Heidi (I Dare You Book 1) (6 page)

“What exactly is that supposed to be?” She fanned her face and tried not to smile at Nathan’s comical expression. She ignored him instead and walked past him again to get the fan from the hallway closet. “Want to explain what you’re doing in here?”

Nathan hit the fire alarm with the broom handle to shut up its beeping. “I was trying to make you dinner.”

“But why?” she asked through chuckles. Nathan could barely boil water.

“Because I was an ass last night, and it scared me when you didn’t come home. I didn’t like it, and I’m hoping to make it up to you somehow.”

“You were a royal jerkwad,” she said, and her fit of laughter died down. It was back to reality. And God, she loved him, but she also needed to learn how to stop if it was going to hurt this much. “Last night was certainly an eye opener, Nathan, but I could never stay mad at you for very long.” She tried giving him a smile, but it was weak, and she was in definite need of a subject change before she started crying again or something. “But why don’t you let me handle dinner tonight? Or we may have to find somewhere else to live after you burn the place down.” She picked up the phone to order a pizza.

“Thanks, Heidi, but about last night—”

“Please, Nathan, it’s still too raw for me to talk about. I’ve come to a conclusion I think will make you pretty happy anyway. I can’t lose you, so I want to continue with the way things were before, but I just can’t be intimate with you without wanting so much more. Sadly, the so much more I want I also know I’ll never get from you, but you’re my best friend, Nathan De Costa, and you always will be.” She gulped and tried hard to conceal her emotions from him.
Stay strong, Heidi. You can do this!

It wasn’t working, though, and she could feel her eyes welling with a sheen of tears, and her throat became thick with grief.
Escape. Escape now.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to order and then take a shower and relax. Let me know when the pizza gets here, okay?” She went to retrieve a twenty from her wallet, placed it on the kitchen table, and walked out of the room without looking back at him again. He stood there silently watching the whole time.

Foregoing her room, she headed straight for the bathroom and leaned against the door when it shut behind her. Then, and only then, did she allow herself to cry one last time over this before painfully trying to move on with her life.

Twenty minutes later, Heidi wrapped herself in a towel and was ready to make a dash to her room to get dressed. Her eyes widened when she opened the door to discover Nathan was waiting for her and blocking her path.
Shit, I should have brought clothes with me first.
“Nathan? Is the pizza here already?” She stood on her tippy toes and tried looking over his shoulder while holding the towel tighter. Even though what she really wanted was to let it fall and feel him again.
Damn it, get a grip!

“What if I told you I don’t want to go back to the way things were? That I changed my mind?” He closed the distance between them, and her breathing sped up. Nathan’s mouth was just inches from hers, and she could feel his warm breath against her skin, and it gave her goose bumps.

“I—I’d say I don’t believe you. Nothing could have changed in the last twenty-four hours, Nathan.”

“I thought we already established I was an asshole,” he whispered, and continued his pursuit. “I told you that already, and I’m going to prove this to you, make it up to you somehow...” His lips glided across her cheek toward her ear, and Heidi held back a curse when her nipples instantly puckered and her pussy became wet thanks to his close proximity. She wanted him, and probably always would.
Shit, Heidi, you’re not helping yourself here. You’re letting him torture you.

He took her lobe into his mouth and sucked on it.

Heidi groaned and bit her lip as she pushed him away. “Stop playing with me, Nathan. I’m beginning to think you like to be cruel. What is it that you want from me? I’ve already promised to be whatever you want me to be in your life. We’re friends, and you made it clear last night that’s all it’ll ever be between us. I can’t offer you more without wanting it all, can’t you understand? You’re killing me here.”

“Tell me you love me.”

“What?” She couldn’t believe him.

“I said, tell me you love me. Please, Heidi, I want to hear you say it.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it, becoming angry. She shook her head no and backed up again. “Why, because it worked out so well for me the last time I said it? I can’t believe you, Nathan. You’re toying with my emotions, and I hate it.”

“I love you too, damn it! Is it so bad of me to want to hear the words back?”

“Of course not, but right now I love you differently than the way you love me, and that makes it cruel. I’m trying so hard to make things right again, and it’s so hard—” Her words were cut off by a knock at the door, and she looked away as Nathan cursed the pizza guy’s timing. “Enjoy your pizza, Nathan. I’m not very hungry suddenly.”

“Heidi, please wait...”

She rushed past him and slammed the door once she was safely inside of her room. She fell straight onto her bed and stared at the ceiling, praying for the strength to get over this and the determination to move on, but first it was going to be one hell of a long night to get through.

