Dare To Play (Dare Nation #3) - Carly Phillips Page 0,22

you’re about to go from her disappointment to her–”

“Next favorite. I can’t beat the first grandchild or the first wedding, but I can come in before Braden and Bri.”

He grinned at the realization and Macy rolled her eyes. “Is everything a competition with you sports types?”

“Yep.”

She would laugh except there was a serious component to this. “You do remember this engagement is fake, right?”

His gaze met hers, his expression intent. “About that. Remember what I said about not being celibate?”

She swallowed hard. “How could I forget?” It had been in the back of her mind ever since they’d agreed to get married.

“I want a real marriage.” Reaching out, he tucked her hair behind one ear, his rough fingers an aphrodisiac on her skin.

She didn’t kid herself that this was a make-or-break decision. He wouldn’t marry her if she didn’t agree to have an intimate relationship, and considering she’d already slept with him, how could she say no? To do so would be admitting she was afraid she’d fall for him, and she had no intention of giving him that sort of leverage.

Besides, she actually respected him for not wanting to marry and look elsewhere for sex, and she didn’t expect him to marry her for an indefinite period of time and be celibate. He’d made it clear that option was off the table.

“Macy?” he asked into the silence she’d created.

She looked into his handsome face and drew a deep breath. “A real marriage works for me.”

His smile lit up not just the room but everything inside her. He leaned in close, his intention clear, and she met him halfway, their lips locking together and fireworks exploding between them. At this point, she shouldn’t be surprised by their combustible chemistry. But she was.

His tongue swiped over her lips and she let him inside. They clashed and curled, causing her entire being to come alive with need. From a simple kiss, no other parts involved. And boy, did she remember what it was like when the rest of his body tangled with hers and brought her to the height of passion.

Lifting his head, he met her gaze, a sensual smile on his full, gorgeous lips. “It’s going to be good between us,” he promised. “Really fucking good.”

Despite the butterflies flipping through her stomach, she couldn’t help but agree. For so long, she’d put her family before her personal life, but she couldn’t deny she’d hoped to find a man who could accept the responsibilities that came with her. She’d just never thought he would be a professional All-Star baseball player with a temporary marriage in mind.

T-e-m-p-o-r-a-r-y. No matter how smooth he was with his words and his actions, she needed to remember this wasn’t forever.

He was right though. They could make this work for both of them. Sharing a bed with the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on wouldn’t be a hardship. Not falling for the playboy would be.

Chapter Six

Macy’s hand shook inside Jaxon’s as they approached his mother’s house. He couldn’t say he was calm, either, but damned if he’d let on. One of them needed to stay cool, and that had to be him if he was going to convince his family they were doing the right thing.

Everyone, from his mom and her boyfriend, Edward, to all of his siblings except Braden, was waiting for them to arrive. He’d called and they’d all agreed to meet here for a surprise announcement.

Jaxon rang the bell and opened the unlocked door. “Don’t worry, okay? We’re giving them good news. I promise,” he told Macy, and together they stepped inside and followed the voices to the family room.

“Jaxon!” His mother called out his name and walked over, pulling him in for a hug.

“Hi, Mom.” He embraced her in return.

Christine turned to Macy. “Hi, Macy. This is a surprise.”

“She doesn’t know the half of it,” Macy whispered so low only he could hear.

“I can’t wait to find out your news, but I have a surprise for you first. Look who’s home!” Christine gestured to the other side of the room, where his brother, Braden, stood, a grin on his face as he met Jaxon’s gaze.

He released Macy’s hand and crossed the room, giving him a hug and slapping his brother on the back. He hadn’t seen Braden since Austin’s kidney donation surgery to Uncle Paul. Although unexpected, having Braden here made the night perfect. His whole family would be around for the news. Even Uncle Paul and his significant other, Ron, were here.

“Why