Off Season (The Blake Boys Book 15)

by Rhonda Laurel

  “Sydney.” Seth gave her a hug and a kiss. “You didn’t have to do all of this by yourself.”

  “I wanted everything to be just right. You know if one thing’s out of place, Colby won’t sleep well for two days.” Sydney pulled Mackenzie into her arms. “Hey, cutie pie. Grandma missed you something terrible.”

  “Grandma!” Mackenzie clapped.

  Morgan smiled. Sydney knew her grandkids well. Morgan focused on her father; there was something different about him. He looked refreshed and leaner. “Dad, have you lost a few pounds?”

  “Twenty-five,” he replied. “Sydney and I are trying a new diet and we’ve taken up a few new activities to keep us out of the house.”

  “That’s great.” She gave him a big squeeze.

  “Tell the truth, Curtis.” Sydney swatted at her husband’s arm. “Our trip is coming up, and he wants to look trim like the other men. I told him John Jacob and Bo Sr. do ranch work and Lucas is a career military man. They look that way for a reason.”

  “I used to be a fire fighter. I have to keep myself fit to represent my fire fighter brothers. I bet Seth hasn’t gained an ounce since he retired.” Curtis took Mackenzie out of Sydney’s arms and kissed her cheek. “Mackenzie, Grandpa has a present for you back at our house.”

  “I have to keep myself in shape or your daughter will divorce me.” Seth patted his six-pack.

  Morgan nudged him in the ribs. “I said if you got a beer gut I’d divorce you.”

  Sydney laughed. “I know you just got here, but Curtis and I were hoping to take the kids today. We were going to—”

  “Not a problem,” they said in unison.

  Curtis laughed. “I remember the days when you wouldn’t let them out of your sight and tracked them for migration purposes.”

  “Hey, if you can’t trust your own parents with your kids, who can you trust?” Morgan shrugged.

  “I’ll go get the boys.” Seth headed down the hall.

  “Is there anything else I can do to help with the party?” Morgan asked as she sifted through Mackenzie’s bag to make sure it was fully stocked.

  “I don’t think so. Grace is going to be thrilled, then pissed that everyone made such a fuss.”

  “Sounds like Grandma. Is Mr. Greene coming?”

  “No,” Curtis said before Sydney could answer. “He had to get a hip replaced or something.”

  “Actually he had to get a mole removed and if he’s feeling up to it he’ll attend.”

  “Dad. I was shocked to learn you’re bullying senior citizens. I’ve heard he’s a nice man who thinks highly of your mother.”

  “I don’t like his face and I don’t want another daddy,” he huffed.

  Morgan and Sydney both folded their arms across their chests and gave him a stern look. Curtis, realizing he’d put his foot in his mouth began to backtrack.

  “It’s different.” He shook his head. “It’s not the same situation.”

  “I’m not saying Grandma will keep this guy around, but do you want her to spend years trying to keep the peace between you and anyone she likes?” Morgan put her arm around Sydney. “I think we all learned a valuable lesson the last time around.”

  “Anyway.” Sydney squinted at Curtis and continued. “Charisma’s worked so hard on this party. Everyone is going to have a wonderful time. She said the two of you talk a lot more now.”

  “Yeah. At first it was updates about the party, but now we just chat whenever we get the notion. She and Derek are going to come to Texas for a visit in a couple of months,” Morgan replied.

  “Good. It’s good to see this family together. Now if we can only get Debra on the bandwagon.”

  Seth returned with the boys and they waved good-bye as they filed onto the elevator. Once the doors closed, Seth pulled Morgan into his arms.

  “You want check out the bed to see if that spring is still there?” Seth’s eyes gleamed as he took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom.

  “Last time I checked for the imaginary spring with you, nine months later we got what the boys affectionately call Mac and Cheese.” Morgan said. The boys mercilessly butchered their sister’s name whenever they tried to write it out. What began as Mackenzie always turned into mac and cheese in the end.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Never too tired to make love to you.”

