“It’s the way he moves. It’s says he’s confident and has charisma.”
“I thought Charisma was our cousin?” Colby asked.
“Yes.” Morgan bit back a smile. “Charisma can also be the name of a person. Like some people use the word ‘Jake’ to mean something is satisfactory. But we all know my baby is more than satisfactory, he’s awesome.”
The boys all gave Seth a sideways glance like they were sizing him up.
“I don’t see it,” Jake replied.
“If your mama didn’t like my swagger, you wouldn’t be here right now. So, you’re welcome.” Seth poured cranberry juice into Morgan’s glass.
“Seth!” She swatted at his arm and turned back to the boys. “You are all handsome and unique in your own way, no matter who you resemble in the family. And Connor and Colby, you know how many people who would love to have an identical twin? Count your blessings.”
“Who does Mackenzie look like?” Jake asked.
“She has your mama’s adorable nose.” Seth tapped his daughter’s nose.
“And she has your dad’s eyes,” Morgan added. “And looks like she’s going to have red hair like Grandma Teri-Lyn and Uncle Channing. But like all of you, as she grows she’ll get her own unique look too.”
The chatter fired back up around the table, and a half hour later they were finished with breakfast. As the kids filed out of the room and headed upstairs to get ready for their outing, Morgan and Seth cleaned the kitchen.
“That went well.” Morgan went over to the door to make sure the kids were upstairs.
“I think so too.” He came over and gave her a hug. “Do you want to go to the craft store with us?”
She looked into his eyes and desperately wanted to say yes. It would have been so great to go out as a family after that touching discussion, but truth was she didn’t feel up to it. She wanted to write in the journal she’d gotten to keep track of her symptoms and then lie down.
“If it’s all right with you, I won’t push myself today. I’ll stay here and get some rest.”
“Can I get you anything while I’m out?”
“Can you bring home some chunky chocolate chip ice cream?”
“I can do that.” He kissed her.
“Great.”
It felt good to tell him the truth.
* * *
Seth, J.J., and Tate put their heads together and thought of the best way to teach an arrogant, wet-behind-the-ears quarterback a lesson was a day of real ranch work. So after playing phone tag for a week, Riley finally agreed to come back out to the ranch. He arrived at six in the morning dressed to kill only to be informed that he’d been put on the work roster. Seth turned him over to Bo Sr. and wished him luck. He went back to the house and helped Morgan get the kids ready for the day. It was their turn to babysit again. The family had redesigned the sleepover rotation, but Morgan wasn’t having that. She calmly stated at the family Sunday dinner that if they wanted her to get well then the best way would be to go back to normal. She was fighting for that normalcy, a little at a time. The kids came first, he knew that. But she’d put the bookstore project on hold, and that bothered him a little. He knew how much books meant to her.
But she looked good today, and her appetite had returned. She even shooed him out of the door so he could get on with his diabolical plan to work Riley to death. It wasn’t his intention to over-work the kid, but he did get a chuckle out of the text messages Bo had been sending him the last few hours. It was a sheer coincidence that one of the aqueducts for the horses on the east side of the ranch needed repairing. Riley was earning his keep today. J.J. was right, this ranch was a good place to learn discipline and respect.
Later on, Seth found it hard to keep himself composed as Riley approached, dripping wet with sweat. He almost felt sorry for the guy.
Seth tipped his hat at Bo when he walked by. “Nice day, isn’t it Bodine?”
“A mighty fine day.” Bo grinned and tipped his hat too.
Riley rolled his eyes. “He has to be the ranch hand from hell. I know it must be tough working for a bunch of rich people, but he doesn’t have to be so crabby.”
“Bo’s the ranch manager and he’s worth millions. If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch up with his net worth in a few years.”
“Why the hell does he work here?”
“Because he and my daddy have been best friends since the beginning of time and he’s good at his job. You don’t always have to broadcast that you have money.”
