Dare to Love (Dare to Love 1)

“Let her handle her own shit. I’ve learned it’s the only way to keep her in my life.”

Alex turned back to Ian. “I came here because I was furious, and you deserved to know you fucked up. But it’s too late now. There’s nothing anyone can do.”

There were so many questions raised by Alex’s statement Ian didn’t know where to begin. From her always pretending to be okay, to her being proud and independent, Alex and their father were privy to why. Ian wasn’t.

But he wanted to know. Needed to understand her even if it meant digging deeper than she’d be comfortable with. He was also smart enough not to ask questions his half brother wouldn’t answer.

“Give me her number,” Ian said. “The least I can do is apologize.”

Alex scowled at him. “Go to hell. She doesn’t need your help anymore. And she sure as hell doesn’t need to be another one of your conquests.”

“Hey.” Ian grabbed his shoulder.

Alex shrugged him away. “Back off.”

“Just give me her damned number.”

“Not happening, and don’t think you can look her up in the phone book. She’s unlisted.”

With that, he stormed off, leaving Ian where he’d started, about to walk away from his father.

Before he could take leave, his father placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder, surprising him and causing an old memory to surface. Robert, getting ready to leave for a business trip, wearing a suit, and placing his hand on ten-year-old Ian’s shoulder. “Take care of your mother and siblings, son.”

At the time, Ian had been puffed up and proud his father trusted him with the job. Looking back, the request was as much of an illusion as his childhood had been. No ten-year-old could possibly take on that responsibility. It was just something a parent said to make his kid feel important. But the reality was, that had been Ian’s job for way too long.

He stood stiffly, refusing to give his father the satisfaction of shoving him away, and waited for him to finish.

“You all don’t have to pay for my sins, son. You could get to know each other. You could be brothers.”

His suit jacket suddenly too tight, Ian broke into an uncomfortable sweat. “What part of that conversation indicated either of us wants that?”

“You’re both men with huge egos. Neither of you is willing to bend first. But you’re the oldest. Maybe you won’t give me a second chance, but you should give your other siblings a first one. You’re all family.”

Though he hated giving his father a glimpse into his feelings, Ian raised a hand to his throbbing temple. “Isn’t it enough I take care of my brothers, sisters, and mother after you couldn’t be bothered? I’m there for them.”

“If you ever need me…” His father trailed off as Ian turned to go.

Suddenly, he realized his father had something Ian wanted…or if he didn’t have it, he had access. He turned back to the older man. “You can do something for me.”

“What is it?” Robert asked, hope in his voice.

“I need to get in touch with Riley. Phone number, address, something. Can you get me that?”

Disappointment flooded Robert’s face before he schooled his expression. “I’ll give you her number if you do something for me in return.”

The calculating son of a bitch, Ian thought. “What is it?” he bit out.

“Reach out to Sienna and the boys. Invite them to lunch or dinner.” Robert eyed him speculatively, clearly eager to see what he’d do.

Ian gritted his teeth and didn’t answer.

“I thought apologizing to Riley was important to you.”

“It is.”

His father’s deal begged the question, did Ian want access to Riley Taylor badly enough to extend an olive branch to his father’s other family?

Her scent came back to him vividly, a fruity blend that had knocked him on his ass and had him daydreaming of her ever since. The thought of putting any kind of pain in those blue eyes was like slicing his own skin, yet apparently he’d done just that. He needed to fix it. But first he needed to know what the hell he’d done by not returning her call.