Dare to Love (Young Adult Romance) Read online

  All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  DARE TO LOVE

  © Copyright 2012 by Rosemarie Naramore

  All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  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 One

  The wail of the police siren promptly ended my conversation with my best friend, Jennifer. My eyes shot to the speedometer. “Oh no,” I groaned. I’d been traveling fifteen miles per hour over the posted speed limit. I glanced at Jennifer. “My dad is going to kill me,” I said, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

  “I’m sorry, Laura,” Jennifer said with a wince. “How many does this make? Three? Four?”

  “Three,” I answered, my eyes fixed on the flashing lights illuminating the rearview mirror. “Oh, Jen, what am I going to do?”

  “Well, for starters, you should pull over,” Jennifer said calmly.

  “Oh, yeah, right.”

  I steered my small car to the side of the road. Sighing, I stared into the rearview mirror in hopes of recognizing the deputy on duty. I knew many of them. With my dad as sheriff of our county, it sort of came with the territory.

  “Who is it?” Jennifer asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  “I don’t know.”

  I was unable to identify him since he remained seated in the patrol car, his head tilted downward. I could see he was talking on the radio. Vaguely, I was aware that he had a passenger with him. I turned in my seat, careening my neck in hopes of getting a better look. I needn’t have bothered since Lieutenant Hudson climbed out of the patrol car and began walking toward me.

  “Oh, no, not him!” I shrieked. “He pulled me over once before.”

  The lieutenant wasted no time in reaching my car. Since it was mid-July and quite warm, my window was rolled down. I slowly turned my head and attempted a radiant smile.

  “Hello, Laura. Trying to set another land speed record?” he asked in a clipped voice.

  Was it my imagination or did he sound annoyed with me? His brows were drawn low over his eyes, his lips set in a hard line. Yep. He was miffed.

  “Hello, Lieutenant Hudson,” I responded with forced brightness. “How are you?” I guess I thought if I engaged him in idle chitchat, he might let me off the hook.

  I realized this was wishful thinking on my part when he asked, “Do you know how fast you were going?”

  “Uh, well, no, not really.”

  “Forty in a twenty-five,” he informed me flatly. “Really, Laura, if you keep on like this, you’ll be buying a bus pass faster than…”

  “I’m really sorry,” I cut in earnestly. “It’s just, well, I have a lot on my mind and…”

  “And we were talking so we weren’t really paying attention.” Jennifer piped in, as if that bit of information might work in our favor.

  Lieutenant Hudson raised his hand to silence both of us. Shaking his head slowly, he expelled a harsh breath. “Laura, I’m not interested in excuses today. You had a ready, though not-particularly-original excuse, the last time I pulled you over. I hope you were more creative when Deputy Collins pulled you over last week.”

  “Uh, I…”

  I didn’t know what to say. What could I say? I had been pulled over three times in just as many months and I knew I would be lucky to drive again before my eighteenth birthday.

  “You know, Laura,” Lieutenant Hudson said in his most authoritative voice, “it would be a real shame to see your pretty little neck wrapped around a tree.” He shook his head sadly. “The sheriff isn’t going to like this one bit.”

  I winced at the reference to my dad. “I am sorry,” I managed, but was interrupted by the lieutenant.

  “Sit tight, Laura. I need to radio your father.” He walked back to his car.

  I glanced at Jennifer and shook my head. “I’m a goner.”

  I subsided into the softness of my sheepskin seat covers. Oh, why, why, wasn’t I minding my speed? My dad was going to go ballistic when he found out.

  Soon the lieutenant returned to my car, this time accompanied by the passenger I’d noticed earlier. “Laura, I just spoke to your dad.”

  “Are you going to give me a ticket?” I asked him, fearing his answer. I hadn’t been cited for my previous encounters, but just given stern warnings.

  “I’ll leave that to your dad. For now, pass me your keys.”

  “What?” I glanced at Jennifer, a stricken look on my face.

  Her chocolate brown eyes registered disbelief.

  “Give me your keys,” he said in measured tones.

  “I ... I don’t understand,” I stammered.

  “Laura, give me your keys.”

  Numbly, I took the keys from the ignition and passed them through the open window. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

  “Okay, out of the car, girls,” he instructed.

  Suddenly, a ticket was looking pretty good. “I understand if you have to give me a ticket,” I said agreeably, attempting to sound appropriately repentant. “I mean, I know I deserve it. I will be more careful in the future. Really.”

  My words fell on deaf ears as Lieutenant Hudson opened my car door. He indicated with a curt nod that we should get out. I glanced at Jennifer as she scrambled from the car. Fumbling, I managed to unbuckle my seatbelt and awkwardly climbed out.

  Lieutenant Hudson glanced at Jennifer, who appeared frozen beside the car. “Are you Jennifer?”

  She nodded solemnly.

  “Okay, then, you go ahead and drive Laura’s car to your house. I’ve already cleared it with the sheriff. He said, and I quote, ‘Jennifer is Laura’s responsible friend.’ ”

  Jennifer smiled slightly at the compliment and I shot her a reproving look. Lieutenant Hudson turned toward the other officer, who to this point had been silent. “You take Laura back to the patrol car and I’ll have a few words with Jennifer.”

