The Blindsided Groom (Last Play Masquerade Romances Book 4)

by Heather Horrocks

  Knox shook his head.

  “Check your phone.” Sam grabbed a sturdy paper plate and began to pile food on it.

  Next to him, Knox pulled out his phone. He’d missed a couple of texts. One of them was from Daniel. “He wants me to call him.”

  Knox also picked up a paper plate and began stacking a bun high with BBQ meat and surrounding it with different types of salads.

  “Do it,” Sam said, as they walked to the dining room table. Other men sat in random spots—in the game room, the family room, and two at the table with them.

  “Is it an emergency?”

  “No.”

  “After I eat then,” Knox said.

  Zeke and Charlie sat at the table with them, in a lively debate about who would be part of the upcoming draft.

  “Bobby’s hoping to be drafted to the Wranglers,” Sam said.

  “I hope he gets on, man,” Zeke said. “He’s got golden hands. I’d love to be passing to him.”

  “Sam won’t want to hear you say that,” Knox said with a laugh.

  “I get to play QB sometimes,” Zeke said, “though I’m looking forward to taking the first-string spot for QB.”

  Zeke and Sam were good friends and also competitors, both vying for that top quarterback spot. Zeke was usually pretty chill about being in second place, but he didn’t let anyone forget what spot he wanted. And if he got it, he and Sam would still be good friends. Sam would just work that much harder to get it back.

  “What happened to that pretty girl you were with the other day, Knox?” Charlie asked, wiping BBQ sauce off his chin with his napkin.

  “Amy?”

  “I guess.”

  “She was Daniel’s therapist.” That was all he was willing to say at the moment, at least to these guys.

  “Maybe I’ll ask her out,” Charlie said, with a grin.

  Knox scowled at him.

  Charlie held up his hands. “Whatever, dude. I won’t call her when you’re obviously interested in her.”

  Knox set down his fork. “Wise man.”

  “Wise guy,” Sam said with a laugh.

  “I’ll be back. I need to go call Daniel.” He stood and walked out of the dining room and around until he found an empty room—the living room by the front door.

  “Hi, Knox,” Daniel said when he answered. “Good of you to finally call me back.” His tone was teasing, which was a good sign.

  “Hi, Daniel. What’s up?”

  “Jessie and I want to have a renewal of vows next Saturday. Mom and Dad said we could have the party at the cabin, overlooking the lake. Three o’clock and don’t be late. Wear casual dressy.”

  “Do I need to bring a gift, too?” Knox teased back, but relief flooded him. Daniel and Jessie were going to be okay.

  “No gifts. But we want all our family to be there, hers and ours, both.” Daniel paused. “I’d like you to stand next to me, kind of like a best man.”

  “I’d be glad to.” Knox choked up a bit, and he cleared his throat.

  “And be sure to bring Amy with you. We want her there with us, since it’s largely due to her that Jessie and I got back together.”

  “Okay,” he agreed, glad for the excuse it gave him to call her. “See you then.”

  Knox listened to the sound of big rough-and-tumble men laughing and talking in the rest of the large house. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the phone.

  He pushed her number and lifted it to his ear.

  “Hello,” she said, and the sound of her lilting voice made him smile.

  “Hi, Amy. This is Knox.”

  She paused, and he wondered what she was thinking, if she would refuse his invitation. “Daniel and his wife are renewing their vows next Saturday, and they’d like us both to be there. He specifically wanted you there because he said you’re a big part of why they got back together.”

  “That was sweet of him to say.”

  “May I pick you up? About two to give us plenty of time to get there before it starts at three. It’s at the cabin.”

  Another long pause, then, “Yes. How dressy should we be?”

  “Daniel said casual dressy.”

  “So black jeans instead of blue?”

  He chuckled. “Maybe a little dressier.”

  She laughed softly. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Great.” He realized he was grinning crazily.

  “I’ll see you then. Bye, Knox.”

  “Bye.”

  He hung up and looked up to see Sam studying him. “You’ve got it bad, bro.”

  “No, I’ve got it good.”

  Sam shrugged. “Zeke said to come on back. He’s got some new games for us to try.”

  Knox stood. “Have you changed your mind about not moving back in with Mom and Dad? Because the timing would be right.”

  “No. I’m still staying with Zeke for a few months before I start looking for a place to rent.” Sam made an impatient motion. “Come on.”

  “I’ll grab my plate and finish eating.”

  “Whatever, but hurry.”

  Chapter 10 ~ The Wrong Conclusions

  “Oh, look at that adorable puppy,” Amy said as soon as she stepped through the front door of the cabin. She knelt down as the fluff ball ran closer.

  Romantic instrumental music played over a sound system, and voices trickled in from the rear of the house.

  A little boy ran up to them. It was Daniel and Jessie’s little boy, Levi. He picked up the puppy and clutched it to his chest.

  “Your dog is really cute,” she said.

  “You can pet her,” he offered.

  Amy reached out and carefully ran fingers through the little dog’s soft fur. “What’s your dog’s name?”

  “Lola.”

  “Hi, Lola,” Amy said.

  “She’s a poodledoodle,” Levi said.

