Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)

She glanced at the groomsmen, her gaze coming back again and again to Jaxon Prescott, Bri’s Major League Baseball-player sibling, the word player having more than one connotation in his case. Jaxon’s reputation for partying and sleeping around was legendary. Of all the Prescott brothers, Austin, the sports agent, Damon, the football player, and Braden, the doctor who she’d only seen in photographs since he was out of the country for Doctors Without Borders, Jaxon was the best looking, at least in Macy’s mind. Clean-cut, jet-black hair, chiseled features, full lips she wouldn’t mind kissing, and muscles galore, he’d tempt a nun to sin.

He met her gaze, and though she blushed at being caught staring, she didn’t look away until he smiled and winked at her, causing her to glance down.

Damn, the man tempted her. He flirted in a way that made her girly parts sit up and take notice. And she was long deprived in that area. But as much as he liked to tease and flirt, she didn’t take Jaxon seriously. He was a ladies’ man in every sense of the word, and she was the kind of woman who wanted a forever kind of relationship someday. The type that would send Jaxon running at the mere thought of the permanence she desired.

When the vows were complete and the ceremony finished, the bride and groom walked out hand in hand, excited and satisfied smiles on their faces. The bridal party followed, and finally the crowd made their way back inside.

Despite Jaxon standing out, as she looked around at the guests, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the sexiness of the men in the room, and the fact that they were dressed up only added to their appeal. Most of them were athletes, and Macy had to admit she’d come up in the world since meeting Brianne Prescott at an exercise class and becoming fast friends.

Finally Bri joined her, snagging a champagne glass off a waitress’s passing tray. “Whew, it was hot outside.”

“But so beautiful,” Macy said of the wedding itself. “And let me tell you, there’s a lot of testosterone in this room.” She waved a hand in front of her face.

“Eew.” Brianne wrinkled her nose in disgust at Macy’s comment. “Three of those men in that group you’re talking about are my brothers.”

“Oh, come on. Besides them. Look around you. You can’t deny the hotness.”

Brianne, a publicist at Dare Nation, a sports agency owned by her brother Austin and uncle Paul, was used to dealing with professional athletes, while Macy had been taken out of her comfort zone at many of these events. But going to football games and other PR occasions gave her social life a boost she wouldn’t otherwise have in between raising Hannah, and for that she was grateful.

She didn’t want to spoil Bri’s enjoyment of the day by telling her about Lilah’s visit yesterday, despite the fact that she couldn’t shake the incident or fear of the future from her mind. Losing her sister couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t.

“Oh, look at the motley crew coming our way,” Bri said with a grin on her face. “Evie excluded, of course.”

Damon, Evie, and Jaxon strode over, the bride and groom obviously making their rounds, Jaxon tagging along, and as his gaze locked on hers, her stomach did a sensual flip.

“Hi, ladies,” Jaxon said, his gaze sliding over her, making her shiver. “You’re looking good, Macy. White looks great with your tan. Hot.” He treated her to yet another wink, that adorable grin on his face one she couldn’t ignore.

Though she was shocked he’d noticed the white halter dress she’d taken an hour to choose, at least that fluttering feeling in her stomach took her mind off her problems.

“Thanks, Jaxon.”

“Just telling it like it is. You’re blushing.” Reaching out, he stroked a finger down her cheek, the calluses on the pads rough, masculine, and making her tingle. “You must not get complimented enough. I could change that.”

And crazily enough, under the right circumstances, she might let him. Lord knew she wouldn’t be having a relationship of any substance for at least another three years, until Hannah graduated high school and moved out. Did Macy intend to be celibate until then? She shook her head. What the hell was she thinking? Jaxon flirted but he wasn’t seriously interested in anything with her.

Just then, Bri slapped her brother’s arm. “Leave her alone. So what were you three whispering about?” she asked Damon, Evie, and Jaxon.

“Just asking Jaxon what he’s been doing,” Damon said.

“You mean who he’s been doing,” Bri muttered, because Jaxon did tend to get into trouble. Months ago, there’d been a viral video with his manager’s young – though of age – daughter. Not that he’d known who she was at the time, at least according to Bri, whose job it was to make him look good in the media.