Playing with Temptation

by Reese Ryan

  “No.” Kendra shook her head vehemently. “I’m fine.”

  “All right.” Nate settled back in his seat, his eyes glued to her, as if he expected her head to start spinning.

  “I appreciate you looking out for me, despite the fact that you’d rather I not be here.”

  He shrugged, looking out the window again as the plane taxied down the runway. “Maybe I just didn’t want you killing my vibe with your projectile vomiting.”

  Kendra couldn’t help laughing. She dissolved into a fit of giggles that escalated to a laugh so hard it made her belly ache.

  Nate laughed, too. He wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. “Better now?”

  She stopped laughing long enough to realize that the tense muscles in her back and neck had relaxed. They were airborne and the plane was leveling off. She nodded. “Much. Thank you.”

  He winked at her. “Good. Now, I assume that in addition to being assigned babysitting duty, you tagged along so we could go over a few things.”

  She nodded, pulling her portfolio from her bag. “How far outside the box are you willing to go?”

  Nate crooked a brow and shifted in his seat, folding his right ankle over his left knee. “What do you mean?”

  “A popular home improvement show is looking for a few celebs who want to surprise a family member with a kitchen redo. Marcus suggested they do your mom’s kitchen.”

  “That means my parents would have to be on the show.” He ran a hand over his head. “Don’t know if I like that. They don’t like being in the spotlight.”

  “Marcus said your mom loves these shows and she’s always wanted to be on one.” She tapped her pen on her pad. “This is a great opportunity for you to do something fabulous for her, Nate. Something you’ve always wanted to do. The bonus is it would be great for your image, too.”

  Nate groaned as he pressed his head against the headrest. “If Marcus thinks Mama will go for it, fine. I’ll do it. Anything else?”

  “By the end of the day, your brother should have more info on those guest spots to discuss the play-offs and a finalized list of media personalities that we’ll pitch additional guest spots to.”

  “Great. Make sure I get a copy of that list.”

  “Absolutely.” Kendra made another note, then put her pen and pad away. “Now, about these meetings with the team and your teammates.”

  “I don’t need you standing next to me like some ventriloquist.” Nate’s tone was tinged with annoyance. “I know what to say to these guys.”

  “Great. Then you won’t mind running it by me.” Kendra gave Nate a warm smile, but he wasn’t buying it. “I’m here to ensure you’re prepared for these meetings and that we stay on message, but I won’t be in any of them. These guys are like your family. It’ll only make things weirder if I’m there.”

  “Good.” He nodded, seemingly relieved.

  “Let’s just go over the basics of what you plan to say to Wade. I’ll check out a restaurant in town and get some work done while you meet with him.”

  “Not going to work.”

  “Why?”

  “There was a change of plans this morning. My meetings in Memphis were bumped back a couple of days, so Wade asked me to spend a couple of days with him and Greer. Thought you knew.”

  I’m going to kill Marcus if he has any more surprises up those expensive sleeves of his.

  Unperturbed, Nate composed a text message on his phone.

  Probably to the woman she’d encountered at his home the day before.

  “There must be a hotel or something where I can stay in town. Shouldn’t be terribly difficult to book a room at the last minute in Montana in the middle of winter.”

  He silently tapped away on his phone.

  Good to know you’re concerned. She smoothed her skirt and tried not to pout about her ex’s lack of interest in her dilemma.

  He’s your client, not your boyfriend. Get used to it.

  “All set.” Nate slipped the phone into his pocket.

  “You booked me a hotel room?”

  “Better. Wade and Greer want you to come to the ranch with me. He and I will chat as soon as we get there. Get all this nonsense out of the way. Then we’ll have dinner with them tonight. They also asked us to spend the day with them tomorrow while the older kids are at school.”

  “Are you sure they don’t mind taking on another person? I don’t mind staying at a hotel.”

  Nate gave her a small smile, but sadness lingered in his eyes. “Greer asks about you and Kai all the time. She’ll be thrilled to see you.”