  Seth would have gladly spent the remainder of the afternoon in bed with Morgan. They seldom got time alone and being in the place where their love began had an especial appeal. But he could tell his wife was tired from the travel and wrangling the kids all morning long. And whether she liked it or not, until she went to the doctor, he was going to make sure she got the rest she needed.

  He stared into those beautiful eyes he loved so much while he unbuttoned her blouse and slid it gently down her shoulders. He unsnapped the front clasp of her satin bra with two fingers and cupped her breasts in his hands. He’d made love to her a hundred times before, but each time he touched her skin it felt like the first time he’d touched a woman. Because before her, he knew he’d just been going through the motions of dating until she’d come into his life and changed him forever.

  Seth moved his hands down her stomach and continued his sensual caress until he reached her hips and tugged on her panties, sliding them down until they hit the floor. He pulled back the covers on the bed, picked her up, and placed her gently so her head was comfortably propped up on the pillows. She reached for his shirt buttons, but he stopped her.

  “Aren’t you getting naked?”

  “In due time.” He went over to the bedroom door and locked it.

  Morgan giggled. “I’m pretty sure we’re all alone.”

  “Fool me twice.” He laughed and knelt on the foot of the bed. “Have I told how much I love you today?”

  “Um.” Her eyes went upward as if she were thinking about it. “I don’t think so.”

  “Well, I do.” He kissed the sole of her foot.

  Seth kissed down her leg until he reached her center. Morgan groaned as he parted her legs and inserted two fingers into her and massaged her clit with his thumb. Morgan grabbed his hair and writhed as he began a quick, fluttered motion with his tongue over her clit. She tugged for him to go faster, but he took his time. They’d had so few moments when they didn’t have to worry about interruptions, and he wanted her to have some unadulterated fun for one afternoon.

  “Seth,” Morgan groaned.

  “Yes?” he said without breaking his rhythm.

  “Don’t stop.”

  When her legs started to buckle, he gripped her waist and quickened the pace. Morgan still had a death grip on his hair, but he didn’t care. She screamed when she climaxed, and her body went limp. Her eyelids were half closed, and her body glistened. He crawled up beside her and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled against him when his hand settled on her ass. The steady breathing came minutes later, and he knew a few more caresses and she’d be sound asleep.

  It wasn’t some mystery illness that scared him. It was the thought of living a day without her that shook him to his core.

  * * *

  Morgan woke a few hours later feeling like a million bucks. After she and Seth showered and changed clothes, it was time to mingle. Seth dropped her off at the bookstore, but she told him not to bother picking her up. She’d get a ride home with Michelle. She crept into the backroom hoping to surprise her best friend. When she opened the door, she saw Michelle sitting at her desk talking intently on the phone.

  “OK. Thanks for everything, Sam. I knew you’d get to the bottom of things. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.” Michelle hung up the phone and stabbed at the crab salad on her desk with a fork.

  “If that salad’s from Pietro’s down the street, I want some.” She opened the door.

  “Morgan!” Michelle scurried around the desk and squeezed her.

  “Now that’s what I call a hug.” She laughed. “Why so glum?”

  “Sam just gave me the
rundown on the woman claiming to be a relative.”

  A woman claiming to be an aunt of Michelle’s had contacted her through her cooking show months ago. Sam had Regency launch a full-scale investigation on the woman and everyone in connection with her.

  “What did Sam find out?”

  “Nothing bad.”

  “That’s good news. Right?”

  “I suppose.” Michelle held up her hand. “Forget about estranged relatives popping up now that I’ve achieved a minuscule amount of fame. How are you? How did the tests go?”

  She’d called Michelle after she’d talked to Dr. Fulton that day. Her best friend let her bawl her eyes out as she retold the details about her weeks of symptoms and almost dropping Mackenzie that morning. Leave it to Michelle to cheer her up and make her feel optimistic about the future.