Chapter Three

A week passed by, and it was pure hell on him as he watched Heidi pretend like they hadn’t made love several times. He missed her, felt like a dipshit for hurting her, and was hell-bent on making things right between them. The problem was she didn’t believe him no matter how many times he tried to bring up loving her. He had to figure out a better way to prove it, and it was frustrating as hell.

“Please don’t go.”

“What?” Heidi turned to him and almost took his breath away. She looked amazing, especially then. She was getting ready for a date with Rafe, and he hated how jealous he was about it.

“Don’t go, please, Heidi. Just stay with me.” He gulped and then reached for her hand. “We can do anything you want.”

She turned her head and refused to look at him when she said, “Don’t be silly, Nathan. You could come with us if you’d like. We’re going back to Moonlight to listen to their open-mic night. I wonder if we have any local talent that might make it big.” She looked into the mirror again to finish getting ready, and it broke his heart that he’d hurt her so much. He could still see it in her eyes, and feel it in her actions—the avoidance.

It was killing him that he had to resist touching her, and the whole wanting what he couldn’t have thing was driving him insane. He never in his life had to work this hard to get with somebody, and he still wanted to kick his own ass for being such a fool in the first place. He’d found his one and only, both inside and outside of the bedroom.

She was perfect for him, and he was ready to fight to keep her, even if it seemed like she’d given up on him.

Nathan decided to push his luck when he stepped behind her and began to massage her shoulders, he forced himself to smile and decided to lighten the mood. “I’d love to come with you, Heidi. In fact I miss it, and if your invitation includes that threesome I was offered and ignorantly threw away, then I’m all yours, baby. I want you so bad.”

He watched her eyes widened a fraction and then become heavy lidded with lust before she composed herself. “Good to know, Nathan.” She cleared her throat. “But, um, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She smiled and placed her hands on top of his. “I’m actually surprised you don’t have anywhere to be. You haven’t gone out in a while. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go through such a dry spell like this.”

He shrugged before smiling down at her. “You go have fun tonight, sweetheart. Maybe I’ll see you there.”

It all came together right then, the perfect way to make up for all of his mistakes.

And a small victory had been achieved just moments before when he’d seen the lust and yearning in her eyes. Deep down, she still wanted him, and that was all he needed to keep going.

“Okay.” She gave his hands one last squeeze before letting go. “I’ll see you there, then.” With one last smile, she turned and left the apartment, taking his heart with her.

Nathan had come up with a plan to prove letting her go was a mistake once and for all. Heidi was going to know how he felt about her, and she was going to believe it, even if it killed him. This was going to be a night to remember, but he needed his neighbor’s help to pull it off.

****

“Have I told you how good you look tonight?” Rafe ravished her with his eyes as he took her all in.

“Why, no. I don’t believe you have.” She smiled wide and deliberately circled him to check him out as well. She stopped in front of him and licked her lips. “You’re not so bad yourself, handsome. In fact, you’re down right sinful, and maybe if you’re good later you and I could—” Her sentence was cut off by his ringing cell phone, and he groaned.

“Hold that thought, beautiful. I like where we were heading.” He brushed his lips against her forehead. He quirked a brow towards his call display feature with what looked like curiosity and mumbled, “This should be interesting,” before answering it.

“Why am I not surprised you’re calling me right now?” Rafe looked down at her and then laughed at whatever was being said on the other end. “Uh-huh, interesting, but what’s in it for me?”

Heidi couldn’t help herself as she eavesdropped on his conversation, listening closely. “Rafe, is everything okay?”

“Uh-huh, just a sec.” He took the phone away from his mouth and pulled her close. “Everything is wonderful, Heidi. This will only take another minute, and then I’m all yours, honey.” He smiled wide before leaning down to lay a scorching kiss on her lips, and it left her dazed and breathless when his tongue left hers to get back to that blasted phone call. She touched her lips in amazement.
Wow!

“What do you mean? Listen, man, I’m on a date here, and you’re ruining my precious time with this very tasty woman.” He chuckled. “Fine, do what you’ve got to do. Yeah, yeah, I’ll behave myself, but I don’t know how long I can hold out.” Rafe clicked the phone off and pulled her close again. “This is bound to be one hell of an interesting night, beautiful. Are you ready to get it started?”

“Oh yeah,” she whispered, and took advantage of the moment with another kiss. Her tongue traced his lips, and he opened for her to deepen the kiss. She could feel all of his sinfully delicious muscles pressed against her body, including the one impressive bulge inside his pants pressing against her stomach with obvious excitement evident. “Oh, Rafe, let’s skip the club. Take me back to your place.”

He cursed. “Heidi, you don’t know how much I’d love to do exactly that, honey, but I promised someone we’d hear them sing tonight, and I never go back on my word no matter how tempting the offer. It’ll be good, though, I promise you. It better be good,” he grumbled.

