Dare to Touch (24 page)
Olivia led Dylan into the fray. He already knew all the Miami siblings. Ian and Riley stood together in one corner, struggling to get Rainey into her high chair.
Her father was nowhere to be found. Olivia would like to think it was out of respect for her mother, Emma, that he and Savannah stayed away. But the truth was, Robert Dare would always do what was best for him. The other truth was that Emma had moved on long ago. She was here with her
special friend
, as she called Michael Brooks, the man she’d been seeing for a while now. He stood along with their mom, talking to Avery.
“I don’t like how sad Avery looks,” Olivia whispered to Dylan. “Something’s been off since that concert a few months ago, and she won’t talk to me about it.”
“You, of all people, know what it’s like to need to work things out on your own,” he reminded her.
She scowled at him, disliking the reminder. “Fine. But I’m keeping an eye on her.”
He shook his head and grinned. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“Have you met Sienna and Samantha?” she asked of her half sisters, who waved from across the room.
“At your birthday party.”
She waved back and held up one finger, indicating she’d come see them in a minute. She grasped Dylan’s hand and led him to the great room off the kitchen.
“Olivia!” Gabe’s wife, Isabelle, called her name. Next thing Olivia knew, she was engulfed in an exuberant Izzy hug. “How are you? And congratulations on your wedding! Is this Dylan?”
Olivia grinned. “Yes, Dylan, this is Isabelle. And that man over there with the baby in his arms is my cousin Gabe.” He raised a hand in greeting from his seat on the couch.
“The similar-looking guy next to him is his brother, Decklan,” Olivia said, raising her voice so her cousin would pay attention. “Decklan’s a cop in New York. He and Scott usually hang out and compare notes.”
Sure enough, at the loud mention of his name, Decklan turned his head. “Hey, Liv.” He rose to his feet just as his girlfriend, Amanda, walked over, two drinks in hand. “Here you go.” She handed him one, and together, they joined Isabelle.
Introductions and hugs followed.
“Lucy, their sister, couldn’t make it. She was tied up on a nightclub job.”
“I hope to meet her another time,” Dylan said.
“Me too. You’ll love her.”
Meanwhile, Dylan shook Decklan’s hand, then said hello to the women before glancing at Gabe. “I’d love to talk to you about your nightclubs,” Dylan said.
He kissed Olivia on the lips, and she barely managed a soft moan at the sexy feel of his goatee against her skin.
“Go ahead,” she told him, happy he was comfortable with her large family. She wished his sister had been able to join them, but she and Matthew had had other plans.
He and Decklan settled in with Gabe, while Olivia stood with the women.
“Amanda, how do you like living in New York?” Olivia asked, knowing she had moved from the Maryland/Washington D.C. area to live with Decklan.
“It’s great. I’m really happy and…” She held out her hand. “Decklan and I are engaged!”
“Congratulations!” Olivia said, pulling her into a hug. “I’m so happy for you! So when’s the big day?”
“We’re still trying to work out the where and when,” Amanda said.
“But soon,” Decklan called out. “Because I’m not waiting much longer.”
Amanda blushed.
Before Olivia could respond, her brothers stomped in from the garage, all fighting for who could get to the bar with the soda and drinks first. They elbowed and joked with each other, but Scott seemed more subdued.
“Excuse me a minute,” she said to her cousins’ wives.
She walked over to Scott, pulling him aside. “Hey.”
“Hey, sis. What’s going on with you?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Just enjoying family time. How about you?”
“Kicking brotherly ass on the court.”
She rolled her eyes at the typical comment.
“I need to ask you something,” Scott said.
“Name it.”
“How’s Meg?”
Olivia blew out a long breath, not surprised her brother had brought up her name. “You didn’t keep in touch?”
He shook his head. “I helped her through the restraining order after she was released from the hospital.”
Meg had been put on temporary bed rest, but once things with her pregnancy had stabilized, she’d gone back to work.
“But any time I reached out afterwards, she said she was fine and shut me down.”
“You actually asked her out?” Olivia asked.
Scott nodded. “She
says
she’s not interested.” He frowned at that, his expression indicating he wasn’t convinced Meg was telling the truth.
