Dare to Love (Dare to Love 1)

Exhausted by the time the car service took her home, she wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep. The time difference would be messing with her system, and Dylan told her not to come in tomorrow.

She was only too happy to oblige.

* * *

Ian showed up at his mother’s house in Weston, which had also been his childhood home. Personally, he didn’t know why she still lived here when she could afford to move wherever she wanted. Anywhere wouldn’t have the memories this place did.

He parked in the circular drive and let himself into the house.

His mother greeted him in the hallway, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. Emma Dare, with her dark hair, not a strand of gray, looked younger than her fifty years, and she was as beautiful inside as out.

“Ian! I’m so glad you came by.”

He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “It’s been awhile, I know.”

She waved away his concern. “Draft time. I remember how crazy your uncle used to get before, during, and after. No worries.”

Before and after Robert Dare had abandoned his real family, his brother, Paul, had been a permanent fixture.

Ian grinned at the mention of his uncle. “Have you heard from him?”

His mother smiled. “He’s on an African Safari with Lou. I don’t think he’ll be in touch for a while.”

Ian chuckled.

His uncle and his long-time partner had waited until Ian was ready to take over the reins before Paul retired and they took off to travel the world. Being gay wasn’t the reason he treated Ian and his siblings like his own children, but the fact that Lou didn’t want babies was. Paul loved Lou, and he had his nieces and nephews to spoil when they’d been younger, so he never felt as if he’d missed out. Ian was happy his uncle was enjoying his life.

Grasping his hand, his mother led him into her state-of-the-art kitchen. Recently remodeled to indulge her love of all things culinary, his mother now gave cooking classes. It was her way of establishing her independence and having something for herself, and Ian admired her for it.

He settled onto a barstool while his mother poured iced tea for them both.

“So what brings you by?” she asked.

“Nothing in particular.”

She placed his glass in front of him. “This is your mother you’re talking to. You don’t show up in the middle of the week for no reason.”

He stared at the multicolored granite counter, the wash of colors forming an indistinct blur. He hated it, preferring things in bold colors with stark contrast. Kind of like his life, with distinct rules, everything having its place. Knowing what to expect let him breathe easier. Which explained his need for control, in all things.

“So your sisters tell me you met someone special,” she said softly.

Ian let out a laugh. “They have big mouths.”

“They’re girls! The first thing they each did Sunday night was call me,” she said, laughing. “Olivia thinks it’s a good thing there’s someone who won’t take your crap. Her words,” his mother said, amusement in her voice that he didn’t appreciate.

But he could never be angry with her. The little brats he called his sisters were another story.

“Who is she?” his mother asked.

“Her name is Riley Taylor.” He went on to bring his mother up-to-date on how he’d met Riley and her entanglement with Alex.

“Well, that hits right where you hurt,” she said bluntly, as only a mother could.

“Yeah.” And he still didn’t understand Alex and Riley’s connection.

Yes, they’d grown up as neighbors, but Riley and Alex had an unbreakable bond. Maybe if Ian understood what lay behind it, it would be easier for him to accept.

“Yet she’s worth dealing with them? I mean, you’ve avoided doing so for all these years.” Her eyes lit with questions.