  Knox chuckled. “Goldendoodle.”

  “Oh, yeah. Goldendoodle,” the little boy said. “I need to take Lola to Dad. He’s going to take her outside to go potty.”

  “That’s probably a good idea, squirt.” Knox reached out to pet the little boy’s head as though he were a puppy.

  Levi turned and raced toward the back of the house.

  Knox held out a hand, and she took it, levering herself up. He held on and she looked up into his eyes. There were laugh crinkles around his eyes and she found herself smiling up at him.

  Then Daniel was there, dressed to the nines in a fancy suit. “Hey, Amy. I’m glad you could come. You, too, Knox.”

  He took her arm and Knox released her hand, and Daniel led her toward the back. “Jessie, look who’s here.”

  “Amy!” Jessie called out and hugged her. “You came.”

  Daniel said, “You two will be on the front row of seats. They’re set up in there.”

  The large family room had been turned into a magical room with strands of tiny lights strung here and there and forming an arch before the floor-to-ceiling windows. Rows of folding chairs ran from the back of the room three-fourths of the way to the windows. People sat in many of them, most of them people she didn’t recognize.

  But they recognized Knox, reaching out, calling out greetings to him. He took her hand again and led her down the aisle.

  She was glad she’d decided to wear her rich emerald-green dress that brought out a glow in her skin and made her green eyes sparkle. She knew she looked good in it—and knew Knox liked it because of the stunned expression on his face when he first caught sight of her.

  Knox introduced her to people as they walked up. Everyone seemed to like him, and she blushed as people studied her hand in his.

  Finally seated on the front row, she leaned against him. It wasn’t too hard, as he was a big man and overflowed on both sides of the folding chair—all muscle. She felt secure and safe next to him, something she hadn’t experienced since her father died.

  Her small, warm hand fit perfectly in Knox’s larger one. The scent of her light perfume
intrigued him. He couldn’t identify the scent, but it was homey and cozy—like her warm green eyes. Everything about her made him think of home. A home with Amy Kingsley in it.

  He didn’t know how he was going to leave her to return to Denver. He’d have to figure out something because he didn’t want to go back, and yet his career was there. He had to return.

  “How long have Daniel and Jessie been married?” she asked him.

  “Seven years. They met in college.”

  His parents took seats next to him, and they chatted for a few minutes. His mother smiled to see them holding hands, and she patted his arm, leaning in on his other side.

  Preacher Thomas walked to the arch in front of the windows and turned to face them. A tall, slender man, he had a patient air and something about him that invited confidences. Even Knox had confessed all to him a time or two in his youth.

  Everyone hushed expectantly and turned to watch first Daniel and Levi, and then Jessie and Sophie, walk up the short aisle to stand at the front.

  Jessie’s sister rose and stood beside Jessie, and Knox squeezed Amy’s hand, then released it to go stand by his brother.

  When Levi started to squirm, Knox lifted him up in his arms and the little boy wrapped his arms around his neck.

  Preacher Thomas smiled at Daniel and Jessie. “Are you ready to recommit to each other?”

  They nodded, smiling happily. Daniel took Jessie’s hand.

  Jessie’s sister picked up Sophie and cuddled her.

  The preacher said, “Do you have anything you’d like to say first?”

  Jessie turned to her husband of seven years. “We’re been through good times and bad times, through good health and bad health. I prefer the good,” she said and people chuckled, “but we’ve been here for each other through everything, even what we thought was the worst. I love you, Daniel Reid, and I plan to be here with you forever.”

  Knox fought against unexpected tears burning at his eyes. He blinked a few times and they subsided.

  “Jessie,” Daniel said, “I still remember the first time I saw you, carrying your books across the Baylor campus, and I thought you were the prettiest thing I’d ever seen. I thought, right then, that I was going to marry you, and I was thrilled when you said yes. I’m thrilled now,” he said, and his voice grew husky with emotion, “that you’ve agreed to take me back, as flawed as I am.”

  They clutched hands, and Jessie’s chin quivered.

  Levi shifted in Knox’s arms to watch his parents. “Are they getting married, Uncle Knox?”

  “They’re already married, buddy. They’re saying they’d get married all over again if they needed to.”

  Preacher Thomas looked out over the crowd, and then back at the couple standing before him. His bass voice grew sonorous and rich and solemn. “Daniel Ernest Reid, do you accept Jessie Hampton Reid as the woman you will love and protect forever?”

  “I do.” The words rang out and Knox could hear the joy in them.

  “Jessie Hampton Reid, do you accept Daniel Ernest Reid as your husband, and will you love and care for him forever?”

  “I do.” Jessie was openly crying now.

  Knox caught Amy’s gaze. She was wiping away tears.

  And he understood perfectly how Daniel had felt—because Amy was the prettiest thing Knox had ever seen, and he wanted to make her his.

  After a huge catered feast, the party moved onto the cleared-off dining room floor, now an improvised dance floor.

  Daniel and Jessie got the first dance, and it tugged at Amy’s heartstrings. He could move so well again! And she’d helped with that! They were dancing a slow song, but he was able to move around, lift his feet, twirl his wife. As they danced, they couldn’t stop smiling at each other.

