Dare to Love (Dare to Love 1)

“Jealous maybe?” Melissa asked.

The waiter stopped by to take their order.

“Whatever you want. You’re the sushi expert.”

Once the order was placed, Melissa pinned Riley with a look that told her she wouldn’t be dropping their previous conversation.

“I don’t think he’s jealous. We’re just friends. We never thought of each other that way.”

Her stepmom propped her chin in her hand. “I don’t know. He’s been protective of you ever since—”

“Protective isn’t the same as having those kind of feelings. He just doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

“Would Ian hurt you?” Melissa asked, getting to the crux of the matter.

Riley blew out a long breath. “I don’t know. He’s such a contradiction. One minute he’s bossy and telling me we’re going for dinner, I need to do things his way, and he infuriates me.” She omitted the fact that his dominance extended to the bedroom.

“And the next minute?” Melissa perceptively asked.

“The next I’m feeling completely cared for and…secure.” Riley looked away, unable to meet the other woman’s gaze.

Melissa was the strongest woman Riley knew, her role model in all things. When Riley’s father had bullied Melissa, she’d pushed back, and when he’d turned on Riley, she’d left him for good. It was Melissa who’d taught Riley to be her own person.

As opposed to Riley’s mother, who had been a too-loving, too-caring, and too-sweet woman. Although she’d loved Riley unconditionally and Riley still missed her, she was grateful she’d had Melissa’s example to follow. And she found it difficult to remember her mom because, with those memories, she was forced to recall the physical and emotional abuse her male chauvinist father had heaped on them both and the meek way her mother had accepted it, becoming more subservient as the years passed. She shuddered at the very thought.

“Riley, where did you disappear to?” Melissa placed her hand over Riley’s.

She swallowed hard. “Somewhere we both promised never to go again.”

Melissa’s bright smile faded. “Honey, don’t think about your dad. You can’t change him, so there’s no reason to put yourself back there.”

Riley shook her head. “I’m not. Well, not that way. I was just thinking how lucky I was that Dad married you.”

Melissa reached out and grabbed her hand. “You’re the one good thing that came out of that period of my life. You’re my daughter, Riley. There’s nothing you can’t discuss with me. So what is it about Ian that scares you? Because I can tell something does, and it’s not all about Alex.”

Amazed at how well her stepmother read her, Riley laughed. “You’re pretty perceptive.”

Melissa shrugged. And waited.

“Ian’s need for control scares me. I’m afraid I’m so taken with him that by the time I realize he’s like my father, it will be too late. And yet I know that’s so wrong. Ian would never—” Riley choked up and waved her hand, indicating she needed time.

She hated, hated that after all these years, the memories could still shake her to her core.

Melissa squeezed her hand tighter. “Your instinct is everything. Honey, I knew. Deep down, when I look back at the days before we got together, I knew. He never made me feel safe and secure. Those are powerful words. So trust your instincts.”

Riley nodded. “But there’s still Alex’s feelings to deal with, and he has every right to resent Ian. Not to trust him. And I trust Alex’s instincts too.”

“He could be too emotionally invested to see his half brother for who he really is,” Melissa said rationally. “He can’t tell you who to date as a condition for loving you or being there for you. That’s not fair either.”

Riley blinked at that. “You always make sense.”

“School of hard knocks, honey. But remember there’s always light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Life brought me David.” And Melissa beamed at the mention of her new husband.

Happy to have the topic of Alex and Ian behind her, she changed the subject to the other woman’s honeymoon. This time, Melissa was only too happy to comply, and over the rest of their delicious dinner, she regaled Riley with stories of the Greek Islands, giving her a much-needed distraction.

* * *

Ian’s siblings arrived at his apartment earlier than the others were due to show up. He appreciated their support. Without discussing it, they all knew how difficult today would be. Robert Dare’s eight children had never been alone together in one room.