Dare to Touch (21 page)

A little over an hour later, she walked out of the same building, eyes red, feeling completely drained. The older doctor was warm but direct, expecting Olivia to answer questions and be honest. The doctor warned her that therapy took awhile, change didn’t happen overnight, and she’d have to be willing to do the work in order to get past the emotional barriers she’d put up to block her own happiness.

And when Olivia had explained that she might not have time because she could, in fact, be pregnant now, the doctor assured her there was always time. And Olivia supposed that was true.

She climbed into her car, exhausted but aware of one thing. She’d taken that difficult first step. Regardless of what happened with Dylan, she knew now she had to do this for herself most of all.

Before she started up her car, she checked her cell. Avery had left a message, and Olivia played it back. Apparently Avery’s first love, lead guitarist for the famous rock band Tangled Royal, was back in town for a concert. He’d taken off and made it big. He’d wanted Avery to go with him, but ever since her younger sister had donated bone marrow and had been forced to face Sienna’s cancer at a young age, Avery had a need to remain around her family. Instead of taking off with him, she’d nursed a broken heart, which had always made Olivia sad for her vibrant, outgoing sister.

As far as Olivia knew, Avery hadn’t seen or heard from Grey Kingston since he’d left town. But since he was famous, good-looking, and splashed all over the tabloids, it was impossible not to be aware of his every move.

Avery had offered up two tickets, one for Olivia and one for Dylan. Beneath the offer and the bravado, Olivia sensed Avery’s need for her older sister, and she intended to be there for her sibling. And a concert would keep Olivia busy and surrounded by people, as opposed to being alone with Dylan, her thoughts and the words of her new therapist crowding in on her.

*     *     *

The next morning, Olivia asked Dylan’s secretary to let her know when he arrived at work. When she got the call, she headed right over and knocked on his open office door.

His eyes opened wide, pleasure washing over his face at the sight of her. He rose to his feet. “Morning,” he said in a husky voice.

“Morning.” Her pulse picked up speed at the sight of him.

“Shut the door,” he said.

She automatically did as he asked.

“Now lock it.”

“What?” She blinked at his second command.

“I haven’t seen you since yesterday, you’re here now … so lock the door.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his commanding tone. “Dylan…”

“Olivia…”

“Fine.” She flicked the lock closed and strode toward him, one purpose in mind. “I’m here to invite you to a concert tonight. With me and Avery.”

He tipped his head to one side, studying her. “Tonight works fine for me. Now come here.” He crooked a finger her way.

She rolled her eyes. “What’s with the orders?”

He waited until she was within arm’s reach and snagged her around the waist, pulling her close. “Last time I saw you was yesterday, and I want a few minutes alone with you. Is that such a bad thing?”

She shook her head. “No, I just—”

“If I asked nicely, we’d still be arguing over what I wanted and why.”

The man had a point. She was on the defensive.

He braced his hands on her shoulders and lowered her until she sat on his desk. “How are you?”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

“No, you’re not. But you will be,” he said with more confidence than she felt. “Just be yourself with me. Everything else will fall into place.”

She blew out a long breath. “I hope you’re right.” She hesitated, then blurted out, “I’m trying to work on things. On me. I just don’t want to have to worry about long, brutal discussions each time we’re alone,” she said, opting for honesty.

“Me neither.” He kissed one side of her mouth, then the other. “Is that what the concert is about? A way to keep from having to talk?”

She blushed at being called out. “That’s a side benefit,” she admitted. “But the truth is, the lead guitarist is an old boyfriend of Avery’s, and this is the first time she’ll be seeing him since he left her. She doesn’t want to go alone.” She shrugged. “And I don’t want to go without you.”

He lifted her up and placed her on his desk, ignoring the papers he set her on. “That’s music to my ears. Get it? Concert? Music?”

She rolled her eyes. “Someone is in a good, if silly, mood.”

“You’re here. Of course I’m in a good mood.”

She sighed. How could she resist this irresistible, persistent man? “Okay, well, the concert starts at eight, and Avery has backstage passes for all of us afterwards.”

He slid his hands around her waist and pressed a warm kiss to her lips. “Trust me,” he whispered before lifting her off the desk, turning her around, and sending her back to work with a pat on the ass.

She grinned for the rest of the morning, knowing that had probably been his intent.

*     *     *

Avery was a bouncing, hyper mess throughout the concert, Dylan thought. Whoever this guy was, the normally unflappable sister looked like she was about to jump out of her skin. But the concert itself was spectacular, as were their seats. Clearly these weren’t bought on the Internet. Avery must have been sent these tickets, but according to Olivia, she didn’t want to discuss it. She just wanted physical, moral support, which Olivia was all too happy to provide, and Dylan was happy to be along for the ride.

The closer they got to the end of the concert, the paler and the more obviously nervous Avery became. More than once, Olivia pulled away from him and leaned into her sister, whispering in her ear. Placing an arm around her shoulder and squeezing her tight with reassurance and love.

He liked the relationship between Olivia and her siblings, because from the teasing to the protectiveness, it reminded Dylan of himself and Callie. And he understood from watching Olivia with her sister just how much love and caring she had to give.

The band walked off the stage, and the crowd went crazy, chanting for an encore. They were treated to two more rounds of music before it became obvious that the band wasn’t returning. The lights flickered on, and people began to gather their things, getting ready to file out.

Dylan’s cell vibrated, and he pulled it out of his pocket and looked. Meg’s number flashed. He shot Olivia a look, but she was busy talking to Avery.

“Hello?” Dylan asked.

Whatever Meg wanted to say, the noise in the arena and the bad reception prevented him from hearing. He frowned and shoved his phone back into his back pocket.

“Who was it?” Olivia asked.

