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 didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” he asked his oldest brother and Bri’s twin, the brother who Jaxon could most relate to. Braden and Bri were thirty-two years old now, and it had been thirteen years since their father passed away. They were nineteen when he died. But Braden resented Jesse even more than Jaxon, and that was saying something. He’d missed his brother like crazy.
“Isn’t a surprise better?” Braden asked.
Jaxon stepped back and looked at his brother, taking in his long hair and scruffy beard. “You look like you just came from the field,” he said.
Last he’d heard, his brother was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, vaccinating people there. Considering his brother had an adventurous streak, it always calmed him, knowing Braden was in safe places.
“That’s because I did. Flew in this afternoon.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Jaxon saw his mother was glowing at having her entire family together.
“So what’s your news that’s going to upstage my homecoming?” Braden grinned, not the type to need to be the center of attention.
Gesturing for Macy to join him, she walked over, his gaze drawn to her fitted white jeans and black tank top that draped over her sexy curves. Despite the look of trepidation on her face, she’d squared her shoulders, obviously bracing herself.
A wedding and short-term marriage might not have been in his plans, but looking at his bride-to-be, he was a lucky man.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Everyone!” He waited for his family to look his way. “Macy and I are getting married.”
“Oh, my God! Another wedding and so soon,” Christine said, sounding as excited as Jaxon thought his mother would be. “Macy, welcome to the family!”
“Thank you,” she murmured, but Macy, like Jaxon, was obviously aware of the shocked silence surrounding them from everyone else. And then the chaos began, starting with Bri.
“You’re what?” his sister asked, eyes wide, mouth open.
“I’m doing what you and Austin wanted. I’m getting married, and I told Macy you’d all be happy for us.” He pointedly looked at Bri, warning her to be nice.
His mother pushed her way in and congratulated them both, followed by Braden and Damon, his brothers looking uncertain but keeping their mouths shut.
When the hubbub subsided, Bri stepped over, her eyes narrowed. “You two, come talk to me.” She gestured to the sliding glass door leading out to the patio, and they headed outside.
Austin kissed Quinn on the cheek and joined them without being invited, shutting the door behind him.
Bri frowned and spoke before anyone else had a chance. “I told you to get married. We might even have said Macy was the kind of woman you should choose, but I didn’t expect you to go out and ask her! And you!” Bri turned to Macy. “What’s going on? Don’t get me wrong,” she said, her voice softer as she spoke to her friend. “If you two were in love, I’d be
