Dare (8 page)

“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 it?”

“It’s in the case.”

I reached below the cabinet and dialed the combination until the case clicked. I lifted the lid, and picked up the dagger delicately.

“Here.” I placed it in her open palms. “It’s sharp. Be careful.”

She closed her fingers over the blade. “He gave it all up because he was in love?” She flipped the knife over. There was an inscription on the other side I wanted her to see.

For whatever reason, the museum displayed the dagger with the embellished side facing up. I thought they were missing the real history of the dagger by displaying it that way.

“Read it,” I urged her.

“Garson, let this dagger pierce my heart if you are ever taken from this earth. Yours eternally, Amelia.” Dare looked at me, placing the dagger in my hands.

I carefully laid it on its velvet resting place, embellished side up.

“What happened to them? Did they live a long life together? Lots of children? Something happy, right?” Her voice was urgent.

I shook my head. “I’m afraid not. He was hunted down by a pirate he had double-crossed and killed the next year. Amelia used the dagger to take her own life as she promised. I’d like to think they’re together somewhere.”

I latched the cabinet and spun the lock underneath.

“That’s both incredibly romantic and haunting,” she whispered.

I leaned into her ear. “See? I told you history could be romantic.” I grabbed her hand. “Come on, I’ll show you the town founder’s room next.”

Twenty minutes later, we returned to the dinner. Dessert was being served. We had a choice of cheesecake or crème brulee. I noticed the museum was pulling out all the culinary stops tonight.

I felt a pat on my back. “Zac Morgan, festival star, how are you enjoying tonight?” The museum director stopped by our table.

I tried to turn in my seat.

“Dinner is wonderful.” Dare smiled at him. “This has been such a special night for the museum.”

He looked at me, and then Dare again.

“This is my date, sir, Dare.”

He took her hand and brought it to his lips. The gesture made me a little uncomfortable.

“So nice to have you here tonight with us. Will you be at the festival tomorrow?”

“I’m going to do my best.” She placed her hand in her lap. This girl was refinery at its best. “Everyone in Sullen’s Grove is so appreciative of what the museum is doing. I wanted to thank you.”

I’d never seen my boss at a loss for words. He stood fixed on her.

“Thank you, sir.” I coughed. It seemed to bring him back to the moment.

He slapped me on the back again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Morgan. Dare, so nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

He walked to the next couple, but I saw him glance back toward our table.

“What do you say we cut out a little early?” I nodded at the door. I had had enough stuffy and story time previews. The rest of my weekend, I’d be with these people. There was a beautiful woman sitting next to me, and I wasn’t the only one who had noticed.

“And miss the stories on the early pottery and blacksmith trades?” She smirked.

“Can I tear you away?”

She folded her napkin and placed it next to her plate. “Let’s go.”

I pulled the chair out for her.

Her hand slid against my palm, her fingers threading through mine. I liked how sure she was.

“All right. Let’s get out of here.”

I led her through the dining room, slapping backs and grinning at board members who paid my salary on our way out. I reminded myself I could spend time tomorrow with them. Tonight I was with a gorgeous woman.

We walked outside. She flinched at the breeze picking up off the boardwalk.

“You cold? Here. Take my coat.”

Before she could protest, I draped my tuxedo jacket over her shoulders.

“Thanks. It turned chilly all of a sudden.”

“No problem.” I struggled to find something to talk about. First dates were awkward that way. I didn’t doubt I connected with this girl. I could feel it, but I hadn’t known her long enough to talk about a damn thing.

“Want to try my favorite bar?”

I saw her face. She was deliberating. “Depends. What is your favorite bar?”

“It’s just around the corner. I stop there after work sometimes.”

“Good. Let’s do it.”

“You were going to turn me down if I had another place in mind?” I helped her navigate over the cracks in the sidewalk.

“I try to avoid the college bars, that’s all.”

“Ex-boyfriend or something?” I didn’t know why that mattered.

“Something like that.”

