She glanced down. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “What if I rely on him and he’s not there?”
“Listen to me. Kids are born, and they’re supposed to know their parents will be there for them, to keep them safe, to love them. You never had that, so you learned early to count on you. Then later, you found it in yourself to trust me.”
She swallowed, and it physically hurt. “Because you were always by my side.”
“I don’t see Ian going anywhere if you open yourself up to him.”
“I told him I would…and I didn’t.”
“Can you? In the future?”
Riley searched her heart. She wanted to. She did…but she just didn’t know, if pushed again, if she’d turn inward like she always did.
“Ms. Taylor?” A woman dressed in a skirt and blouse, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, walked into the room. “I’m Madison Evans, but you can call me Madison. I’m a social worker.”
Riley’s head whipped up. “I don’t need—”
“Good to meet you,” Alex said, rising from his chair, nearly stumbling over his feet in an effort to say hello. “I’m Alex Dare, a friend of Riley’s.”
The pretty woman appeared to be about Riley’s age. She smiled and shook his hand, no sense of recognition in her expression.
“Nice to meet you too,” she said, dismissing him by turning back to Riley.
Alex’s mouth opened in disbelief.
Riley did her best not to laugh. Poor Alex wasn’t used to not being fawned over by women.
“I appreciate you coming by, but honestly, I don’t need a social worker,” Riley told the woman.
“Don’t listen to her. She protests too much. Finish what you were going to say.” Alex shot Riley a pointed look.
Madison glanced back and forth between them before again focusing on Riley. “I was just going to tell you that I speak to all domestic abuse victims who come through the hospital.”
Riley wrinkled her nose. “But I’m not—”
“You are.” Alex came to stand by her side, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.
Madison stepped closer to the bed. “The reports say you were injured when you were attacked by your father?” she asked gently.
Riley met her gaze. “Yes.”
“If you’d like to set up an appointment for counseling, it might help to talk to someone.”
“It definitely might,” Alex said.
“I get the point.” Riley accepted the woman’s business card, doubtful she’d be using it. “Thank you.”
“That’s my job, and I’m good at it, if you don’t mind me saying so. I’d like the chance to help you work through whatever issues might have arisen from this experience.”
Riley nodded. “Okay.”
Madison smiled. “Okay.”
She strode out of the room, Alex’s stare never leaving her retreating form.
Riley narrowed her gaze, but she had no chance to ask about his obvious interest in a woman who looked nothing like his usual bimbo type.
“She’s right,” Alex immediately said.