* * *
“Hey, baby. How’s everything?” Seth drawled into the phone.
“Jake finally fell asleep after conning J.J. into reading him three books. J.J. went to Robert’s house for a poker game, so I don’t expect him back until after midnight. He has the keys and the alarm code. I have to admit it’s so strange seeing him off the ranch.”
“J.J. travels when he has a lot on his mind.”
“Still no progress on the Eden situation?”
“J.J.’s not one for a whole lot of talking,” Seth mused.
“I wish there was something I could do.”
“You’re already doing it. You’re like the sister he never had. Although, my brothers are scared of you because of the talking-to you gave Tate.”
“Yeah, but that was the burr under the saddle that he needed.” Morgan put another pillow behind her back to get comfortable. “Did you know J.J. is hiring Jared for a project? I couldn’t find out anything with my casual snooping.”
“I had no idea, but it’s nice they’re working together.”
“So what do you think it is?”
“Maybe I’ll find out at the next board meeting.”
“J.J. and Jared will be watching the game with us. You always send the best babysitters.”
Morgan slipped on her robe and padded to the kitchen, but stopped when she saw a light from the television in the war room filtering out into the hall. She went into the room to turn it off and found Jake cuddled on the couch with J.J., who was watching a western.
“Hey. How was the poker game?” Morgan took a seat on the couch.
J.J. lowered the volume on the television. “I had a good time.”
“Did Jake wake up?”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I went into his room to give him a kiss goodnight and he woke up.” J.J. gave her a shy smile.
Morgan cleared her throat. “Try again. Seth uses that excuse weekly.”
J.J. held up his hands. “OK, I may have added a tickle, which caused him to wake up. I couldn’t help it.”
“What is it with you Blake men and not letting a child sleep?”
“Daddy used to wake us up when he got in from a late night at the office. We’d go down to the family room and watch television and talk.”
“Ah ha. So that’s where Seth gets it.” She laughed.
“The trick was to be quiet so Momma wouldn’t wake up or she’d have everyone’s hide, including Daddy’s.” He ran a hand over Jake’s head.
“Do you want something to eat? I was just about to make a turkey club sandwich.”
* * *
Morgan perused the shelves of her shop, hoping to find a good book for J.J. She was looking for something that would give him clarity on his relationship with Eden. A little voice in her head, that sounded a lot like Seth, was telling her to mind her business.
“Morgan, where’s that hunk of a man, J.J.?” She heard Michelle say on the other side of the bookshelf.
“He took Jake shopping and then they were going to get a bite to eat.”
“You know, every time I see him, the theme song from that eighties TV show about that cowboy private detective plays in my head. But I can’t remember the name of it.”
“Matt Houston!” Morgan squealed.
Michelle giggled. “Yes! That’s it!”
“I think it’s that commanding swagger he has.”
“Ah, the Blake swagger. If you look at it too long, you’ll go blind or insane.” Michelle sighed. “Do you mind if I take off early?”
“Of course I don’t. Michelle, weren’t you reading a new romance novel that came in the other day?”
“That book is smoking hot! The love scenes gave me arrhythmia. You should—” Michelle paused. “Forget it. I forgot who I was talking to.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Morgan moved to the next aisle. Michelle followed.
“You’re married to that gorgeous man and have a drawer of kinky sex toys in your nightstand.”
“Hey! I told you that in confidence!” Morgan said in a tight, low voice.
“No one can hear us.”
“You better hope not.” Morgan whistled when she looked up to see Michelle dressed in a curve-hugging red dress. “What’s the occasion?”
Michelle twirled around. “Do I look nice?”
Morgan gave her the once over. “No, you look stunning.”
“Thank you. I have a date tonight. He’s picking me up here.”
“I want details. Where did you meet? Is he nice? What’s his name?”
“His name is Finn Richards. We met in yoga class. He’s very nice.”
“Good for you. Yoga class, you say?” Morgan tapped a finger on her chin.
“Oh yeah,” Michelle mused. “The possibilities are endless.”
“Where are you going to dinner?”
“Rousseau’s.”
“Nice. Good food. Mention the lobster even if you don’t end up ordering it. If he flinches at the price, dump him.”
Michelle played with the neckline of her dress. “Do you think I’m good girlfriend material?”
“Of course you are. If I were a man I’d date you.”
Michelle snorted.
“Michelle, you look beautiful.” A voice came from the end of the aisle.
Morgan and Michelle turned around to see J.J. standing there with Jake.
“Thank you.” Michelle blushed.
“Michelle!” Jake yelled and tried to wiggle out of J.J.’s arms to get to her.
“She has a date.” Morgan chimed in and caught Jake as he ran down the aisle. “Jake, you can give Aunt Michelle a kiss but no hugs, she has to go out.”
“How’s my favorite munchkin? Did you have a good time with your Uncle J.J.?” Michelle kissed him on the cheek.
“Yes.” Jake nodded.
“If you intended to give your date a heart attack, mission accomplished.” J.J. whistled as Michelle did a little turn.
“You really think so?”
Morgan took her cell phone out of her pocket and scanned for her camera app. “I was just about to take her picture and send it to Tyler.”
