Dare to Stay (Dare Nation 4)

His mom always loaded them up on appetizers before a huge dinner, and Lord knew Aurora could use fattening up. Her and her baby, and after introductions, Bri hooked her arm in Aurora’s and led her to the food table. It didn’t escape his notice that Hudson joined them.

Willow was talking to Macy by the sliding glass doors leading to the patio, and it gave him time to study her. Listening to her tell Aurora about her past had been like a punch in the gut. Not only because he’d never been able to get her to confide in him that way but because of all she’d been through as a child.

Growing up, Braden had held a wealth of anger against his father for how he’d treated him, belittling his intelligence, mocking him for his inability to play sports as well as his siblings. But at the core of everything, Braden had a family who loved him. A mother who doted on each of her children and tried her best to cushion him from Jesse’s emotional abuse, as did his uncle Paul. His biological dad, as he now knew.

Braden had had a roof over his head, people who loved him, and food to eat. He had a hunch there was much more to Willow’s various foster homes than he knew. And he wanted to be the one she confided in, because he wanted to regain her trust. Since that wasn’t going well, he needed to step up his pursuit in other ways and get her to remember what had been good between them.

He decided it was time to make his move and walked up to the two women who were deep in conversation. “Hi, ladies.” He gave them his warmest smile.

“Hi there!” Macy said.

“Braden,” Willow murmured, meeting his gaze.

“You two having a nice talk?” He knew Willow had been concerned about coming here today, but Braden’s family would never leave her to fend for herself, and though he’d wanted to be with her, the women in his brothers’ lives had stolen her away to get acquainted.

“We are,” Willow said. “Macy was telling me about her sister and the custody fight she almost had with her half sister’s mom.”

“Who, by the way, has disappeared again,” Macy muttered.

Braden placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jaxon told me how hard that was on you. I’m sorry Hannah won’t know her mother well, but maybe it’s for the best that you have nothing to do with a dysfunctional parent.”

Willow shot him a surprised glance, her expression quickly turning understanding. She’d known his issues with Jesse. They hadn’t discussed his biological father reveal because he’d been away when that had occurred, and when he’d come home for Paul’s kidney transplant, courtesy of Austin, Willow had no longer been part of his life.

Realizing he’d fallen into silence, he turned to Macy. “How’s married life treating you?”

The pretty blonde his brother had fallen head over heels for while pretending to be in a real marriage smiled at him. “It’s amazing. I honestly didn’t think I could ever be this happy.” She reached out and grasped his hand. “Marriage is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“I thought that was me.” Jaxon appeared by her side, slipping an arm around his wife’s waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Braden wanted the right to kiss Willow any time or place, he thought, turning his stare her way. She was watching the happy couple, her face flushed at their open display of affection, naked need on her face.

He touched her hip, letting her know he was here. Aware of her feelings, that he was experiencing the same longing.

“I’m going to steal Willow,” he said, grasping her elbow and pulling her away, heading to the side of the house with the guest bedrooms his mother had for her kids should they want or need to come home.

“Where are we going?” she asked, trying to slow him down.

“I want a few minutes alone with you.” He slowed so she could more easily keep up.

He led her into his favorite guest room and shut the door behind them. Before she could argue or turn cold, he backed her against the nearest wall, braced his hands on her hips, and met her gaze. “How much longer are you going to keep me at a distance?”

Because he was finished giving her time when all it seemed to do was make her pull further away. That said, he’d take her on whatever terms she was willing to give, and he’d work his way back into her heart … because there was no place he’d rather be.

Chapter Six

Willow stared into the gorgeous eyes of the most compelling man she’d ever met. For the last few hours, she’d been asking herself the same question he’d just posed, and the answer was obvious. She couldn’t keep him at arm’s length much longer. Not after seeing him at his kindest and warmest, caring for someone he’d met once. Looking out for a young pregnant girl and bringing her into his family. Pushing Willow past her own barriers and refusing to let her spend the holiday alone.