Dare To Play (Dare Nation #3) - Carly Phillips Page 0,32

time they never made sense.

He finally pulled into Macy’s driveaway, happy he didn’t see the red sports car that belonged to Lilah. For what he had planned, he didn’t need any more of an audience than necessary.

Chapter Eight

By Tuesday, Macy was in full wedding-planning mode courtesy of Bri. Because it was easier, Macy followed her directions in between fitting in design work for clients. Yesterday she’d met Bri at a bridal shop where, somehow, they found an off-the-rack gown she loved along with bridesmaids’ dresses for Hannah, Bri, and two other close friends of Macy’s, who were scratching their heads at her sudden wedding but thrilled she was marrying Jaxon Prescott.

Macy kept their reasons for the marriage to his family only. They couldn’t risk anyone slipping with the secret that it wasn’t a truly legitimate union. They both had too much to lose.

To her amazement, Hannah had been an angel at the dress shop, probably because she had her choice of whatever she could buy, also off-the-rack due to no time for many alterations. Luckily for Macy, her sister liked clothes, dresses, and had a blast at the store.

The upcoming big day held a bittersweet quality for Macy. She wasn’t a girl who’d dreamed of her wedding her entire life, but she’d never imagined one of pure convenience, either. Added to that, she’d lost her mom years ago and her dad was also gone. While Jaxon would have a huge family surrounding him at their wedding, she’d be feeling very much alone. Her throat filled, as she missed her father more than ever, but she was pragmatic and knew she couldn’t change things. She needed to focus on the present.

Speaking of, first thing Monday, she’d called the school district and confirmed that she could keep Hannah in her current school once they moved in with Jaxon. Knowing things would stay the same had calmed Hannah down a lot and eased the growing tension between them at least for now.

She’d also called the lawyer Jaxon had given her, and she had an appointment on Thursday to discuss the custody suit and the situation with Lilah. She was busier than ever and trying not to panic over the fact that she was getting married and going on a honeymoon with the sexiest man she’d ever met and moving into his house soon after.

Hannah was in her room doing homework and chilling out for a change, which gave Macy a chance to sit down and just breathe. Except no sooner had she settled into her favorite chair than the bell rang.

With a sigh, she rose and walked to the door. Looking outside, she was shocked to see Jaxon standing on her front porch.

After unlocking the door, she let him in, immediately wishing she’d looked in the mirror first. Where he wore a pair of fitted jeans and a black tee shirt that showed off the muscles in his chest, arms, and legs, she had on a tee shirt dress with no bra, her hair pulled up in a messy bun, and no makeup.

Way to impress the hot man you’re about to marry, she thought wryly. “Jaxon, I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay?”

“It is. I just wanted to stop by for a few minutes.” He ran a hand over his hair and groaned. “Okay, look. Nothing about us is traditional, but if I’m getting married, I want my wife to have a ring.”

Only then did she notice he’d had a blue Tiffany bag behind his back that he now held out for her to take. She accepted the gift and, with shaking hands, pulled out a blue box with a white bow.

“Go ahead. Open it,” he urged.

She untied the ribbon, lifted the box, and pulled out a velvet case. He took it from her and popped it open, turning the case toward her.

She was unable to take her eyes off the huge diamond staring back at her, and her mouth ran dry. “It’s fake, like the engagement, right?” she asked only half jokingly because she didn’t know what she would do with a ring this big. She wasn’t used to a life of luxury.

Looking into his eyes, though, she realized she’d hurt his feelings. He’d gone out of his way to buy her a ring, and she didn’t mean to seem ungrateful.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just didn’t expect you to really buy me a ring, let alone a Tiffany one. It’s gorgeous, Jaxon, it really is.”

He pulled out