you waiting for?" she asked him instead.

With a low growl, he headed for her room, and next thing she knew he laid her down on the bed. She took in the predatory gleam in his eyes and everything inside her went to liquid mush. Moisture slickened between her legs, dampening her panties. Her breasts felt full, her nipples hardened. And her stomach clenched with unfulfilled need.

All that from one look.

"I wish you didn't have to worry about being gentle," she admitted, wanting him with everything she was.

"Slow and easy's good for the first time," he assured her. "There'll be other times for hard and fast."

True to his word, he began to undress her at a leisurely pace, unbuttoning her jeans and pulling them down over her legs. He paused to run his lips over her bare skin, licking a delicious trail from her stomach down her calves, past the sensitive flesh behind her knees, to her toes, only to travel up again. With painful slowness that let her feel his lips over her skin, he finally returned by the same path, lingering on the inside of her thighs but skipping the parts hidden by her skimpy underwear.

She trembled beneath the sensual assault until his tongue dipped into her belly button, then worked its way down to the top of her panties and her stomach clenched in building need. He continued to torment her, his tongue trailing along her panty line until her clit throbbed painfully and the pulsing between her legs wouldn't be denied.

He ran one finger down the center of her sex.