Dare Me Tonight (The Knight Brothers 3)

And she tried to focus on the tiny nugget inside her belly and not the state of her life since Ian had found out and taken a swing at Ethan. Because Olivia had called and told her that Ethan was gone. He’d taken a late flight out of Miami, back to New York. Upset didn’t begin to describe how she felt, but she had no choice but to accept his decision to leave.

And blame Ian.

Which was why she jumped up from her sitting position, pulled on a summer dress and flip-flops, and headed in her car to see Ian at his home with his wife and kids. Sienna loved Ian and Riley’s kids. Rainey was an adorable four-year-old with brown wavy hair like her mother and a handful, which, as far as Sienna was concerned, served Ian right. Of course he smothered and doted on his daughter, who had no problem telling her daddy what she wanted. Jack was almost a year old and the spitting image of his father. Another male Dare to dominate the world, Sienna thought wryly.

And since she loved Ian’s wife and knew Riley would take her side when it came to Ian’s interference in Sienna’s life, she had no problem tackling the problem in his home. After all, this was Sienna’s personal life she was dealing with.

She drove the twenty minutes outside of Miami to the house Ian had bought after moving out of his downtown condo in the Ritz and pulled up to her brother’s close to eight p.m. She’d expected the kids would be asleep, although she was both surprised and thrilled to find them awake.

No sooner had Riley let her into the house than Rainey, in her nightgown and wild hair, came bursting into the room. “Aunt Sienna! Let’s play dolls!”

Riley, looking tired, glanced at her daughter and sighed. “She napped after four p.m. Needless to say, sleep is not on the agenda.”

“Go get your American Girl,” Sienna said of Rainey’s favorite toy, and the little girl disappeared, running for her room.

Riley ushered her inside. “I don’t know why you’re here but you’re a godsend. I need help.”

Sienna laughed. “I came to yell at my brother, but hanging out with my niece is always a treat.”

“I’m back!” Rainey yelled her words. She grasped Sienna’s hand and pulled her into the family room, placing the doll in Sienna’s lap. The doll was intended to look just like Rainey and it did, from the nightgown to her currently unbrushed hair.

“Uh-oh. What did Ian do now?” Riley joined her in the room with the large sofa and glanced at Sienna.

She gave Ian’s wife a quick explanation that included whispers so Rainey didn’t overhear. “Long story short, it’s none of his business what goes on between Ethan and me.”

“You’re right about that!” Riley’s eyes had opened wide, an annoyed expression on her face. “And you’re pregnant!” Riley exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. “No wonder Ian was in such an ornery mood tonight. He said we’d talk after the kids went to bed. I bet he knew I’d be furious and he was delaying the inevitable showdown.”

Sienna shrugged. “Wouldn’t surprise me. But I need to make things clear to him about boundaries, you know?”

Riley nodded. “I certainly do.”

Ian and Riley had had their own issues getting together, ones that involved Ian’s domineering ways.

“He’s putting Jack to bed. He’ll be back down in a few minutes,” she said.

Sienna sat down next to Rainey and accepted the doll. “Now, what can we do with … what’s your doll’s name?” Sienna knew Rainey changed the doll’s name on a whim.

“Gracie!” the little girl exclaimed and Riley’s eyes opened wide.

“Rainey, have you been sneaking around, listening when Mommy and Daddy are talking again?” Riley asked her daughter, trying to keep a stern voice.

She looked up with big violet eyes that resembled her father’s. The rest of her was all Riley. “Maybe, Mommy.”

Sienna choked on the answer. “Maybe?”

“Rainey Noelle, what does that mean?” Riley placed a hand under her daughter’s chin and forced her to meet her gaze.

“You told me not to lie, so I’m not, Mommy.”

“Are you sure she’s only four?” Sienna grinned at the little girl.

Riley leaned back against the sofa cushion. “She’s a Dare. She’s her father’s daughter. And she’s smarter than she should be.”

“So you heard that Daddy and I want to name your new baby sister Gracie?” Riley asked through a half smile.

Sienna whipped her head around to Riley. “You’re having another girl?”

Riley nodded. “It was supposed to be a secret.” She shook her head and sighed.

“Just like my baby was supposed to be a secret. Then Ian found out and ran right to the father.”

“Of course I did. The man had to know that he violated my trust.” Ian strode into the room.

He’d changed from the suit he wore to the office and had on a pair of black track pants and a tee shirt with what looked like marinara stains. Nobody would believe this was the same formidable Ian Dare people ran away from in fear.