Feeling like he needed company, Macy headed outside to join him.Chapter TwoJaxon resented being humiliated and called out in public even if Bri was his publicist and Austin his agent. Jaxon was a grown man, dammit, and could do whatever he wanted, including backing up a teammate when a jackass made fun of him in public and swung first. His brother had played on a team and damn well knew what it meant to be a stand-up guy. Fucking hypocrite giving him shit now, Jaxon thought.
“Want company?” a familiar female voice asked.
He glanced up. Macy, his sister Bri’s friend, had been coming around family gatherings more often lately, and with her understated sensuality, beautiful smile, and charming personality, he’d been intrigued. Flirting came naturally to him, but Macy knew his reputation with women, which was legitimately earned, and he was sure his sister had warned her away from him. She might have blushed a time or two at his compliments, but she hadn’t truly engaged with him.
Smart woman.
But that didn’t mean the sexual chemistry wasn’t there. He felt it and knew she did, too. In fact, he’d caught her watching him when she thought he wasn’t looking, like during the ceremony earlier. But he was surprised she’d come out here now.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the free chair next to him.
She lowered herself onto the white folding chair. “Sorry it got ugly in there.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not here to tell me what a dumb move I made?”
A smile curved her lips. “I kind of admire the fact that you stood up for your friend. Are you really going to get in trouble with management?”
His shoulders stiffened at the thought. He’d given them enough aggravation over the years that they wouldn’t be happy no matter the reason. “Probably. Can we talk about something else? Anything else?”
She shrugged. “Sure.”
“What’s going on with you?” he asked, curious about this woman he’d only seen from afar. This was their first real conversation.
She sighed. “You really don’t want to hear my problems.”
He tilted his head and glanced at her pretty profile. “Try me.”
She shrugged. “Well, I have custody of my fifteen-year-old half sister, and her mother showed up after five years, making noises about wanting custody.”
Resting his elbows on his knees, he turned her way. “What happened to your parents, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“My mom died when I was six, and Dad passed eight months ago.”
Knowing what it was like to lose a parent, even one he hadn’t liked that much, because the Prescott family tree was complicated, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it compassionately. “That sucks. I’m sorry.”
Her smile was grim. “Thank you.”
They sat in silence for a while, the sun beating down on them. Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he took in her pert nose, those lips he’d imagined kissing, and looking lower, her tanned cleavage, making his mouth water.
“I meant what I said earlier. You look gorgeous in that dress,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Thank you.” She smiled, her cheeks turning pink in the way they did every time he flirted or complimented her.
It was sweet and endearing. Most women he dealt with were more assured of their sexuality and usually came on to him. He didn’t have to work hard for it. There was something captivating about Macy and her air of innocent sensuality.
He glanced down, realizing he still held her hand in his from when she’d told him about losing her parents. “So I take it you have to get home to your sister?”
To his surprise, she shook her head. “Hannah’s sleeping at a friend’s tonight.”
He hesitated and thought, what the hell? He could feel his siblings’ annoyed stare from inside and needed peace. “Want to get out of here? Go somewhere quiet and grab a bite to eat?” he asked, because she was easy to be with and wasn’t giving him shit about his life and behavior.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth before releasing it. “Are you telling me there are places you can go and not get recognized?”
He shook his head and laughed. “Not really, though some owners and managers are stricter than others about letting people bother their customers. But as you probably know, that doesn’t always mean a damn thing. I’d say we could go to my house and order in, but you probably think I’m the big bad wolf,” he said wryly.
Her brown eyes met his. “You might be the big bad wolf, but I’m a big girl who can handle you,” she said, surprising him.
He rose to his feet and pulled her up with him. “Let’s get out of here,” he said. “Damon and Evie are gone, and I don’t want to deal with the family. Any reason you need to go back inside?”