The Blake Legacy (The Blake Boys) (2 page)

The elevator opened again, and he was surprised to see the corridor leading to Morgan’s room empty. Seth gently opened the door to her room to find her nursing the baby.

Morgan looked up when he walked in. “We were just talking about you.”

“Is that right?” Seth sat on the bed and caressed her cheek.

“I was telling Jake about what a great game his dad played today.”

“Jake? That’s a nice nickname.”

“It was not my idea. The family got together and decided that S.J. sounded pretentious. Your father said he looked like a Jake. After that decision was made, they shifted to where he would go to college. I kicked everyone out.” Morgan flashed a cheesy smile.

Seth shook his head. “You didn’t.”

“I love them all, but they were driving me crazy. I threatened to institute a demerit system on visitation tomorrow. How did the press conference go?”

“I told everyone you were holding the next Blake quarterback in your arms.”

Morgan giggled. “No pressure on your son at all. Your dad brought in this man he said was an old friend of the family. His name was T.K. Holbrook. Did you see him?”

“I ran into him downstairs.” Seth moved her bangs out of her eyes for her. Her hands were a bit full after all.

“Good. He seemed anxious to talk to you. I got the feeling it was about more than a congratulatory chat. What did he say?” Morgan furrowed her eyebrows.

“He wanted to congratulate me on the baby and the win today.”

The sound of Jake’s suckling noises echoed through the room.

Seth couldn’t help but grin. “Boy is he hungry.”

“He’s going to have your big appetite.”

Seth kept watching, entranced. Morgan had to cough to bring his attention back to her face.

“Yes?”

“You do know my breasts won’t remain this size?”

He smirked. “They might.”

“Well, if I go back down to my normal cup size, maybe you’ll start looking me in the face again.” Morgan arched her eyebrow.

Seth held his hand to his chest, feigning indignation. “I beg your pardon. I was just admiring the luscious view.”

“Well, I got a spare tire to go with the bigger boobs.” She groaned.

“Morgan Blake, you are beautiful, right now, just the way you are.” Seth kissed her tenderly on the lips.

* * *

Jake finished nursing, so Morgan hit the call button and a nurse responded immediately to assist her. The nurse told them what to expect throughout the night from their newborn and that she’d check on them in an hour. Teri-Lyn was able to barge back in for a few minutes to unpack the dinner she’d brought them from a nearby restaurant. She kissed them both goodnight and said she’d be there bright and early tomorrow.

“This was so sweet of your momma to get us dinner.” Morgan scooted over as Seth climbed onto the bed with her.

“Comfortable?” He nestled closer to her, putting his arm around her.

“Yes.” She kissed his cheek.

“Am I hurting you?”

“Not possible.” Morgan placed a hand on his thigh so he would stop moving. “I’m tough, remember?”

Seth held the steamed asparagus spear to her lips. “Eat.”

Morgan took a small bite. “The nurse said I could be out of here as early as tomorrow afternoon.”

“We’ll see about that. I don’t want you released until the doctor is sure you and the baby can travel.”

“Women don’t stay in the hospital very long after deliveries anymore.” She sighed. “I can’t wait to get Jake home.”

Seth took a sip of his water. “Jake is a pretty tame nickname. I’m surprised Tyler or Channing didn’t come up with something crazy like Switch or Buckeye.”

Morgan covered her mouth to muffle a hearty laugh. “Nothing crazy about the name Jake Blake. Sounds like a poker player who’s running from the law.”

Seth snorted. “I see your point.”

His cell phone pinged. Morgan picked it up from the nightstand and checked the display. “You forgot to hit confirm on the six-week countdown you started. What exactly are you counting down?”

“Nothing.” Seth swallowed.

Morgan moved the phone out of his reach and smirked at the title of the countdown. “Back on Morgan’s Field.”

He shrugged. “I was just setting a reminder for your check up with the gynecologist.”

“What a dutiful husband.” Morgan sat up. “So, about these brothers for Jake. I think we should lay out a plan right now.”

“I’m ready.” Seth sat up too.

“Hold on, cowboy. I’m aware of your diabolical plan to have your own football team. We will discuss having another baby when Jake starts showing some independence.”

Seth nodded, accepting the challenge. “I’ll have that boy doing our taxes by the time he cuts his first tooth.”

