Perfectly Daring

By Roz Lee

With the ink barely dry on her divorce papers, and a three-year-old daughter to provide for, Tory Choate is more than grateful to her old friend from college, for giving her a chance to dust off her life coaching skills with the Dallas Drillers players. As if putting Dwayne Jackson on any path that doesn’t lead to prison isn’t enough of a challenge, resisting her unexpected attraction to the sexy wide receiver tests her control. Having tried the safe path once and been burned, a walk on the wild side might be just what she needs to get her back on track. But is she daring enough to take the first step?
One of the best wide receivers in football, Dwayne Jackson has burned every bridge he’s crossed in the NFL. Picked up by the Dallas Drillers it’s either get his life on track or kiss his career goodbye. He’d rather kiss the sexy life coach assigned to him, but the signals are clear—keep his hands off the ultra-conservative Victoria “Tory” Choate—or else. No woman has ever come close to luring Dwayne across the relationship bridge, but then, none of those women were Victoria Choate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roz Lee
• Release date: Oct 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732783904

Roz Lee

USA Today Best-Selling author Roz Lee is the author of thirty romances. The first, The Lust Boat, was born of an idea acquired while on a Caribbean cruise with her family and soon blossomed into a five-book series published by Red Sage. Following her love of baseball, she turned her attention to sexy athletes in tight pants, writing the critically acclaimed Mustangs Baseball series.Roz has been married to her best friend, and high school sweetheart, for nearly four decades. Roz and her husband have two grown daughters and are the proud grandparents of three adorable grandkids.Even though Roz has lived on both coasts, her heart lies in between, in Texas. A Texan by birth, she can trace her family back to the Republic of Texas. With roots that deep, she says, “You can’t ever really leave.”When Roz isn’t writing, she’s reading, or traipsing around the country on one adventure or another. No trip is too small, no tourist trap too cheesy, and no road unworthy of travel.Visit Roz’s website – www.RozLee.net

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Perfectly Daring

Roz Lee

eBooks are not transferable. Please do not sell, share or reproduce in any way as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental and the product of the author's imagination or have been used fictitiously.

Copyright©2018 by Roz Lee

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the copyright holder.

http://www.rozlee.net

ISBN: 978-1-7327839-0-4

Table of Contents

Cover

Acknowledgments

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

About the Author

Other Titles by Roz Lee

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Carly Phillips for asking me to write a Kindle World novella in her Dare to Love world. If it weren’t for that invitation, Tory and Dwayne might never have come to life.

Author’s Note

Perfectly Daring was originally published in 2015 as a novella in Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love Kindle World. I never expected to regain the rights to the characters I’d created or the story I’d told but Amazon pulled a fast on everyone in 2018, and just like that, the Kindle Worlds program disappeared.

Per my agreement with Ms. Phillips, I have removed all references to the world and characters she created, and simply because I wanted to, I’ve expanded the story to include details left out of the original version in order to meet the strict word count requirement in the Kindle World program.

I’m very pleased to release this new version of Perfectly Daring. If you read the shortened version, I hope you will enjoy the new insight into Tory and Dwayne’s journey to their happy-ever-after.

Roz

CHAPTER ONE

Tory glanced around the reception area. Everything about the place screamed money and success, from the modern furniture to the framed memorabilia on the walls. The Dallas Drillers football team had one of the winningest records in the NFL, and their offices reflected that success. She was glad she’d found one of the suits she’d worn back in her working days, hidden behind her mom clothes. She’d been even more surprised it still fit. It might be a little out-of-date, but at least it made her feel like she fit in—sort of. She needed this job—desperately. Jenna had all but guaranteed her the position, but nothing was on paper, which meant she couldn’t relax one iota. Not until it was official.

Not even then.

She couldn’t afford another day without work. The last of her savings had gone into moving her and her three-year-old daughter, Lizzie, to Dallas—all on the promise of a job with the football team. She wasn’t all that keen on working with athletes, but she couldn’t afford to be choosy. When her ex-husband took off for places unknown with someone he’d met at work, he’d left everything behind—his wife and daughter, his family, his home, and the medical practice he’d worked insane hours to build into one of the most successful in the area. What he had taken was Tory’s self-esteem and every penny he could lay his hands on. The only funds he’d missed—and it hadn’t been for lack of trying—was the small savings account containing the money she’d received from the sale of the house her grandmother had left her. Thinking back on the way he had tried to get his hands on that money, too, caused her to grind her teeth. Thank goodness her grandmother’s attorney had insisted the account be in her name only. It still galled her to know Peter had been planning on leaving even then. But, instead of telling her he wanted out, he’d pretended everything was fine. Perfect, in fact.

