Free Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips Page A

to you?” she asked, hoping he didn’t notice the tears of frustration in her eyes, the pain in her voice for the things she wanted but could never have.
    “Not when it mattered,” he said, his honesty surprising her. “And you matter. I also know how to work for what I want. And Madison?” He looked directly into her eyes. “I want you.”
    *     *     *
    After dropping Madison back at her place, Alex headed home to shower and jerk off. He had no choice, considering how worked up he was after their afternoon together. He’d finally gotten his hands on her again, and it was as good if not better than he’d remembered. Once she let go, she was vocal with her needs, and those barriers she liked to keep so high were almost nonexistent. But she still didn’t trust him, and damned if he knew what direction to take next.
    He needed to get out tonight, so he called Jon to meet him for dinner. The lawyer was one of the only friends who’d stuck around after his injury. Alex might have been a nasty SOB for a while, but true friends didn’t bail. A couple of his other buddies lived in Tampa when they weren’t on the road, and most of his childhood friends only stuck around when times were high and fun. Once good-natured Alex had disappeared along with the career and the status, they’d drifted away too. He and Jon were childhood friends, and they’d gone to University of Florida together. Their bond was tight.
    They planned to meet up at their favorite steakhouse and grab their usual seats at the bar. Alex got there first. Nick, the owner and bartender, cleared seats for them when they called ahead. Though Alex had cut back, there were perks he didn’t mind spending on, and this was one of them.
    He was sitting on a barstool waiting for Jon and watching baseball when he heard his name. He turned to see Ian walk up to him.
    “Hey. What are you doing here?” Alex asked, surprised to see his half brother downtown. His new house was outside the city.
    “Riley was craving steak, so I said I’d stop on my way home. How about you? Having a drink?”
    “And dinner. Waiting for a friend.”
    “Madison?” Ian smirked.
    Asshole. “No. I dropped her off at home earlier.”
    Ian grabbed the barstool beside him and made himself at home. “Enjoy your day off?” he asked.
    “Actually, we did.”
    “I heard you two are going to New York City on a business trip.”
    Alex nodded. Business was a safe enough subject with Ian. “There are some lecturers she wants to interview, and I’ll start making inroads with the Giants coach. Gauge interest.”
    Ian nodded.
    “I also figured I’d meet up with Gabe.” Their grandfather, their father’s father, had a brother, who was Gabe’s father. Both older men were in the hotel business, and Gabe’s dad had left Miami to take his business to Manhattan.
    The family situation had been awkward for years after the revelation of Robert Dare’s other family. But the relatives had reached out to Alex’s mom and the kids, welcoming them, and Alex had a close relationship with Gabe.
    “I heard he’s thinking of opening another club,” Ian said.
    Alex nodded. “Gabe loves a challenge.”
    Ian rested an elbow on the counter behind him. “Speaking of Madison—”
    “We weren’t.” Alex scowled.
    “Are you making any progress on that front?” Ian asked, ignoring him.
    Since the smirk didn’t leave the other man’s face, Alex wasn’t sure how to take the comment. “Are we really doing this? Discussing my love life like you give a shit?”
    Ian shrugged. “Maybe I do.”
    That gave Alex pause, and he lifted his beer for a sip, assessing the other man and deciding to take him at his word. “Progress comes in many forms.”
    Ian nodded and gestured for the bartender. “Macallan on the rocks,” he said to the man.
    “Put it on my tab,” Alex called out.
    Ian cocked an eyebrow, then nodded. “Thanks.”
    “No problem.”
    “Riley’s worried about Madison,” Ian