Dare Me(15)

It’s hard not to notice how Holt appears so at ease and laid back here. “And last but not least, I have to show you my favorite place in the house,” he says as we take a narrow stairwell up a long flight of stairs to a small landing. Opening a door, we step out onto a rooftop patio that takes my breath away. You can see downtown Chicago and even Lake Michigan from up here.

“Oh my God,” I say, stepping out further onto the patio. “It’s breathtaking.”

“I know,” he says and sidles up next to me.

There are stone benches built into the perimeter of the patio, with large pots with shrubs sprinkled in to break up the seating. Outside patio furniture fills the center, and a large built-in grill and outside kitchen area complete the space.

“Look.” I point to the dark sky. “The Big Dipper.” My voice breaks as I say it, and I have to swallow hard. Looking at the stars brings back so many memories, good and painful. I will never forget how long it took my dad to show me where it was in the sky and for me to tell the difference between it and the Little Dipper.

“I don’t see it.” He tips his head backward and squints.

“Right there,” I whisper, pointing right at it.

He shakes his head, his arm brushing against mine. “I still don’t see it.”

I sigh. I remember how my dad would point and talk me through finding it and how frustrating it must’ve been for him, but not once did he get frustrated with me. He was always so patient and would help me locate it time and again.

“Come here.” I sit down on a large plush outdoor chaise fit for two. Holt sits down next to me, and we lean back. “See right there.” I point. “Those seven stars. From the end, the stars are Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, and Megrez. Now go to the bottom left corner. That is Phad. Across on the bottom right corner is Merak and the top right corner is Dubhe.”

“I see it,” he says excitedly and points his finger to the sky. “Aside from a degree in interior design, did you also major in astronomy?” he jokes with me.

“No.” I chuckle. “I did spend a good deal of time taking astronomy and space studies classes, though. Is that nerdy?”

He laughs quietly. “Not nerdy, but I would’ve never guessed that about you,” he says, turning his head to look at me. “What made you interested in those classes?”

I rest my head in my hands and lean back into the plush cushion. “My dad,” I say softly. I fight down the lump that’s forming in my throat. I clear my throat and hope that it masks my emotions. “Before he died, he used to spend hours showing me how to find it. We’d lie out in the grass on the front lawn at the farm, and he’d show me all the constellations he knew. I could never find the Big Dipper, though. I was always looking too high in the sky. He’d say, ‘Lower, Saige.’“ I can’t help but smile at the memory.

He smiles with me. “He taught you well. You knew exactly where to find it tonight.” His voice is soft and caring.

I shrug one shoulder. “I’ve pretty much mastered it by now.” Without thinking, I go on. “For a long time, I couldn’t look at the sky. It made me angry, and I missed him too much. Now it brings me comfort. It’s how I connect with him.”

Holt rolls over on his side and faces me. “Thank you for showing me.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for agreeing to have drinks with me.” I try to get up from the chaise but Holt stops me. “I should get going. It’s late—”

“Stay with me.” His words cut me off. His eyes, full of want, search mine.

I almost don’t know if I heard him correctly, so I just stare at him in disbelief. “What?” A chill sweeps through me as a breeze picks up, and I run my hands over my arms.

“You heard me, Saige. Stay with me.” His voice grows needy.

“I can’t do that. We can’t do that.” I look up at him. Because I want to do that. But I can’t. I most definitely can’t.

He presses his palm to my cheek, his thumb gently sweeping over my lips tenderly. “Stay,” he urges again, and all logical reasoning escapes me.

I look away from him, dropping my eyes to his chest. My hair billows around us as the wind kicks up. “I can’t.” My heart is racing wildly in my chest, and I weigh every consequence of staying with him in my mind.

“You can.”

“Holt . . .” I pause.

“I dare you, Saige. Stay with me.”

I dare you. Those three f*cking words will get me every single time.





Holt

She sighs loudly. I can’t believe I actually dared her to stay with me. I’ve never begged a woman for a damn thing, yet here I am, reduced to daring Saige Phillips to stay the night with me. I’m almost ashamed of myself. Almost.

“Saige,” I push her to answer me. I see the hesitation in her eyes, but I also see the desire and want.

“Holt, I was worried that drinks were a bad idea. Staying is a really bad idea.”

“Staying is a perfect idea. Look at the storm blowing in,” I laugh light-heartedly and gesture to the clouds rolling off the lake, moving in above us, “and I don’t have my car. I wasn’t going to drive after we’d been drinking, and there is no way I’m sticking you in a cab at this hour and sending you home, so it looks to me like your only option is to stay.” I smile at her, hoping my charm works.