Dare You to Run by Dawn Ryder

family was so rooted in elected office, the only other name that even came close to matching them was the Kennedy’s. She was business. It disgusted her and reaffirmed her confidence in her plans for her future.
    A future that wasn’t going to include Carl Davis. She pushed her chair back. “Excuse me.”
    Carl shot her an amused look. “Go hide in the ladies room for however long you like.”
    He sent her a wink. One that made her temper sizzle, but she turned her back on him, refusing to let him get a rise out of her. She passed the ladies room and walked to the door. She pushed right through it and ended up in the entryway of the club. The host looked at her with a frown on his face, then looked back down at his reservations list when someone moved up behind her.
    She realized it was Saxon.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” She shouldn’t have asked. Should have kept the question to herself because she didn’t need Vitus or Saxon knowing what sort of restrictions her sire had on her.
    With her luck, they’d decide to do something about it.
    Saxon didn’t answer her. She made a low sound under her breath and took off toward the street. She heard him bite back a word of profanity before charging after her. He reached out and pulled her to a stop just a few steps from the sidewalk.
    â€œDidn’t you learn your lesson the last time you left your escort behind?” he demanded in a low tone as his fingers bit into her bicep.
    â€œI learned a lot of things,” she countered as she tried to yank free. “What I want to know is, didn’t you and your brother learn anything? The only reason you’d be assigned to me is if you pulled strings to get the duty.”
    Saxon released her arm but positioned himself between her and the sidewalk. “Know so much about me, do you?”
    â€œBabysitting dinner parties is beneath your skill level,” she stated clearly.
    There was a momentary flicker of appreciation in his eyes before he shifted his attention away from her gaze to the dragonfly in her hair. His eyes narrowed as he looked at it. The large gold insect had been her grandmother’s, and she never went anywhere without it.
    A private sedan had pulled up, thinking she wanted to leave. On impulse, she started toward it.
    Saxon pulled her back. “Now you’re just being stupid,” he said.
    â€œYou’re the last person I’d think would be telling me I should just fall into line with my sire’s plans.”
    Saxon’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know anything about me.”
    â€œFine.” She pulled on her arm, but he held it. “Maybe I just thought you were more like your brother.”
    â€œYou don’t know him either.” Saxon released her, but still stood between her and the street.
    â€œI know Vitus doesn’t play political bullshit games.” She shot him a glare. “And he’s smart. Really smart.”
    She turned her back on him, returning to the restaurant. Carl Davis wanted to have dinner with her? Fine. She was going to make sure he learned the error of his ways.
    *   *   *
    â€œYour father would like to see you in his study.”
    Damascus wasn’t surprised by the summons. For all of Carl’s bragging about liking her spirit, she knew he’d go whining to her sire once their date was over. It was a small victory but one she savored because it helped bolster her confidence. Set to embark on her new life path, she was ready to leave everything behind. She’d gone through a lot of trouble to make sure she was ready, but there was still a tiny part of her that hesitated ripping away from everything she knew.
    Well, it was time to grow past it.
    She left her suite and went down the hallway toward the center of the house. It was a huge mansion, complete with indoor swimming pool. The carpet beneath her feet was plush and deep. There was no reason to knock on the