Olivia wasn’t buying it either. Meg had asked her about Scott too. But whenever the topic of men or dating came up, Meg said that she’d always been too dependent on the opposite sex to take care of her. She was tired of being needy and of picking the wrong men just to have someone in her life. She was also finished relying on men who were her friends. She’d been talking about Dylan.
Olivia understood that Meg wanted to change, to become more independent and self-reliant. She just didn’t think that meant closing herself off to romance altogether.
She glanced at her brother. “Before I give you any advice, I have a question.”
Scott leaned against the counter. “I’m listening.”
“You do realize Meg is pregnant, right?”
Her brother burst out laughing. “You didn’t just ask me that.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not how I meant it, you dufus! I meant, she’s going to have a
baby
. You can’t go after Meg just because you think she’s hot. A woman like Meg means serious commitment and—”
His dark scowl told Olivia all she needed to know. “Fine! You get the situation.” And he was still interested. “Then my advice is not to give up.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “Look at me and Dylan. We wouldn’t be together today if he’d listened to what I
said
I wanted.” And thank God for that. “Dylan looked deeper, got to know me first, and understood I was hiding from myself. He was determined to win.”
“Huh.” Scott paused in thought. “So insert myself in her life whether she wants it or not?”
Olivia smacked her brother on the side of the head.
“Ouch!”
“Then don’t be an idiot and pay attention! Be there for Meg. Make yourself useful, and see what’s behind those walls she puts up. If the feelings are mutual, then you’ll know what to do.”
Scott grinned, then wrapped his arms around Olivia, picking her up off her feet.
“Put me down!” she squealed.
He did as she asked. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Meg would be lucky to get a guy like you. But I love you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt either.”
Scott shrugged off her concern. “I already know Meg likes me. I can handle the rest,” he said, ever her cocky sibling, as he strode off.
Olivia headed back to Dylan and the New York contingent and seated herself between Dylan and Gabe.
“Hey.” Dylan wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned into him, savoring his embrace.
“Gabe, are you going to share the little prince?” she asked of the baby boy he hadn’t yet pawned off on his mother.
“Gabriel, give the baby to your cousin,” Isabelle said from behind him.
Olivia did her best not to laugh, but she did hold out her arms.
Gabe reluctantly parted with his son, handing her the little boy.
She held the baby close to her chest. “Hey, Noah,” she said to the sleeping baby, taking in his tiny, already handsome features. “You’re going to be a heartbreaker like the rest of the Dare men.”
She bent her head, inhaling his baby smell. For the first time, no pangs of what might have been hit her. Instead, she was surrounded by what was—her big, loving, ever-expanding family. A new husband she adored and who would do everything in his power to always be there for her, and a baby of her own on the way.
Which reminded her. Somehow she’d managed to keep her pregnancy a secret from everyone except her mother and Avery. She wanted the first few months to pass, to know that this time would be different. From the awful morning sickness, it already was, she thought wryly.
But now, with her whole family gathered, she was ready.
Ever perceptive, Dylan leaned in and whispered in her ear. “All good?” he asked.
“All great,” she said back. “And I guess this is as good a time as any to let them know.”
Dylan squeezed her tight.
“I have an announcement,” she said loudly.
It took awhile, but her family finally quieted down.
“I’m pregnant,” she told them all.
The ensuing chaos, clapping, and congratulations told her what she already knew. What Olivia Rhodes had in her life was good. Really, really good. She wanted that good to continue, not just for herself but for everyone she loved. Every sibling and cousin in this room.
Stay tuned for more DARE family stories in 2015 and beyond!
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Dare to Touch
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Other Books in the Dare to Love Series:
**The Dare to Love series is ongoing. Each Dare sibling will get a story!
**Each book stands alone but also reads best if order for maximum reading enjoyment.
*Dare to Surrender and Dare to Submit are about the NY Dare cousins: These exceptionally hotter type books while at heart still being a Carly Phillips story.
More Dare to Love series stories coming in 2015 and beyond!
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Excerpt
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ONEO
nce a year, the Dare siblings gathered at the Club Meridian Ballroom in South Florida to celebrate the birthday of the father many of them despised. Ian Dare raised his glass filled with Glenlivet and took a sip, letting the slow burn of fine scotch work its way down his throat and into his system. He’d need another before he fully relaxed.