“It’s just not like her. I can’t remember the last time she even went on a date,” Bri said.
Something Jaxon knew, because even now he could remember how tight she was when he’d thrust into her, how slowly he’d had to work his way inside her. Holding back a groan, he met his sister’s gaze. “She mentioned it had been a while.”
“Guys don’t like the fact that she has responsibilities. She needs to put her sister first and they resent it. In other words, most men are jackasses.”
Jaxon chuckled, unable to argue that point. “She told me that her sister’s mother showed up out of the blue. She was making noises about wanting custody.”
Bri’s eyes opened wide. “You’re kidding! She didn’t say anything to me about that.”
“She probably knew you had a lot on your plate with the wedding. I’m sure she’ll tell you.”
Bri bit her bottom lip. “If that’s true, that photograph of you two kissing is going to cause trouble for her, too. It looks bad, her leaving your house the morning after.”
Leave it to the PR person to look at the bright side, he thought wryly. “I don’t want Macy to have trouble because of me.”
“Wishes can’t change facts.” Bri tapped her foot against the carpeted floor. “I’ll call her.”
“How about you give me her number and let me handle the problem I caused?” He’d been planning to ask for her number anyway, and knowing his sister’s penchant to involve herself in other people’s problems, the need to mend issues strong, he needed to take charge of his own life.
With a frown, Bri nodded. “Fine.” She picked up her phone and sent over Macy’s contact to Jaxon’s cell.
It was time he stepped up to the plate and saw if he had, in fact, caused trouble for Macy and, if so, what he could do to fix it.
* * *
It hadn’t taken long for Macy to be recognized while out in public doing errands. People stared and someone even asked her if Jaxon Prescott was as good in bed as he looked. She didn’t like the infamy and resented the intrusion into her life. She didn’t understand how professional athletes, actors, actresses, and other famous people handled it on a larger scale. But she survived the week and even finished her project on time, making the money she was counting on.
Mostly she managed by staying inside after the first time she was recognized, and though Jaxon had called to check on her, she’d missed his call. He’d left his private number, so she texted him back and lied that she was fine. He didn’t need to know how freaked out she was. In another day or two, things would blow over, or so she hoped.
The Friday after her night with Jaxon, Macy braved the great outdoors. She ran a bunch of errands including food shopping and stopping at the pharmacy and dry cleaner, and with her hair pulled back, a hat on her head, and dark sunglasses, nobody bothered her.
She came home and had just finished unpacking everything when the doorbell rang.
She walked over, glanced out, and saw a well-dressed man with a manila envelope in his hand.
Without thinking, she opened the door.
“Macy Walker?” he asked.
“Yes. Can I help you?”
He handed her a large envelope. “You’ve been served,” he said and immediately turned and walked away.
Her stomach jerked as she stepped back and slammed the door at his retreating form. With shaking hands, she opened the seal, although she knew exactly what she’d find.
“I can’t believe she did it.” Tears of frustration and fear welled in Macy’s eyes.
She slammed the letter down on the nearest counter. Now she needed to hire a lawyer she couldn’t afford to fight for custody unless she wanted to dip into the insurance money her father had left in trust, and that she didn’t want to do. She was smart enough to understand the value of savings. Hannah’s share would pay for her college, and Macy wanted backup in case either of them needed it.
She put away the food and cleaning she’d picked up, straightened up the house, and she still couldn’t get rid of the feeling of panic. She was too worked up for designing, and her exercise classes were in the evenings, so she put on a meditation app and searched for calm.
Thirty minutes later, she’d found a modicum of relaxation and decided to shower. Once she came out, she checked her phone, surprised to see a call from Jaxon, and her stomach twisted with, dare she admit it, excitement? Despite the infamy, she liked the man, dammit.
When she tapped the play button, the rough sound of his voice caused tremors of awareness throughout her body.
“Hi, Macy. I’m calling to check on you again. Call me back this time.”
She stood in the bathroom, towel wrapped around her body, Jaxon’s cell number just waiting for her to use. Before she could chicken out, she dialed his private number.
“Hi,” she said, trying not to sound breathless, husky, or any other sexy adjective she could think of. Just returning the call of a friend, not the man she’d slept with.
“Hey. How are you?” he asked.
“Oh, just the center of attention everywhere I go,” she joked. Sort of. Today had been an easy day recognition-wise.
Of course, his groan sounded sexy. “Shit. I’m sorry. I hope it’s just a nuisance? Because it’ll blow over.”
She stared down at her nails and decided to tell him. “I don’t think so. I was served with custody papers today. Apparently I’m an unfit guardian.”
“Dammit.” He paused and the silence grew between them.
“It’s not your fault,” she said, knowing from Bri he’d been read the riot act by Austin, even though they all agreed he hadn’t done anything wrong being in his own driveway. It
