Dare to Surrender

I straightened my shoulders and headed inside, coming face-to-face with a petite brunette with dark blue eyes—eyes I’d seen not once but twice before. Eyes I wouldn’t forget, even if this time they were in the face of a beautiful female.

“You must be Lucy Dare,” I said, proud my voice didn’t shake and betray my shock.

She smiled wide. “Isabelle.”

I shut the door behind me and stared at the woman who looked so much like her brothers. I didn’t know where to begin, so I started with the obvious. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Lucy tipped her head to the side, curiosity—about all things me—oozing from her as she openly studied me.

“For letting me borrow your clothes.” I blushed as I said it, but she deserved my gratitude. I’d come to Gabe with nothing but the clothes on my back, literally.

She waved a hand away. “What’s mine is Gabe’s to lend.” She laughed but quickly sobered when she met my gaze. “He’s never done that before. Ever.”

Somehow I knew that. Believed her. Believed in him.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

“What do you know about our club business?” she asked.

“Not much.” I hadn’t been around long enough to learn about Gabe’s holdings.

“Good.”

“Excuse me? You’re obviously here to talk business, and you’re glad I don’t know much. How does that make sense?”

She smiled then. “I like you. And I can see why Gabe’s hooked.”

I narrowed my gaze. “I haven’t spoken to him in three months.”

She waved a hand. “It doesn’t matter. Anyway, all of our current clubs are elite and exclusive. They cater to an upper-class clientele. Well-off people looking to blow off steam and pay a hefty fee to just walk in the front door.”

Lucy, wearing a white pair of slacks, a yellow silk halter top, and high-heeled strappy sandals, began to pace as she spoke. Hands flying, animated, she was clearly in her element when discussing her business.

“All interesting facts, but it doesn’t explain why you’re here.” I figured Lucy wanted to meet the woman who’d invaded her brother’s life for a short time. Because I couldn’t imagine that Gabe had pined for long—or at all—after I left.

“Because we’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime. There’s an exclusive island resort near the Bermuda Triangle. Eden.”

I shook my head. “I haven’t heard of it.”

Her eyes lit up. “Not many people have. The only way to get to the island is to be invited by the Master, who is the host.”

I shivered at the name Master, unsure of why.

“What does this have to do with me?”

“I’m getting to that. We’ve been offered first dibs to buy in and recreate one of our signature nightclubs there. Giving it its own unique stamp, of course. And I want you to manage the décor.”

She held out a folder. “Inside are photographs of our clubs and other information about what makes Elite … well, Elite. I want you to up the ante and help me create something beyond fabulous there,” Lucy said.

“But—”

“No buts allowed,” Lucy said, going on as if I hadn’t objected. “We have to go visit the island, so your invitation is in the folder along with travel instructions and tickets. Since I assume you’ll need time to buy island-appropriate clothing and organize yourself, you don’t leave until Friday. There’s an expense check in there for wardrobe since we’re taking you out of your element here. It’s a two-hour charter plane ride.”

I blinked at the part about the expense check. “I already have summer clothing.”

Lucy waved a hand dismissively. “Buy new ones anyway.”

My head was spinning, both at the speed of her words and the scope and breadth of her request. No, not a request, a demand, making me wonder if this was her usual MO or something Gabe had concocted to see me again. My heart sped up in my chest at the thought.

“I’ll meet you on the island,” Lucy said, answering my question about Gabe’s involvement. Even if he’d suggested me, this seemed to be Lucy’s show and not her brother’s. “Any questions?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“So you’re in?”

As if I had a choice? Lisa might be my friend, but even she would fire me for turning down this opportunity. Still, none of this made any sense. I didn’t have the expertise or the talent to take on this task even with the clearly formidable Lucy Dare to guide me.

“Lucy, don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the offer. And please don’t take this the wrong way, but if this is Gabe’s version of charity, you can assure him I’m doing just fine.”

Lucy tipped her head back and laughed. “Do you really think I’d risk handing over the biggest challenge of my career to someone my brother, at worst, feels sorry for or, at best, just wants to f**k?”

“Excuse me?” I tried to sound outraged, but the sad truth was, either was a valid possibility. And I appreciated her candor since I wanted to be the same in return.

Lucy propped a hip on the conference room table. “Look, my brother stepped in when my parents died. He made sure I wanted for nothing, from the material to the emotional, and I owe him for that. But even then, I wouldn’t jeopardize our reputation on a whim of his. But you’re no whim.” Lucy Dare met my gaze, confidence oozing from her in a way I envied.

I turned and looked out the windows, confused. My usual state when it came to Gabe.

Lucy came up alongside me. Actually, she towered over my more petite frame, and her body was even more slender and perfect than her undergarments had led me to believe. Just as I had when wearing her clothes, I wanted to hate the lithe, beautiful woman who, from outward appearances, was everything I wasn’t. But I knew appearances were deceiving, and life dealt blows and wounds nobody could see.

Besides, she was bouncy and nice and impossible to dislike. I let out a sigh. “Gabe was infatuated with me,” I admitted. “If nothing else, I’m still a challenge to him.” Not only because I left but because we’d never actually had sex.

She laughed. And laughed some more. “You really think that, don’t you? Oh my God, you are perfect. Listen. My brother believes in you. And after years of watching him in action and learning, I believe in him.”

I smiled at that, glad Gabe had Lucy in his life.