The Blake Legacy (The Blake Boys) (8 page)

Seth laughed.

He had brought a few props with him: the suit, his championship ring, and some of his football gear. Eddie’s work impressed him. He saw a few of the test shots and was confident it was going to be a cover he could show his kids. Everything was moving along at a good pace. He glanced at his watch. Jake would be up soon. As soon as those words entered his mind, Jake took his cue and began to move in his car seat.

“Eddie, give me a minute, he’s been in that for a while. I don’t want him to get cranky.” Seth put his football helmet on the table and unsnapped Jake from the seat.

Jake wasn’t fully awake, letting out a big yawn as Seth propped his head on his shoulder. Seth knew with a few animated words and a kiss Jake would slowly come out of his sleepy state. But if the room stayed quiet and Seth rubbed his back, Jake would sleep a little longer. He nestled closer to Seth’s body and went back to sleep.

“You are a natural.” Celine beamed at him.

“He’s easy to please,” Seth drawled.

Eddie continued snapping pictures. “This is too precious. If you don’t mind, I’d like to snap a few of you and Seth Jr. to take home to your wife.”

“Sure.”

Seth tuned out the camera clicking and Celine’s chatter and listened to the sound of his son’s even breathing. There he was posing for yet another magazine cover while looking after his son. So much had changed in his life in such a short amount of time. Holding a trophy used to be the most important thing to him. Now, he was holding his son, his true legacy in his arms, and it made him feel better than football ever did. His love for the game was being overtaken by something more powerful than he’d ever imagined: fatherhood.

* * *

Seth whistled as Morgan walked into the kitchen wearing the dress they’d picked up at the boutique on their way back from Pittsburgh. The black cocktail dress had a plunging neckline and clung to those hips of hers he loved so much. She wore her hair down, the soft curls lying on her shoulders. Morgan was slimming down from exercise, but she hardly mentioned losing the weight anymore. Who knew hot dressing room sex would make her realize how sexy she was post-baby?

“You like?” Morgan twirled around.

“I have good taste.” Seth pulled her into his arms for a kiss. “How’s the champ?”

“Out like a light. He should sleep through the night. How’s my rack of lamb coming along?”

“I just checked it. It smells divine.”

“Kara’s recipe was easy to follow. Did you see the way she was looking at me when she left? That look did not inspire confidence.” She laughed.

“Kara is very protective of the kitchen.” Seth chuckled. “I wonder if we can blend—”

Morgan gave him a disapproving look. “You are not pureeing lamb for Jake.”

“Hey, he was eyeballing that pork chop I had the other night.” Seth raised an eyebrow.

“I saw you. You were taunting him with that bone.”

“Blake men don’t eat no mashed up bananas. We go from breast milk to ribs,” Seth bellowed as he retrieved a serving platter from the top shelf of a cabinet.

“If it were up to you and your crazy brothers he’d take a slab of ribs, a flask of whiskey, and a good cigar for his first day of pre-school.”

“Man’s got to start somewhere.” He shrugged.

“I am keeping you grubby cowboys away from my sweet-cheeked, red haired baby.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“I noticed his hair color changing the other day.” Seth smiled at her.

“The baby book said his changing hair color was normal. Much like yours, when you were young. Damn strong Blake genes, I bet he’s going to look like a carbon copy of you. He’s going to be taller than me by the time he’s seven.”

“I see you too when I look at him.” He kissed her on top of her head.

“Do you think we have enough wine?”

Seth laughed. There were three cases of wine on the kitchen table. “More than enough.”

“You do remember who we invited?”

“Let’s see, Patton and Nina. Elton and his fiancée. Mike and his wife Krista. And Lamont and his new mystery woman.”

Morgan folded her arms across her chest. “We should have uninvited that jailbird Lamont.”

“Don’t worry.” Seth kissed her. “Lamont won’t be a problem tonight.”

It was just his luck that after an attempt to bury the hatchet with Lamont and get to know him better, Lamont got arrested for fighting in a nightclub. There had been a picture of him on the front page of the newspaper last week, after the brawl. A mystery woman was shielding him with a gaudy, gold purse.

Patton and Nina were the first to arrive. Elton, Tricia, Mike, and Krista arrived together. Nina offered to help but Morgan insisted she stay put while Morgan served the guests appetizers. Patton reminded the guys that they were each scheduled to appear at his football camp for kids this summer. Seth and Patton joked about their upcoming joint endorsement deal. After the Super Bowl, the true scope of their friendship had become visible to the world, and they had been approached about shooting a commercial together for a footwear retailer. Morgan gave the ladies a tour of the house while Seth mixed drinks. After an hour, it looked like Lamont and his date were going to be a no-show. The evening was going well until Elton asked about Seth’s impending free agency status.