  “It’ll be good to see her and Wade again, too. I’ve always liked them.”

  He settled back in his chair, his legs crossed again. “Then it’s settled.”

  “Won’t your friend Layne be upset about this?”

  “Why?” His expression was stoic. She couldn’t read him at all.

  “So you’re saying you two aren’t together? Or is your relationship casual and open?” Kendra couldn’t help herself. “I’m asking as your media consultant slash publicist, of course.”

  He chuckled. “Okay, media consultant slash publicist, my relationship with Layne is casual, open and very professional.”

  Kendra’s eyes widened. “You mean she’s a—”

  “What? Of course not.” He laughed. “She’s my hot yoga instructor. Sydney recommended her. Layne dated Nick for a while.”

  “Oh.” Kendra pushed a curl back from her forehead. His sister Sydney and her best friend Nick had been roommates for the past few years. “Those two still pretending they’re not in love?”

  Nate frowned. “They’re just friends and roommates. At least, they better be,” he added, mumbling under his breath.

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” She couldn’t help teasing him. “After all, we started out as best friends, too.”

  Nate unbuckled his seat belt and sprawled out on the couch. “Yeah, and just look how that turned out.” He sighed and dragged a hand down his face. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

  Kendra waved a hand and shook her head. “I get it. You’ve always been protective of your baby sister. Just like your twin sister has always been protective of you.”

  A half grin lit Nate’s eyes as he chuckled. “Protective? She acts like she’s my mama.”

  Kendra acknowledged his statement with a small nod. Navia had been furious with her when she broke up with Nate. The rest of the Johnston clan eventually made peace with the situation, but not Navia. She’d probably never forgive her for hurting her twin brother.

  “How is Vi doing, anyway? Still calling for my head on a stake?”

  Nate grinned. “Nah. She’s softened up a little. Now she just wants to see you in stocks for a week or two.”

  Kendra laughed. “She’s warming up to me again. Good to know. And what does she think about this little arrangement?”

  He slipped off his expensive leather shoes and shrugged his broad shoulders. “Haven’t talked to her about it yet. You know how worked up Vi gets about everything. Marcus and I thought it was best if we waited until we had some viable results to show her.”

  “Guess I’m not the only one who’s afraid of your sister.”

  “I spent nine months sharing a very small space with Vi.” He grinned as he spread a cream-colored cashmere throw over himself. “No one knows better what she’s capable of. If I were you, I’d try to wow her.”

  Kendra pursed her lips. Nate was teasing her. Didn’t mean she wouldn’t check underneath her car seat for ticking devices—just in case.

  Chapter 7

  “Hello, Nate.” Greer Willis gave him an awkward hug—unlike the dozens she’d given him before. “Wade’ll be here shortly. He picked Jake and Mariah up from school.”


  Greer’s demeanor was pleasant, but the narrowing of her blue eyes and the sharp pronunciation of his name—without any of the soft edges of her deep Southern accent—sufficiently conveyed her indignation.

  She was sweet and cordial, but also fiercely protective of her family. An endearing quality when he wasn’t on the wrong side of it.

  Today, he clearly was.

  “Kendra!” An authentic smile lit Greer’s face, highlighting her natural beauty. She wrapped Kendra in a tight embrace. “Honey, it’s so good to see you. Hasn’t been the same without you.”

  “Good to see you, too, Greer. I can’t wait to see the kids. How old are they?”

  Greer threaded her arm through Kendra’s, leading her to the living room. “Jake is ten and Mariah is eight. They’ve grown like weeds since you saw them last. Noah is three and baby Allie is thirteen months. The little ones are down for a nap. You’ll see them soon enough. Can I get y’all something?”

  “No, thank you. We’re good.” Kendra surveyed the impressive house. The architectural gem was made up mostly of local fieldstone, walls of glass and a symphony of light-colored woods. “My God, Greer, this place is gorgeous. The architecture...and those views. It’s stunning.”

