The Blindsided Groom (Last Play Masquerade Romances Book 4)
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Just her luck to dance with the one man here who would be angry with her for trying to help his brother.
After she’d gone a safe distance from him, she slipped her mask back on. She was beginning to feel embarrassed at her loss of control. She never got angry and let someone have it like that. He’d deserved it, but she was a professional. Why had she let him get to her like that?
Stupid football player.
She made her way from the ballroom and found a bench by herself. Drawing in deep breaths, she tried to center herself. He’d really rattled her with his accusations, but she still had work to do here.
She drew in several more breaths and blew them out slowly. Her heart still raced.
She still needed to find the owner of the Denver Storm and talk to him so she could pass along her boss’s message, including the mission statement of Cerebration Works: We sync body and mind into a healthier whole. Once someone got the official diagnosis of ALS, they only had a few years to live. Physical therapy could add another several to that, but the work her company did could help at least delay ALS. Maybe even prevent it, though it was too early to tell, for sure.
It was an important message since so many men in football got concussions.
Her heart calmed and she was able to breathe more freely. Standing, she smoothed down her gown and adjusted her mask, glad for the anonymity.
Time to find Cameron Cruz.
Knox’s so-called buddies were still razzing him about the woman’s words.
Travis bumped his arm and said, “You gonna let a little thing like that tell you off?”
He shook his friend off. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Go find her and ask her out, my friend. You need a woman who can tell you off.” Travis snickered. “You big jerk.”
Rolling his eyes, Knox said, “I’m going to go find someone who didn’t just witness my humiliation at the hands of a woman who’s probably 120 pounds soaking wet.”
“Yeah. It was great, man.” Travis punched his arm and waved to someone.
“Wanna take it outside?” Knox glared at Travis.
“Nah, dude. Go find her. Seriously.” Travis took off, laughing.
Knox made his way to the refreshment table, wishing he could lose his mask. It was irritating his face and obstructing his vision.
He was also wishing he could forget that woman and her pretty face—and her blazing eyes. She was gorgeous and feisty and, even though she was telling him off, he’d still wanted to kiss her. Except he wasn’t about to kiss the person who was giving Daniel false hope. Wasn’t going to happen.
She might have claimed she could help Daniel, but Knox wasn’t so sure it was even possible. He had to stop Daniel from doing the treatment. But how? He wouldn’t even be around. He was catching a flight tomorrow to Italy and, by the time he returned, Daniel would have completed the treatment and possibly left his wife for the pretty therapist.
He had to do something. But what? He could ask Sam to step in, but Sam had apparently left their parents’ home to bunk with a teammate while Daniel was there. For some reason, Sam had too much guilt at taking Daniel’s quarterback position to spend time with him. A kind of survivor’s guilt, Knox thought. Plus he’d confided in Knox that he thought it hurt Daniel to see Sam taking his place. It was better to stay away.
Everyone else was too busy with their lives.
Determination welled within him. He loved Daniel, his oldest brother, the brother who’d protected him while they’d been growing up and played football with him. He wanted to repay his brother. He couldn’t hand that responsibility off to anyone else.
He needed to stay.
He needed to call off his trip to Italy. He could go next year during the off season. Maybe he’d see if any of his buddies would like the tickets, if he could even get them switched to their name at the last minute.
Instead of taking his overseas trip, he could fly home to Waco. His parents had been asking him to come visit, and Daniel was living with them right now.
Knox would prevent any therapy hanky-panky and he’d get his brother into marriage counseling.
That decided, he picked up a donut and stuffed it in his mouth—after shifting his mask to the side.
Yes. Knox would go to Waco and do everything he could to keep that woman from ruining Daniel’s marriage.
Because how could Daniel resist such a beautiful woman when he was so vulnerable? He’d be a sitting duck.
Chapter 2 ~ That’s a Lot of Money
“Took your time getting in today.” Paul Evans, owner of Cerebration Works, glanced over at Amy from his office as she entered the back rooms of the clinic. Shedding her coat, she hung it on a hook and waved a greeting to Mandy Jones, the clinic’s receptionist. Mandy sent a wave and a smile back her way.
“You’d better be teasing,” Amy told her boss as she walked into his office, sure from the glint in his eyes that he was. “Because I just flew nearly four hours to get from Denver to Waco and that doesn’t even count the checking-in-early and picking-up-baggage time. I’m only stopping in to report and then going home to relax. I had a late night last night at the masquerade ball.”
Paul Evans smiled at her, his eyes glittering with excitement. “I’m excited to know what contacts you made. Your text was encouraging, but vague. Close the door and tell all.”
She grinned at him. “Daniel Reid is coming in on Monday.”
“You said that.” He motioned to a chair.
She sat, sighing. “Daniel’s a really nice guy. I’m thrilled we can help him. He’s had bad problems for the two months since his last concussion and they’re getting worse. I know we can help him improve.”
He nodded. They were both confident and pleased with the results their cutting-edge therapy provided. “Two weeks with Daniel Reid. Cool!”