  “I peed into a cup. They stole gallons of blood from me, and I was X-rayed so much I may actually glow in the dark.”

  Michelle giggled. “Sounds like a typical weekend at my old sorority house.”

  “Thank you for talking me down the other day.” Morgan teared up.

  Michelle hugged her again. “That’s my job.”

  “I have great photos of Jake’s play.”

  “You know I’m totally pissed about missing that?”

  “Well, who knew a pipe would burst in the bathroom?”

  “Luckily, my hunky husband knows his way around a pipe.” Michelle waggled her eyebrows.

  Morgan cradled Michelle’s face with her hands. “I miss seeing your face every day.”

  “I know. But we get to put together a new store. I am so stoked.” She held up the floor plans Jared had given her. “Our new bookstore is going to be awesome. Did our new landlord say ‘mommy’ yet?”

  “No, I’m still ‘Morgy.’” Morgan rolled her eyes.

  “Come on, Morgy.” Michelle put her arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go back to Pietro’s and get you a crab salad. If you eat it quickly, you’ll still want dinner tonight when we all dine together.”

  “I’d love that.”

  Michelle stopped. “How are you really doing?”

  “Terrified. I’m so worried I’m barely eating, but I eat anyway so Seth doesn’t worry.”

  “You’re going to be fine.”

  “I love this blind optimism you and Seth share. It’s almost as sweet as the kids still believing in Santa.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but the kids think Santa’s a reformed cat burglar doing community service on Christmas for the past crimes he’s committed.”

  Morgan raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like the inner workings of your husband’s mind.”

  “Tyler does have a unique perspective on the world. But seriously.” Michelle hugged her tighter. “I know that it’s going to be all right. But I do feel like an ass pressuring you about expansion when you were going through all of this. It’s times like these when you have to say, ‘Michelle take a powder. I have important stuff going on.’”

  “I always have time for you.” She sighed.

  “And no worries about Mackenzie. She will belt out ‘mommy’ when you least expect it and it’s going to sound like music to your ears. I hear stubbornness runs in the family.”

  “Yeah. Isn’t Seth the worst with that?”

  They laughed.

  “You’re going to be fine.” Michelle shifted into high gear with all the gossip she’d wanted to tell her. To the average person it would have been difficult to understand. Luckily, she spoke fluent Michelle.

  * * *

  Seth was finally able to get T.K. on the phone and give him a recap of the day he’d spent with Riley. T.K. was very happy to hear it went well and mentioned he’d talked to Riley too and that he’d noticed a slight change in him after their conversation. He was more focused at practice and had asked T.K. if they could meet so they could have a talk about expectations and the future of the franchise. Riley had never expressed interest in it before, and T.K. was certain his time at the ranch had something to do with it.

  It made Seth feel good to know he’d stirred something in Riley, helping him to think beyond his own self-centered world, but the feeling only lasted a moment until T.K. asked if he’d talk to him again. The kid was off to a good start, but Seth was still on the fence about getting heavily involved. It would mean spending more time with the quarterback. But if he’d made just a little bit of progress, that was something. Maybe another chat would do the trick and get T.K. the result he wanted. Then he would have helped a family friend, like he’d promised. He told T.K. he would get in touch with Riley and have another talk with him when he got back to Texas.

  Seth called Tyler only to find out he’d taken a road trip with Jared to get Grandma Reed’s gift. He promised he’d be back to have dinner with everyone tonight. Seth asked if Jared were coming to dinner. Tyler said Jared would be able to stop by, but Autumn had a late flight at the private airport and he’d be picking her up. Patton, Nina, and the kids wouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow. Tate sent a text that he’d rallied up the remaining family members that were attending and were headed to the airport. They would join them by early evening. It was still early, so Seth decided to drop by the Slap Shot to see Derek.