“Leave him alone. I’ll be happy if he can find his own foot and knows who Mommy and Daddy are.”

Seth scratched at his five o’clock shadow. “At eight months, I was already riding my first horse, Lucky.”

“And bench pressing one-fifty?”

“Hell yeah. Would I lie to you?” He leaned in for a kiss, his eyes twinkling.

“No, but your bravado is legendary. You know I can confirm all these tall tales with your mother.” Morgan moved away from him.

Seth planted a tender smooch on her cheek. “What are we going to do about our nanny situation?”

They’d interviewed at least two dozen nannies when Seth was home between games. Nightmarish scenarios had run through Morgan’s mind about some super sexy, nubile nanny that would come in and try to steal Seth and the baby from her. After waking up screaming one night, she’d stopped the interviews and prayed a better solution would appear.

“Is there another reason why you don’t want to get a nanny?” Seth searched her face.

She shrugged. “I didn’t have a nanny. My mom took care of me before I started school. If she was busy, my grandmother watched me.”

“I didn’t have one either. Momma stayed at home and took care of all of us.” Seth nodded in agreement.

“And I don’t need some hot young thing coming into my house under the ruse of taking care of the baby but secretly trying to seduce you and kill me.” Morgan laid her head on his shoulder.

He chuckled. “Baby, I do love that wild imagination of yours, but that scenario will never happen.”

“I know it will be hard work, but I’d like to raise Jake on our own. I’m sure there will be times when we need a sitter, but we have plenty of family and friends to ask for help when we need it. I don’t want to hear about my son’s childhood through a re-cap from someone we hired.”

“If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.” Seth kissed her on top of her head.

Morgan closed her eyes. “Did I tell you how much I love you today? How much I love our son?”

“You did, but I never get tired of hearing it.” Seth nuzzled her neck.

* * *

It was time for Jake’s first visit to his pediatrician after returning to Philadelphia. Morgan was a nervous wreck, but Seth was a quiet comfort. It seemed like he was handling everything better. She was too anxious to sleep, keeping a watchful eye over the baby and feeling emotional all the time. Seth had made her some toast and she’d cried because he’d put butter on it, touched that he remembered how she liked it. But then he teased her to make her smile. He assured her that everything would be fine.

She’d noticed Jake’s stool was dark when she’d changed his diaper, so she’d taken a picture of it and sent it to everyone in the address book on her cell phone. She’d finally gotten an answer from Teri-Lyn, who said it was probably meconium and that it was normal for a baby only a few days old. But she wanted the doctor to verify it. Her brothers had sent her a few choicely worded text messages, thanking her for ruining their appetites. After several calls begging Seth to confiscate her phone, she’d promised not to send any more pics of Jake’s bowel movements.

“Seth Blake Jr.,” the nurse called out from an open door leading to the exam rooms.

“You ready?” Seth squeezed Morgan’s hand.

“Yes.” Morgan rose, and they followed the nurse down the hall to the first room.

Dr. Fenwick came in and examined Jake while talking to Seth and Morgan. The exam looked more like playtime, but she was very thorough. Jake responded to Fenwick’s prodding with ease.

“Seth Jr. is doing great. His responses to the reflex tests are fine and his stool is normal. Morgan, thank you for showing me that picture.” Dr. Fenwick laughed.

Morgan shrugged. “I sent it to everyone I know. I’m shocked it hasn’t gone viral.”

Dr. Fenwick studied them both for a while before speaking. “Seth, you went from the adrenaline rush of the Super Bowl to the high of being a new father without a break. Try to get some rest if you’re feeling tired. It was a great game by the way.”

“Thanks, doc. We’ve been taking it easy since we’ve been home.” Seth beamed.

“Morgan”—the doctor removed her glasses—“you look like shit.”

Morgan folded her arms across her chest. “Is that an official medical diagnosis?”

“I’ve got three kids myself. I was so riddled with worry about my first son, my husband found me passed out from exhaustion in our kitchen. Just breathe, and if it makes you feel better, staple the baby monitor to your forehead. You won’t be any good to your son if you run yourself into the ground.”

“I don’t know if I can simply unwind like that.” Morgan exhaled shakily.

“You have this big, strong man to help you. If he can throw fifty-five yards to his wide receiver for a game winning touchdown, he can help you take care of his son.” The doctor smiled wryly.