Riley took another look at Bo, who was now talking to Ed. Something had changed in the way he looked at Bo. “Still, I don’t see how working me like a dog has anything to do with parting with those mini jewels of wisdom you like to throw my way.”
“We’re not working you like a dog. Because if we were, you’d be sleeping in a cushy bed right now.” Seth pointed to Rowdy and Bingo who were taking a nap next to his office door.
“Do I get a nap now? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve cleaned out every stall in this stable and created a new water system for the horses.” Riley wiped sweat from his brow. “And your horse tried to bite me twice.”
“Hard to believe. She’s such a good-natured animal.” Seth touched the rim of his hat.
“Well, I think I’ll go home and get some shut-eye. I’m going to stink up the interior of my car.”
“OK, hotshot. There’s a shower in my office. You can clean yourself up in there. There are some extra clothes in the closet. I’m sure something in there will fit you. Meet me outside in twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes? That’s barely enough time to look presentable,” Riley balked.
“Lucky for you there’s no one on the ranch to impress.”
Riley smirked. “So your niece isn’t here today?”
Seth gave him a look he usually reserved for the boys when he meant business. Riley stomped into the office and shut the door. That look worked every time.
Bo turned the corner with a very satisfied expression on his face. “When are you going to put that boy out of his misery?”
“I honestly don’t know. This has been too much fun.”
“I say give him ranch work for a month. That will teach him to flirt with Avery. But it’s good to see you smiling again.” Bo gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Morgan looks like she’s in better spirits too. I saw her riding Reed’s Fire yesterday. I’ve told you a thousand times before, you picked a winner when you married her.”
Seth smiled. “I count my blessings every day.”
“Good. I’ve always found when you’re aware of what you have, you take care of it better.”
“Does that include Bonnie? You and Bonnie have been burning hot and heavy since she came back into your life.”
“Bonnie and I have a strange way of loving each other. She went and lived her life, and I lived mine. I think we were better off with the time apart.”
“And now you have two more sons.”
Bo had been trying really hard. The Jamison universe had exploded the last several months. For the longest time it had been him and Bo and the Blakes as their extended family. Now there was a hesitant Corbett and an enthusiastic Wyatt. Not to mention future daughter-in-law Summer and her sister Autumn coming into the fold. Surprisingly, Bo Sr. seemed to enjoy all the new people popping into his life. But having a relationship with Corbett and Wyatt also meant he had to interact with Bonnie’s ex-husband Buck.
“Yeah, my house has people coming and going all the time. I used to tease John Jacob about that. Now I see why he likes the hustle and bustle. You can see the future happening right before your eyes.”
“The future is upon us. Bo and Summer’s wedding is in a couple of months. Are you almost done with the tailoring on your suit for the wedding?”
“Almost. I’ve never worn anything that fancy in life.” He whistled. “Hell, I got married to Bonnie in a pair of jeans and my cleanest work shirt.”
“Fancy duds or not, we’re going to ha
ve a good time. I’ve never seen Bo so happy. Too bad Corbett and Courtney had to push back their wedding again.”
“Yeah. But I’m glad Bo and Summer didn’t change their plans again. Maybe it will be the wakeup call Corbett needs. Courtney is so fussy. She reminds me of—”
“Eden,” Seth said, finishing his sentence. There was rustling coming from his office. Riley must have finished changing.
“I’ve talked to him a few times, but I’m not his dad,” Bo said.
“You still give good advice. And I think he’s warming up to the new family dynamic.”
“I hope so.” Bo rubbed the back of his neck. “Good luck with phase two of your project. T.K. owes you big time. I’m thinking the best steak dinner in Texas.”
Bo nodded good-bye and started off in the direction of his office.
“Hey, Bo,” Seth called after him. “You ever think about getting married again?”
“I think about a lot of things, son.” He winked and kept going with an awake Rowdy and Bingo in tow.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Riley came out.
“You ready for a walk?” Seth asked.