That was the word he’d used the day before he skipped town with all their money. Perfect. You’re perfect, Tory. The perfect wife. The perfect mother. The perfect woman.

She’d felt perfect, too, if not shallow, living the life of the young doctor’s pampered wife. As far as anyone, including herself, knew, she’d had a perfect marriage to a man who thought she was…well, perfect.

Perfectly ignorant. In her naivety, she’d missed every sign pointing to anything less than picture-perfect. Everything from their nonexistent sex life, to the late nights he’d said he spent at the hospital, had pointed to the fact he’d been spending every available minute with someone else.

By all accounts, his new lover, Bruce, was a talented doctor with a bright future but had allowed his family to talk him into a profession he didn’t want—just as Peter had. The two men had bonded over their dispassion for medicine and their shared passion for each other.

For what it was worth, she hoped they were both happy, wherever they were. Because, if they had found their bliss, they’d have no reason to come back. Ever.

Tory dried her sweating palms on her skirt one more time. Much more of this and she’d look no better than a Drillers player leaving the field after an August pre-season game.

Of course, there was another way to provide for her daughter. She could accept her parents’ offer. They’d said they’d be happy to take them in, but under the pretty words and promises lurked an undercurrent of accusations. She’d screwed up. Why else would her perfect husband leave her? They’d known Peter all his life, were friends with his parents, and, somehow, that added up to believing he could do no wrong. They’d seen her marriage to the boy next door as some sort of fairy tale—Dr. Prince Charming protects Feather-brained Princess from the trolls of the world.

No. She’d make it on her own, thank you very much.

It was bad enough they were keeping Lizzie for a few weeks so Tory could find a place to live and arrange daycare. It wasn’t as if they didn’t take their granddaughter for weeks at a time anyway. Lizzie would have the time of her life and never know the real reason for the visit.

If Peter had just been honest with me….

She shook her head to dislodge the thought. If he’d been honest, they never would have married, and she wouldn’t have Lizzie. The bright, curly-headed sprite was the love of her life, and she couldn’t imagine a day without her smile or the sound of her sweet voice.

She’d do what she had to do to make a new life for the two of them—even coach football players. Big, brawny, brainless bruisers had never been her type, but if there was a paycheck involved, she’d coach orangutans.

Thanks to Peter’s insistence on her being a stay-at-home mom, her life-coaching skills were a little rusty. But she could dust them off—she would dust them off—and make them work for her as they’d worked for others in the past.

The first step was to establish goals, long-term ones, short-term ones, and when necessary, moment-by-moment ones. It was the latter kind that had gotten her through the first few days when getting out of bed had felt more like climbing a mountain, and eating had seemed to be a waste of time. But she’d sucked it up and done what she had to do, one tiny goal at a time. Not for herself—for Lizzie.

It had taken a few weeks living in the moment before she’d begun to think in terms of days, weeks, months, and years. Her small savings wouldn’t last forever, and, according to the note Peter left on the kitchen counter, that was how long he planned to be gone. Facing reality hadn’t been easy, but once she did, she’d known what she had to do. G.R.O.W. Set Goals. Face Reality. Recognize Obstacles, and Examine her Options, then find the Way forward.

She hated to call on old friends for help, but she’d had little choice. When Jenna returned her call and offered her a job with the Drillers’ new program designed to prepare players for life beyond the gridiron, she’d grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Relax. You already have the job, so chill. You can do this. How hard can it be?

At the sound of the door opening, she almost jumped out of her skin. Standing, she wiped her damp palms on her skirt one more time. Jenna stopped inside the door. She hadn’t changed a bit. Her clothes were more expensive, and her blonde hair styled to perfection, but the sparkle in her blue eyes and her welcoming smile were just as Tory remembered. The knots in her shoulders loosened ever so slightly. Everything was going to be all right.

God, girlfriend, it’s good to see you! Jenna said, crossing the room, arms outstretched.

Engulfed in her friend’s warm embrace, Tory fought back tears. Since Peter’s defection, no one except Lizzie had hugged her, and, sweet as her daughter’s hugs were, they didn’t convey the understanding she felt in Jenna’s. Thank you so much, Jen. You don’t know what this means to me.

Nonsense, the other woman said, stepping back. I was so glad to hear from you. Sorry for the circumstances behind your call, but grateful all the same. Call me selfish, but I’m glad you’re back in my life.

Tory dug in her purse for a tissue then dabbed at the corners of her eyes to stem the flow of tears. Me, too. I’ve missed you.