  “Right,” the man responded, and I turned in an attempt to identify him.

  I nearly gasped when I saw him. He was a boy about my age—sixteen. I knew he wasn’t old enough to be a deputy, yet he wore a uniform.

  Then it dawned on me. He was an explorer scout. I knew that several months ago Dad had started a program at the department whereby kids who were interested in law enforcement as a future career could take part in departmental activities. He’d even asked me if I was interested, but I’d firmly declined.

  “You’ll have to come with me,” the boy said, interrupting my thoughts.

  I glanced at him and then at Jennifer. She offered me a worried, but encouraging smile.

  She and the lieutenant began walking away from us and I took a quick step toward them. The boy’s hand shot out and firmly grasped my elbow. “I said, you’ll have to come with me,” he repeated sternly.

  I glanced at him sharply. For a split second, I considered pulling away from him. Who did he think he was—ordering me around? But then I noticed he was powerfully built—solid, with no apparent fat on his frame. If I struggled, I knew I’d just end up looking stupid.

  Shaking my head, I allowed him to lead me to the patrol car. I attempted to keep my temper in check, but it took some doing when he opened the back door. “Get in,” he commanded.

  “What?” I cried. “You’re going to make me sit back here?”

  I tho
ught I detected amusement in his voice when he asked, “Where else is there?”

  “You could let me sit up front.” My voice was chilly and I glared at him. “My father is the sheriff, you know. And ... I’m not a common criminal.”

  If I wasn’t so upset by the situation I currently found myself in, I never would have used my father’s position as I’d just attempted to. But I was being arrested! And desperate situations called for desperate measures.

  “Get in,” he said in a tone that defied argument.

  I took a deep breath and decided to try another tactic. “Please may I sit up front? What if someone sees me back here? It would be so humiliating.”

  “You should have thought of that before you broke the law,” he said matter-of-factly. He placed his hand atop my head and gently but forcefully urged me into the back seat of the patrol car. Then he quickly shut the door behind me.

  Sitting in the back, the severity of the situation struck me. Since patrol cars have no door handles in the back, I felt a wave of claustrophobia wash over me. I attempted to calm myself by breathing deeply.

  By now, the boy had climbed into the front of the car. He turned slightly and watched me. I glared back at him. “You’ll need to fasten your seat belt,” he instructed.

  I snapped the belt shut and then turned to stare out the window. From the corner of my eye, I detected his almost imperceptible shrug before he turned and faced forward.

  This gave me an opportunity to study him. I knew I had never seen him before. If I had, I would remember. Despite my current predicament, I had to admit he was gorgeous.

  His wavy, dark hair was cut short in the requisite cop cut, but I was sure if he grew it out, he would boast an enviable crop of curls. He had sky blue eyes, and ridiculously long, dark, lashes. His lips were full, and well formed over a strong chin. All in all, he was hot.

  I shook myself and promptly decided good looks were wasted on him. He clearly was on a power trip, and definitely had no personality to speak of.

  I was intently scrutinizing his handsome profile, so I was surprised when he turned his head and caught me staring. He lifted his eyebrows slightly and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. “Do I pass inspection?”

  “I ... I wasn’t…” I felt the red rise up in my face like mercury in a thermometer. Flustered, I snapped my head toward the window and resumed staring outside.

  He continued watching me for a few seconds, and then turned to watch Lieutenant Hudson as he climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “Don’t worry about your car, Laura,” the lieutenant called to me.

  I didn’t bother responding. I simply made a play of straightening the nonexistent creases of my shorts. I guess the lieutenant decided to ignore me as he began talking to the boy.

  “So, son, what do you think so far?” He chuckled. “It’s only ten o’clock and we’ve made our first arrest.” I saw him nod in my direction. “Think we should check her for warrants?”

  “Probably a good idea,” the boy said with a laugh. “She looks pretty dangerous to me.”

  “You’re right there,” the lieutenant agreed with a chuckle.

  Oh, this is too much, I thought. If it wasn’t bad enough I was being arrested, I was being made fun of, too!

  I didn’t think things could get worse. That is, until we pulled up to a stoplight, next to Courtney Hansen, the biggest mouth at Stevenson High School. I attempted to sink even lower in the seat, but I was too late. She saw me.

  I saw her mouth drop as we pulled away from the light. I just knew she’d assumed the worst and that my ride in the patrol car would soon be all over town. But then I felt a glimmer of hope. I could probably easily explain away my presence in the car. My dad is the sheriff. I mean, what’s the big deal if I ride in the back of a patrol car?

  I knew just how big a deal when Lieutenant Hudson steered the car into the station parking lot. I gasped when I saw several kids from my high school milling around.

  “Looks like the other explorers are here,” he commented. “It appears we’ve had a good turnout today. Okay, then,” he continued, “Dare, why don’t you take Laura inside and I’ll go collect the rest of the kids.”

  Dare. What an odd name, I thought, as I watched him round the front of the car and open the door beside me. “Come on,” he urged.