  When the song ended and another began, the DJ—Knox’s brother, Bobby—invited their children to join them. The four of them danced around for a few minutes, and Bobby said, “Okay, everyone come out and join them in a celebratory dance.”

  Knox took her hand and twirled her into his arms. She laughed. “You’ve got fancier moves than I’m used to, if I’m remembering the masquerade ball correctly.”

  “Well, I am an athlete,” he said with mock arrogance.

  “Well, I’m not, so don’t step on my toes.”

  He led out and she followed, and within moments they’d found a nice rhythm of leading and following. His body was warm and big and strong, and she felt safe once more encircled in his arms.

  She didn’t know what she’d do when he went back to Denver, but she wasn’t going to think about it tonight. Today, she was just going to enjoy the connection she felt with him.

  Like Scarlet O’Hara, she’d think about him leaving tomorrow.

  As the song ended, a fast-paced song began. Laughing, she twirled free of his arms and began to gyrate. With a grin, he danced around her.

  With this many big men in the room, there wasn’t as much room to dance, but she threw herself into it.

  The next one was another slow song, and she slipped back into Knox’s arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  And then he kissed her. After a long, wonderful moment, he pulled back, looking deep into her eyes. She hugged herself against him and he squeezed.

  Today was magical.

  Tomorrow was for the other stuff.

  Knox led Amy from the improvised dance floor, laughing. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time. Maybe ever.

  She clung to his arm as they worked their way through the crowd, and he was reminded of their first dance in Denver at the masquerade ball. He’d been attracted the first time he’d been around her.

  Had that really only been three weeks and a few days ago? It felt as though he’d known her forever.

  Her face was flushed and she looked as happy as he felt.

  He pulled her toward the food tables. “Would you like a cookie?”

  “I’ve had three already.”

  “Then you need more.”

  She laughed, raising her hands. “I’ll share all my other cookies with you.”

  He picked one up and popped half of it in his mouth. “Ummm. My favorite.”

  “You like oatmeal-raisin cookies?”

  “I do. Don’t you?”

  “Not when I think I’m getting an oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie and suddenly I get a raisin instead.” She picked up a mint and popped it in her mouth.

  His parents joined them, also laughing after dancing.

  “This is really fun,” his mother said.

  Amy nodded. “I think so, too. I especially like that Daniel and his wife are back together. Those vows were amazing.”

  His mother placed a hand over her heart and nodded back. “They were, weren’t they?”

  His phone pinged and he checked it, then excused himself.

  A text from Sylvia Matthews, ex-girlfriend and current troublesome reporter, couldn’t be ignored. He found a room not occupied—this time the workout room. Sitting on a bench, he opened the text.

  I thought you’d want to see this.

  There was a link. When he clicked it, he was taken to a local news site. There was a picture of him and Amy holding hands and looking like they were nearly kissing on the bench at the Silos. Darn Sylvia, anyway. What did she think she was doing? The headline read The Football Star and the Head Cheerleader. Well, she’d gotten that wrong.

  He started reading. There were pictures of Amy as a teenager wearing a cheerleading outfit for a local high school. But she’d said she wasn’t the cheerleader type.

  Disturbed but trying not to overreact, he kept reading. After all, lots of girls were cheerleaders and went on to live normal, non-groupie lives. He read about her several years of cheerleading in high school.

  He wondered why she’d said she wasn’t the cheerleader type. Had she just realized when she got to college that it wasn’t for her and she’d quit and moved on to her studies?

  Then he froze.

  A former squad mem
ber had been interviewed. One of the claims she made was that Amy always said she planned on marrying a football player.

  And there it was. What he’d been afraid of all along. That she was a gold digger. Only he’d gotten it wrong. She hadn’t been after Daniel. No. She’d been after him.

  She’d even asked him if he hadn’t been afraid she had been. He’d thought she was joking. What a fool he was.

  Feeling betrayed and foolish, he stood and paced the room.

  He tried to remember that Sylvia was going to present everything in the worst possible light. But he knew the lady she’d quoted. She worked for a local bank now and was well respected in the community. Her quote held weight.

  Was Amy a gold digger? He’d thought she liked him, really liked him, but what if it was all an act? What if he’d been her intended target all along?

  What if she really was a scam artist, after all?

  And why was he so angry about it?

  Amy peeked in. “Hey, I wondered where you’d gotten off to.”

  Amy studied Knox’s posture, his scowl. He was totally closed off from her right now.

  “Did you get bad news?”

  “No, I think it was good news, actually.”

  She came in slowly, cautiously, and stopped several feet away from him. “What was it?”

  He stared at her, disappointment in his eyes as he shook his head slowly.

  “What? Tell me? What’s wrong?”

  “Were you a cheerleader in high school?”

  She hadn’t expected that question. The topic she’d steered away from, that she kept hidden from everyone in her life. Unsure why he was asking, she admitted, “Yes. Halfway through my senior year in high school, I quit and I didn’t go back.”

  “I thought you said you weren’t the cheerleading type.”

  “Not any more, I’m not.”

  “Do you remember Wendy Sue Barrister?”