“Meg.” He watched her with a wary gaze.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I couldn’t hear. I’ll call her back outside the arena later on.” He glanced at his watch. It was after eleven p.m., and by the time they finished backstage, it might be too late for him to call.

“Do you want to go find a place with service?” Olivia asked.

She didn’t sound disturbed or concerned by Meg calling. Maybe she was making progress with things, Dylan thought.

They finally made it through the long aisle of seats, up the row, and exited through the big doors. Vendors were packing up shirts but still selling to willing customers. He shook his head. “It’s fine.”

A niggling feeling in his gut bothered him, but he pushed it aside.

Olivia slid her hand into her sister’s, and they followed her to the nearest security guard. She flashed a guest pass and asked where they should go.

“This way.” Avery pointed in the opposite direction.

“Hey, are you sure you want to do this?” Olivia asked.

Avery nodded. “Except … I think I’m going to go alone.”

“What?” Olivia shook her head. “No. If it’s awkward or he’s got groupies hanging all over him, you may need me.”

Avery faced her sister with a forced smile. “I love you for coming this far with me. You kept me calm while I waited. But this is something I need to do myself. But thanks for reminding me of the groupies. That was a reality check I could have lived without.” She winked at Olivia.

“Oh God, I’m sorry, Av—”

Dylan stepped up. “Do you want us to walk you wherever you need to go?” he asked Avery.

She drew a deep breath and shook her head. “Nope. Again, I’m going to do this myself. But thank you. Really.”

“How will you get home?” Olivia asked.

“I’ll get Uber. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. Text me so I know you’re home safe or I swear I am calling 911.”

“Okay, Mom,” Avery said with a groan.

Avery hugged her sister and kissed Dylan on the cheek. “You two go on. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.”

Since Olivia seemed about to argue, Dylan grasped her hand and tugged. Avery seemed set on her decision. “Come on. She can handle it.”

With a sigh, Olivia nodded, and Avery strode off. “He’s probably a spoiled rock star,” she muttered.

“And Avery is an adult who can judge for herself.”

“Fine.”

He clasped her hand, and they wound their way out of the arena. When they hit the humid Florida air, he pulled out his phone. Olivia did the same.

“Meg called me too,” she said. “I’d turned off my phone.”

“How does she have your number?” he asked.

“I gave it to her when she came to see me.”

Dylan hit redial, knowing if she’d tried to reach Olivia as well as him, something was wrong. He met Olivia’s wide-eyed gaze, shaking his head when the call went to voice mail.

“Have you spoken to her recently?” Olivia asked in a soft voice.

He shook his head. “I think I was a little rough on her at my sister’s. She hasn’t been in touch.” He’d planned on calling, but he’d been overwhelmed with worry for Olivia, and he’d forgotten. He winced at that.

“When I saw her that day? At my office? She was waiting for her ex to call her back so she could tell him about the baby. She didn’t think he’d take it well. Do you think something could have happened?”

“Shit,” he muttered. “The guy’s a lazy ass, but I didn’t think he’d hurt her.” He tried her again as they walked to the car.

Finally, on the drive back to Dylan’s, his cell rang. It wasn’t Meg, but he answered quickly through the Bluetooth speaker in his car. “Hello?”

“May I speak to Dylan Rhodes?”

“Speaking.”

“Umm, my name is Lana Santos. I’m Meg Thompson’s neighbor.”

Dylan tensed, and Olivia gasped and leaned forward in her seat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I got your name from her cell; you were her ICE number.”

“ICE?” he repeated, unclear what she meant.

“In case of emergency,” the other woman explained. “After the ambulance left, I realized her phone was still on the floor.”

“Ambulance?” Dylan asked, his voice rising. He shot Olivia a concerned glance. One look said she was as worried as he was, and he wished this woman would get to the damned point.

“I’m not sure what happened, but she had an argument with that man who used to live with her. I heard yelling. Something crashed—”

Dylan gripped the steering wheel so hard his hands hurt. “What hospital?” he asked, interrupting the woman.

“University of Miami, I believe.”

“Thank you for calling,” he said, disconnecting. Dammit, he should have known that bastard might lose it when he heard Meg was pregnant.

“Breathe,” Olivia said, her soft hand on his thigh and her voice a surprise. He’d been lost in his own thoughts and panic. “You need to stay calm.”

“Yeah,” he said, knowing she was right.

He took the nearest exit and changed directions, heading to the big hospital.

Olivia focused on keeping Dylan calm, but by the time he pulled into the hospital parking lot, Olivia was in a panic of her own, feeding off his silent nervous energy and her own concern over Meg.

For a myriad of reasons, Olivia hated hospitals. The white walls, the cold personnel, the antiseptic smell all worked to bring back memories, none of them good. Some involved visiting Sienna once she’d been allowed to have company after her procedure; others included Olivia’s own visit to the ER when she’d lost her baby.

They approached the desk and he leaned over. “I’m looking for someone who was brought in by ambulance. Meg Thompson.”

The woman typed some information into her computer and looked up at him—in her own time. “I’m sorry, what was the name again?”

“Thompson,” he said through gritted teeth. “Meg. She was brought in by ambulance.”

“Oh. Yes. Are you a relative?” she asked.

“I’m her brother.” He squeezed Olivia’s hand tighter.

“Through those doors. Someone inside will direct you further.”

Dylan pulled Olivia down the hall and through the double doors. They did another
are you a relative
check and were finally directed to a closed-curtained cubicle.

“Maybe I should wait here,” Olivia said, speaking softly. “Meg doesn’t really know me and—”

He didn’t let her finish. He merely pushed his way around the curtain, again pulling Olivia along with him.

Chapter Thirteen

M
eg lay in the narrow bed, her head propped up, her eyes closed, face pale.