Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)

“And our marriage,” he said in a husky voice.

“Right.” She shivered at the reminder.

With his voice in her ear, she couldn’t help but think about the fact that she’d soon be in his bed again. Her nipples hardened at the thought, desire and yearning pulsing through her veins. She couldn’t deny she wanted him, but she feared how complicated this situation could quickly become if she let her feelings grow along with her desire. She knew he didn’t believe in forever, and she couldn’t help but wonder why.

She forced herself back to the subject at hand, talking to Jaxon about Hannah. “Oh, and Hannah informed me she wants to live with her mother, so there’s that.”

Her heart hurt at the thought of her sister choosing her selfish parent over Macy. No matter how much she understood that a child needed to know her mother loved her, Macy just didn’t believe that was the case here.

“That really sucks. We’ll make her home life good and fun. You can count on that.”

She grinned at his attempt to make her feel better. “If I thought Lilah really had Hannah’s best interest at heart and was the better choice, of course I’d step aside and just play the role of her big sister.”

“I met Lilah and my gut agrees with yours. She’s up to something.”

“It’s good knowing you have my back.” She paused and asked, “Want to come by for pizza? You can spend time with Hannah. Just expect her to sulk and be a brat.”

“Love to. As a matter of fact, how about I pick it up on the way over?” He answered quickly without taking time to think.

Obviously she wasn’t keeping him from other things in his life. On some level, he must want to spend time with her. But she couldn’t let herself think that way. Him coming over was to perpetuate the charade of the marriage and help make it work. That was all.

* * *

Jaxon’s life had changed overnight. Just having made the decision to marry Macy and knowing he now had responsibilities ahead of him had altered his outlook. He was thinking ahead and about things more important than him.

Early this morning, he’d walked around his house and wondered how Macy would feel about the huge mansion he’d bought just because he had the money to spend. There’d been a time when he imagined buying a house like this and living in it with Katie, having kids and a family, something he didn’t think about often anymore. But since he was getting married, the ghost of her betrayal came back to remind him that she hadn’t thought he was worth the hassle of living his lifestyle. He needed to remember Macy would feel the same way.

He had a home gym in the basement, a movie theater as he’d told her, a massive pool outside, a kitchen a woman who liked to cook would love, and her sister would have her own room. Hell, she’d have her pick of bedrooms.

As for the master, he had two walk-in closets, so Macy would have space of her own, and since they had built-ins, including drawers, he didn’t need to make extra space for her. His stomach lurched a bit at the thought of a woman moving in, but knowing it was Macy eased the sting. Until he reminded himself not to get invested any more than he had to.

Bri had called him a bunch of times asking him wedding-reception-related questions, and he’d told her to talk to Macy. This might be a marriage of convenience, but there was no reason she couldn’t have the kind of wedding she wanted as long as they could pull it off in a week.

He stopped at his favorite pizza place, picked up a plain and a pepperoni and a few bottles of soda, and headed over to her place as promised. She must have been looking out for him, because she met him at the door and helped him with the boxes.

“Thanks for coming,” Macy said with a welcoming smile. “I should warn you Hannah is still in a mood. She might just send you running.”

He grasped Macy’s hand because she actually sounded worried. “I’m not going anywhere. But I am starving, so let’s go inside and eat.”

The stress lines around her mouth eased. He followed her into the kitchen, preparing to have his hands full trying to charm a teenager.

As Macy readied the kitchen, he enjoyed the view of her long, tanned legs in a pair of denim shorts and a tee shirt tight enough to accentuate her full breasts. She might not dress up like the women who hung around the stadium and bars, hoping for an easy fuck, but she was a hell of a lot sexier. And he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her bare flesh and taste every inch of her skin again. He wasn’t used to the anticipation, the wait. The buildup of wanting.