Page 48 of Dare to Play (Dare Nation 3)
“Hannah called you because you’re the good friend in her eyes, not a parent teaching her right from wrong,” Macy said, laying things out. “You helped her clean up and sweep away her problem, and now she’s grateful to you. Maybe she even wants to live with you.” Her stomach churned at that thought and reminder that her sister had once said that she preferred Lilah to Macy.
“Of course I did those things. I want to do whatever I can for my daughter.”
Jaxon folded his arms across his chest. “And after she called, I’ll bet you did a quick Google search. Looked up the law on open house parties. After which you called the cops, probably anonymously,” he said. “And then you called the paparazzi. So now Macy and I look bad. Less fit guardians than you. And if you think I can’t hire the right people to find out if you made those calls, think again.”
The satisfied gleam in Lilah’s gaze was all Macy needed. “You bitch.” Macy started toward her, but Jaxon grabbed before she could lunge at the other woman. Not that Macy knew what she’d have done. Just that the anger and hurt flowing through her were out of control.
She drew a deep breath and calmed herself down. “Get out. Until our court hearing next week, don’t ask to see Hannah. The answer is no.”
“Come. I’ll walk you out.” Striding over, Jaxon took Lilah’s elbow, and she immediately shook him off.
Macy lowered herself onto the sofa, leaned back against the cushions, and groaned, waiting for Jaxon to return, hearing Lilah’s complaints and threats as he escorted her to the door.
A few seconds later, he returned to the room. “She’s gone,” he said softly, walking to where she sat and settled in beside her.
“I’m sorry,” she said again and he shook his head.
“Stop. There’s no reason to apologize. Hannah is a teenager and this is pretty normal behavior as far as that goes.”
She slid her fingers over the material on her thighs in a nervous movement. “I saw the look on the team owner’s face. He’s furious, Jaxon. I just gave you more bad press instead of less.”
“And I saw my manager’s understanding. He’ll smooth things over. Seriously. I can handle this. I’m more worried about how it’ll look for you at the custody hearing.”
Macy glanced at him, tears in her eyes. “Not good. Hannah’s given Lilah very solid ammunition to use against us. Not that I think she’d be a better parent, but I know she’s a stellar actress.”
“Come here.” He pulled her against him, and Macy snuggled in, resting her head on his shoulder. “I have to punish Hannah. She can’t have a party and get away with it.”
“She said she didn’t intend for it to be a party,” Jaxon reminded her.
Macy inhaled, breathing in his masculine scent, and snuggled in closer, needing him. “Then she should have called me and been honest instead of calling her mother, hoping to cover up the evidence. Hannah didn’t know Lilah would turn this into a shit show. She thought she’d help her clean up and pretend the party never happened.”
He groaned. “You’re right. There should be consequences,” he reluctantly agreed. “Since you’ve already prohibited Lilah from seeing Hannah, why don’t you use that as her punishment. It’s pretty light considering what she did.”
“You can’t keep me from my mother!” Hannah shouted, walking in from the hallway.
Macy’s head began to pound as she pushed herself up from her seat. “Come on, Hannah. You had to know there would be punishment.”
“Not if I lived with Mom!” she yelled back, hysterical.
“Your mother is putting on an act. Showing you what you want to see. It wouldn’t be the same if you lived with her, trust me.”
“You’re just jealous that I have a mother.” And with that shot, Hannah ran for her room and slammed the door.
“She didn’t mean that.” Jaxon rose and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.
“For the moment she did.” And it had been like an arrow to her heart. “And when I make her clean up the rest of this room, she’ll have some other choice words for me.”
“Part of parenting, or so I’m learning,” he said with a chuckle.
“Regretting our marriage?” she asked into his chest, not wanting to see his face.
He waited a beat before answering. “Not for a minute.”
At his words, tears that had filled her eyes fell and dampened his shirt. He was so easy to like and would be even easier to love. If only he could trust her not to hurt him the way his ex-fiancée had. But he’d been clear about his intentions going into this marriage and with women in general. She wouldn’t push or hope for more than he was willing or capable of giving.
She stepped back, glanced at his shirt, and winced. “There’s makeup all over you.”
