Dare to Love

by Carly Phillips

  Riley jumped up, smoothing her dress and rubbing at her swollen lips, doing nothing to ease the tension emanating from her best friend.

  Ian took his time standing.

  “I see you met my brother,” Alex said, his tone tight.

  Riley swallowed hard. “We were just—”

  “Getting better acquainted,” Ian said in a seductive tone meant to taunt Alex and imply just how much better he now knew Riley.

  A muscle ticked in the other man’s jaw. “Ready to go back inside?” Alex asked her.

  Neither one of them would make a scene at this mockery of a family event.

  “Yes.” She didn’t meet Ian’s gaze as she walked around him and came up alongside Alex.

  “Good because my dad’s been asking for you. He said it’s been too long since he’s seen you,” Alex said, taunting Ian back with the mention of the one person sure to piss him off.

  Despite knowing better, Ian took the bait. “Go on. We were finished anyway,” he said, dismissing Riley as surely as she’d done to him.

  Never mind that she was obviously torn between her friend and whatever had just happened between them; she’d chosen Alex. A choice Ian had been through before and come out on the same wrong end.

  In what appeared to be a deliberately possessive move, Alex wrapped an arm around her waist and led her back inside. Ian watched, ignoring the twisting pain in his gut at the sight. Which was ridiculous. He didn’t have any emotional investment in Riley Taylor. He didn’t do emotion, period. He viewed relationships through the lens of his father’s adultery, finding it easier to remain on the outside looking in.

  Distance was his friend. Sex worked for him. It was love and commitment he distrusted. So no matter how different that brief moment with Riley had been, that was all it was.

  A moment.

  One that would never happen again.

  * * *

  Riley followed Alex onto the dance floor in silence. They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since she’d let him lead her away from Ian. She understood his shocked reaction and wanted to soothe his frazzled nerves but didn’t know how. Not when her own nerves were so raw from one simple kiss.

  Except nothing about Ian was simple, and that kiss left her reeling. From the minute his lips touched hers, everything else around her had ceased to matter. The tug of arousal hit her in the pit of her stomach, in her scalp as his fingers tugged her hair, in the weight of her breasts, between her thighs and, most telling, in her mind. He was a strong man, the kind who knew what he wanted and who liked to get his way. The type of man she usually avoided and for good reason.

  But she’d never experienced chemistry so strong before. His pull was so compelling she’d willingly followed him outside regardless of the fact that she knew without a doubt her closest friend in the world would be hurt if she got close to Ian.

  “Are you going to talk to me?” Alex asked, breaking into her thoughts.

  “I’m not sure what to say.”

  On the one hand, he didn’t have a say in her personal life. She didn’t owe him an apology. On the other, he was her everything. The child she’d grown up next door to and the best friend who’d saved her sanity and given her a safe haven from her abusive father.

  She was wrong. She knew exactly what to say. “I’m sorry.”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “I don’t know what came over me. I found you two kissing, and I saw red.”

  “It was just chemistry.” She let out a shaky laugh, knowing that term was too benign for what had passed between her and Ian.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt. The man doesn’t do relationships, Ri. He uses women and moves on.”

  “Umm, Pot/Kettle?” she asked him. Alex moved from woman to woman just as he’d accused his half brother of doing.

  He’d even kissed her once. Horn dog that he was, he said he’d had to try, but they both agreed there was no spark and their friendship meant way too much to throw away for a quick tumble between the sheets.

  Alex frowned. “Maybe so, but that doesn’t change the facts about him. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I won’t,” she assured him, even as her heart picked up speed when she caught sight of Ian watching them from across the room.

  Drink in hand, brooding expression on his face, his stare never wavered.

  She curled her hands into the suit fabric covering Alex’s shoulders and assured herself she was telling the truth.

  “What if he was using you to get to me?”

  “Because the man can’t be interested in me for me?” she asked, her pride wounded despite the fact that Alex was just trying to protect her.

  Alex slowed his steps and leaned back to look into her eyes. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Any man would be lucky to have you, and I’d never get between you and the right guy.” A muscle pulsed in Alex’s right temple, a sure sign of tension and stress. “But Ian’s not that guy.”

  She swallowed hard, hating that he just might be right. Riley wasn’t into one-night stands. Which was why her body’s combustible reaction to Ian Dare confused and confounded her. How far would she have let him go if Alex hadn’t interrupted? Much further than she’d like to imagine, and her body responded with a full-out shiver at the thought.

  “Now can we forget about him?”

  Not likely, she thought, when his gaze burned hotter than his kiss. Somehow she managed to swallow over the lump in her throat and give Alex the answer he sought. “Sure.”

  Pleased, Alex pulled her back into his arms to continue their slow dance. Around them, other guests, mostly his father’s age, moved slowly in time to the music.

  “Did I mention how much I appreciate you coming here with me?” Obviously trying to ease the tension between them, he shot her the same charming grin that had women thinking they were special.

  Riley knew better. She was special to him, and if he ever turned his brand of protectiveness on the right kind of woman and not the groupies he preferred, he might find himself settled and happy one day. Sadly, he didn’t seem to be on that path.

