Read Dare To Love Series: Daring to Chance It (Kindle Worlds Novella) for Free Online Page B

and not letting him see how much his appearance rattled her. Usually, she kept up with the sports news, and she’d meant to Google everything she could find about the Miami Thunder. Ian had given her the overview and the other executives she’d met with—many of them his relatives—had provided their input. And between her whirlwind trip here for her interview, packing up her place in Chicago, finding a place to live here, and the madhouse settling into her new job, she hadn’t exactly had the time.
    Big mistake, one she’d have to remind herself not to make again. The last she’d read, Beau’s contract with the New Orleans Panthers was up and he’d become a sought-after free agent. She certainly hadn’t expected to see him introduced as the Thunder’s new golden boy and, for a moment there, she’d thought she might faint. Fortunately, she’d made it through everything without anyone being the wiser. She could thank the years of learning discipline at a large law firm for that.
    But then Beau had walked into her office, and she’d nearly passed out.
    God, all the nights she’d dreamed about him, alternately cursing him and weaving sensual fantasies. Now, here he was, and what was she supposed to do? She wondered if she’d made a huge mistake agreeing to meet him for a drink. But curiosity as much as the electric attraction was pulling her to Jake’s After Dark. She could hardly wait to hear how he explained what happened in New Orleans beyond the young and foolish line.
    If she was smart, she’d listen to him, let him off the hook, thank him for the drink, and get the hell out of there. Of course, if she was as smart as she’d always thought she was, she’d never have taken Beau Perini up to her hotel room in the first place. Well, that was spilt milk she’d stopped crying over a long time ago. She was older and, hopefully, a lot wiser. She’d make sure she was firmly in control of the situation.
    She snorted. Yeah, right.
    Taking a last look in the mirror, she picked up her purse and laptop bag, locked her office, and headed down to her car. She smiled to herself as she unlocked it and climbed in. During the crazy days when she made the move to Miami, while she was packing up her life in Chicago and putting her new life into place, she’d given in to a long-held secret wish for a convertible. She hadn’t wanted to buy one when she braved the cold winters of Chicago. But the moment she walked out into warm sunshine and soft breezes of South Florida, she decided what the hell. It was breakout time.
    Now she realized, startled, that it gave her a sense of freedom she hadn’t had for a long time. Maybe for the past six years. She had taken her hurt and anger from New Orleans back to the law firm in Chicago and thrown herself into work. Three years ago, she’d accepted a date with Kirk, another associate with the law firm. She thought how great it was that they had so much in common, could share their ideas, and discuss cases. How terrific they were together.
    Ha!
    That all went to hell the day he was introduced as the new junior partner, the position she’d thought she was getting. Only, she wasn’t the one newly engaged to a senior partner’s daughter. Angry at herself for having either bad taste or bad judgment where men were concerned, she left Chicago, determined not to ever get involved with another man. At least, not for a very long time.
    Certainly not with Beau, the man who had disappeared from her bed like a puff of smoke. This was going to be nothing more than a drink. That’s all. They’d talk, get the air cleared, and each go on their own way. She didn’t want her job with the Thunder to be clouded by an antagonistic relationship with their bright, shiny new star. She could do this. Yes, she could. She pressed the remote control to turn on the radio, found a good Top 40 station, and forced herself to relax. Let the breeze blow through her hair and sweep away the strain of the day.
    It