Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(46)

Not her. Anger      strangles my gut. And we’re back to the conversation from the dugout—baseball      ruined our relationship. “We broke up and now you’re with Mike.”

I can hear Gwen’s smile. “But you promised we’d be friends. I’m      being a good friend.”

Friends. I hate      that word. “You’re right. Beth is pretty.”

“She has a nose ring.” Gwen’s lost the smiling voice.

“I think it’s sexy.” I do.

“I heard she smokes cigarettes.”

“She’s trying to quit.” Yeah, I made that up.

“I heard she has a tattoo on the small of her back.”

Interesting. “I haven’t gotten that far, but I’ll let you know      if I do since we’re friends and all.”

An image plays in my mind of lifting the back of Beth’s shirt      to reveal her skin, my caress causing her to smile. I bet her skin is smooth,      like petals. My fingers fidget with the desire to touch Beth and my blood warms      with the idea of her whispering my name. Damn. The girl really does turn me on.      I run a hand over my head, trying to rid my mind of the thought. What the      hell?

“Ryan. I’m not kidding. She’s not your type.”

“Then tell me who is.” I say it with more anger than intended,      but I’m tired of the game.

“Not her, okay?” Gwen pleads.

The image of touching Beth taunts and confuses me. Three quick      raps on my door and Mom enters. “I’ve gotta go.”

“’Night,” Gwen says with disappointment.

Mom wears a matching blue blazer and skirt. She attended a      women-only dinner with the mayor’s wife this evening. “Am I interrupting?”

“No.” I toss my phone onto the bedside table.

“You sounded a little upset.” Mom walks over to my dresser,      appraises her reflection in the mirror, then readjusts her pearl necklace. “I      could hear you in the hallway.”

I shake my head. “Just Gwen.”

Her hands freeze on her necklace and a smile curves her lips.      “Are you together again?”

“No.” Mom loved Gwen and I think the breakup was hardest on      her.

She continues her grooming. “You should consider it. I heard      that both you and Gwen were nominated for homecoming court.”

News travels at lightning speed in our town. “Yeah.”

“You know, your father and I were nominated for homecoming      courts. Both fall and winter.”

“Yep.” She mentioned it. A million times. They won both times      too. If her continued retelling of the events didn’t refresh my memory, the      pictures hanging in the family room of them dancing with crowns on is a good      reminder.

“I also heard that Scott Risk’s niece was nominated.”

“Uh-huh.” If Mom knows everything, then why is she bothering      me?

“What are your thoughts on the niece? Her aunt, Allison Risk,      has asked to be nominated for the empty seat on the church event committee.”

And there’s my answer. Respectability. If Beth is an outcast,      then Beth’s guardians will be considered bad parents. Mom wants the prestige of      nominating Scott Risk’s wife, but she doesn’t want the scandal of nominating the      guardian of the “bad girl.” Both Mom and Dad’s families have been members of      this community since the first foundations of home and church were laid hundreds      of years ago. The Stones are a legacy.

“She’s interesting.”

Mom turns. “Interesting. What does that mean?”

I shrug. It means that Beth’s in the way of my winning a dare.      It means she tries my patience. It means I want to see her tattoo.      “Interesting.”

Mom rubs her forehead in frustration. “Fine. She’s interesting.      If you discover another word, you know where to find me.”

Yep, I do. If in public, she’ll be right next to Dad. In      private, the exact opposite of where Dad will be. Mom pauses at the door frame.      “And, Ryan, I talked to Mrs. Rowe this evening.”

I dip my head and briefly close my eyes. Not good. Not good at      all. “Uh-huh.”

“She’s curious as to when you’ll be turning in your paperwork      for the final writing competition in Lexington.”

Damn. I raise my head, but my shoulders stay slumped as I look      at Mom. “I’m not doing it. It interferes with ball.”