They’d had a college player come through their program, but no pro teams so far. “Once we help Daniel, pro teams will be knocking on our doors.”
“That’s the plan.” Paul shuffled some files on his desk, then looked up. “Who else did you talk with?”
“Cameron Cruz. He’s going to wait and see if Daniel improves before he acts.”
Paul pumped his arm in victory. “Yes!”
“Daniel’s brother is not nearly as nice as he is.”
“Which brother?” A furrow crossed Paul’s brow.
She hated to even talk about it, but she said, “Knox Reid.”
“You met Knox? That’s great.” Paul grinned. “If we can get him behind this program, Cameron Cruz will be more likely to support it.”
She sighed. “It’s unfortunate that Knox Reid thinks we’re a scam operation.”
His eyes widened. “You’re kidding. How did he get that idea?”
“Beats me. I talked with Daniel and he was totally on board. Then shortly after that, I danced with Knox and when he learned I did therapy work, he called me a scam artist.”
Paul frowned. “That’s not a good thing.”
“We’ll prove him wrong, won’t we?”
They grinned at each other and Paul nodded. “It will be a pleasure.”
“Okay, I really need to get home. I got like three hours of sleep last night.”
“Before you go, I have something important to tell you.”
“Shoot,” she said, settling back in to the chair.
“I spoke with the bank. I’m going to expand the business.”
“That’s great, Paul.” She was pleased for her friend and boss.
“I’m looking at several locations. Maybe around Penn State University so players from both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be close by. Or Minneapolis between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Once we get Daniel through therapy and improved, we can open in a lot of places.”
He looked over at her. “And I want you to run one of them for me.”
Shocked, she stared at him as her insides clenched. She didn’t want to move. Waco was her hometo
wn and her home was here. He knew that.
Paul paused and looked over at her expectantly.
“My home is here,” she finally said.
“Don’t you ever want to break free of the old homestead? You’re living in your childhood home. Don’t you want to experience other places?”
“No, I don’t. I’m happy here.”
“Well, think about it. It will be a few months before we start finalizing leases. Maybe you’ll get used to the idea by then.”
She doubted that.
She wanted to stay in her childhood home. Her parents had lived here in Waco and raised her here—and they’d died here. She’d gone to Waco’s Baylor University for her degree and lived with her parents while she did.
She had roots here. She couldn’t bear the loneliness of moving somewhere she didn’t know anyone.
“Don’t give me conflicted feelings,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, don’t make me hope Daniel doesn’t improve.”
His voice softened. “I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. Just think about it. Let the idea percolate for a while.”
She nodded. “Okay. Now I’ve really got to get some sleep.”
“Good work, Amy.”
“Thanks.”
“Surprise!” Knox said, holding out his arms.
The shock on his mother’s face said it all. “Knox! Why aren’t you on a plane to Italy?”
“Because one of my teammates wanted to go more than I did.” He swept her up into a bear hug. “Besides, I decided to take you up on your invitation to come visit. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
He set Rebecca Reid back down on her feet. She only came to his chest when he put her down. She reminded him of Jamie Lee Curtis, only with more hair, which she kept colored a rich mahogany and styled regularly. She kept herself trim by playing tennis with friends and running. And she had more energy than all of her sons put together.
She smiled up at him. “I’m always happy to have my babies come stay with me. But, and I repeat, why aren’t you on a plane to Italy?”
“I wanted to come show support for my brother in his new therapy program. Italy is always there. I dropped Daniel off to catch his flight, and then I got my own ticket home.”
“Oh, Knox, that’s so sweet!” She tugged on his arm and looked outside. “That a rental?”
“Yeah.”
“Figured you’d get a pickup truck.”
“I’ve always been partial to them.”
He came inside, closing the door on the 55-degree weather.
“Everyone’s in the den watching some silly sports show,” she said.
“Which room do you want me to stay in?”
“Your old room. I may have turned it into my sewing room now, but your double bed is still in there. You know that.”
His mother knew a twin bed wasn’t big enough for any of her hulking sons, so she’d opted for double beds, even when they were teenagers.
“You’re the best.”
He followed his petite little momma back to the den.
“Look who’s come to visit,” she said as she gave him a little shove into the room.
Knox’s father was over six feet tall and still muscular. He’d had a workout room in every house they owned so he could keep himself in good shape, though there was nothing he could do about the hair loss except decide to shave his head. Knox couldn’t see him ever fading away into oblivion. Since retiring from football, he’d used his business and financial degrees and begun a retirement investment company that had done surprisingly well. He supposed people wanted advice from the famous Ace Reid, Waco Wrangler Quarterback and Hall of Famer.
His father looked up from his recliner. “Why aren’t you in Italy?”
It seemed to be a recurring theme, and he was starting to wonder why, indeed, he wasn’t on his flight to Italy. But he knew the answer. He was here to help his brother, to save Daniel’s marriage.
Daniel looked up at him with a scowl. “Are you kidding me?”
Knox smiled brightly. “Hi, bro.”
