Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(141)

My smile grows and Ryan’s face reddens. “That’s not what I      meant. I meant I miss sleeping with you.”

I know what he means. “It’s a little hard to slip out with a      broken hand.”

He lowers his head to mine and his hold on me tightens. “I’m      sorry I didn’t protect you better.”

“Ryan, no. I would have died if it wasn’t for you.”

“It’s over now,” he whispers against my mouth.

I expectantly part my lips for his kiss. “It is.”

“Mr. Stone. Ms. Risk,” calls the assistant principal. “A      little more space between you and a lot more paying attention. It’s time for you      to get onto the field.”

I deflate and wrap my hand on Ryan’s bent arm so he can      escort me out underneath the glaring lights. I wanted Ryan to kiss me. I needed      him to kiss me.

Over the PA system, our names are announced and Ryan leads      me to the fifty-yard line. People yell and scream, the loudest cheers coming      from the section where we left Lacy, Chris, and Logan.

“When you win,” says Ryan, “don’t forget you said you’d keep      that tiara on your pretty little head all night.”

My eyes widen as I realize how I can get exactly what I      want. We stop in the middle of the field and I turn to him. “Kiss me. Not just a      peck. The real deal.”

Ryan glances around at the bleachers full of hundreds of      people. “Excuse me?”

“I, Beth Risk, do double dog dare you to kiss me in front of      all these people.”

Ryan’s eyes brighten and the arrogant smile that makes my      heart trip over itself spreads across his face. “Are you forgetting dare      etiquette? You have to dare before you can double dog dare.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. I dare you to kiss me.”

“And if I do?”

“If I win homecoming, which I won’t, I’ll wear that damn      tiara for a week straight.”

He cradles my face with both his hands. His lips whisper      against mine and I ache for him to kiss me. My mind whines that he won’t do it,      but then he nibbles on my lower lip. His mouth parts and the two of us move our      lips hungrily in time with one another.

In between gasps of air our names are called as the winners.      I feel Ryan’s lips tug into a smile before he says one word: “Can.”

*





Acknowledgments

To God—Isaiah 61:1



For Dave—Because I still own the first baseball cap I ever saw you in.





Thank you to...

Kevan Lyon—Everybody should have someone like you in their corner. Your advice and guidance have been extremely valuable to me. Thank you. I will never forget that this all began with you.

Margo Lipschultz—Thank you for caring as much about my characters as I do. You are absolutely brilliant and I’m a better writer because of you.

Everyone who has touched my books at Harlequin Teen, especially Natashya Wilson. You guys have made this experience fantastically memorable!

Matt Baldwin and Mike Baldwin with Future Pro: Thank you for welcoming me into your indoor training facility and for taking the time to answer my questions on baseball.

Angela Annalaro-Murphy—Thank you for loving Beth first. It was your faith and friendship that kept me writing.

Shannon Michael—How many times did I end up on your back porch with my head in my hands wondering if I was headed in the right direction with the story? Thanks for the laughs and friendship.

Kristen Simmons—I couldn’t have done this without you. It’s amazing when I think of the laughter and tears we’ve shared since we met. This book is for you.

Colette Ballard, Kelly Creagh, Bethany Griffin, Kurt Hampe, and Bill Wolfe—You guys are more than a critique group. You’ve become family. Kelly and Bethany, thank you for holding my hand through my debut year. Kurt and Bill, thank you for pointing out when “a guy wouldn’t do that.” Colette, thank you for the endless hours of laughter, support, and extra reads.

Louisville Romance Writers: It was you guys who first put me on the path toward publication. Thank you for continuing to light the way.

Again, to my parents, my sister, my Mt. Washington family, and my in-laws...I love you.

My biggest thank-you is to the fantastic authors I’ve met, the booksellers, the librarians, the teachers, the book bloggers, and my readers. Thank you for taking the time to spread the word and for the messages, tweets, and emails you’ve sent to me. You remind me why I write.

To A, N, and P. You know who you are and you know that I love you more than my own life.





    Don’t miss Isaiah’s story, coming soon from Katie McGarry and Harlequin       TEEN! Turn the page for an exclusive two-chapter sneak      preview....