"How I do what, exactly?" his mother asked.

"Get past what Dad did? Go forward as if nothing happened?"

He met his mother's gaze but saw no stress there, only understanding.

"Your father and I weren't a love match, Ian. You know that already."

"Is that an excuse?" he asked, hearing his bitter tone but unable to stop it.

"No, but it is a fact. The truth is, I was in love before I ever met your father. His name was Jonathan Daniels. He mowed our lawn," she said, blushing.

Ian immediately realized where this conversation was going. "Mom-"

"No. You're going to listen. You're old enough to deal with it, so deal."

He blinked and nodded, knowing when his mother used that tone he had no choice but to listen. Besides, she held him captive on the dance floor.

She had his ear, and n.o.body else could hear. "I'm listening."

"We fell in love, but you know the world I lived in. Your grandparents would never have let me be with him, so we snuck around. Then my father was diagnosed with leukemia. He was terminal and needed someone to take over his hotels. My father and your father's father had been friendly compet.i.tors for years. They agreed to merge their businesses and groom Robert to ultimately run both. Our marriage was a part of that deal."

Ian winced at the cold bargain two men had struck at the expense of their children. Of course, Robert had benefited greatly from the merger. He'd become a hotel magnate.

"Did you ever think to say no?" Ian asked.

She shook her head, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I loved my father very much, and he was dying. He didn't have a son, and I wasn't the kind of woman to take over and run a business."

Her heartfelt sigh broke Ian's heart.

"I had to let Jonathan go."

Ian swallowed hard. To him, it was unimaginable. Could he let Riley go?

d.a.m.n, he was in so deep with her he didn't know how he'd ever get out.

"Do you know what happened to him?" Ian asked his mother.

"We agreed it was better if we said good-bye for good."

"So you gave up the man you loved to marry Robert Dare, and he betrayed you." Ian shook his head, his father's behavior suddenly that much more reprehensible in light of what his mother had given up.

She sighed. "Your father and I had what I thought was a traditional marriage, much like many in our social circles. He was away often, and if he cheated on me, I didn't want to know. But when he came to us about Sienna's illness and revealed a whole other family?" She shook her head. "I think I was numb. I stayed that way for years. The only light, the only feelings I let in were for you and your brothers and sisters."

"G.o.d, Mom."

"Life isn't always fair. We both know that. But I got five beautiful children out of the deal. I can live with myself because I was faithful. His behavior is on him. I just wish I could have protected you from the pain. And I hate that you're still so angry and you expect the world to let you down."

He tightened his grip on her hand as he led her around the dance floor. "I idolized him. I had him on a pedestal so high..." He shook his head, hating the memories.

"Your father was-is-just a man. And a flawed one, at that. But he loved Savannah, and he hasn't, to my knowledge, cheated on her. Which tells me we were both at fault for agreeing to a loveless marriage to begin with."

He blinked. "You made the same commitment. You were already in love with someone else, and you didn't cheat on him. There's no way to justify it."

"I agree. I'm just saying, people have faults. You have to find a way to accept them and move on. You haven't. And it's eating away at you every single day."

He couldn't argue that point.

"And Sienna's illness wasn't something I'd wish on anyone, especially an innocent child," his mother went on.

Ian nodded. "I haven't exactly been fair to her. Or the rest of them," he admitted, embarra.s.sed in light of his mother's forgiving nature.

"At least you realize it."

"It's too late." Alex had made that clear when none of them had showed up at his invitation.

His mother shook her head. "It's never too late while you're all still here. So let the past go," she said, her words. .h.i.tting him with deadly accuracy and devastating impact.

Ian inclined his head. He didn't know if he could, but with everything his mother revealed, and for all she'd given up, he promised himself that, for her sake, he'd try.

Riley listened to Olivia and Avery's banter, once again enjoying the dynamic between the sisters. She'd already met Ian's mother and instantly warmed to the charming woman who'd gone out of her way to make Riley feel welcomed. She knew Ian appreciated his family in a way many people did not, and as a man who carried hurts from the past, she was grateful he had these three women in his life.

His brothers, who she'd also spent time with, were very much like Alex, when he was in a good mood. They liked toying with their older brother, and by dancing too close with Riley, they knew they were poking at Ian's main weakness. She'd tried to pull away, but they'd laughed and kept her dancing.

"So tell me how you put up with my brother's bossy ways," Avery said, bringing Riley into their conversation.

Since Ian had cut into each sister's dances with other men, and he'd done the same with their mother, they had good reason to ask Riley about Ian's control issues.

Still, Riley couldn't help but blush, knowing there were plenty of times she liked Ian's brand of control. Yet there were many instances when she didn't.

"I suppose I just put him in his place," she said to Avery. She took a sip of her champagne and shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

"And he accepts that?" Olivia asked.

Riley shook her head and laughed. "Not always."

"What happens then?" This, from Olivia.

"I'm not telling." Riley grinned, and the other women merely groaned.

"Good evening, ladies."