  Greer’s grin widened and her cheeks colored. She was still a small-town Alabama girl who grew up on a working farm, never imagining a charmed life. It was one of the reasons Nate had always genuinely liked and respected her. Greer and Wade were good, down-to-earth folks. His friends.

  He’d hurt them both.

  “Still can’t believe we get to wake up here every day.” A strand of Greer’s wavy honey-blond hair escaped her low ponytail. She tucked it behind her ear. “I’ll show you around when the little ones wake. Meantime, have a seat. I’ll ask Edison to fetch y’all’s bags and take ’em to the guesthouse.”

  “There’s a guesthouse?” Kendra eased onto the large gray sectional. It blended nicely with maple flooring stained the same shade of gray as the driftwood that washed ashore on the beach back home. Kendra laughed. “What am I thinking? Of course there’s a guesthouse. How much land do you have here?”

  “’Bout a hundred acres. We’ll take you for a tour tomorrow, when there’s plenty of daylight.”

  Chest burning and his mouth dry, Nate paced behind the sofa rather than taking a seat.

  Until he saw the anguish that dulled Greer’s blue eyes, he hadn’t considered the collateral damage he’d caused.

  “Greer, I’m sorry I got you caught up in this.” The words blurted from his mouth.

  “I know you are, Nate. But it’s a bell you can’t un-ring.” She shrugged. “Who knows, maybe somethin’ good’ll come out of all of this after all. Now, have a seat, please. You’re making me nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, pacing like that.”

  Nate took a seat on the other side of Kendra and massaged the tension in his neck. He stayed quiet, responding only to direct questions from Greer and Kendra as they caught up.

  The baby monitor alerted Greer that Noah and Allie were up from their naps. She excused herself and stepped away.

  Nate released a long breath when Greer left the room.

  “Harder facing them than you expected?” Kendra leaned closer, her tone compassionate and her expression thoughtful.

  “I was so focused on how this whole thing impacted my life, my career...” Nate raked his fingers through his hair, trying to quell the guilt gnawing at his gut as he imagined how disappointed Jake and Mariah must have been at his remarks about their father. Wade was their hero. “I didn’t think about how my words must have hurt Greer and the kids or Tyree’s mom—Ms. Eleanor. People I know and respect.”

  “That’s why you’re here, to smooth things out.” Kendra’s voice was reassuring as she placed a hand on his knee to still it. “If they weren’t interested in repairing the relationship, they wouldn’t have invited you to stay overnight.”

  Nate found comfort in the warmth from Kendra’s hand seeping into his skin through the layer of fabric between them. She’d always had a calming effect on him; the perfect balance to his fiery personality.

  “Take a deep breath and relax. Be honest with Wade about why you said what you did, and about how you feel, knowing you’ve hurt him.”

  Nate heaved a sigh. He didn’t come here to grovel. He hadn’t asked for this situation, and nothing he said that night was news to anyone inside the Marauders organization.

  He boarded that plane expecting it would all be so simple. He’d lay out the facts and apologize for talking publicly about team business—even if he hadn’t intended to.

  Experiencing Greer’s anguish firsthand...suddenly it didn’t feel so simple.

  “Nate, good of you to come all this way.”

  Nate and Kendra turned toward Wade. He stood in the doorway, each arm draped around a child. His thin smile hovered at the surface, not reaching his wary brown eyes.

  “Thanks for seeing me, Wade, and for inviting us to stay.” Nate stood, his gut churning as he crossed the room to shake his quarterback’s hand. He stooped so his towering frame was closer to the children’s height. “Jake, Mariah, you’ve both gotten so big.”

  Neither child responded. They stared at him blankly. Mariah drew closer to her father like Nate was the Big Bad Wolf, rather than her beloved “Uncle Nate.” Her reaction hit him like a body slam on Astroturf.

