Dare by T.A. Foster Read Free Book Online

across the street from the museum in my assigned spot. I cut the ignition and turned to face her. “I guess I never had a reason to stay anywhere.” A small lump formed in my throat. It was hard to think about.
    “And you want that now?”
    She tilted her head to the side, her green eyes gleaming. Those eyes. I had noticed them this morning in the library, before I had a chance to register anything else. They were piercing, mesmerizing; they were deep pools of emerald that tempted me. I just didn’t know what the temptation was. I couldn’t figure her out.
    “Maybe.” I snatched the keys and hopped out of the car. I rushed to the other side to get the door for her. I wasn’t ready to go through my work history. Three towns in fourteen months made me sound like a drifter.
    She stretched one leg and then the other. Her movements were graceful and deliberate.
    “Are you a ballerina?” It sounded like a dumb question when I said it, but I had to know. Every move she made was elegant, as if her limbs flowed with water.
    She giggled. “No. Afraid I’ve never taken dance.”
    “Huh.” I gave her my arm. “Shall we?”
    The tables were full. We were one of the last couples to arrive at the dinner. Lacey glared at me from across the dining room. I noticed she was sitting alone, probably hoping we could go home together afterward. I tried not to think about how likely that possibility had been.
    We found our seats before the museum director grabbed the mic. He welcomed everyone to the dinner. He introduced the speakers for tomorrow’s event. I stood and waved when he called my name.
    “This is a big deal,” Dare whispered to me.
    “Yeah, I guess it is.”
    “Thanks for bringing me.” She smiled. “It seems like a big night for you. I hope I didn’t take someone else’s place. You could have shared this with someone you know.”
    I didn’t know what it was about her, but when she spoke, my ears perked. I didn’t hear anything else. She drew me in with slow, luxurious words.
    “Don’t say that. I asked you. I’m glad you came with me.”
    She nodded at the waitress who refilled our water goblets. Even that gesture was graceful.
    “Would you like a tour?” I asked.
    “Can we do that?” She looked around. “Isn’t the museum closed?”
    “I’ll give you the behind the scenes look at the glitz and glamour of Sullen’s Grove’s most treasured museum.”
    “It’s the only museum,” she teased.
    I stood from the table, and pulled her seat out. “Shall we?”
    We walked behind the table and I opened the side door, leading us into a dark hallway. The first level was where the main exhibits were displayed.
    I pushed open a set of double doors. “We’ll start here at the pirate exhibit.” Each of the displays was lit with a soft spotlight. It was almost eerie at night.
    “Oh, yes. I know about the pirates.” She walked over to a glass case. “What’s the story with this dagger?” She pointed to a silver knife. The blade gleamed.
    “This one was actually found at a construction site. Most everything else in here was found in underwater digs on some of the shipwreck sites. This was left behind by a hopeless romantic.” I stood next to her, studying her eyes as she read the inscription next to the dagger’s pedestal.
    “I didn’t know pirates could be hopeless romantics. I thought they just pillaged every ship they saw. How is this one different?”
    “Well, you see this particular pirate fell in love. When he was in port in Sullen’s Grove, he met a girl. He gave up his pirate ways for her and stayed behind in Sullen’s Grove when the ship set sail.”
    She turned toward me. “He gave it up? I thought pirates were indentured to their captains?”
    “He was the captain.” I smiled. “He gave it all up. His crew, the ship, his treasure. Everything he had accomplished for her.”
    “Wow.” Dare ran her finger over the top of the glass barrier above the dagger.
    “Want to hold