Page 29 of Dare to Love
“So how are you,Mrs. Masterson?” Riley asked, emphasizing Melissa’s new title.
“Wonderful. I highly recommend it,” Melissa said, beaming.
“What? The honeymoon or marrying a doctor?” Riley teased.
“Both.” Melissa grinned. “And how are you?”
“I’m great.” Riley forced a smile, not wanting to worry her stepmother with her problems when she seemed so relaxed and happy.
Melissa pushed the menu aside without looking at it. “You never could lie to me, so don’t start now. I can see the tightness in your expression. What’s wrong?”
“I’d much rather hear about your cruise around the Greek islands than talk about myself.”
Melissa narrowed her gaze. “That can wait. What happened?” Her stepmother pinned her with a determined gaze. “How about I start with the photograph that made the rounds on the Internet yesterday?” she asked when Riley remained silent.
“Since when do you read sports blogs?” she asked.
“I don’t. David does,” she said of her new husband. “So... is there something you want to tell me?”
Riley winced, but Melissa had always been the best of both a mother and close friend, so she decided to confide in her. “I slept with Alex’s half brother, Ian.”
“Complicated.”
She nodded. “Alex has always been there for me. He’s hurt I’m working for Ian’s sports team, hurt I kept it from him, and—”
“Jealous maybe?” Melissa asked.
The waiter approached to take their order.
“Whatever you want. You’re the sushi expert.”
Once the order was placed, Melissa pinned Riley with a look that told her she wouldn’t be dropping their previous conversation.
“I don’t think he’s jealous. We’re just friends. We never thought of each other that way.”
Her stepmom propped her chin in her hand. “I don’t know. He’s been protective of you ever since—”
“Protective isn’t the same as having those kind of feelings. He just doesn’t want me to get hurt.”
“Would Ian hurt you?” Melissa asked, getting to the crux of the matter.
Riley blew out a long breath. “I don’t know. He’s such a contradiction. One minute he’s bossy, telling me we’re going for dinner and that I need to do things his way, which infuriates me.” She omitted the fact that his dominance extended to the bedroom.
“And the next minute?” Melissa perceptively asked.
“The next I’m feeling completely cared for and... secure.” Riley looked away, unable to meet Melissa’s gaze.
Melissa was the strongest woman Riley knew, her role model. When Riley’s father had bullied Melissa, she’d pushed back, and when he’d turned on Riley, she’d left him for good. It was Melissa who’d taught Riley to be her own person.
She was the complete opposite of Riley’s mother, who had been too loving, too caring, and too sweet. Although she’d loved Riley unconditionally and Riley still missed her, she was grateful she’d had Melissa’s example to follow. And she found it difficult to remember her mom because, with those memories, she was forced to recall the physical and emotional abuse her male chauvinist father had heaped on them both and the meek way her mother had accepted it, becoming more subservient as the years passed. She shuddered at the very thought.
“Riley, where did you disappear to?” Melissa placed her hand over Riley’s.
She swallowed hard. “Somewhere we both promised never to go again.”
Melissa’s bright smile faded. “Honey, don’t think about your dad. You can’t change him, so there’s no reason to put yourself back there.”
Riley shook her head. “I’m not. Well, not that way. I was just thinking how lucky I was that Dad married you.”