Once Upon a Dare (Risky Business)(3)

Crap! His gaze swung toward her and she knew she’d been caught staring. Real smooth. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, refusing to shrivel under the heat of his gaze. She wasn’t one of those girls. And judging by the light in his eyes, he kind of liked that. She couldn’t quite make out the color, but their ravenous look left no doubt as to his intentions.

Olivia had never been a believer in lust at first sight, but apparently her body hadn’t gotten the message. Like a lit fuse, desire raced through her, awakening urges that had been dormant too long. Maybe Chloe was doing her a favor after all. It had been a while, and the prospect of having those masculine hands wrapped around her body instead of the stem of a martini glass was promising.

…

Cole Bennett eyed his martini with a mixture of appreciation and discontent, trying to decide if he should order another. The martini was damn near perfect, but it wasn’t exactly his drink of choice. He preferred a nice smooth scotch any day of the week, but what the hell. The night was young and he didn’t have anywhere else to be. It also didn’t hurt that he was getting top notch service from the busty, bottle blonde bartender he’d pegged for the actress/model type. He’d smile and tip her well, but that was as far as it would go. It was his first night back in New York, and he was determined to be on his best behavior.

More than anything, he was glad to be home. Home meant a New York slice and more time with his sister, Anna. Growing up, he’d always looked out for her, but thirty-five hundred miles had forced him to step back and recognize her independence. Although he grudgingly accepted her adulthood, it was comforting to know he was only a short drive away if she needed him.

Sure, there were certain things he’d miss about London, but his lifestyle was far better suited to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. It was no secret to anyone who knew him that he lived on the edge, with his penchant for fast cars, hard liquor, and high stakes. After all, life was meant to be lived and he was determined to go full throttle after what he wanted. It was that tenacity which had earned him his first million and almost ruined him in London, where going after what—or rather, who—he’d wanted had nearly cost him everything he’d worked so hard to build. That was a mistake he wouldn’t be repeating, but it didn’t mean he was going to change his lifestyle any time soon. He nearly laughed at the thought.

For years, Anna had been bugging him to settle down and start a brat pack of his own, but there was no way in hell that was happening. Cole Bennett didn’t settle for anything. Besides, hadn’t fantasizing about that happily-ever-after bullshit been what had burned him in London? He’d seen enough broken families, including his own, to know a fairytale when he saw one.

No, Cole liked his life just fine. He especially liked the hot blonde he’d been admiring for the last half hour. Too bad it was her sultry looking friend who was undressing him with her eyes.

He wasn’t interested.

Cole set down his drink and focused on the blonde. She exuded class with a snug skirt that hugged her subtle curves and a hint of cleavage peeking through the open collar of her crisp white blouse. Just the thought of twisting his fingers in that honey-blond ponytail had his palms itching. And those legs. He had always been a leg man and hers were first class all the way.

Fortunately for his newfound resolve, she didn’t look like the one-night stand type. She was completely focused on her friend and hadn’t looked his way once. Nor had she looked at anyone else in the crowded bar.

There was a time when he would have jumped at the challenge, but he was older and wiser now and had seen firsthand what kind of trouble that could bring. There were plenty of women who were looking for a night of great sex, no more and no less, so why borrow trouble by screwing with the ones who wanted more?

Shit.

Who was he kidding? If he sat there much longer, he’d have a full blown hard-on at the mere thought of slipping between those thighs. He needed to get that second drink, or a change of scenery.

Without warning, her stool swiveled and she met his stare straight on, as though she’d felt the heat of his gaze all along. There was no mistaking the burning desire that flared in her clear blue eyes while she stared at him unabashedly.

Maybe he’d been wrong about her after all. She was definitely interested, but would she act on the impulse?





Chapter Two


Hoping to calm her unsteady nerves, Olivia sucked in a deep breath as she approached the bar. Was she really doing this? And, oh God, what if she made a complete fool of herself? What if he wasn’t interested? Maybe she’d imagined the spark between them? She exhaled slowly.

Confidence in the bedroom had never been an issue for her, but she’d also never set out to seduce a complete stranger before. She was out of her league and it took all her self-restraint not to glance back at the table where Chloe was waiting for the check.

What was the big deal anyway? It wasn’t like she’d be giving up her virginity, for crying out loud. Her v-card was long gone, no thanks to the ineptitude of Danny Reid and one highly overrated prom. This was just sex. As long as she remembered how to do it, things would be fine. Probably.

When she stepped up to the heavily lacquered bar, the perky blond bartender was quick to take her order.

“What’ll you have, hon?” she asked, as she wiped down the scarred counter.

“Dirty martini,” Olivia replied without hesitation. If she was going down the path of seductress, she might as well put on her big girl panties and commit one hundred percent. She hated to admit it, but there was no escaping a childhood spent chasing pageant crowns without learning a thing or two about catching someone’s eye.