Riley stilled at the unexpected sound of Alex's voice. She turned to him, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

He looked handsome in his tuxedo, his s.h.a.ggy, brown hair giving him even more appeal. She was happy to see him, just not here. Ian would be upset, and that was the last thing she wanted on a night that had otherwise been wonderful so far.

"My parents are big supporters of the cause. Why wouldn't I be here?" He turned toward the other women. "Olivia, Avery. Good to see you," he said.

They each eyed him warily.

Olivia, who Riley had learned was the more outspoken of the two women, straightened her shoulders. "You owe us all an apology," she told him. "Unless you think not showing up when you're invited and have accepted a dinner invitation is the polite thing to do." She raised an imperious eyebrow as she stood up for her brother.

Alex straightened his shoulders. "I think that's between me and Ian."

"Not when I extended the actual invitation on his behalf," Olivia reminded him.

Riley winced. She deliberately stayed out of the conversation. Although the subject upset her, she recognized it was none of her business.

Alex met her gaze and slowly nodded. "You're right. It was rude, and I'm sorry."

Riley blinked in surprise, proud of her best friend for owning his behavior.

"Any chance you'll tell Ian that?" Olivia asked, pushing her luck.

"Tell Ian what?" the subject of conversation asked, joining them.

Riley sighed.

Ian slipped in beside her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her tightly against him. She automatically leaned into his warmth, savoring the delicious and arousing smell of his cologne. His fingers gripped her waist possessively.

The half siblings and siblings studied each other warily.

"I think Avery and I are going to dance." Olivia spoke first. "It's the first time this DJ is picking up the beat. I don't want to miss out," she said, grasping her sister's hand and pulling her away.

Left alone with the two men, Riley looked to each, wondering who'd break the tension first.

"Alex," Ian said, extending his hand for a shake.

Riley knew what the gesture had cost Ian's pride. She immediately knew he'd done it for her, and her heart filled with love for this enigmatic, self-contained man.

Love.

Oh G.o.d.

She didn't have time to a.n.a.lyze the emotion because Alex hadn't answered. Beside her, Ian stiffened at the insult, and they both waited.

"Ian." Alex pumped Ian's hand.

Riley's knees went weak, and she was grateful for Ian's bodily support.

She expected them to find a reason to part ways, but to her surprise, they made small talk about the draft and the potential of both teams during the upcoming season.

A start, she thought, relieved and pleased beyond words. These two men were so important to her she couldn't bear it if they couldn't even make small inroads in their relationship.

"Feeling better?" Alex asked Riley, interrupting her internal musings.

"I'm fine," she answered quickly, shooting him a warning look. She hoped he understood that she wanted him to end this conversation now and not bring up last night's phone call.

"I set a PI on your dad. I should know what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d has been up to soon enough." Clearly he'd missed her pointed glance.

"What's going on?" Ian asked.

Riley groaned. "I..." She trailed off, unsure of where to begin.

Alex's gaze shot to hers, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Ri. I just a.s.sumed you'd told him."

"Told me what?" Ian asked, his grip on her waist tightening.

"Ouch," she muttered.

He immediately loosened his hold. "What am I missing?" he asked.

She swallowed hard and glanced up at him. "Do you remember earlier, in the limo, I said I wanted to talk to you, and we-umm-got distracted?"

Ian nodded, his jaw tight. He hated being in the dark. Hated more that Riley and his half brother shared some sort of secret.

"Well, it was about this."

"I don't know what this is," Ian reminded her, hurt and betrayal flooding through him.

Alex shook his head. "Jesus, Riley. Your old man surfaces, I didn't expect you to keep the news locked up tight. He's the guy you're with." He gestured toward Ian. "h.e.l.l, you practically threatened me that I'd lose you if I didn't come around and find a way to get along with him. I figured he was the first one you'd confided in."

"You thought wrong," Ian informed him. "I don't know what the h.e.l.l is going on, but I plan to find out," he said, his voice vibrating with anger. "Let's go. We're leaving," he told Riley, his hand still holding her arm.

"The h.e.l.l you are." Alex stepped into his personal s.p.a.ce. "You're not leaving with her while you're so p.i.s.sed off."

"Alex, it's fine," Riley said.

The other man scowled at Ian. "You don't hurt her, you don't lay a f.u.c.king hand on her in anger."

"He wouldn't! Alex, back off. This is my problem, not yours," Riley said, defending him.

Ian clenched his free hand, the one he was itching to shove in his half brother's face.

"Do not tell me how to deal with my woman," Ian bit out, wanting Alex to know when it came to Riley, Ian had first dibs. "And if you think she'd be with me if I laid a hand on her, then you don't know her as well as you think you do."

"You're the one who doesn't know her."

Point scored, Ian thought.

Alex stepped back. "Call me in the morning," he said to Riley.

She nodded.

Ian immediately led her across the ballroom toward the exit. She struggled to keep up with him in her high heels, but getting her alone and quickly was his first priority.

"We need to say good-bye to your family," she said.