Beautiful Brute (Court University 3)

“This is my stepmother Maggie,” Jaxen said to his friends, a slight flare of his nostrils. He pointed the golf club he had at me. “And my stepsister Cleo and her friend Kit.”

I and my lot got the golf club in our direction and barely even a smile. It was like he didn’t even want to try.

Like he was over the whole thing.

The madness inside clearly teetered a line, and he looked away as each one of his friends waved a hand at me. I was only able to ignore that, what happened when Dad dropped an arm over my shoulder.

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“My girl,” he said, then looped another around mom’s waist. “Both of them.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Royal said, his attention shifted between us and his friend, who currently looked like he wanted to punch a hole in something. Jaxen had his fist clenched despite his smile, white knuckled on his golf club and I wasn’t the only one to notice.

The big, tall guy, LJ, leaned over, whispering something to him. Whatever it was made Jax loosen up, but obviously something was going on here. Oblivious to it all, though, my dad merely grinned, so proud of his girls. Only after he noticed Kit too did he let go of us.

“Mr. Fairchild, good to see you,” Kit said, shaking his hand when he gave it and backing me up, my friend returned to my side. She looped my arm. “Didn’t know you’d be here this weekend.”

“Oh, I’m not. Not officially.” He air quoted, his smile nothing but wide. He really didn’t notice this, Jaxen between his friends, simmering, while his buddies radiated smiles in our direction. It was like his friends were trying to compensate for Jax’s lack thereof.

I mean, the expression barely touched his eyes.

My stepbrother’s charisma was truly faltering here, and honestly, it pissed me off that he was still doing this with his show. He clearly was upset that I was here, clearly hated me, but he continued with the bullshit.

“Just wanted to see my girls before us guys started our weekend,” Dad said, then nudged me. “And don’t be mad at your mother. I told her not to tell you we’d be here. Even Jaxen didn’t know. He just found out like an hour ago.”

I saw that now, hence his reaction. He really didn’t know I’d be here.

Well, I guessed it all made sense now.

He really hadn’t been able to keep his shit together upon seeing me either.

And now that he did see…

I fully expected the worst out of this guy. Especially if we were staying in the same resort for an entire extended weekend.

Dad hugged Mom. “I invited Jaxen and he invited some of his friends, but don’t worry, C. We’ll do our best to stay out of your hair.”

Dad passed me a wink, laughter in his voice. I forced a laugh too, as did Kit beside me, but she had to feel the shake in my arms. My mouth dried like the freaking Sahara at what vicious delights this guy would do to me now, knowing I was here. It angered me. Frustrated me to hell.

And I was tired of playing too.

I didn’t want to pretend anymore, completely over all this.

“We won’t even eat lunch with you today,” Dad said, letting go of Mom. He headed over to Jax. “Really just wanted to say hi. We’re all headed over to the golf course now. Right, son?”

So stiff at the words, a dark glint in his eyes before my stepbrother schooled it—he really was so good at that—and clearly got his sanity back. He shined my adoptive father the brightest of smiles and gave his hand to my mom when she offered it in farewell too. Kit rubbed mine while I watched it all, and eventually, Mom nudged Dad away so we could get back to our girls’ weekend.

“Okay. Okay,” Dad said, giving me a hug. “I’ll see you later. I’m sharing the room with your mom so I’ll be around.”

That sounded good to see him, that he’d be around, but it sucked that his devil spawn had to be too. He probably wouldn’t be in the same suite, but he’d be nearby.

Our parties separated, Jax and his friends going one way with my dad while Mom, Kit, and I went the other. I asked Kit to hang with Mom a second because I needed to go back to the room for something.

The pair ended up saying they’d go to the gift shop to wait for me. Meanwhile, I stalked back to the lobby, hoping to find Jax, and surprisingly, he, his friends, and my dad were still there. They headed to the pro shop, but I waved down Jax, asking to speak to him for a second.

Dad immediately noticed, his smile wide, but without making a deal of it, he pointed toward the pro shop.

Jax’s friends started to hang back too until Jax waved them on. I got lingering looks from all of them, but the longest was definitely that guy Royal. It was like he was trying to figure me out, like he was cautious and didn’t want to leave the two of us alone.