Dare to Touch (Dare to Love 3)

“Are you calling me a liar?” he asked, his voice dropping in warning.

Her lips parted, but he didn’t want to hear another word out of her mouth unless she was screaming his name while he was pounding hard inside her.

So he rose and pulled her with him, heading straight for the bedroom, where he could begin to show her he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d just have to dig in, be patient, and wrap her in all the love and security she’d never had, hoping that eventually she’d trust in him and in them enough to change her mind. And want the family he intended to have. With her.

It was the biggest gamble of his life.

Chapter Ten

Olivia’s office had been a revolving door with people coming in and out all day. She was busier than ever, and for that, she was grateful. Because whenever she had down time, her thoughts turned to Dylan. So now, she sat at her desk, fingers playing with the sun pendant around her neck, a constant memory of the great guy she had in her life. She’d told Dylan the truth about her past and her fears about the future, and he hadn’t left.

No, he was still here with her, and she didn’t know what to make of that. How could he not care that she wasn’t certain she wanted children? How could he think she was enough? Sure, he might believe that now, but wouldn’t he come to resent her later?

A full workweek had passed, and nothing between them had changed except he’d stepped up his pursuit, as if trying to prove a point. He’d sent flowers to work, taken her out for dinner or cooked for her at his apartment, and she’d ended up sleeping there every night. If his goal was to convince her that he wasn’t going anywhere, he was doing a damned good job.

In fact, they’d fallen into a routine that she could easily get used to. If only she could relax and let herself believe everything would be okay, but instead, she tossed and turned each night. She was exhausted in the mornings, and not even a double dose of caffeine helped.

She wasn’t surprised when a knock sounded on her office door. It had been that kind of day.

“Come in!” she called out, looking up. To Olivia’s surprise, Meg entered, shutting the door behind her.

She was wearing a pair of black slacks with dust and paint stains that told her she’d probably come straight from teaching her kindergarten class.

Olivia rose, but Meg gestured for her to sit. “I’m sorry to just show up like this.”

“That’s okay. Are you here to see Dylan?” Because Olivia couldn’t imagine why Meg would be here to visit with her.

Meg shook her head. “I used his name as a way to get past the gate though. He has me on his approved list. But I really wanted to talk to you. I was hoping you’d still be here.”

“I wish I wasn’t,” Olivia said, then realizing how that sounded, she shook her head. “I meant, it’s been a long week, and I’d rather be home than at work.”

Meg stepped into the room. “I get that, believe me.”

Olivia gestured to one of the chairs on the other side of her desk, and Meg settled herself in with a groan. “I am exhausted. This first trimester is rough.”

“I—” Olivia had been about to say, I remember, but caught herself in time. Dylan might know, but she wasn’t about to confide in a stranger. “I understand. So what can I do for you?” she asked.

“You mean why am I here?” Meg smiled ruefully. “I felt really bad about what happened at Dylan’s sister’s house. When I looked at things from your perspective, I realized that I wasn’t being fair.” She drew a deep breath. “I guess I got used to having Dylan at my beck and call. As a friend,” she was quick to follow up, her cheeks turning a healthy pink in embarrassment.

Olivia was uncomfortable as well, but she respected the fact that Meg had come here to face her.

“But that’s all Dylan and I are. And as his friend, I want him to be happy, and you obviously do that for him so … I’m sorry.” Meg seemed to run out of words at the same time she ran out of breath. She might’ve rushed her confession, but she really seemed to have a good heart.

“I appreciate you coming by,” Olivia said, certain it couldn’t have been easy.

“I just want you to know that I won’t call Dylan all the time. I’ll make that break. But I would like us to try and be friends?”

Olivia smiled. “I’d like that. Because I know Dylan doesn’t want to lose you.” And Olivia understood that, or was trying to. She had so many brothers and sisters. Dylan had one. Meg made two, if she believed them both, and she wanted to—in a healthy way. Not in a dysfunctional, not-seeing-the-obvious kind of way.

“Thanks for saying that.” Meg rose to her feet. “Well, I’m sure you want to get home, and I have a long weekend ahead of me. If the baby’s father calls me back, I still need to tell him that I’m pregnant.”

Olivia winced. “Oh, wow. Good luck with that. Do you think he’ll take it well?”

“Doubtful,” Meg said with a shake of her head. “He’s an immature child. I really have to learn to pick better men,” she muttered. “Of course, now I’d have to find a man willing to take on crazy me and my child. In other words, it’s just going to be me and the peanut.” She patted her still-flat stomach.

Olivia blinked, re

alizing just how much she understood Meg’s predicament. She’d found herself in a similar position a long time ago. Way too similar. But nothing that had happened to Olivia, from the cheating ex to losing her baby, would help Meg to learn now. So Olivia remained silent, despite her crazy impulse to confide in the other woman … a woman who was open and friendly and easy to talk to.