“Yeah, that’s what I was hoping.” She quirked a brow and then smiled shyly. “I haven’t been with anybody since Nathan, and I’m trying hard to move on. I just figured that if we—I mean, I was just hoping you’d make me feel good, even if only for a few hours.”

“Oh, honey, I promise to make you feel real good after this show. I think it might shock you, and I can guarantee I’ll give you a night to remember.”

“Uh, fine!” She threw him a mock-pout. “We’ll go see the stinking show.”

“Thatta girl.” Rafe laughed and put his arm around her for the few blocks it took them to arrive at the club and apparently to one hell of an evening.

****

The band on stage called themselves The Purple Nurple. Just as receiving one was painful, so was listening to them.

“Wow.” Heidi grimaced. “I hope this isn’t the friend of yours you promised to watch sing.”

“Hell no.” Rafe couldn’t help but laugh. “He’d better be up soon, though. I can’t get that tempting invitation I was given out of my head.”

“Oh yeah, and which one was that?” Heidi smiled teasingly and sprinkled some salt on her wrist. She licked it clean and took her shot of tequila like a pro before sucking on the wedge of lime.

“There was only one tempting offer tonight—yours. Your tongue is so fucking sexy, by the way. I love watching you lick yourself.”

“Thanks.” She chuckled. “Oh, look, we’ve got a lucky break.” She pointed toward the stage as they prepared for the next band to come on. “Maybe your friend’s next. You have me curious now about what’s so great about him. Is he any good?”

“Actually, I don’t know.” Rafe shrugged. “He just called me and said he’d be here tonight. He wanted us to watch his performance.” Rafe leaned closer to her and continued, “He’s hoping to prove something, and I’m curious to see if it works.”

“Really?” Heidi sat straighter and looked around the bar enthusiastically. “What’s that about?”

He chuckled. “Later. The show’s about to start again.”

Heidi decided to take a break from the tequila and took a sip of her water instead, but it didn’t go down smoothly. In fact, she almost choked on it. She quickly swallowed and focused on the stage. Her jaw dropped, and eyes went wide in disbelief.
Nathan?

As if hypnotized, she couldn’t look away.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Nathan adjusted the mic to suit his height and continued with his own introduction. “My name is Nathan De Costa, I’m a Port Jervis local, and I’m here tonight because I royally screwed up with the woman I love. So please bear with me as I make an ass out of myself yet again, but hopefully in a good way this time.” Chuckles erupted around the club, and Heidi found herself smiling as well at the admission. Her heart beat erratically as the lights dimmed and the band from before started to play in the background. “This is for you, Heidi.” He looked around the bar in a desperate search for her.

The moment their eyes met, his heavenly voice filled the room as he began singing.

He walked off the stage confidently and headed straight her way.

Heidi’s hands began to shake, and she couldn’t help the flow of happy tears that fell down her cheeks. There her man stood declaring his love for her in front of all of these people.
Could he possibly love me the same way I love him? God, I hope so!

The song was coming to an end, and he surprised her again as he hit the high notes very well. Was there no limits to this man’s talents? And before she knew it, he was lowering himself to his knees in front of her and finishing his speech. “I love you, Heidi Taylor. I think I always have. You surprised me, scared me, and kept up with me when I needed you the most. You’re my best friend, and the love of my life. It took almost losing you to open up my eyes, and I don’t ever want to let you go. Please tell me you still feel the same way.” He moved the mic away from his mouth and continued so that only she could hear. “Please believe me.”

“Yes,” she whispered, “Oh, Nathan, I love you too!”

“Thank fucking God,” he said with relief, and looked a little more confident now. “I was so damn nervous. I was beginning to believe you’d never hear me out.” He put the mic back up to his mouth. “Marry me, Heidi?”

The crowd quieted down, and she was stunned speechless until Rafe said, “Come on, beautiful. Take the man out of his misery.”

“Okay.” Heidi laughed joyously through her tears. “Yes! But only if you stop making me the center of attention and take me home. You see, I think we need to celebrate, and what better way to do so than to recreate the night we should have had before you screwed it up?”

“Done.” He smiled wide and handed the mic to a bar maid. “But first I need this...” He wrapped his arms around her and devoured her mouth with all of the pent-up passion he’d held inside these past couple weeks, and it wasn’t until the nearby catcalls and whistles surrounded them that they pulled away.

“Rafe, baby?” Heidi looked back at the table they occupied and smiled. “You ready for that threesome? I promise to make it worth your while.”

“Oh, hell yeah!” Rafe walked towards them. “I thought you’d never ask.”