Michelle’s eyes widened. “No, you’re not.”
“Good idea. Showing Tyler you won’t wait for him. Seeing you in that dress will give him some things to think about.” J.J. stroked his chin.
Michelle gritted her teeth. “Take the damn picture.”
Michelle posed for a few shots and went on her way. Morgan’s fingers flew over the keypad of the cell phone. “There. Sent to Tyler.” Morgan looked at J.J. “Do you think sending the photo will do any good?”
“The fact that Tyler still remembers Michelle’s name and hasn’t slept with her shows growth that even he’s not aware of yet.” J.J. put his arm around her.
Morgan smiled at him. “So brother-in-law, read any good books lately?”
Chapter Six
Morgan was sad to see J.J. leave to head back to the ranch. In the short time he’d visited she’d gotten to see a softer side of her brother-in-law. When he wasn’t spending time with Jake, he was on the phone taking care of business. Blake Enterprises was his life and he was very good at it. She’d slipped that romance novel Michelle recommended into his suitcase, hoping he would read it. Although the content was super-hot, she hoped he the male character would resonate with him. The guy was a no-nonsense alpha male, searching for love in the wake of personal tragedy.
The day had finally come for the Match Wits taping. Morgan was so rattled she’d given Jake a pair of Seth’s sneakers to put on when she dressed him this morning. The Queen Titans had been in a tight huddle ever since they made their grand entrance into the television studio. She got the feeling something was brewing, because Charisma received a frosty reception when she arrived. Not one of her new friends was trying to engage her in conversation.
Morgan gave Nina a hug. “Thank you for doing this with me. I know hanging around the Queen Titans has been a headache.”
Nina hugged
her back. “It’s for a good cause. And at least you and I get to spend time together.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Jocelyn called as she walked over with a clipboard. “You are my anchor to reality.”
“What can we do to help?” Morgan asked.
“Your being here is all the help I need. Well, Sanguine apparently mended fences with the Queen Titans, so they’ve elected to take her back and kick your cousin off the team.” Jocelyn played with the necklace she wore.
“Oh. That reality show Sanguine was pitching didn’t get picked up and that caused a ripple effect in the deal for the clothing line she was hoping to start.” Nina quipped.
Jocelyn excused herself and went to the podium and started the meeting. They had a few hours before the actual taping so she thought it would be nice to play a few practice games. The staff arranged the tables and chairs and they got to work.
It was obvious the Queen Titans were ignoring Charisma, but she was hanging in there. Morgan didn’t know how long she’d be able to sit by and endure the humiliation. Lord knew how much bad treatment her cousin was willing to take to be initiated into that bitchy group, but Morgan couldn’t stand by and watch the travesty unfold.
Finally Ariana stood and cleared her throat to get their attention. “I think there are just too many unnecessary players here today. Charisma, why don’t you go and see if you can bring us some lunch.”
“Jocelyn, I can use another alternate,” Morgan said, loud enough for the entire room to hear. It worked. The room went silent and all eyes fixed on her.
“That solves that, now doesn’t it?” Jocelyn smiled and floated away.
Morgan looked at Nina who nodded in agreement at her and went back to completing the entry forms for their team. Charisma remained at the Queen Titans table, looking unsure of what to do.
Morgan walked over to her. “Can I speak to you a minute?”
Charisma narrowed her eyes.
“Now.” Morgan took her by the elbow and led her to a nearby restroom.
“What do you want, Morgan?”
Morgan glared. “What the hell are you doing? Letting those snooty bitches run all over you like that? Or do you reserve your venom for family members only?”
“Since when do you care about what I do?” Charisma sniffed as she fought back the tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
“Since you’ve made it your mission to wiggle your way into the middle of my life, despite the great lengths I’ve gone through to stay away from you. What the hell is your problem? Is it worth getting humiliated by hair-sprayed floozies just so Lamont will think you’re worthy of him?”
“Lamont just needs the right woman to guide him. He could have a great football legacy, just like…” Charisma stopped before she said his name.
Morgan furiously shook her head. “And Lamont getting his act together helps you how?”
“Whatever I wish for always seems to be granted to you instead of me. Seth Blake falls right into your lap. He’s handsome and rich, but your dumb ass keeps toiling away at your dinky little bookstore. I would have lit a match and never looked back.” Charisma swiped at the tears falling down her cheeks.
Morgan pulled tissues from a box and handed them to her. “Are you done?”
“Why do you care?” Charisma dabbed at her running mascara.
“It’s time you started acting like a Reed. I know you can dish it back with both barrels, but what I can’t understand is why you’re refraining, just because you think some dumb ass wide receiver will love you. This world you want into so badly is a mine field of hurt feelings and who-slept-with-whom, and those bimbos don’t give a rat’s ass about you. So I’d hold off on getting sworn into their little club.”
Morgan whipped out her phone and sent Nina a text. Charisma moved to the sink and started splashing cold water on her face. A few minutes later there was a knock on the restroom door.
“It’s Nina.”
Morgan breathed a sigh of relief. “Can you make Raccoon Eyes over there look decent in twenty minutes?”
