My Best Friend's Stepfather #3(13)
“You didn’t want to be a father?”
His eyes filled with pain. “Why would I? Helen is a handful, and I seem to be doing a lousy job. What kind of mess would I make with my own children?”
“So you don’t want to have kids?”
He raked his hand through his hair. “Oh, fuck, Ash. Of course, you want to have kids, and with me…”
She rested her hand on his arm. “Dare, you’re a wonderful father. You stand by Helen through far more than most people would. You’re patient and loving with her.” She shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself for a problem that existed long before you showed up.”
He nodded, but she was sure he didn’t really accept her statement.
“As for you and Adam and me. I’m curious about what you were going to suggest the other night, when you said you had a solution that might work for all of us. Were you going to suggest that maybe the three of us…?”
His glance jerked to hers. “Is that something you’d consider?”
“Right now, it’s a question of convincing Adam, not me.”
* * *
Ashley walked along the path to Dare’s front door, Adam by her side. She could feel the tension emanating from him. It hadn’t been easy to convince him to come here.
“Do you really think this is a good idea?” Adam asked as they approached the entrance.
“Please give him a chance.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” he said through gritted teeth.
She pressed the doorbell. Sunlight glittered on the beveled glass of the door. She saw a shadowy shape approaching through the glass. Too tall to be Helen. Dare had promised Helen would be nowhere near the house tonight.
The door opened.
“Adam.”
Adam nodded acknowledgment as he followed Ashley into the foyer.
“Come into the living room. I’ve opened a bottle of wine.” Dare led them to the living room and Adam sat down beside Ashley on the couch. Dare poured them each a glass of white wine, then sat across from them.
The three of them sipped their wine, silence hanging over the room.
“Thank you for coming over, Adam,” Dare said, breaking the uncomfortable quiet.
“I came because Ashley asked me to.”
“Yes, I think it’s important you two talk about what happened in the past. To try and heal old wounds,” Ashley said.
“What’s the point?” Adam asked, flashing Dare an acidic glance. “What’s done is done.”
“The point is to move forward.” She took Adam’s hand and linked her fingers with his. “Don’t you want to make it work between us?”
“I want to make it work with you. I don’t want Dare to deign to be with me just to keep you.”
“Damn it, Adam. It wouldn’t be like that.”
Ashley’s gaze jerked to Dare. Anger and pain warred in his eyes as he stared at Adam.
“Adam, I’m sorry I hurt you. I really am. But you know it didn’t make sense for us to continue our relationship.”
“Yeah, I know. Because you were going through a tough time with the divorce and all.” Adam’s hand clenched into a fist. “But you wouldn’t even consider trying again later.”
Ashley watched the two of them, hearing the emotion edging their voices.
“I didn’t want you waiting around for me, especially since I thought that I wasn’t the best choice for you.”
Adam stared at him. “What the hell are you saying?”
Dare leaned forward. “I’m saying I wanted you to meet a woman, fall in love, then start the family you’ve always wanted.”
Adam drew in a deep breath, his gaze locking with Dare’s.
“You and I could have had a family. There are a lot of options, including adoption.”
“But I know you really want your own child. With your own genes.”
Adam’s gaze filled with a longing that took Ash’s breath away.
“I wanted you more,” he said simply.
Ash choked up at the pain and longing in Adam’s voice. Oh, God, these two men were meant to be together. If only they could see it.
Even if that meant she couldn’t have either of them, it was a sacrifice she knew she had to make.
Pain slashed across Dare’s face. “I’m sorry, Adam. I … just tried to do what’s right.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it? You’re always deciding for other people what they need. What’s best for them. That’s great in the bedroom. You are an exceptional Dom. But that’s where it should end. You decided for me, and you did it again with Ash. You need to let other people make their own decisions. Decide what you want, then let us decide what we want. In the end, everyone will be happier.”