“I don’t have to outrun a tractor in a field?”
“No, you get to cool down your muscles and listen to my mini jewels of wisdom.” Seth flashed a cheesy grin.
Seth and Riley walked around aimlessly for a while. He finally settled on the fence where the horses were grazing.
“How’s Morgan? Is she feeling any better?”
Seth gave him a strange look. “Why are you interested in my wife all of a sudden?”
“What? I heard Ross and T.K. talking about it. And I do care.”
“Why do you care?”
“When a woman who barely comes up to your shoulder tells you she’s going to kick your ass for making comments about her husband, it leaves an impression.” He laughed. “She’s feisty. I like that.”
“She’s better.”
“I’ve studied your career intensively, then I realized I made a mistake. It was the changes in your personal life that gave you the forward momentum after that second Super Bowl win. You fell in love.”
“That’s right. My priorities changed.”
“You could have come back home to the Tomcats, but you didn’t. I have the feeling it had something to do with her too.”
“It was the right thing to do. Morgan is a Philly girl. She had things to achieve of her own and needed time to get used to country life.”
“It takes a lot of balls to put someone else’s needs before yours. I don’t know many people who would make sacrifices like that in the name of love.”
“One day, you’ll meet the right woman that’s not my niece and you’ll get to experience it for yourself.”
“I like how you threw that tidbit about Avery in there. Any-who, now that your wife’s getting better, does that mean you’re finally going to get back to work?”
“No. I belong here looking after my family.”
“Even I have enough sense to know a woman like Morgan doesn’t like to be smothered, even if it is with good intentions. Finding a new interest will help keep your relationship healthy. And the way you like to dole out unwanted advice, I’m sure you’ll find something to do that will involve a whole lot of talking.”
Seth eyed him. Was the kid giving him advice? “What’s the use? You haven’t listened to a word I said since we started these talks.”
“Haven’t I? If I must toot my own horn, then I will. I’m getting better on the field. I’ve been listening to the coaches, and when we had a beer the other night Ross said I’m not quite the douche he first met when I joined the team.”
Seth scratched at his beard. Ross wasn’t one to throw around compliments.
“Exactly.” Riley put his hand on his shoulder. “I toned down some of the outrageous behavior and even treated the guys to dinner. You were right. I can’t become great all by myself, and it helps if the guys on your team have your back. I haven’t been tackled once in three weeks.”
“Glad you get the point.” Seth looked at him. “You know you don’t have to act that way. It doesn’t matter if the public adores you and tells you that you’re this big sex symbol. You should be happy with yourself.”
Riley looked out at the horses. “I was a quiet kid all my life. I was kind of nerdy. I liked to read and go to the planetarium. I wasn’t shy, but I kind of blended into the scenery. That all changed when one summer I grew six inches and did yard work to earn some extra cash. When I went back to school in the fall everyone was surprised by some big transformation, and the football coach literally took me out of English class to sign up for tryouts. I made the team, did well, and suddenly I was a super star. I could do no wrong. And I’ve been that Riley Sloane ever since.”
“I get it. There’s no rush like a crowd of people thinking you’re the greatest thing. I was John Blake’s little brother and I felt like I had something to prove. But that’s the time to buckle down and stay grounded. I had a few bumps, but luckily I had a family who didn’t let my head get too big. You’ll find your way.” Seth looked at him. “You want to stay for dinner?”
“I didn’t think I’d be invited again.”
“Avery’s in Philadelphia, kid.”
“I’ll accept anyway.” He grinned. “But I meant what I said. Maybe it’s time for you to get back to work. You still have a lot to give to the game.”
* * *
Morgan nibbled on toast as she cleaned the kitchen. She had an hour before she’d have to head out to the school to chaperone Connor and Colby’s field trip to the aquarium. But first she had to drop off Mackenzie’s bear to Teri-Lyn and John Jacob’s house. These days her little girl said “mommy” every five seconds, and she loved every minute of it. The rest of the kids were doing OK after their talk about her health, but Jake seemed a little shaken by it. She did her best to reassure him that she would be fine. She hoped he believed her.
