Dare to Take (Dare to Love 6)

“You have your life all figured out. Your professional life as well as your personal one. You confronted your demons when you dealt with your father, and I haven’t done the same thing. I don’t know how to give you what you deserve when I’m distrustful of anything good and lasting in my life.”

He stepped forward, breaching the distance between them, and grabbed her around the waist. If there ever was a time to use any advantage, this was it. He pulled her against him, aligning their bodies, allowing her to feel how much he desired her and always would.

“What makes you so sure seeing your father again will fix whatever you think is lacking inside you?”

She lifted her hands, let them hover in the air before finally letting them rest on his chest, her cool touch branding his skin. “I don’t know that it will,” she admitted, fitting herself against him, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.

His heart beat heavily against his chest, the fear of losing her winding its way through his veins until he grew cold. Panicked.

But if there was one thing he knew, he couldn’t force her to stay. He had to hope she came to terms with her demons and returned to him on her own.

He kissed the top of her head and released her.

She stumbled back, surprised. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m doing what you asked,” he said, forcing the words out from the darkest part of his soul. “I’m letting you go.”

He prayed he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life. But he wanted all of Ella, unconditionally, and the only way she could give him that was to make peace with her own past—even though it killed him to let her walk out his door.

* * *

Word spread among the Dare siblings that Tyler needed a guys’ night out. He had no doubt Avery was the source of the rumor. Who else would know that Ella had returned home and informed the rest of the clan?

So despite his mood, he found himself at Emilio’s with his brothers, staring at delicious-smelling Italian food at Ian’s favorite restaurant. His brothers ate like they hadn’t been fed in a year, inhaling pasta and chicken parmigiana, while Tyler focused on his third scotch of the evening.

Tyler merely watched the two of them with some level of amusement. Not much considering his mood.

“I can’t believe you finished the chicken,” Ian said to Scott, who was reaching for the utensils to give himself more pasta.

“Touch that ziti and I’ll stab you with my fork,” Ian said. “Leave some for me.”

Scott scowled at him, not moving his hand. “You already ate double what I ate.”

“How do your wives put up with you?” Tyler asked.

At that, Ian focused on Tyler and pinned him with a glare. “Riley loves me.”

And while Ian was looking at Tyler, Scott stole what was left of the dish, stabbing the vegetable with his fork and landing it on his plate.

“Fuck,” Ian muttered and gestured for the waiter, ordering another main course of chicken parm. “That’s for you,” he said, pointing to Tyler. “You need to eat,” he said, acting like the head of the family he’d been for years.

“He’s right,” Scott said. “Starving won’t bring Ella back.”

It was Tyler’s turn to scowl. “We’re not discussing her.”

Ian cocked his head to one side. “We wouldn’t have to if you’d done what I told Alex once.”

“What would that be?” Tyler was sorry he asked before he even finished the sentence.

With a shrug, Ian said, “A little bondag

e wouldn’t hurt. Tie her to the bed until she accepts who’s boss.” A smirk lifted the corners of his brother’s mouth just as Tyler and Scott both let out a loud chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“You might have been in charge once upon a time, but we all know Riley wears the pants in the family,” Tyler said through laughter he hadn’t thought he was capable of minutes earlier.

Damn, but he loved his family. They’d left their spouses to make sure he was okay and took his mind off his problems.