“Following me?” He stopped and struggled. “Or that pretty little thing?”
“Shut up.” Knox lost the smile and dropped onto the other end of the couch from his stubborn brother. He may struggle to get his words out, but Daniel hadn’t lost his barbs.
“What pretty little thing?” their mother asked with interest.
“My therapist,” Daniel said. “I don’t need your help, punk.”
“Now, Daniel, Knox is just being nice.” Their mother sat on the couch between them.
Knox nodded, going for innocent. “Moral support, bro. That’s why I’m here.”
Daniel shrugged as though he didn’t care, but Knox had known him for twenty-six years. He knew his brother was angry.
Tough. Knox could do hard things, and he was here to support Daniel. To protect the quarterback, just like when they were on the field.
Whether Daniel wanted him to be here or not.
“For the last time,” Daniel told him two days later, “I don’t want you here. Go home. Go back to Denver. Go to Italy. Anywhere but here.”
Their mother said, “Please don’t fight, boys.”
“We’re not fighting, Mom,” Knox said as he climbed out of his truck. “Daniel is simply being his usual stubborn self and I’m being my usual helpful self.”
“You’re up to no good.” Daniel narrowed his eyes at Knox.
Knox narrowed his in return. “I have only your best interests in mind.”
He stared at the Cerebration Works building, wishing he knew some way to talk Daniel out of going inside.
“In your mind, I’m never getting back out of this wheelchair.” Daniel wheeled it in front of Knox. “I’d rather stay in someone else’s mind—someone who can actually visualize me improving. I don’t need your negativity.”
“What’s going on, boys?” a silky voice asked.
The three of them turned and Knox repressed a groan.
Sylvia Matthews. Knox’s former high school sweetheart.
Blonde hair that still curled to her waist, pulled back with a fancy clip. She’d been a cheerleader for their high school and then for Baylor University. They’d had a spectacular breakup that was still talked about in certain circles. And she now worked for the local news outlets, doing what she loved best—stirring up dirt and spreading gossip.
“Go inside,” Knox hissed to his family, and turned to his former girlfriend to offer himself up as a sacrificial lamb. “Sylvia, how good to see you,” he lied in a syrupy tone.
Sylvia tipped her head and pointed her finger at Daniel and Rebecca making their way inside. “Is it true Daniel is taking treatment here?”
“Yes,” Knox admitted. It wasn’t like she couldn’t get that information elsewhere and, heck, Daniel had just gone through the door. It wasn’t a secret.
Even if it had been, if Sylvia knew it, it would no longer be a secret.
“What do you think about their methods?” Sylvia held out her recorder for him to speak into like a microphone.
“They use cutting-edge technology,” he said, parroting what Daniel had told him at the masquerade ball, and hating every moment of having to defend this sham of a business. Perhaps he should just enlist Sylvia on his side now and tell her the truth. But something held him back.
She stepped closer and put a hand on his arm. “It must be really hard to have your brother struggling so.”
Her voice practically purred in the way he knew she thought made her irresistible to all men. He’d certainly fallen for it enough times himself. But he wasn’t a stupid teenager or college student any more. He was a grown man, and he wouldn’t fall for Sylvia Matthews again. He’d only needed to walk in on her making out with another football player once to get the true picture. She claimed he’d devastated her when he broke up with her, but how devastated could she have been, really, when she already had a new boyfriend?
He stepped toward the door.
“Are you staying in Waco, Knox?”
He didn’t answer, just waved as he walked through the double glass doors, then through another set of doors and into the lobby.
An attractive receptionist, maybe in her thirties, sat at a desk. Glancing up, she smiled. “Welcome to Cerebration Works. How may I help you?”
“I’m here with my brother, Daniel Reid.”
“Oh, yes.” She paused and then smiled. “Are you Knox Reid?”
He nodded.
“I saw you in the last game. You were great.”
“Thanks,” he said and gave her a subdued smile.
When he didn’t say anything else, she nodded and motioned to a hallway. “They’re in the third room on the left.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
“If you need anything else, just let me know.”
The door to the third room back on the left was ajar and he could see the therapist.
Amy Kingsley. The scam artist, in jeans and cowboy boots.
She rocked those jeans. If things had been different, she might have even rocked his world. Instead, he was going to rock hers—and not in a good way.
The door to the consultation room opened and Amy looked over.
Oh, great. The jerk was here with Daniel.
“Mr. Reid,” she said smoothly. “Did you want to get an up-close look at what you consider a scam operation?”
His mother’s eyes widened. “Did Knox say that to you?” She sounded scandalized.
“Oh, yes,” Amy said. “He was very open about his opinion as he stormed off the dance floor.”
“Knox!”
“Mother,” he said, lifting his hands. “I hadn’t researched the place then.”
“And you have now?” Amy asked, her tone more belligerent than professional.
Knox nodded. “I’ve read the claims.”
Amy narrowed her eyes at him. Without breaking eye contact, she said, “George, would you please take Mr. Reid to the MRI room and get him ready? I’ll be back in just a few minutes.”