  “Say hello to Uncle Nate and Ms. Kendra.” Wade squeezed their shoulders.

  They mumbled their hellos. Mariah’s eyes brimmed with heartache; Jake’s glowed with animus.

  Wade dispatched the kids to wash their hands and faces before their after-school snack. Then he crossed the room and pulled Kendra into a bear hug, inducing a fleeting moment of envy that heated Nate’s face. Wade’s Texas accent deepened. “Lemme borrow Nate for a bit.”

  “Of course.” Kendra waved a hand.

  Wade flashed his trademark smile. The one plastered on no less than half a dozen glossy magazines each year. “Greer will be down with the kids in a sec. And don’t worry, I promise to bring ’im back in one piece.”

  * * *

  “Have a seat.” Wade closed the doors to his office. The walls were covered with well-worn shiplap. Mounted antlers hung over the roaring fireplace and rainbow trout replicas flanked either side. Faux animal rugs accented the space.

  “Beer?” Wade opened a large wooden console that concealed a drink cooler.

  “Thanks.” Nate sank into the metal-studded brown leather couch broken in over the years.

  Wade pulled out two domestic beers, popped the tops and handed him one. He sank onto a large cushioned chair. “All right, Nate. You traveled twenty-four hundred miles so we could talk man-to-man. You got my undivided attention.”

  Nate took a long drag of his beer, then set the bottle on a coaster hewn from tree bark.

  “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this. Not just to you, but to Greer and the kids. Didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It’s not my style. You know that.”

  Wade nodded thoughtfully. “’Preciate that, Nate, but the story’s out there now. Nothing either of us can do about it.”

  “Believe me, I’d do anything to take that entire night back.”

  “Bet you would. Them pretty little things caused you a lot of trouble. Hope you got a helluva night out of it.” Wade chuckled bitterly, referring to the two young women who’d cornered Nate in the VIP section, gotten him riled up again about the loss and recorded his rant.

  “Didn’t sleep with either of them. I was so amped and more than a little drunk.” Nate’s face grew hot, thinking of how the blonde and her friend manipulated him. How he stupidly played right into their hands. “About what I said—”

  “You meant every word. Just didn’t mean for it to go public.” Wade took a healthy sw
ig of his light beer and set the bottle down. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I know. You been telling me as much for a while now. If I’d listened earlier, maybe we’d still be in this thing with a shot at winning it all.”

  Nate stood, pacing in front of the fireplace. “We all had a hand in it.” He jerked a thumb toward himself. “My screwups cost us big.”

  “Kind of you to own up to your part, Nate, but the truth is, those throws weren’t crisp and my timing was off. You wouldn’t have dropped them if I’d done my job right. I was scrambling, anticipating another hit.”

  So that was it. Wade’s heart hadn’t been in the game for the entire season. Nate thought Wade had resigned himself to never winning the big one. That he was just riding out the remainder of his contract. Instead, he was afraid of taking another hit like the one that leveled him near the end of the previous season. He’d suffered a concussion and two broken ribs.

  Wade’s performance dropped off considerably when he returned. Two years ago, he was one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He could be again.

  “All those times I rode you for not being focused...why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

  “Who’s gonna trust a QB who admits he’s scared to take another hard hit? Besides, saying it out loud meant admitting it to myself. For me, that was worse than everyone else knowing.”

  Nate sank onto the sofa. What could he say?

  He’d taken bad hits in his career. Suffered injuries that still nagged him, reminding him the sand was running out in the hourglass of his pro football career. The first few games back were always hard. He was unsure of the injured body part—an ankle and later a knee. Then there was the fear of getting reinjured. For him, it was mind over matter. He focused on his goal: winning a championship. He could spend his retirement resting and nursing his aching joints.

  “Look, I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but the Marauders work with a sports psychologist. Maybe—”

  “Already tried that.” Wade stood suddenly, agitated. He got two more beers from the fridge, opened them and placed one in front of Nate.