Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

She grasped his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. “I love you, Damon. Thank you for understanding me. Getting me. Loving me.”

“I love you, Evie.”

She grinned. “Now go play ball.”

Epilogue

Damon’s mother threw an impromptu engagement party for him and Evie at her house, squeezing in a small amount of family and friends, since Damon’s team had a bye week and didn’t have to play that weekend. The only sibling missing was Braden, who couldn’t get away from his obligations.

The celebration was at the home Christine had finally relented and allowed her children to buy for her in light of their individual successes. The five-thousand-square-foot ranch had rooms for her adult kids to stay over if they chose, a pool in the backyard, and a huge open-concept layout inside. For that reason, it was perfect for a family gathering.

Christine, who’d already won over Evie and vice versa, shocked everyone by bringing a date, Edward Madison, a businessman who she’d met at a game last year.

“Mom, Edward, this is a surprise,” Damon said, Evie by his side, holding his hand. And when he glanced down, he noticed his mother’s and Edward’s hands were also entwined.

“Well, we wanted to see what we had in common before we went public,” she explained.

“And we discovered we’re extremely compatible.” Edward, who had dark blond hair and brown eyes, smiled at Damon’s mother in a way Damon would want someone to look at her, and the twisting in his stomach eased.

Still, he had to take a mental step back and decide how he felt about his mom in a relationship after all this time and realized all he wanted was for her to be happy. Studying her glow as she looked at Edward, he approved.

“Thanks for the party,” Evie said with a bright smile. Ever since her ex had pled guilty, her entire demeanor and mood had been lighter.

“You’re welcome. It’s completely my pleasure. Welcome to the family. You’re going to fit right in. Now you two go mingle.” His mom shooed them away to enjoy their party.

Instead of finding friends or family to talk to, Damon snuck Evie into a hallway where they could have a few minutes alone.

Bracing his hands on her hips, he pulled her to him. “Don’t get me wrong. I love you in jeans and tight tanks and tee shirts, but every once in a while, seeing you in a dress and fuck-me heels works, too.”

She treated him to a sexy grin. “Kind of like the difference between me seeing you in your tight-ass jeans and your football uniform. Either view works for me.” She rose up and kissed him, but he wasn’t content with a peck on the lips.

Hooking his arm around her waist, he yanked her against him and turned her light kiss into a soul-deep melding of minds and hearts. He slid his hands into her long hair and tugged her neck into the position he wanted her. Then he tangled his tongue with hers and lost himself in everything he’d never known he wanted but now couldn’t live without. He didn’t know how long they remained hidden, making out like teenagers, and he didn’t care.

“Hey, you two. Either go to a bedroom or come hang with everyone celebrating your engagement,” Jaxon called out, deliberately walking over and interrupting them.

Damon took his time extricating himself from Evie and then stepped in front of her, giving her time to pull herself together.

He studied his brother, whose eyes were red-rimmed and his hair long, probably because he was in the off-season. His baseball team demanded a haircut above the collar and no facial hair. Left to his own devices, Jaxon would look a lot more raggedy.

“Hey, man. Are you hungover?” It was a rhetorical question. Damon knew his brother liked to party.

Jaxon rubbed his eyes. “Just a late night,” he said, his lips lifting in an I got some grin.

Damon shook his head and chuckled. “Okay, who was she?”

Evie stepped out from behind Damon, her hair still messed, but he knew his girl. She wouldn’t care.

“Yeah, Jaxon. Who’s the lucky lady this time?” Evie teased. Because everyone knew Jaxon wouldn’t settle down with just one woman. He’d been burned in the past and hadn’t let it go.

“Just a chick I met at Allstars last night,” Jaxon said.

Damon understood why Jaxon would choose the upscale bar instead of a place where he’d be surrounded by groupies.

Damon put a hand on the back of his brother’s neck and pushed him forward. “Well, let’s go get you some caffeine, bro. You look like you could use some.” He loved his brother even if they were very different.

Grinning, Evie walked along beside them. They almost bumped into Bri and her friend Macy as they reentered the main room.

“Hi,” Macy said, champagne in hand. Her gaze encompassed the three of them.