?

Meg shook her head. “Of course not. If you have advice, I’m happy to hear it. When my jeans wouldn’t close the other night, I nearly burst into tears. They fit a few days ago. I’m a little overwhelmed,” she admitted.

“I’m the mother of an eighteen-month-old. I now have expertise on things I never thought I could handle. Mind if I finish my coffee before we walk around?” Riley asked.

“Of course not.”

“Want to get anything?” Olivia offered.

“No, I’m fine.” Meg settled into a chair at the table, and the other women took their seats again.

“So speaking of your eighteen-month-old, where is your…” Meg trailed off, not knowing if Riley had a boy or a girl.

“Daughter,” she supplied. “Her name is Rainey. She’s with my mother-in-law.” Like any good mom, Riley pulled out her phone and showed off a picture of her baby.

“Isn’t she the cutest?” Olivia asked. “She has Ian’s eyes.”

Meg leaned over the table and glanced at the screen on the phone. Actually, the baby had Scott’s eyes, Meg realized, staring into the cherubic face with dark navy eyes and pudgy cheeks.

“She’s absolutely gorgeous,” Meg said, unable not to grin at the adorable baby with the cute smile.

“Thank you. She also has her father’s … shall we say dominant personality? Stubborn as heck already,” Riley said with affection in her tone.

“You don’t say? That controlling personality runs in the family?” Meg met Olivia’s gaze just as her friend burst out laughing.

“What am I missing?” Riley asked.

“Oh. Nothing,” Meg said. “I just meant—”

“Meg is … involved with Scott,” Olivia chimed in before Meg could formulate an explanation.

“Your brother Scott?” Riley asked.

Meg shook her head and swallowed a groan. “We’re not really involved, we’re just … I mean, Scott is helping me out with a situation.” Meg liked her interpretation. Better than telling Riley she was sleeping with the other woman’s brother-in-law.

“Is that how you want to play it?” Olivia asked, an amused smile touching her lips.

Meg blew out a long breath. Obviously nothing was sacred among these woman, and the truth was, Meg needed female input. Especially from women who knew the Dare men firsthand. “Fine. We’re involved. I think.”

Olivia grinned, making it obvious to Meg that she approved.

“And I take it from your comment about my daughter’s personality, you find Scott controlling?” Riley asked, laughter twinkling in her eyes.

“You could say that. But I’m not trying to insult him or your family,” Meg rushed to add.

Riley shook her head. “Oh, honey. You think Scott’s controlling? Ian is Scott on steroids. Times fifty.”

Meg stared at the petite woman in awe. “How do you handle him?”

“Don’t let her fool you. She has my brother wrapped around her finger.” Olivia propped an arm on the table and waved her fingers in the air.

“Except it isn’t always easy,” Riley said. “And in the beginning, it nearly broke us apart more than once.” She bit down on her lip. “I really had an issue with controlling men because of my past, and I wasn’t used to turning to anyone for help. Especially when that help came in the form of being told what to do.”

Like Meg had an issue with leaning on Scott. “I get that,” she murmured. “I feel the same way. Scott took me over to Tyler’s security firm this morning. I can’t afford to hire them, but he has them helping me anyway.” She shook her head. “I’m grateful but … I’d just promised myself I would stop relying on other people. Men in particular.”

“But it’s a different kind of reliance, isn’t it?” Olivia asked.

Meg thought about the answer. “Yes. Very different. Before, I just wanted any man in my life, and I’d accept almost anyone to not be alone,” she said, ducking her head in embarrassment. “Can we go shopping now? I don’t think you two together women need to listen to my problems.”

Tags: Carly Phillips Dare to Love Erotic
Source: readsnovelonline.net