  After wandering through the Slap Shot and not seeing Derek, he headed into the back area. Seth tapped lightly on the office door. When he didn’t get a response, he opened the door to find Derek and Charisma kissing.

  “I like what you’ve done with the place,” Seth said.

  “Hey!” Derek came over and gave him a hug. “You’re in town early.”

  “Morgan and I wanted to give the kids some extra time with Curtis and Sydney.”

  “Seth, so good to see you,” Charisma hugged him too.

  “Same here. You did an awesome job with the bar makeover. I heard you’re teaming up with Jared to do the interiors of one of the latest Blake office buildings?”

  “Yes. I am so nervous.” She bit her lip.

  He grinned. “Don’t be. You have a magic touch. You’re turned Derek into a more loveable, respectable human being. And that’s not an easy task.”

  “It was a joint effort.” Charisma kissed Derek and glanced at her watch. “I have to get back to work.”

  “I hope you and Derek can come to penthouse tonight for dinner. Maybe iron out any last minute party details?”

  “We’d love to.” Charisma put her arm around Derek’s waist. “You don’t have any plans?”

  “Just to be with you.”

  Seth smiled. “Sounds like a plan. Is seven o’clock OK?”

  “Great,” Derek replied and kissed Charisma again before she left the office.

  Once the door was closed, Seth started in on him. “I would ask how things are going, but I think I know. I’ve never seen you this happy.”

  Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Happy and terrified. I don’t want to mess this up.”

  “You won’t.” Seth patted him on the shoulder. “Just remember the advice I gave you about being with a Reed woman.”

  “She leads. I follow.” He grinned.

  Seth nodded. “So…are you gonna feed me or what?”

  Derek made Seth a succulent steak for lunch while rattling on about his relationship with Charisma. Derek never struck him as the sentimental type, but it was nice hearing his friend talking about spending the weekend cuddled on his couch or going for a hot air balloon ride with his girl. The chronic nightlife was no longer appealing to him, but he and Charisma did occasionally step out to dance. Dancing and ice skating were two things they had in common, and they loved to one-up each other with fancy moves. It was a new experience for his friend to be a in a loving, committed relationship, and Seth loved seeing him finally happy.

  “Luke is coming by in a half hour.”

  “Good.” Seth dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “He’s on my list of people to see.”

  “You still on your extended sabbatical? You are a great strategist. Jimmy or T.K. would love
to have you join their organizations.”

  “I’m not ready to commit anything,” Seth said.

  “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” Derek laughed.

  “That’s not likely. I need every brain cell I have to keep up with my kids.”

  “Tell me about it. I feel like I have to stay sharp and alert at all times around those boys. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up with Mackenzie.” Derek shook his head. “Does Luke have any new offers that interest you?”

  “Same old stuff. Announcement and coaching jobs. Public speaking engagements and my favorite, another book deal.”

  “Love of the Game did well. It even made it to the bestseller list for a couple of months. What’s the problem?”

  “There’s nothing more to say, and frankly I don’t think anyone would want to buy it.” Seth sipped his drink.

  “That’s bullshit. You can live off your name alone for years. People would buy anything you’re selling.”

  “Maybe. But I don’t want to feel like I’m being a fraud. Yes, there’s my name but I want to peddle something of substance.”

  Derek nodded. “Why not write a post football career book featuring you, Morgan, and the kids?”

  “We agreed a long time ago to keep our lives private. There are only a few photos of the kids circulating the Internet, and that’s the way I’d like to keep it.”

  “You could make a mint writing about the adventures of Jake and the boys. Mackenzie would be the adorable icing on the cake.”

  “I don’t believe people would believe half the things they do are true.” Seth laughed.

  “I know you. There’s only a matter of time before you’ll feel the itch to go out and conquer the world again. Get your feet wet a little. Try out a few things. You could find something just as fulfilling as football.”

  “Says the career hockey player. I have been kind of mentoring the Tomcats’ new quarterback, Riley Sloane.”