Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)

Her gaze deepened, and when he glanced down, her nipples were tight against the tee shirt. “When we’re alone, I won’t want you to stop.”

And on that admission, she rose to her feet and began clearing the table, leaving him to wait until his erection eased before he could get up and help her finish up.

* * *

Macy opened her front door an hour after Hannah went to school to find Bri standing on her porch. Dressed not for work but in a casual pair of leggings and a cropped top, she didn’t wait to be invited in.

“You and I are going to have a long talk,” Bri said, brushing past Macy and heading inside.

Macy shut the door and locked it, then followed her friend into the kitchen. “Coffee?” she asked as Bri plopped her large purse on the table.

“God yes. I need caffeine.”

Grabbing two pods, Macy brewed them quick cups of coffee, added almond milk to her own and so did Bri. Then they sat down and Macy waited, because her friend would talk when she was ready.

“You can’t fall in love with my brother.”

And she was obviously ready. “What the hell are you talking about?” Macy’s heart beat harder in her chest at the mere suggestion of her falling for Jaxon. “We have an arrangement and we’re in agreement. Getting married works for both of us. No feelings involved.”

It was all she could do not to put one hand behind her back and cross her fingers because Jaxon was just so easy to like. Besides his easygoing personality, he went out of his way to help her, and for that she was grateful, and he’d opened himself up to her fifteen-year-old sister, something he hadn’t had to do. And he was a sexually dynamic man. The whole package, she mused, her body tingling at the thought of Jaxon Prescott.

“There! That dazed look on your face. You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

Bri wagged a finger at her and Macy smacked it away. “Cut it out. I can handle your brother and this convenient marriage. It will be fine.”

“Good, because given Jaxon’s past, he really doesn’t believe that someone could love him and stand by him,” Bri said. “He’s amazing and he doesn’t know it. Damn my father for the effect he had on him.” She shook her head and her expression grew sad.

“He told Hannah and me that Jesse made him feel like shit because he played baseball instead of football. It sucks to have a parent not support you. He deserved so much better,” Macy said in defense of the man who’d done so much for her already.

Bri blinked. “He admitted to that?”

After taking a sip of her coffee, Macy nodded. “He was trying to show Hannah how lucky she was to have had me there for her after Lilah left. Because he knew what it was like to have a parent who wasn’t there for him.”

Eyes wide, Bri said, “I’m stunned. He never talks about our father or how he treated him.” She wrapped her hands around her mug and studied Macy as if she was seeing something new and unique, and Macy squirmed in her seat.

“But Jaxon had those inadequate feelings reinforced by a woman in his life after Dad, and I just don’t want you hurt by having hopes of changing him. Not that I would betray him by explaining. That’s between the two of you if he chooses to confide in you.”

Macy nodded in agreement, glad her friend hadn’t tried to ply her with information about Jaxon’s past. “Whatever happened with Jaxon and this other woman, I’d rather hear it from him than you. But I appreciate the warning.”

Not that she liked thinking about Jaxon and any other female. The thought caused her stomach to twist in jealous knots. Not a good sign. But she wouldn’t admit as much to Bri.

“I just care about you.” Bri rose and put her mug in the sink. “I was going to check out a new kickboxing class. Want to come?”

“I’d love to.” Macy was grateful for the change of subject. “Just let me change and I’ll be right back.”

She headed for her room, glad Bri had asked her to join her. She needed to exert some energy and get sappy emotional thoughts of falling for Jaxon out of her head.

* * *

Tuesday morning, Jaxon headed over to the gym to meet Linc, and after a competitive game of hoops, he showered and dressed in his jeans and a black tee. The locker room was empty, and he glanced at his friend, who was packing up his duffel bag. Throughout the game, Jaxon had gone back and forth on how to tell Linc his news. And now that they were alone, the time had arrived.

“Got any plans now?” Jaxon asked because he had a stop to make and could use some help.