I smiled at Isaac as we entered the pub. He polished a glass. “Hey, brother. What can I get you and the lady?”

I pegged her as a wine drinker.

She looked at me. “Whatever beer you’re drinking.”

“Two beers.”

“Got it.” Isaac poured from the tap levers.

“This place is different.” I watched as she surveyed the hole-in-the-wall I had found.

I grabbed the beers and slid a bill across the bar. “Let’s try over there.”

She followed me to a corner table. There was a candle flickering in the center, the wax pooling at the base.

I had never sat at the tables. I was usually close to the TV at the bar where Isaac and I could trade our daily rundown.

I wanted to say something cool—something that would impress her. But with a background in history, I didn’t know what we would have in common. I usually didn’t worry about it. I couldn’t figure out why it mattered now.

She held the pilsner to her lips and smiled after a few sips.

“So this is your place?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I started coming here after work. Got to know Isaac, the bartender, a little. It’s good to have a place to go when you need to get away.”

“Because working at the museum is demanding?”

I couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic or sincere. “It has its moments. After this festival is over, I’ll get back to the book I’m working on.”

“Book? You’re a writer too?”

“That’s the whole point of my research. I research so I can write. I think I’ve found my next topic too.”

“What is it?”

I leaned a little closer. The music was loud. The bar was dark. I liked how the single flame flickered in her eyes. “I thought I’d try to unearth the mystery of the famous she-panther. But really give the story some depth.”

She broke the stare. “Oh.”

“What? You don’t like her story?”

“No, it’s not that. She’s fascinating. A strong character. But what kind of angle are you taking with it?”

I scratched the back of my head. “I don’t know yet. Thought I’d talk to a few of the storytellers tomorrow and get a sense of the legends. There are so many stories about her. Too many I think. She’s as famous as Loch Ness or Bigfoot and just as elusive.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard them since I was a kid.”

“I figured if I talked to some of the locals, they could point me in the right direction.”

“But aren’t you supposed to be an expert?”

“That’s museum PR. For tomorrow, I’m an expert, but after that, I’m a student. I’m going to learn as much as I can about this she-panther. I think there’s something to her.”

“You believe there’s a panther guarding the city?”

“I do.”

“And you wouldn’t rather focus on the witches?”

“Nah.” I shook my head. My glass was empty and so was hers. “Want another one?”

“Sure.”

I walked to the bar and ordered two more drinks. Isaac gave me a grin. I knew exactly what he was thinking.

I dropped the pints on the table. “Here you go.”

“Does your work give you the chance to travel much?” She looked relaxed, as if she wanted to talk to me all night about anything I wanted.

“Yeah. You could say that. Most of it I’ve done on my own. I took a couple of years off after college and traveled around the world. South America, Europe, you name it.”

“That sounds amazing. What was your favorite country?”

“I don’t know. I think my favorite spots are the ones off the beaten path. I just like to blend in with the locals. The year I backpacked I learned a lot about people.”

She took another sip. I wondered what the beer would taste like coming off her lips. I inhaled.

“Not many people get to do something like that. How did it work out that you didn’t have to start a job?”

My throat tightened. God, if I talked to her about it…I couldn’t. Not on a first date. I never talked about it. I walked around with this secret, tucked deeply in my heart. It was the reason I could never go home. The secret was only safe if I stayed far away from people who knew me—knew the real me. Not tonight. I wasn’t going to talk about it tonight.

“Just a bucket list thing I had after graduation.” I forced a swallow down.

“I’ve always wanted to travel. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t left Sullen’s Grove much.”

“What about spring break?” I asked. “Surely, you went to Panama City or Padre.” I pictured her in a tiny string bikini dancing with her girlfriends.
Stop it, man.

She shook her head. “No, too much responsibility here. But tell me where you’ve been. I want to hear about it. Do you have pictures?” Her eyes glowed.

Something about her made me feel surges of light. It rushed through my chest, hitting me like tiny jolts.