“I’ll do my best.” Nina opened her makeup case.
“I can do my own makeup,” Charisma huffed.
“Charisma, shut it. Nina has a talent for making people look beautiful. She may even be able to give you the appearance of being cultured and sophisticated.”
“Hey, easy on the promises,” Nina said, rummaging through her makeup kit. “I still remember that dinner party last year. I should make her look like an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“Charisma and I are going to put our differences aside this afternoon, so we can tell Ariana to shove it when we win Match Wits.”
Nina raised an eyebrow. “And for the satisfaction of raising money for charity, right?”
“Yeah, that too.”
Nina fervently worked her magic on Charisma, and by the time they exited the bathroom the practice was over. Morgan decided she could suck it up and be civil to her cousin for a few hours while they tried to win money for charity.
The competition started and Morgan put away her nervousness and attacked the questions. The shallow pettiness between the cousins subsided and Charisma was poised, attentive, and could hold her own during the competition.
“What are the names of the few men who have appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine?” The game show host asked.
There was no surprise that Charisma hit the buzzer first. Charisma had read that magazine cover-to-cover every month when they were kids and kept a copy in her handbag at all times. She answered the question then took control of that topic and answered all the remaining questions correctly. Seeing Ariana seethe paled in comparison to the look of satisfaction she’d never seen on her cousin’s face before.
“Nice job.” Morgan gave her a thumbs up.
Charisma gave her a strange look. “Thanks.”
After eight rounds of questions, their team advanced to the final round for the chance to win the grand prize. Morgan was the team member selected to answer the final question about prominent military generals.
“Name three four-star generals of the twenty first century,” the game show host dramatically stated as the countdown timer began.
Finally all those biographies Seth had in their library would be useful. Morgan buzzed in and answered the final question correctly and the crowd applauded. Her team had just won two hundred fifty thousand dollars for charity. She exchanged congratulatory hugs with everyone, but when she got to Charisma she stopped. Should she hug her? The babies kicked until mom extended an olive branch.
“Great job.” Morgan held out her hand.
“Thank you.” Charisma unexpectedly embraced her.
“You’re welcome.”
They broke apart and looked at one another.
“You know this doesn’t change anything between us.” Charisma smoothed a lock of hair back in place.
Ah, the old Charisma was back.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Morgan nodded and walked toward Nina.
“Are you OK? I didn’t pack any holy water,” Nina quipped.
Morgan grimaced. “The babies kept kicking my kidneys. I took that as a sign for momma to play nice.”
* * *
Morgan was sure she’d be the talk of the building tomorrow, walking around in her winter coat over her pajamas. When the first labor pain hit, she knew Seth was on his way home from an away game. The last text message she received from him said there was traffic and they were running late. Michelle was upstairs with Jake, and the family was calling her every two minutes to check up on her.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come take you to the hospital?” Sydney said frantically. “Seth will meet us there.”
She smiled as Seth pulled up and got out of the SUV. “He’s here. I have to go. I love you Sydney.”
“I love you too, Morgan.”
Seth hurried over to her. “Baby, what are you doing in the lobby?”
She smiled at him.
“It’s show time.”
“What! Why didn’t you go to the hospital?” Seth grabbed her elbow and headed for the car.
“You said you’d go the hospital with me.” Morgan stopped him with a reassuring hand on his arm. “I called Dr. Fenwick, and she said she’d meet us there.”
“Still you should have gone—”
Morgan grabbed Seth’s hand as another contraction came. “You promised we’d go together.”
“Who’s watching Jake?”
“Michelle is upstairs.”
“Then let’s go.”
Dr. Fenwick was waiting for them when they reached the hospital and had Morgan ushered into a delivery room. Her contractions were getting closer together, but in the moments when the pain subsided, she asked Seth questions about the game. He silenced her with a kiss.
She refused to be distracted so easily. “How’s the knee?”
“I don’t want to talk about work.” He caressed her cheek.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“How beautiful you are.”
She rolled her eyes. “Save that sweet talk for my complaints about weight gain in a few weeks.”
Three hours later, when the nurse placed the babies in Morgan’s arms, she looked down at her sons in disbelief.
“They’re beautiful,” Morgan squeaked. “I know we’d narrowed it down to sixteen names on the list, but there two were I really liked. How about Connor Jacob and Colby Jacob?”
Seth smiled. “Connor and Colby? I like it. Strong football playing names.”
“Let’s think up some nicknames quick. I don’t want the family giving them crazy nicknames like Con Man or Cole Train—”
Seth leaned in and kissed her. “We’ll let them figure it out. They seem to have so much fun coming up with them.”
“You know our lives are going to be complete madness from now on.” Morgan motioned for Seth to take Connor while she held Colby.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Seth said as he looked at his twin boys with love in his eyes. “Connor and Colby, your momma and I have been waiting to meet you. So has your brother Jake, who is so excited to have little brothers. We are going to love you and spoil you until you’ll probably want to run out of the house your first week home. But I promise you we will do our best to make sure you have a great life.”
Love Notes and Football Page 6