  She decided to let their disagreement over Ian go. “I believe you’ve mentioned how wonderful I am a couple of times. But you still owe me one,” Riley said. Parties like this weren’t her thing.

  “It took your mind off your job stress, right?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yes, and let’s not even talk about that right now.” Monday was soon enough to deal with her new boss.

  “You got it. Ready for a break?” he asked.

  She nodded. Unable to help herself, she glanced over where she’d seen Ian earlier, but he was gone. The disappointment twisting the pit of her stomach was disproportional to the amount of time she’d known him, and she blamed that kiss.

  Her lips still tingled, and if she closed her eyes and ran her tongue over them, she could taste his heady, masculine flavor. Somehow she had to shake him from her thoughts. Alex’s reaction to seeing them together meant Riley couldn’t allow herself the luxury of indulging in anything more with Ian.

  Not even in her thoughts or dreams.

  TWO

  Riley walked into the main office of Blunt Sporting Goods, a manufacturer and retailer where she’d been employed since she was seventeen. She’d worked her way up from sales to store manager until she was ultimately drafted into their corporate headquarters after college. She worked hard, earned good money, and best of all, loved her job. She was in charge of distribution and knew how to get their goods into the right hands. Too bad all those years of loyal service were now threatened by a sale to new owners.

  When Jerry Blunt had decided to retire and travel with his wife, he’d sold the once-family-owned business to a pompous jerk who’d withheld his intentions of cleaning house and bringing in fresh new talent, as he called his hires, until the final papers were signed.

  He brought in all his own people for lead jobs, which Riley grudgingly admitted made sense. But he also sought to hire new people from
outside the company, those willing to work for less money. He didn’t give the long-standing, once-valued workers a chance to prove their worth. Many older employees with families to support were let go and they’d have a tough time getting a new job for the same pay.

  It sucked, Riley thought, and she wanted to at least try and save her department. To do so, she had to prove to her new boss that she could run things well and efficiently and make him money. Sadly, he wasn’t the type to listen, and every day, more people left with their belongings in a box, escorted out by security.

  When her intercom rang, calling her in to see the new boss, Riley had no doubt she would be the next one out the door. She flexed her fingers and rose, taking the stairs to the next floor, using the time to give herself a pep talk before approaching Franklin O’Mara.

  “Go on in,” Gail, his personal secretary, also new to the company, said. “He’s expecting you.”

  “Thanks.” She stepped into his office.

  In his forties with a receding hairline and paunch in his stomach, he epitomized the lazy executive, and it killed Riley to see the company she loved be destroyed by someone who didn’t see the value of the employees he’d inherited.

  “Ms. Taylor.” He held a file in his hand, no doubt filled with her evaluations and track record at the company.

  “Mr. O’Mara.” She waited until he gestured for her to be seated before nodding and settling into the chair across from his massive desk.

  “I’m sorry to say, we’ll be letting you go.”

  She swallowed hard. “I understand your new corporate policy involves bringing in fresh talent,” she began.

  “Then you understand it’s nothing personal. We’ll give you a good severance package and references. Marge in HR will discuss the details with you.”

  “What if I told you I could get you access to the Miami Thunder?” she asked, grasping at the first—and clearly most absurd—thing that came to mind.

  No doubt because Ian Dare, president of the Miami Thunder, who kissed like a dream, had been in her dreams day and night since their hookup Saturday night.

  O’Mara’s eyes lit up with interest. “Keep talking.”

  She ran her tongue along the inside of her dry mouth, wishing she could take back her words. For one thing, Alex would kill her. For another, she didn’t even have access to the man.

  But she had a department of employees whose jobs and welfare depended on this one Hail Mary. “I have a personal connection with Ian Dare.” The lip-lock they’d shared was very personal, she thought, suppressing a shiver.

  “Go on.”

  She crossed her fingers in her lap and continued. “I’ve been planning on talking to him about changing suppliers for his team’s inventory, or at least giving us a shot. I figured once he sees we’re reliable and our deals are solid, maybe he’ll throw more business our way.”

  She twisted her fingers, hoping he didn’t notice how badly she was panicking as she spoke. Even she knew football teams had major multi-year contracts with big companies, but the words were out, and there was no taking them back.

  “Now that’s a way to put yourself on my radar.” He nodded approvingly. “Okay, talk to him. You have until Friday noon. No deal? I’m bringing in my people.”

  Riley rose to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, extending her hand for his sweaty handshake, then turned and headed for the door.

  “Noon Friday,” he reminded her as she let herself out.

  For the return trip to her office, Riley took the elevator, unsure her legs would support her on the walk down. She didn’t want to lose her job, but unless she could reach Ian Dare and talk him into doing business with her, she’d be unemployed, unable to afford her rent, car payment, student loans, and other assorted bills. Even Alex would understand how her utter panic over the possibility had led her to Ian.

  She hoped.

  She leaned against the elevator wall and groaned. Thanks to her bluster and big mouth, her job was in Ian Dare’s very sexy hands.

