Scott nodded. “She says she’s not interested.” He frowned at that, his expression indicating he wasn’t convinced Meg was telling the truth.
Olivia wasn’t buying it either. Meg had asked her about Scott too. But whenever the topic of men or dating came up, Meg said that she’d always been too dependent on the opposite sex to take care of her. She was tired of being needy and of picking the wrong men just to have someone in her life. She was also finished relying on men who were her friends. She’d been talking about Dylan.
Olivia understood that Meg wanted to change, to become more independent and self-reliant. She just didn’t think that meant closing herself off to romance altogether.
She glanced at her brother. “Before I give you any advice, I have a question.”
Scott leaned against the counter. “I’m listening.”
“You do realize Meg is pregnant, right?”
Her brother burst out laughing. “You didn’t just ask me that.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not how I meant it, you dufus! I meant, she’s going to have a baby. You can’t go after Meg just because you think she’s hot. A woman like Meg means serious commitment and—”
His dark scowl told Olivia all she needed to know. “Fine! You get the situation.” And he was still interested. “Then my advice is not to give up.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “Look at me and Dylan. We wouldn’t be together today if he’d listened to what I said I wanted.” And thank God for that. “Dylan looked deeper, got to know me first, and understood I was hiding from myself. He was determined to win.”
“Huh.” Scott paused in thought. “So insert myself in her life whether she wants it or not?”
Olivia smacked her brother on the side of the head.
“Ouch!”
“Then don’t be an idiot and pay attention! Be there for Meg. Make yourself useful, and see what’s behind those walls she puts up. If the feelings are mutual, then you’ll know what to do.”
Scott grinned, then wrapped his arms around Olivia, picking her up off her feet.
“Put me down!” she squealed.
He did as she asked. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Meg would be lucky to get a guy like you. But I love you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt either.”
Scott shrugged off her concern. “I already know Meg likes me. I can handle the rest,” he said, ever her cocky sibling, as he strode off.
Olivia headed back to Dylan and the New York contingent and seated herself between Dylan and Gabe.
“Hey.” Dylan wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned into him, savoring his embrace.
“Gabe, are you going to share the little prince?” she asked of the baby boy he hadn’t yet pawned off on his mother.
“Gabriel, give the baby to your cousin,” Isabelle said from behind him.
Olivia did her best not to laugh, but she did hold out her arms.
Gabe reluctantly parted with his son, handing her the little boy.
She held the baby close to her chest. “Hey, Noah,” she said to the sleeping baby, taking in his tiny, already h
andsome features. “You’re going to be a heartbreaker like the rest of the Dare men.”
She bent her head, inhaling his baby smell. For the first time, no pangs of what might have been hit her. Instead, she was surrounded by what was—her big, loving, ever-expanding family. A new husband she adored and who would do everything in his power to always be there for her, and a baby of her own on the way.
Which reminded her. Somehow she’d managed to keep her pregnancy a secret from everyone except her mother and Avery. She wanted the first few months to pass, to know that this time would be different. From the awful morning sickness, it already was, she thought wryly.
But now, with her whole family gathered, she was ready.
Ever perceptive, Dylan leaned in and whispered in her ear. “All good?” he asked.