“Being good under pressure is a job requirement for him.”

“I know I can say only so much to soothe you. It doesn’t seem that way, but instinctively you know what to do. You’ve already read every good baby book I could suggest. In no time you’ll be ready for the next one.”

Morgan looked at Seth, whose eyes lit up when Dr. Fenwick mentioned the next child. Dr. Fenwick couldn’t resist asking him more questions about the Super Bowl, and Seth answered fervently while rocking Jake in his baby seat and caressing Morgan’s hand. His touch had a calming effect on both of them.

* * *

Seth untangled himself from Morgan, careful not to wake her getting out of the bed. The sound of her snoring was music to his ears. After weeks of insomnia, she was finally getting some much-needed sleep. He showered, brushed his teeth, and dressed then headed for the baby’s room. Jake was still asleep so he parked himself in the white rocking chair he’d had custom made in Texas and covered himself with Morgan’s old baby blanket that her mother had crocheted when she was born. It smelled like the mixture of mother and son. He wished there was a way to bottle the smell to take it with him when he was on the road during the coming season.

The toy stuffed nursery was in pristine order. Morgan made sure all of Jake’s clothes were folded, diapers were on the ready, and all of his baby things were in their place. Teri-Lyn and Sydney had helped her decorate it months ago. Large letters spelling out Jake’s name, accompanied by the pale blue painted walls and alphabet wallpaper, made the room feel cozy.

Seth smiled, eyeing the unopened presents in the corner of the nursery. Well-intentioned friends had sent zany gifts that Jake was definitely too young to play with right now. Seth’s friend Derek Popovich, the goalie for the Philadelphia Pirates, had sent over a hockey stick and puck. One of his teammates had sent a ninety-inch flat screen television.

Morgan found most of the gifts obnoxious, but what she really loved was Tate’s present to Jake. The guitar sat on a stand against the wall as if it were patiently waiting for Jake to be able to do something besides drool on it.

There were so many things Seth wanted to teach his son and the importance of family, friendship, and loyalty were on the top of his list. These were the things he’d learned from his father. He felt fortunate to have had a good relationship with his dad growing up. Following his father’s advice had led him to a professional career in football and getting married to the woman of his dreams. John Jacob had taught him a lot about listening to gut instincts and following his heart. His father had told him that the hardest part about being a man was the ability to be vulnerable to someone. That advice had echoed in his head the day Seth had met Morgan, and it’d led him to the kind of happiness he’d only seen between his parents. His father never pushed or intimidated, he simply let Seth be his own person. Seth would be damn lucky if his relationship with Jake was like the one he had with his dad.

Like clockwork, Jake came out of his slumber the same time every day. The second he opened those green eyes and focused on Seth, it was show time. Something tugged at his heart every time he looked at his son. Sometimes it overwhelmed him, thinking about how awesome it was that he and Morgan created a life together.

“Good morning, Jake.” Seth picked him up and cradled him in his arms. “I know you were expecting Mommy, but we’re going to let her catch up on her sleep. So I’m intercepting. I’m going to give you a bath and then your momma can feed you. Today I’m going to teach you all about Uncle Patton’s position. He’s a linebacker…”

* * *

“Let’s go, Blake! Give me twenty!” Seth bellowed above her.

Morgan looked at Seth, angry that she was too weak to throw anything at him. When she’d asked for his help getting rid of the baby weight, she had no idea he’d turn into a drill sergeant. Seth couldn’t contain his enthusiasm as he constructed a workout routine for her and ordered workout gear and all kinds of electronic gadgets for her to monitor her progress. He was even hopeful that she would start jogging with him.

Her favorite pair of jeans was hanging in their walk-in closet, silently mocking her. Her futile attempt to get into them last week had resulted in near paralysis. She’d lain on the bed and pulled up the best she could until she’d reached her hips, where they remained stuck until she swallowed her pride and asked Seth to come take them off. It wasn’t fair that after having a baby, he still looked ripped and sexy as hell and the only thing she felt comfortable in was one of his jerseys. After hearing a reporter call him a “hot dad” on a morning news program, she was determined to return to her petite frame. She may not have been as smoking hot as he was, but she was determined to achieve lukewarm status, at the very least. She was living with a man who had fitness down to a science. Why not ask for his help? Today’s torturous workout included sit-ups, and she was failing miserably.