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 a.s.sorted 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 bl.u.s.ter and big mouth, her job was in Ian Dare's very s.e.xy 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 s.e.xy 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 Sat.u.r.day 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 compet.i.tion, 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 compet.i.tion, 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 b.u.mping into his old man but knew his luck wouldn't hold out. Sure enough, Sat.u.r.day 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 knows 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 p.r.i.c.k," 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 a.s.s 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 d.a.m.n but it hurt.

"Would one of you tell me what the h.e.l.l 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."

"What did she need from me?" Ian asked, ignoring any reference to how close Riley and Alex were. Even if it was friendship, it had come between Ian and the woman he wanted. He found it difficult to contain his jealousy.

Alex paused, looking torn, before he said, "It's not my story to tell, and besides, it's too late anyway."

"What the h.e.l.l does that mean?" Ian asked.

"Is Riley okay?" Robert demanded. "I care about that girl like a daughter."

"As if you don't have enough of those," Ian muttered.

His father's face blanched, his skin color leaching out. "She practically lived in our house growing up. If something's wrong, I want to know."

"You know Riley. She's always okay or pretends to be," Alex said. "She's independent and proud and you know it. You also know why. It took enough for her to call him." Alex jerked a finger at Ian.

"But if one of us can help-" Robert said, only to be cut off by the abrupt swinging of Alex's hand.

"Let her handle her own s.h.i.t. I've learned it's the only way to keep her in my life."

Alex turned back to Ian. "I came here because I was furious, and you deserved to know you f.u.c.ked up. But it's too late now. There's nothing anyone can do."

There were so many questions raised by Alex's statement Ian didn't know where to begin. From her always pretending to be okay, to her being proud and independent, Alex and their father were privy to why. Ian wasn't.

But he wanted to know. Needed to understand her even if it meant digging deeper than she'd be comfortable with. He was also smart enough not to ask questions his half brother wouldn't answer.

"Give me her number," Ian said. "The least I can do is apologize."

Alex scowled at him. "Go to h.e.l.l. She doesn't need your help anymore. And she sure as h.e.l.l doesn't need to be another one of your conquests."

"Hey." Ian grabbed his shoulder.

Alex shrugged him away. "Back off."

"Just give me her d.a.m.ned number."

"Not happening, and don't think you can look her up in the phone book. She's unlisted."

With that, he stormed off, leaving Ian where he'd started, about to walk away from his father.

Before he could take leave, his father placed a hand on Ian's shoulder, surprising him and causing an old memory to surface. Robert, getting ready to leave for a business trip, wearing a suit, and placing his hand on ten-year-old Ian's shoulder. "Take care of your mother and siblings, son."

At the time, Ian had been puffed up and proud his father trusted him with the job. Looking back, the request was as much of an illusion as his childhood had been. No ten-year-old could possibly take on that responsibility. It was just something a parent said to make his kid feel important. But the reality was, that had been Ian's job for way too long.

He stood stiffly, refusing to give his father the satisfaction of shoving him away, and waited for him to finish.

"You all don't have to pay for my sins, son. You could get to know each other. You could be brothers."

His suit jacket suddenly too tight, Ian broke into an uncomfortable sweat. "What part of that conversation indicated either of us wants that?"

"You're both men with huge egos. Neither of you is willing to bend first. But you're the oldest. Maybe you won't give me a second chance, but you should give your other siblings a first one. You're all family."

Though he hated giving his father a glimpse into his feelings, Ian raised a hand to his throbbing temple. "Isn't it enough I take care of my brothers, sisters, and mother after you couldn't be bothered? I'm there for them."

"If you ever need me..." His father trailed off as Ian turned to go.

Suddenly, he realized his father had something Ian wanted...or if he didn't have it, he had access. He turned back to the older man. "You can do something for me."

"What is it?" Robert asked, hope in his voice.

"I need to get in touch with Riley. Phone number, address, something. Can you get me that?"

Disappointment flooded Robert's face before he schooled his expression. "I'll give you her number if you do something for me in return."

The calculating son of a b.i.t.c.h, Ian thought. "What is it?" he bit out.

"Reach out to Sienna and the boys. Invite them to lunch or dinner." Robert eyed him speculatively, clearly eager to see what he'd do.

Ian gritted his teeth and didn't answer.

"I thought apologizing to Riley was important to you."

"It is."

His father's deal begged the question, did Ian want access to Riley Taylor badly enough to extend an olive branch to his father's other family?

Her scent came back to him vividly, a fruity blend that had knocked him on his a.s.s and had him daydreaming of her ever since. The thought of putting any kind of pain in those blue eyes was like slicing his own skin, yet apparently he'd done just that. He needed to fix it. But first he needed to know what the h.e.l.l he'd done by not returning her call.

h.e.l.l yes, she was worth it.

Ian forced out the words. "I'll invite Sienna for lunch."

Robert's narrowed gaze settled on Ian. "That's a start."

If Ian had wondered where he got his business sense, he now knew. "I'll include Alex and Jason too," he muttered.

Robert nodded, clearly pleased. "Good. Savannah has Riley's information in her phone," he said of his current wife and Sienna, Alex, and Jason's mother. "I'll send it over to you later today."

"Fine." Ian wasn't about to thank the man for something he'd bribed him for.

Looks like he had a family reunion to plan. Because Riley Taylor had gotten to him that much.

THREE.

Riley pulled up to the gate surrounding Alex's mansion on Star Island and entered the key code, letting herself in and driving down his long driveway. Alex's house was a far cry from the small apartment in Miami where Riley lived, but she was used to her best friend's wealth. He had his main house here and a luxury apartment in Tampa for during the season. He needed his privacy, and thanks to the one road in and out along with the guardhouse at the entrance, Alex was away from the prying eyes of rabid fans.

She parked in a guest spot on his driveway, and a few minutes later, she and Alex sat on the floor in his man cave, as he called it, eating pizza he'd had delivered.

"You're really a good friend, letting me cry on your shoulder like this."

He shot her one of his patented, are you an idiot looks. "Like you'd do anything different for me?"

She stretched her legs out in front of her, leaning her head back on the couch behind her. "I just can't believe it. I worked so hard for so long. And everything came down to one long shot."

She grabbed a soda instead of a beer, knowing she had to drive home later.

"You'll find something. You're talented, and you've got a kick-a.s.s resume," Alex said in an attempt to rea.s.sure her.

She smiled at his unwavering support. "I'll give myself a short window to wallow in self-pity, and then I'm picking myself up and moving on."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you. When things get rough, you never give in."

"Nope." Because if she had, she'd have become like her mother, and the one thing Riley had promised herself was, she would never be any man's doormat.

"I could make a few calls. Get your foot in the door at-"

"No. Thank you, but no. I can find something on my own."

Alex frowned. "Yet you had no problem calling him."

She raised her shoulders, unable to explain why she'd used Ian's name to try and save her job, even to herself.