O’Mara’s eyes lit up with interest. “Keep talking.”
She ran her tongue along the inside of her dry mouth, wishing she could take back her words. For one thing, Alex would kill her. For another, she didn’t even have access to the man.
But she had a department of employees whose jobs and welfare depended on this one Hail Mary. “I have a personal connection with Ian Dare.” The lip-lock they’d shared was very personal, she thought, suppressing a shiver.
“Go on.”
She crossed her fingers in her lap and continued. “I’ve been planning on talking to him about changing suppliers for his team’s inventory, or at least giving us a shot. I figured once he sees we’re reliable and our deals are solid, maybe he’ll throw more business our way.”
She twisted her fingers, hoping he didn’t notice how badly she was panicking as she spoke. Even she knew football teams had major multi-year contracts with big companies, but the words were out, and there was no taking them back.
“Now that’s a way to put yourself on my radar.” He nodded approvingly. “Okay, talk to him. You have until Friday noon. No deal? I’m bringing in my people.”
Riley rose to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, extending her hand for his sweaty handshake, then turned and headed for the door.
“Noon Friday,” he reminded her as she let herself out.
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 assorted 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 bluster and big mouth, her job was in Ian Dare’s very sexy 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 sexy 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 Saturday 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 competition, 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 competition, 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 bumping into his old man but knew his luck wouldn’t hold out. Sure enough, Saturday 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.