The fatigue had subsided, and she rested when she needed without feeling guilty about being in bed so long. She’d even felt well enough to ride Reed’s Fire when Avery had paid her a surprise visit before she went to Philadelphia. They rode and talked about everything except Wyatt. Her niece wouldn’t open up about him these days. But it felt good to get back to life after she’d slipped into that depression. Now all she had to do was cattle prod Seth into finding a new career.
The phone rang. She looked at the display. It was Charisma.
“Hey, Morgan. Are you busy?”
“I have a field trip with the twins in an hour, but I have a few minutes. What’s up?”
“Hi, Morgan.” Derek said into the phone.
“Tell my favorite hockey player that I said hello.”
Charisma giggled. “We were just calling to see if the boys were enjoying their hockey lessons from Derek’s friend. Derek wants to make sure, and these are his words, ‘that slacker Micah isn’t ruining Connor’s good training.’”
“Tell Derek that I think his friend, who also plays professional hockey right here in the state of Texas, is doing a fine job showing the boys pointers.”
“He probably is, but I think Derek wants the credit if Connor becomes some big star.”
“Tell him no one can replace Uncle Derek. And if you two get married, that would make you Aunt Charisma.”
She laughed. She could tell Charisma had dropped the phone. She pressed her ear to the phone to get a better listen, Charisma had asked Derek to go get her something to drink.
“Listen,” Charisma said in a low tone. “We don’t talk about the three M’s.”
“Three M’s?”
“Yeah. Marriage. Money. And murder,” Charisma replied.
“You and Grandma need to curb those Lifetime movie marathons,” Morgan mused.
“Well, I can name ten scenarios to stay away from to keep me from getting killed. Thank you very much.” She laughed. “How are things?”
“Better than I’ve felt in weeks. Listen
ing to my doctor and trying my best to stop Seth from climbing the walls.”
“It’s so sweet how he worries about you.”
“I want to see how sweet you think it is when Derek wants to put his life on hold for you.” She sagged against the counter. Who fights a man for loving her so much? She did.
“I have to go. I have a meeting with Jared in an hour. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Thanks for checking up on me. I appreciate it.” Morgan thought about it for a moment. Charisma was on her list of people to call for some reason. Ah, now she remembered. “You and Derek are still coming down in a few weeks, right?”
“If you’re feeling good enough for company, we are. But if you’d rather we cancel…”
“Nope. It’s still on. Visiting Texas recharges Derek’s batteries. He has some sort of kindred soul thing going on with the state. Trust me, you’ll thank me when you’re back in Philly.” Morgan laughed.
“OK.” Charisma laughed too. “We’ll be there.”
After the phone conversation, Morgan hopped into her car and pulled out of the driveway. She had another call coming in on her cell. This time it was Nina. She hit the blue tooth button on the dash, and Nina launched into the conversation.
“I’m going to murder my entire family!” Nina yelled into the phone.
“Should I be concerned you’re the second person to mention murder in the past ten minutes? It’s a little unsettling.”
“You can be my character witness at my trial.”
“Uh oh. Cousin Rollo has a new invention?”
“No, but cousin Bertram asked for money to supposedly fix the roof on his house. He has this big gaping hole that’s been there for years. He calls it his summer skylight. Now all of a sudden, he and Yolanda and the kids are fighting off squirrels and need money for a new roof.”
Morgan laughed. “How are things with your sisters? Are you and Tonya still doing your weekly shopping trips?”
“They were great until recently. Whenever I get an outfit for Gabby, Tonya has to buy the same one for her daughter too.”
“Yikes.” Morgan waved at the guard as she exited the ranch. “I know you hate it when people copy you.”
Off Season (The Blake Boys Book 15) Page 14