Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)

She shook her head. “All I’m saying is don’t let the rest of your life be defined by something that happened when you were young.”

“You sound pragmatic,” he said, taking in her words and filing them away to dissect another time.

She shrugged. “I’m just telling it like it is.” She squeezed his hand. “We might be short-term but you do deserve happiness.”

His stomach twisted at the reminder that this part of his life wasn’t permanent, surprising him. He’d only been with Macy for a week, and already he felt a connection with her that was stronger than any he’d experienced before. Even with Katie. And that completely threw him for a loop.

His reaction was to deflect. “How do you feel about lobster?” he asked.

Her eyes danced with the knowledge that he was ending their conversation on purpose. “Love it. Why?”

“Damon can’t stop raving about a place he took Evie to when they were here on the island.” His brother said it was on the water, romantic, and he highly recommended he bring Macy there. “I made us a dinner reservation tonight if you’re up for it.”

She smiled. “I am. It sounds great.”

“Then it’s a date.” He rolled onto his back and soaked in the sun, shutting off thoughts of Katie, the past, and losing Macy in the future.Chapter TenMacy returned to Florida tanned and chilled out, amazed at how one full day on the beach on Sunday and two nights on the island had relaxed her. She also felt closer to her husband and warned herself to be careful and not take his confidences too seriously. They were friends, exchanging information, nothing more. He wasn’t trying to win her over or get into her heart. And she didn’t want him to. Right? Right.

“Want to pick up Hannah on the way home? We can get started with our family life, picking out her room, winning her over. She has to be upset with Lilah right now, after she canceled their plans,” Jaxon suggested.

Macy nodded. “It’s a good idea. I miss her. And when I spoke to her from the Bahamas, she sounded hurt.” Which wasn’t something Macy wanted, but she couldn’t deny it helped her in her custody battle.

She needed Hannah to want to live with her. “Let’s surprise her at Ruby’s instead of calling first,” she said, excited to pick up her sister.

Jaxon grinned. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.”

Except when they arrived at Ruby’s, Hannah’s teenage friend greeted Macy at the door. “Hannah’s not here.”

“What? Where is she?” Jaxon immediately slid an arm around her shoulder.

“Her mother picked her up this morning with some guy. They left for the day and she took her bag,” Ruby said.

Her mother walked up behind her. “I thought it was okay to let her go since Hannah said she was supposed to be with her this weekend before her mom canceled. Is there a problem?” the woman asked, starting to panic.

Jaxon squeezed Macy in warning.

“No. It’s fine,” she lied, hating that Lilah was playing a game. “Thank you for having her,” she said.

“Our pleasure and congratulations on your wedding,” Ruby’s mom, Cindy, said. “You look tan and happy.”

“We are,” Jaxon said from behind her, his warm breath on her neck. “I’m sure we’ll see Hannah back at the house tonight.”

Macy felt certain his words were more for Macy’s benefit than conversation with Ruby’s mom, and she appreciated his certainty or at least his attempt at reassurance.

She just wasn’t sure she believed him.

They walked down the steps and back to the car that was driving them home, sitting in the back seat. “Remember I had both of your things moved to my house this weekend.”

She nodded.

“So Hannah couldn’t get her own things to go anywhere with her mother. Just stay calm. My hunch tells me she’ll show up on my doorstep. That Lilah is just trying to get you to lose your temper.”

“Well, I have,” she said, clenching and unclenching her fists. “She has no right to make decisions about where Hannah goes. And I should know where my sister is.” Her heart pounded in her chest, anger and frustration building.

“We’ll talk to Jonathan in the morning. I think it’s time to set down some rules via the court. In the meantime, when Hannah gets home, don’t give Lilah what she wants. Don’t lose it and don’t yell at Hannah. Got it?”

She nodded. “I got it. And thank you, because left to my own devices, I would have freaked out.”

“We’re going to figure this out.” He covered his hand with hers.

She dialed Hannah, got her voicemail, and left a message letting her sister know they’d be at Jaxon’s, giving her the address, which she already had, but Macy wasn’t taking any chances. She did the same with Lilah, using the number she’d had to force from her sister, who hadn’t wanted to share it.