Heavy silence followed, which meant, at the very least, he was listening.
“Don’t know if I can do it, Ri.”
Pain twisted her heart.
Although she hadn’t known Ian long, she wasn’t finished getting to know him. She didn’t want to be. But she didn’t want to lose Alex either. She couldn’t imagine her life without him in it.
“How did the night go for your sisters?” she asked, hoping that at least Ian had made progress with the females on Alex’s side of the family.
His answer sounded muffled.
“Say that again?” she asked, hoping she’d misheard.
“They didn’t go to Ian’s either,” Alex said, sounding more subdued than earlier. Maybe because he’d heard in her voice how much this subject meant to her.
Riley shook her head, her throat full. She couldn’t bring herself to ask Alex if he’d told his sisters not to go to Ian’s either. She didn’t want to know, didn’t need another reason to be disappointed in him.
“Call me in the morning when you’re sober,” she said, unable to stay on the phone any longer.
“Riley, come on. Don’t put him between us.”
She shook her head. “You’re the one doing that. Not me. Night, Alex.” She hung up, her emotions veering all over the map.
From anger and disappointment at her best friend, to genuine worry about how Ian had handled their rejection. She’d promised herself she’d keep her distance, but knowing he’d extended himself to his other family, in a sense for her, she had to see him. To know if he was okay.
* * *
Riley drove to Ian’s and left her car with the valet then approached the man sitting behind the desk to give her name. She wished she could go right up without him announcing her beforehand, but if she wanted to see Ian, she had no choice but to let him call ahead and get his permission.
“Riley Taylor to see Ian Dare,” she said to the older, uniformed man.
He typed in her name. “You’re on his list, Ms. Taylor. Go right up.”
She narrowed her gaze, taken off guard, until she realized Ian had probably added her because he’d invited her to his family gathering. And she hadn’t shown up either. Of course she’d counted on Alex and his attitude to provide the explanation for her—never thinking he wouldn’t come and get his sisters to go along with him.
When the elevator let her off inside Ian’s apartment, he was wait
ing for her, arms folded across his chest.
“A little late for the party, aren’t you?” he asked in a sarcastic voice.
“I can explain.”
“Don’t bother,” he told her.
“Ian!” a horrified female yelled at him.
Olivia, Riley thought, recognizing the other woman’s voice. She should have realized Ian wouldn’t be alone.
Olivia strode into the room from the direction of the kitchen. “Hi, Riley,” she said, subdued.
“Who’s here?” another woman asked from the other room.
“Come here, Avery. I want to introduce you to someone. Drag Scott and Tyler with you,” Olivia called back.
“This is a waste of time,” Ian said. “Riley’s not staying.”
Olivia scowled at him.