Dare To Play (Dare Nation #3) - Carly Phillips Page 0,42

right.”

He grinned. “I usually am.”

She laughed. “Good to know.”

She turned her body to her side so they were facing each other. “So I have another question, and you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to.” She propped her head in her hand, waiting for him to reply.

“We’re husband and wife. No secrets, right? Go ahead and ask.” Though he wasn’t looking forward to the question, he figured they were being open and honest.

“Why don’t you believe in marriage? Or at least the happily-ever-after part?”

Once again she’d taken him off guard, but he decided to fill her in. “Well, when I was younger, I did believe.” Facing Macy, he forced himself to tell the story. “Katie and I met in college. We got very serious very quickly. She always knew I wanted to play Major League Baseball. And she knew what that entailed. One hundred and sixty-two games a year, excluding postseason, no control in the early days of what state or team I’d end up on. No guarantee of big money, though I was talented.”

She laughed at his deliberate tossing in of ego. “Of course you were.”

“Anyway, she went into the relationship with eyes wide open. I just don’t think she realized my first stop in the minors would be Washington State.” His stomach cramped at the reminder of having to deliver the news. He hadn’t thought she’d like it, but he had believed they were in it together.

“Pretty far from Florida. I take it that’s where she was from?” Macy asked, eyes full of compassion.

“Yes. And suddenly, she couldn’t handle the lifestyle. She dumped me very easily considering the plans we’d made.”

Reaching out, Macy grasped his hand. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“Regardless, it did teach me a lesson. Family life isn’t for me.”

She narrowed her gaze. “I realize you were hurt but don’t you think that’s shortsighted? It’s not like you’ll play forever, and a more understanding, stronger woman could most definitely handle being on her own.”

She shook her head. “All I’m saying is don’t let the rest of your life be defined by something that happened when you were young.”

“You sound pragmatic,” he said, taking in her words and filing them away to dissect another time.

She shrugged. “I’m just telling it like it is.” She squeezed his hand. “We might be short-term but you do deserve happiness.”

His stomach twisted at the reminder that this part of his life wasn’t permanent, surprising him. He’d only been with Macy for a week, and already he felt a connection with her that was stronger than any he’d experienced before. Even with Katie. And that completely threw him for a loop.

His reaction was to deflect. “How do you feel about lobster?” he asked.

Her eyes danced with the knowledge that he was ending their conversation on purpose. “Love it. Why?”

“Damon can’t stop raving about a place he took Evie to when they were here on the island.” His brother said it was on the water, romantic, and he highly recommended he bring Macy there. “I made us a dinner reservation tonight if you’re up for it.”

She smiled. “I am. It sounds great.”

“Then it’s a date.” He rolled onto his back and soaked in the sun, shutting off thoughts of Katie, the past, and losing Macy in the future.

Chapter Ten

Macy returned to Florida tanned and chilled out, amazed at how one full day on the beach on Sunday and two nights on the island had relaxed her. She also felt closer to her husband and warned herself to be careful and not take his confidences too seriously. They were friends, exchanging information, nothing more. He wasn’t trying to win her over or get into her heart. And she didn’t want him to. Right? Right.

“Want to pick up Hannah on the way home? We can get started with our family life, picking out her room, winning her over. She has to be upset with Lilah right now, after she canceled their plans,” Jaxon suggested.

Macy nodded. “It’s a good idea. I miss her. And when I spoke to her from the Bahamas, she sounded hurt.” Which wasn’t something Macy wanted, but she couldn’t deny it helped her in her custody battle.

She needed Hannah to want to live with her. “Let’s surprise her at Ruby’s instead of calling first,” she said, excited to pick up her sister.

Jaxon grinned. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.”

Except when they arrived at Ruby’s, Hannah’s teenage friend greeted Macy at the door. “Hannah’s not here.”

“What? Where is she?” Jaxon