Page 35 of Dare to Love

“You thought wrong.”

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Her palm burned on contact. She wanted to get through to him. She needed him to understand.

“Ian, please.”

When he didn’t crack, she glanced away, her gaze falling on the mirror on the nearby wall. She saw herself, hand on his arm, pleading with him to forgive her for something she hadn’t done intentionally. Suddenly the sight transformed, replaced in her mind by her mother on her knees, begging her father to forgive her for some minor transgression that wasn’t worth the anger or emotion invested.

It always ended the same way. He’d backhand her hard, sending her sprawling—into the wall, onto the floor.

Nausea and panic swamped Riley, and she ripped her hand away from him. “You know what? Screw you, Ian.” She took another step back, tremors shaking her body. “You obviously don’t want me here, and I sure as hell don’t need to beg you for anything.”

She beat a hasty retreat for the elevator, pressing the button over and over, willing the car to come faster. “Come on, come on,” she muttered, unwilling to look over her shoulder at the man behind her.

Chapter Eight

Riley’s outburst popped the bubble of anger that had been surrounding Ian all day. She stood at the elevator, pounding at the button in a panic, and his anger, which should never have been directed at her, dissipated, replaced by concern.

“Riley.”

She ignored him.

The elevator door opened, and Ian bolted forward, grabbing her around the waist and yanking her back before she could step inside.

“Put me down!” She struggled, but he waited until the elevator door slid shut to do as she asked.

She spun to face him, fury on her expressive face.

“What the hell was that all about?” he asked.

“You tell me! I came here to check on you, and you treated me like persona non grata in front of your family.”

Yes, he had. He’d never been so angry or hurt, and it made no sense. Why the hell did he care if his half siblings showed up or not when he hadn’t wanted to invite them in the first place? He’d only done it to get Riley’s address and phone number, and when she’d bailed too, he’d taken it as her choosing Alex over him. Which clarified his blinding anger, to camouflage the hurt.

But none of that explained why she’d suddenly freaked—because that’s what she’d done. Yeah, he’d been an ass, but not enough for her to react that way. He knew she wouldn’t budge until he gave in first.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Her eyes opened wide.

He was just as shocked by the words that came out of his mouth. Words he never used, because in his experience, they made him weak. With this woman, it seemed there was nothing he wouldn’t do or say.

Needing space, he stalked over to the wet bar in the living room and poured himself a drink. Pausing for a long sip as the liquor burned down his throat, he studied her, seeing her for the first time tonight.

She wore a white, strappy dress that clung to her generous curves, her curls falling over her shoulders and down her back. Now that he’d regained his sanity, he wanted nothing more than to grab hold of all that gorgeous hair, pull her hard against him, and lose himself in her warm, wet body. He would forget that he’d allowed his half brother to get to him and make her forget that he’d treated her so badly. But that wouldn’t solve anything between them.

They’d both overreacted. He understood his own reactions, at least when it came to her. He still didn’t understand hers, and the mystery of Riley remained.

“Are you okay?” he asked from across the room.

Riley drew a deep breath and nodded, still attempting to calm down, to assure herself that what she’d seen in the mirror hadn’t been reality. She’d sworn she’d never bethatwoman, the one who needed a man so desperately that she’d accept anything and everything he dished out.

She replayed the events of the last few minutes in her mind. He’d been cold and unforgiving, but she was the one who’d flipped out. He’d grabbed her, yes, but the minute she’d told him to take his hands off her, he had.

And he’d apologized.

Two things she’d never seen her father do.

Rationally, she knew that people could argue and get past it, and that’s all they’d done. Had an argument.

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