Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)

Jaxon had to admit, his sibling didn’t give up.

Glancing at Braden, Jaxon wondered the same thing. Was he sorry he’d left her? Or relieved? Braden kept his feelings close. Always had.

“When is your wedding?” Braden clearly changed the topic and looked to Austin for an answer.

Austin grinned, obviously happy with the chance to talk about his future with Quinn. “Valentine’s Day at the Meridian Hotel. Between our family and Quinn’s, we have a boatload of people. We needed more room than our house could provide.”

Braden sat up straighter in his seat. “You’re getting married at Robert Dare’s hotel?” Out of the loop, Braden sounded shocked.

Robert Dare was Paul’s brother, Ian’s estranged father, and the man who had had two families at the same time, in secret.

Austin chuckled. “I forgot you wouldn’t have heard. Robert had to sell his hotels to help pay for the divorce settlement. Savannah, his second wife, took him for a bundle. Apparently they had a prenup. She learned from being his mistress first. Shockingly, he signed it, thinking he’d be faithful. Stupid given the old adage once a cheater, always a cheater.” He shook his head. “Could have saved himself a fortune.”

Braden laughed. “The man always was an ass.”

Jaxon couldn’t argue the point. “I guess you don’t know who purchased the hotels, either. The Dirty Dares.”

“I still can’t believe you call them that,” Austin muttered.

Jaxon ignored him. “They all went in on the hotel venture together. But with Harrison busy acting and Asher having his hands full with Dirty Dare Vodka, Nick, Zach, and Emery are deciding who wants to work the business full-time.”

“Sounds like I’ve missed a lot.”

Jaxon swung an arm around him. “The good news is you’ll have plenty of time to catch up. You’re not sure about the job with Ian, but you’re not leaving, are you?”

Braden immediately shook his head.

Good, Jaxon thought. His brother was home to stay.

“Glad to hear it,” Austin said, rising from his seat. “I’m going to get home to Quinn and the baby.”

“On that note, I’m out of here, too.” Damon stood. “I told Evie I wouldn’t be home late.”

“I’m beat.” Hudson, who hadn’t spoken much during the evening, also rose to his feet. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you all.”

And Jaxon hoped to learn more about the enigmatic man his brother had followed to foreign countries.

Braden looked to Jaxon, the only brother who hadn’t announced his departure. Sensing his sibling needed an ear, he shook his head. “I’ll stick around awhile if you will.”

“I’m here.”

Jaxon waited until everyone left before turning to his brother. “You’ve been quiet. And not very forthcoming about what’s going on in your head. If you need a shoulder, I’m here.”

With a sigh, Braden rested his back against the chair.

“Is it about Jesse?” He’d stopped thinking of him as Dad and it hadn’t been difficult.

Braden shook his head. “His words are always with me, but I won’t let him decide what I do with my life. But me ending up in sports? It’s just ironic and I need to come to terms with the idea, you know?”

Jaxon nodded. “But volunteering downtown will fill the need you have to help people. It can be the best of both worlds.”

“It isn’t traveling and I’ve gotten used to that. I like going to different countries and coming to the aid of people in need.”

Jaxon spent so much time on the road he valued his home time more than ever. He hoped Braden would come to appreciate the value of staying in one place near the people he loved, too.

“No one says you have to take this position with the Thunder forever. If it doesn’t work for you, so be it.”

Linking his fingers behind his head, Braden met his gaze. “You make the decision sound easy.”

“That’s because it is. Unless there’s another reason you’re hesitating.” Jaxon paused. “Like Willow?”

Braden groaned, running a hand through his hair. “To be honest? Yeah. The thing is, we were exclusive but not serious. I wasn’t ready for something intense. Which doesn’t excuse my sudden decision to leave the country for two years. It came out of nowhere and I get why she was upset.”

Jaxon mulled over his brother’s words. “You two keep in touch?”

With a shake of his head, Braden said, “She didn’t answer my calls or texts. And to be honest, I didn’t realize how much I cared about her until I was away. By then she was ignoring me and I gave up. It wasn’t like I could do much from a foreign country.”

“And now?”

“Who knows.” He finished the last of his drink. “But if I take the job, I guess I’ll find out. Anyway, I’m done talking about myself. It’s time to get out of here. You ready?”

Jaxon nodded. “I’m going home to my wife.” And he hoped one day Braden could get his head on straight, figure out what he wanted out of life, and maybe say the same.