Dare had his work cut out for him straightening her out. Ashley wondered if she should go back in there. Maybe she could help.

Should she really leave Dare alone with Helen when she might throw herself at him?

No, she was being silly. Dare would never succumb to Helen’s strange and disturbing bid for attention. He was strong and always in control.

But now Ashley felt rejected. If it hadn’t been for Helen, Ash would probably be curled up in Dare’s arms in bed. But he’d chosen Helen over her.

She knew she shouldn’t let that bother her, but she couldn’t help it.

* * *

Dare raked his hand through his hair as he paced the living room, phone to his ear. The answering machine picked up on the other end, so he disconnected then dialed again. Sometimes Ann would pick up after several tries.

The third time dialing, he heard a click on the other end.

“Hello?” Ann’s voice sounded short.

“It’s Dare.”

“What do you want?” she asked. Same Ann. Short and to the point.

“You should come and get Helen.”

“She’s with you in New York?”

He strode to the armchair and sat down.

“No, Autumn’s Ridge. I’m here on business for a few weeks. You didn’t know where she was?”

“Why should I? I don’t keep track of her.”

“Well, she’s having a problem. I think she could use her mother.”

“Is she sick or injured?”

He glanced down the hall toward the bedrooms, knowing Helen was in the guest room, probably passed out.

“No, but she got stinking drunk.”

“Of course she did.” At her tone, he imagined Ann rolling her eyes. “If she made a mess of things, then it’s up to her to clean it up. I’m not babysitting her.”

Good old Ann. She didn’t care about her daughter, or the fact that Helen might have caused problems for him. Ann lived in her own selfish little world, looking out for number one and no one else. No wonder Helen was so screwed up.

No wonder Helen felt so unwanted.

“That’s pretty callous, Ann.”

“Look, she’s an adult now, which means she’s not my problem anymore. She has to learn to take care of herself.” Then she hung up the phone.

Dare jabbed the End button, then dropped the phone in its dock.

Fuck! The way Helen was acting, he should toss her out on her ass, but he couldn’t do that to her. He knew that her behavior was a cry for help and he couldn’t just abandon her, no matter how much she might mess up his life.

And his relationship with Ashley.

God, he wished Ashley hadn’t seen that. Helen calling her names, then coming on to him like that. And touching Ash inappropriately. It must have been horrendous for her.

And after he’d marched Helen to her room, he’d gone back and continued the fuck session with Ash, still so turned on by what they’d been doing he couldn’t help himself.