PLAY FAIR is Book is Book 3 in L.P. Maxa's "Devil's Share" series. One by one the hard rocking guys of the band The Devil's Share have succumbed to love. While still retaining a little bit of rock star edge, PLAY FAIR opens with the band members and their girlfriends, and dog, forming the perfect picture of domesticity. Things are thrown into a bit of a whirlwind when Jackson "Jacks" Cole discovers he has a daughter. At first glance, a rock star might not seem like everybody's first candidate for a devoted family man, but this tight knit Devil's Share crew proves to be the family young Landry needs.
There are two major things going on in PLAY FAIR -- Jacks discovering, and then learning how to bond with, his little girl and Jacks' falling in love with his best friend Bryan. Both stories snag your interest and are entertaining. I love that Jacks and Bryan have a lot of similarities and were long distance text buddies before taking their relationship to the next level. Their interactions with each other seem so organic and fun. It's interesting that Bryan's sister seems to be more protective of Jacks than her sister. Usually it's a sibling warning a big bad rock star away from their sister rather than the reverse. I really like how PLAY FAIR is told from alternating perspectives -- even including the perspective of little Landry.
The tender moments with Jacks and Bryan acting as father and mother to Landry act as a nice counterpoint to the sexual tension between the two friends. PLAY FAIR is another book in a long line of my favorite stories in which the hero pursues the heroine. Bryan leaves Jacks a little befuddled at times, but it's fun watching them try to work things out together and support each other. The threat of Landry possibly being taken away by her absentee mom gives the story a kick in the middle of Jacks' and Bryan's love haze. Both Jacks and Bryan grow over the course of PLAY FAIR and I really like both characters.
PLAY FAIR is a story about realizing what's important in life and finding love with your best friend. L.P. Maxa does a great job of balancing humor, sexual sizzle, and the feeling of family. These characters feel like old friends that you get to re-connect with every time you pick up one of the books in this "Devil's Share" series. L.P. Maxa slowly develops these characters throughout the series and has them show their hidden depths. Reading about Jacks forge a new family will make you smile and swoon. I look forward to L.P. Maxa's next book.
Guitarist of the world-famous rock band The Devilโs
Share,
no one would expect Jackson Cole to have a best friend
whoโs
a girl, but his relationship with Bryan Lawson is too
special to endanger with sexโฆuntil a different girlโthe
waifish nine-year-old who claims heโs her fatherโmakes
Jacks
realize all that truly matters.
WILD. RECKLESS. IRRESPONSIBLE. A FATHER?
Jackson Cole has been called many things: immature,
irresponsible, sexy as hell. But one thing heโs never
been
called is โDadโโuntil Child Services shows up on his
doorstep with a waifish nine-year-old claiming heโs the
father. Whatโs a rock star to do? Call your best friend,
who
just happens to be super hot, funny, and even more
commitment-phobic than you, and beg her to help. Of
course,
now that his friend is living in the same house, Jacks is
finding it harder and harder to keep his hands to
himself.
Bryan Lawson never expected to become pals with a
charming,
hilarious, breathtakingly handsome rock star, but after
they
met backstage at one of Jacksโs concerts, she couldnโt
stop
texting him. Heโs just the sort of person she could
imagine
being with forever, except that, try as she might, sheโs
never managed to stay interested in a relationship for
more
than three months. Now that Jacks is a dad, the stakes
are
much higher. A breakup wouldnโt just ruin their
friendship,
it would destroy a little girl whoโs just learning to
love.
But maybe also the game has changed.
EXCERPT
When I got home I headed upstairs with the intention of
checking on Landry and then heading to bed. I didnโt want
to wake Bryan, and I didnโt want to look too closely at
the way Iโd booked it out of that club. As I reached the
top of the stairs I head Bryanโs voice and Landryโs
giggles. I glanced down at my watch; it was after
midnight at this point. I poked my head into her room.
โHello my beautiful girls. What are yโall still doing
up?โ
They both smiled when they saw me, and I ignored the way
my heart leapt. โYouโre home.โ Bryan said it like a
statement. Not a question.
I grinned. โYeah. Turns out I rather be here.โ
She held up a large hardbound book. โLandry asked me to
read to her and we both kind of lost track of time.โ
Bryan closed the book and put it on the nightstand. โItโs
late sweet girl, weโll read more tomorrow.โ
I walked across the room, leaning down to kiss Landryโs
forehead. โGood night, Buttercup.โ
โโNight, Jacks.โ
We both headed across the hall to my room and collapsed
on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Bryan lightly slapped my thigh. โYou can go meet back up
with Luke, if you want. Sheโll be asleep as soon as her
head hits the pillow. No worries here, if thatโs what you
came home for.โ
โNah, Iโm right where I want to be.โ And that was the
Godโs honest truth.
She was quiet for a few minutes, the only sound in the
room was us breathing, each struggling with the right
words. Finally she moved to face me, I automatically did
the same. โGood. Iโm pretty happy where I am right now
too.โ
She was so damn pretty. I could get lost in those blue
eyes of hers. I fought the urge to kiss her plump pink
lips. Friends donโt kiss. And we were just friends. Maybe
if I said just friends in my head enough times Iโd start
to believe it. โWant to watch a movie?โ I didnโt want her
to leave me.
She grinned, a wicked glint in her beautiful eyes. โI
have a better idea.โ
I shifted closer to her on the bed, playing along. โOh
yeah?โ
She bit her bottom lip, nodding.
My dick strained against my zipper. He was still pissed
that Iโd denied him earlier, not turned on by Bryanโs
flirty banter. โWhat did you have in mind, baby doll?โ
She rolled over and grabbed a hot pink bag from the floor
beside my bed. โI bought us a present todayโฆโ
I shifted onto my stomach, taking the bag from her hands
and hiding my massive hard on. I pulled out the tissue
paper, tossing it over my shoulder. โWhat?! You got
Zombies 5? I didnโt even know this was out yet!โ
She giggled, putting her hand over my mouth. โShhhโฆyouโre
going to wake up Landry and this game is definitely not
suitable for children.โ She sat up. โIโll go get ready
for bed in Lukeโs bathroom.โ She paused on her way out
the door. โChange clothes. You smell like sex and
whiskey.โ
โBโฆI couldnโt, I mean, I didnโtโฆuh, nothing happened.โ
She shook her head, โJacks, itโs none of my business. I
just rather not, um, just shower, okay?โ
I nodded. My heart was racing; the distress I felt at her
thinking Iโd been with someone else was unwelcome. And it
was freaking me the fuck out. I was pacing around my
room. Why did it matter so much? Why did her thinking
that bother me? Probably the same damn reason Iโd run out
of that club like it was on fucking fire.
Because I was falling for my best friend.
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