Page 1 of Dare To Kiss You
Chapter one
Kat
You would think having four older brothers would mean someone else could rake the mountain of leaves that always fall in my front yard each autumn, but no.
No, and not because one brother lives in Montana, playing hockey in the NHL, another works insane shifts at the fire department, the third is a busy pediatrician at the hospital, and the last is an accountant who’s working his butt off trying to obtain a partnership at his firm.
Rather, it’s because my mom didn’t raise me to be the kind of girl who is afraid to get her hands dirty. Nope, growing up I worked just as hard as the boys at any and all household chores. I can change a tire, do basic home maintenance, and yard work.
But I hate raking leaves.
Seriously, it’s the most futile task ever. You rake them, more fall. Rinse and repeat.Fucking leaves.
Which is why every year, I find myself wishing I could somehow rope a brother or two into helping. Because while I love the gigantic maple tree that dominates my front yard, I don’t love the cleanup it requires every fall.
“Need any help?”
A deep voice penetrates through my grumbling thoughts. The voice that I hear in my dirtiest dreams,the dreams I really shouldn’t be having about another man, seeing as I’ve got a boyfriend. Granted, a boyfriend who lives halfway across the country and I don’t get to see very often, but still. It’s his voice I should be dreaming about, not the voice of the incredibly hot cop who moved in next door just over a year ago.
“Hey, Hunter,” I say casually, turning to him. My greedy, guilty eyes take in his shoulders, covered in a snug fitting T-shirt. He’s muscular, but in a sleek, athletic way, not a gym junkie way. I sweep my gaze over him quickly — his dark brown hair that is always messy, his eyes that constantly sparkle, and those full lips that never seem to stop smiling.
You know those people who seem toalwaysbe happy, no matter what? That’s Hunter Callaghan. My cousin Leo works with him at the police department. One time, while having drinks with my brothers and me, he said Hunter reminds him of a golden retriever. I can see that, but not in a bad way. Hunter is just naturally happy, friendly, easygoing, and…cute. Very cute.
He’s friendly with everyone but I’ve always felt like he’s maybe just a little bitmorefriendly with me. It started right after he moved in, when he saw me petting our neighbour’s big orange cat who had free rein of the neighborhood.
“Is that your cat?” he asked.
“No, he belongs to the Singhs.” I gestured to a house down the street. “But he’s super friendly.”
“Cool.” He sauntered over, sank down, and started petting the cat with me. Sure enough, Marmalade leaned into Hunter’s touch, purring nonstop. Lucky cat.
Hunter stood up and thrust his hands in his pockets before giving me a grin. “Well, I better get ready for work. See ya around, Kitty Kat.” He winked, then walked away.
At first, I wasn’t sure if the nickname and the wink was really for me or for the cat. But from that day on, Hunter called me Kitty Kat. Maybe I shouldn’t have liked it as much as I did, especially since I had recently started dating someone; the same someone I should be thinking about right now instead of my hunky neighbour. The nickname implies a closeness between us, a connection I know is probably all in my head. But that moment with our neighbour’s cat was the start of the secret crush I’ve had on Hunter Callaghan.
And now the man in question is standing in my yard, looking far too yummy for his — or my — own good.
Boyfriend. I have a boyfriend.
“That tree sure does make a mess.” He grins, pushing back the lock of hair that always flops down over his forehead. “But I’ve got a couple hours before I’m due at the station. Want me to help?”
My mind battles between eagerly wanting to say yes just to have the help, and desperately wanting to have a good reason to say no. Because the guilt that comes along with my attraction to Hunter is overwhelming sometimes.
“Sure, that would be great.”
I regret the words as soon as I say them. But then Hunter smiles, and I smile back, and suddenly I forget what I was meant to be doing. Instead, I stand there like an idiot, smiling, until he comes back with his own rake and a pair of work gloves.
“Cool. I’ll start over here and meet you in the middle.” Hunter moves to start raking, then pauses and stares at me. “You okay, Kitty Kat?”
“Yup, fine! Great. Thanks.” I pivot, only to step on my rake and have it snap up and almost hit me in the face. Only it doesn’t because a gloved hand stops it just in time.
“Easy there. No black eyes, ‘kay?”
Oh Lord, he’s so close I can feel the warm air from his breath as he talks, his words a lighthearted rumble.
I force out a light laugh and reluctantly step away from him, taking the rake. “Thanks. Again.”
His smile is out in full force. “No prob. Let’s get raking. I’ll have you know, I’m a fast leaf raker. Dare you to keep up.” He winks, and I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm for something as dreary as raking leaves. But then his words sink in. I’ve never —never— backed down from a dare. You don’t grow up with four brothers without being brave enough to always accept a dare.
