Dare to Touch (Dare to Love 3)

“No running from this,” he said, not once breaking eye contact. “You don’t have to be ready to say it back, but you need to know how I feel. And know that I believe you feel it too.”

She reached out to touch his cheek. “I do.” She swallowed hard. Saying the words was so hard because they left her vulnerable. But she realized she was vulnerable just by virtue of the fact that she felt them at all. She loved him, and that left her open to any number of painful outcomes, as she’d experienced firsthand.

But she gathered her courage … and with her heart pounding in her chest and her head spinning, she told him what was in her heart. “I love you too.”

He grinned, that panty-melting grin that could make her do almost anything. “Yeah, sunshine. I thought so. Now here’s the thing.”

She narrowed her gaze, not liking that serious tone of voice. “What?”

“We didn’t use a condom.”

She reared back, shocked she, of all people, hadn’t realized that herself. “Oh shit.” Her heart began pounding painfully inside her chest. “I’m not on any other kind of protection.”

She’d never needed it. The times she’d had sex, she’d made sure her partners used a condom. She was religious about it and for good reason.

“What is it about you that makes me lose my head?” She inched back to her side of the bed only to find herself jerked forward and pulled close, her face inches from his. “Don’t panic.”

“Didn’t you hear me the other day? I don’t want to go through anything like losing a baby ever again!”

“Sunshine, you’re jumping the gun. I’m sorry neither one of us realized in time, but I promise you that if you’re pregnant, this time, you won’t be alone. You have me.”

Nausea threatened at the word pregnant. She didn’t hear anything else, couldn’t see past it. “Dylan, I told you how I felt about kids, and you said—”

“I know what you told me. I even know you believe you don’t want children. But that’s fear talking.” He stared at her pointedly. “That’s your past talking. That’s the little girl whose father was never, ever around, who doesn’t want to be hurt again. Left again. That’s her talking.”

She wasn’t just talking, she was screaming, Olivia thought, reminding herself of how badly it hurt when everything fell apart.

“Hey. Stay with me,” Dylan said, pulling her back to the present. To him. “It’s also the young woman who lost both a baby and a man who should have been there for her taking. But it’s not who you are today,” he said, that steady, so sure gaze never leaving hers.

“I thought you understood. You said you did. And you said I was enough for you,” she said, her voice rising.

“I did understand. I still do. And I didn’t lie to you, though I admit I hoped you’d come to see you wanted the same things I did,” he admitted in a gruff voice. “I didn’t do this on purpose, but honestly? Today with Wendell made me realize that life is short. And it merely solidified what I’ve always known. I want it all. A house, white picket fence, dog, kids, all of it. With you,” he said in a determined voice.

She struggled to sit up, pulling the covers with her and covering her bare breasts, feeling completely exposed and a lot betrayed. “A lie by omission? I hate to break it to you, but it’s still a lie.”

He sat up just as quickly and grabbed her wrists before she could climb out of bed. “A lie based on hope. And faith. And a belief in the woman I’ve come to know. The one who could accept Meg’s offer to be friends. You know that woman? I had faith in her. I still do.”

“What are you saying?” Olivia asked, complete panic swamping her. “If I don’t agree, if I don’t want those things, you’ll leave me?” She hated how her voice cracked, betraying her emotions.

He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? If I walked out on you, you’d be able to tell yourself that, once again, you weren’t enough. And you’ll crawl right back into the shell I found you in and never come out. So, no, Liv. I’m not going anywhere. And newsflash. Neither are you.”

She blinked at his determined tone of voice.

“Pregnant or not, you’re going to work through your issues, and I’m going to be there when you do.” He raised an eyebrow, challenging her to argue.

She couldn’t do anything except collapse on the bed and cry, the stress of the day, the release of adrenaline, and all the pent-up emotion she’d been holding in for days pouring out. True to his word, Dylan was there, holding her until she fell asleep.

* * *

The next day at work, chaos descended, leaving Olivia with no time to think about Dylan, a possible pregnancy, or the future. Apparently, Olivia being held at gunpoint by Marcus Bigsby’s cousin made for sensational news. The PR team needed her to do interviews, which meant fast media training and prep. She was fed a quick diet of talking points and taught how to answer a question by changing the direction to what she wanted to focus on—which was the need for the team to support Marcus, for Marcus to focus on cutting bad influences from his life, and getting ready for the next season.

Since she really didn’t enjoy being in front of the cameras, she appreciated the training. Even better, since she wasn’t the face of the team, Ian instructed PR to choose one interviewer. The other networks could pick up clips afterwards. Having her older brother in charge was a perk Olivia appreciated.

She wasn’t surprised when, later that day, as soon as she was free, Ian called her to his office. She walked down the Hall of Fame, as the hallway, lined with large framed pictures of their most talented players, was known. The photos always made her smile. She liked feeling like she was a part of history, that the men they worked with were making an impact on the sport.

She reached Ian’s office, knocked, and strode inside. Her brother sat behind his big desk, looking every inch the intimidating team owner he was.

To her, he was just her big brother. “What’s up?”