What’s it been…four years? And you haven’t changed a bit! Still the same gorgeous figure. I’d hoped your hair had turned mousy brown by now, but it’s still the most beautiful shade of blonde I’ve ever seen.

"You are such a liar, Tory protested. I’ve had a baby, and my hair was never as pretty as yours. And it’s been five years. Math never was your strong suit."

Jenna brushed off the compliments and focused on the jibe at her arithmetic skills. You remember that, do you?

Of course. Who kept you from over-drafting your bank account every week? Me, that’s who. And who got you through the required math classes?

Her friend studied the carpet for a second. Hmm. I believe that was…you! She laughed then her expression grew serious, except for the glimmer of mischief in her eyes. And it’s not very nice of you to bring that up. As I recall, I paid you back by typing papers for you. I don’t know how many times I had to go to the library in the middle of the night to use the printer so you could turn a project in on time.

Not my fault you waited until the last minute. I always handed them off to you days ahead of their due date. Tory relaxed into the easy bantering. She’d almost forgotten why she was there in the first place until Jenna reminded her.

You’re coming to our place for dinner tonight. I won’t take no for an answer, so don’t even think of declining. We’ve got years to catch up on, and, as much as I’d love to continue reminiscing, my brother-in-law is a slave driver, so we’d better get to work.

I forgot. Your husband’s brother owns the team, right?

Ryan and Jeff’s cousin, Stephen, owns the team, but he has little to do with it. Jeff is the man in charge, and everyone knows it. Or should I say, he never lets anyone forget it? The humor in her voice gave away her affection for the man and eased Tory’s mind about her earlier comment. She’d never been around macho types and didn’t know what to expect.

You enjoy working for him?

Most of the time. Sometimes, I want to strangle him, but, for the most part, he’s a great guy to work for. Besides being my boss and brother-in-law, he’s the husband of one of my best friends. Even if I didn’t like him, I’d get along with him for Debra’s sake.

And Ryan’s?

Jenna rolled her eyes to the ceiling and tapped her chin with her index finger. She hummed as she considered the statement. After a moment, she turned her gaze back to Tory. No. I don’t think so. It’s the way he is with Debra and Kimberly, their daughter, that does it for me. He makes them both happy, which makes me happy. A deep line appeared between her perfectly shaped brows then smoothed out almost as fast as it had formed. Ryan and Jeff haven’t always gotten along. It’s a long story, one you’ll hear soon enough. She waved Tory along. Come on. Let me introduce you to some people then I’ll fill you in on your first assignment.

After a brief tour of the offices and meeting most of the support staff, Jenna led the way to the office suite she shared with her husband. Ryan Neely stood as they entered, his gaze going immediately to his wife then to Tory when Jenna introduced her.

It’s nice to meet you at last, he said, offering his hand. My wife has been singing your praises ever since she got your phone call.

His hand dwarfed hers. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she prayed she wasn’t blushing like a teenager. She’d seen Ryan on television during his days with the Tennessee Pioneers and, more recently, on the network sports show he co-hosted, but nothing had prepared her for seeing him in person. He looked even better in tailored slacks and a crisp button-down shirt than he had in his uniform, and that was saying something. He’d been a favorite among the female fans for a reason. His deep voice was even sexier in real life, and the dimple he flashed when he smiled was too damn cute for words.

It’s nice to meet you, too, she said.

Have a seat. He indicated a casual grouping on the far side of the room, near the window overlooking the parking lot. Unlike the reception area, her friend’s office was downright cozy. The soothing beige walls and furnishings invited a person to stay awhile. Photos in frames dotted every surface, adding a personal touch to the room. Jenna’s dark-wood desk was sleek and sensible, and probably cost more than Tory’s car was worth, but it suited the woman to a T.

Tory chose a seat on the upholstered sofa while Ryan folded his long frame into one of the matching overstuffed chairs. Jenna joined him, perching on the arm. She smiled down at him when his hand came to rest on her hip, anchoring her in place. The man couldn’t seem to keep his hands off his wife—something Tory found to be as endearing as it was confusing. Peter had never been demonstrative with her. Of course, now she understood why, but still, the open affection between Ryan and Jenna left her wondering why she’d ever believed her marriage was perfect. She thought back to the early days of their relationship when Peter had been attentive and eager for sex. Even then, there had been no public displays of affection. She’d chalked his behavior up to his staid religious upbringing and never pushed for more than he was comfortable giving. In hindsight, it all made sense. He hadn’t been into her. He’d been trying to be the person his family thought he should be, and doing a credible job of