  * * *

  For the week following his father’s party, Ian was tied up in preparation for the football draft. Agents trying to pitch their best players, to trade their unhappy players, to work the system and his team to their advantage. This year, the annual event was being held in Ian’s hometown of Miami, at his father’s flagship hotel, which meant he’d have to be on guard while he was there. Dealing with Robert Dare’s attempts at reconciliation could only distract him from business.

  He was so inundated meeting with his general manager and scouts, he only returned calls relating to deals, ignoring all others, including his mother and siblings.

  When he finally sat down to eat and listen to all his messages, he was shocked to hear the sexy voice he dreamed about at night.

  “Hi, Ian. It’s Riley Taylor. We—umm—met at your father’s birthday party this past weekend. I have something important I’d like to discuss with you. My number is…” He listened to the rest of the message, absently jotting down her information while focusing on her voice.

  Strong and husky, her tone aroused him all over again, but he also noticed a tremor as she spoke, which made him wonder if the memory of their kiss haunted her as much as it did him. Since Saturday night, he’d alternated between cursing his half brother for interrupting and being grateful for the reminder that this woman had loyalties in direct conflict with him.

  As an adult, Ian hated the notion of considering Alex competition, but the past couldn’t be changed. When their father had had a choice to make, he’d picked Alex and his siblings, not Ian and his. They’d had him for concerts, sporting events, and graduations. Maybe not all his father’s so-called hotel travel had been a lie, but there was no doubt who’d gotten short shrift when it came to having a dad. And though Ian had stepped up for his siblings, nothing could replace the gaping hole Robert Dare had left them with, both when they were ignorant of the other family and after he’d moved out.

  So yes, Alex had always been a rival. First for their father’s affection, then as the star quarterback of the Thunder’s biggest competition, and now for a woman Ian barely knew. Even if that kiss had made him think they had a connection, her withdrawal afterward had made a bigger statement. This woman had gotten to him, something no other could claim. He wouldn’t be giving her another opening. He might be curious as to what she wanted and why she’d reach out to him, but he couldn’t afford to care.

  He allowed himself a few last lingering thoughts of Riley, the fruity taste of her glossed lips and the sound of her soft moans reverberating through him. Then he picked up the paper on which he’d written down her number, crushed it into a ball, and tossed it in the trash.

  * * *

  For the first two days of the draft, Ian managed to miss bumping into his old man but knew his luck wouldn’t hold out. Sure enough, Saturday morning, Robert intercepted him on his way to a breakfast meeting at the restaurant.

  “Ian!” His father strode up to him, dressed in a suit and tie, happy as if he owned the world.

  Ian inclined his head. “Good morning. I can’t talk. I’m late for a meeting.”

  His father stared at him with knowing eyes. Eyes the same gray as his own. “I won’t keep you. But I was disappointed I didn’t get to talk to you at the party the other night.”

  “I was there. Only because Avery and Olivia asked me to come,” he deliberately added.

  Avery, his youngest sister, had been a bone marrow donor for their father’s other daughter, Sienna—Sienna’s illness being the only reason Robert Dare had revealed his cheating, lying ways. He’d needed to see if any of his legitimate children were matches. The girls had bonded over the experience, accepting them as family. Ian didn’t feel the same way. He didn’t hate his half siblings, he just wanted nothing to do with them. But unlike his father, he’d sworn to be there for his family, so when the girls had asked him to attend the party for them, he’d agreed.

  “And I’m grateful you attended. A man never kno
ws how many years he has left,” Robert said.

  Ian rolled his eyes at the dramatic statement. “You’re healthy, and you’ll probably outlive us all.” He deliberately glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to get inside.” He tipped his head toward the restaurant.

  “Maybe we can have lunch or dinner?” the older man asked, hope in his eyes.

  Ian shook his head. “Like I said, I’ve got meetings.”

  Shadows crossed his father’s face, and Ian did his best not to feel guilty.

  “Fine, but I’ll keep trying, you know.”

  Ian straightened his shoulders. “It’s too late for that too.” He turned away and stepped toward the restaurant entrance when he heard his name being called and turned.

  This time it was Alex rushing to catch up to him.

  His father hadn’t left, and he greeted his other son, not bothering to excuse himself as Alex strode up to Ian.

  “You’re such a selfish prick,” Alex said, getting into his face. “Would it have killed you to return her phone calls and see what she had to say?”

  Ian immediately knew he was talking about Riley. “You’re the one who made it clear she should have nothing to do with me, so what’s up your ass now?”

  “She left you a message, right? Said she had something important to discuss? And you couldn’t be bothered to call?” Alex asked, jaw held tight.

  In that instant, Ian saw shades of his father in Alex’s younger face. It had been awhile since the blood connection between them had hit him so strongly. And damn but it hurt.

  “Would one of you tell me what the hell is going on?” Robert asked, interrupting them.

  Alex straightened his shoulders. “Riley called him this week. She needed a favor and asked him to call her back. He didn’t.”

  “I was busy,” Ian said, suddenly feeling a combination of guilt and overriding concern. “It’s draft week, not that I owe you an explanation. Besides, you made it clear I should back off.” Ian wasn’t above sharing the blame when warranted.

  Alex ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the bulging muscles in his neck. “She’s my best friend. Has been since we were kids.”