  I glanced up at him. “Can we please go in the back way? I really don’t want…”

  “Laura!”

  I heard my name, and then a chorus of my name as the group of explorers gathered around the car.

  “Is she under arrest?” someone asked incredulously.

  “This is too much,” I groaned.

  Then I heard Courtney Hansen’s smug, silken voice. “You’ll never guess who I just saw in the back of a…” She must have spotted me then because her words trailed off.

  I shook my head, defeated, and hugged myself miserably. It figured Courtney would be an explorer. Not only was she a gossip, she was bossy to boot. She’d make a great deputy, I decided.

  “Come on,” the boy said, this time more softly.

  I climbed out of the car and attempted to hold my head high as he led me into the station. As we entered, he whispered, “I’m sorry about that.”

  Suddenly, I felt like crying, and I hastily looked away. He led me to a chair. “Why don’t you sit down?”

  I accepted the chair. Lieutenant Hudson walked into the room with the explorers in tow. “Your dad will see you in a minute, Laura,” he said.

  I nodded. I knew the worst was yet to come.

  Chapter Two

  “What were you thinking?” Dad’s deep voice boomed. “You’re trying to get yourself killed!” He shook his head fiercely. “Pulled over three times in three months… Heck, Laura, you’re a habitual offender.”

  “Dad, I’m really sorry. I promise I’ll be more careful in the future.”

  “Oh, right!” he shouted, waving his hands expressively. “Isn’t that what you told me last week when you were pulled over for speeding?”

  “Dad,” I said sincerely, “I really am sorry.”

  He laughed without humor. “I know you are, Laura. Or at least you will be,” he said menacingly. “I’ll tell you now, young lady, that a kiss on your old dad’s cheek won’t cut it this time.”

  I watched him closely. He was angry, really angry. I noted that the large vein in his temple was protruding. He stomped around the room like a grizzly bear that’d just awakened from a long winter’s nap. Then he was silent for several moments. He took a deep, steadying breath. I knew he was trying to regain his composure.

  “Okay, Laura,” he finally said in measured tones, “what are we going to do about this?”

  I shrugged.

  “I’m waiting.” He sat down at the corner of his desk.

  “I don’t know,” I replied. I mean, what did he expect me to say? I knew I was wrong. I had been speeding. And I was sorry. What more could I do?

  “Oh, come on, Laura. I’m sure you can come up with something.”

  I took a stab at humor. “Well, you could give me a patrol car for my personal use, then no one would know if I was speeding or not.”

  Dad watched me, a shocked expression on his face. “Do you think this is funny?” he asked incredulously.

  “What do you want me to say? You’re probably going to put my car up on blocks until I’m eighteen, anyway. You may as well do what you’re going to do.”

  Dad watched me sadly. “Honey, I just don’t know what to do with you. Ever since your mother…” He stopped abruptly and took a deep breath. It was still hard for him to talk about Mom, since it had only been a year since her death. “Honey, is there anything you want to talk to me about? If you don’t want to talk to me, we can find someone you’re comfortable talking with. Maybe you’d like to talk to a counselor…”

  “Dad, I’m fine. I don’t need to talk to anyone.”

  “Then what is it?” he demanded as he stood from the desk and began pacing the r
oom. “When did my quiet, level-headed daughter become so reckless?”

  I shook my head, confused. “I’m not reckless.”

  “Oh, no?” he shouted. “You’re not reckless? Let’s see… Speeding isn’t reckless? Diving off of Devil’s Rock isn’t reckless? Bungee jumping from a hot air balloon isn’t...?”

  “I didn’t bungee jump,” I interrupted.

  “But you were going to if Deputy Collins hadn’t spotted you.”

  I sighed, defeated. Obviously, he was still angry about my near brush with destiny in the form of a hundred foot fall from the basket of a hot air balloon.

  A month before, I’d gone with several friends to a neighboring county’s fair. I was minutes from my turn at jumping when one of Dad’s enforcers spotted me. He wasted no time in telling the operator of the ride that I wasn’t eighteen, so I wasn’t allowed to jump. When Dad found out, he grounded me for two weeks anyway.

  It seemed as if lately, I just couldn’t do anything right. Dad considered me reckless, but I was simply living life to the fullest.

  “Laura, what am I going to do with you?”

  He rounded his desk and sat down in his chair, shoulders slumped. He was quiet for a moment but then he sprang from his chair again. “And Laura, have you given any thought to how all this is making me look in our community? My daughter the speed demon.”

  “Dad, I’m sorry,” I said mechanically, for the umpteenth time.

  He was unimpressed, for the umpteenth time. “Laura, I have a tough job to do. You seem to have no regard for that fact. How can I retain any credibility when my own child is allowed to speed around town? Honey, you’re not above the law because your old dad happens to be the sheriff.”

  “I know that, Dad, and believe me, I know how important your job is to you. Do I ever,” I added for good measure. And so did Mom, I thought.

  He watched me quizzically, and I watched him right back. I wished he’d just dole out my punishment and get it over with.

  Raking his hand through his hair, he muttered again, “I just don’t know what to do with you.”