“I haven’t made any decisions yet.” Seth shook his head.

“We have a great team; surely you don’t want to break that up?” Elton said.

“Elton, any statement I make about it right now will feed a firestorm of rumors. I don’t think it’s fair to the team for the sports world to cover whether or not I’m staying with the Titans when there are a lot more important things at hand. The coming season. A new strategy. Winning three times has put a target on our backs. Every team out there will want to be the team that stopped our hot streak.”

“But—”

Patton spoke up. “Elton, the man answered your question honestly. I know you don’t think he’s going to tell you anything that would jeopardize his family’s future or the team’s.”

“How can you be so calm about it, Pat?” Mike asked.

“When he came here four years ago, remember how pissed everybody was that Boyd left and we got the new dude? Even with all the doubts and non-support, he did his job. He committed himself to the Titans in spite of all the bullshit. I don’t believe that a man like that would leave without thinking everything through.”

“Thanks, Patton.” Seth nodded.

Morgan rose. “Shall we all move to the dining room?”

The doorbell rang. Seth went to the door while Morgan went into the kitchen and, with Krista’s help, brought out the side dishes. She returned to the kitchen and sliced the rack of lamb. She placed it on the silver serving platter Seth had retrieved for her earlier. Morgan was quite happy with herself that she hadn’t burned anything. She turned the corner with her plate of lamb to see Seth’s pleasant expression had changed to a frown. Lamont Brayer stood behind him with none other than her cousin Charisma in tow.

Morgan set the tray carefully down on the table and saw Nina’s puzzled look out of the corner of her eye. Seth had given Morgan a play-by-play of Charisma’s shenanigans at the bar the night it had happened, and she appreciated the way he’d handled it. It was her cousin’s latest attempt to bait her, but she wasn’t falling for it. She’d resolved to take the high road and let it go. Now the bitch was standing in her house as a dinner guest by default. Morgan’s mind raced, trying to figure out a way to get her cousin out of there without performing dinner theater in front of Seth’s colleagues.

She forced a smile. “Lamont, Charisma, we were sitting down to dinner. Please take a seat.”

Lamont spoke first. “Nice to see you, Morgan. You look lovely as usual. I had no idea Charisma was your cousin. What a small world.”

Morgan looked at Charisma. “It gets smaller every day.”

Lamont and Charisma took their seats, and Morgan watched as Charisma’s gaze roamed around trying to get the lay of the land. Morgan winked at Seth and managed another smile, hoping to defuse the tension she saw rising in his neck. Patton tried to pick up the dinner conversation where they’d left off but Nina interrupted him.

“So how did the two of you meet?” Nina’s question crackled in the air like the snap of a whip.

Charisma took a long, dramatic pause and flipped her hair behind her shoulders. “We met at Club Six. Lamont was there celebrating his Super Bowl win. I asked him to dance and the sparks flew from there.”

Lamont chuckled. “Yeah, Charisma surprised me with the direct approach. She definitely knows what she wants.”

Seth tried to suppress a smile, while Morgan poured the wine.

“Lamont and I have been happily dating ever since. He even bought me this necklace I’m wearing.” Charisma fingered the glittering piece of jewelry hanging off her neck.

Lamont continued, “I didn’t notice it at first, but now that the two of you are together, I see the resemblance.”

Morgan’s hand slipped while pouring Patton’s wine, and she almost spilled it onto the table.

“I wouldn’t go that far, Lamont.” Seth clenched his jaw.

Morgan had to hand it to her cousin; she was decked out and fit the part of the star football player’s girl. It had been ages since she’d seen her. After that shouting match about Jason on the phone, Morgan had blocked her numbers and informed her family that Charisma was behind that attempted media smear campaign. The lockout was effective; the extended family supported her decision as well. But this new tactic, spending time with Lamont Brayer, was a bit creepy to her.

Charisma was trying to monopolize the conversation but Nina would butt in and steer it in another direction. The other guests stayed quiet, watching the train wreck unfolding. Morgan sliced her lamb like a surgeon in an operating room, opting to enjoy the meal she’d spent most of the day preparing. Seth kept playing with his fork, a sign he was getting agitated. Lamont, who happily chatted with his teammates, was the only person who was clueless about what was going on in front of him. After Nina shot down Charisma’s third attempt to bait Morgan, everyone became eerily quiet.

After dinner they retreated back to the living room. Morgan glanced at the clock on the mantle, wondering how long it would take her cousin to start up again. Two minutes later Charisma opened her big mouth.

“Don’t we get a tour?” Charisma said as she perused the room instead of taking a seat with everyone else.

“Morgan gave a tour to everyone who arrived on time,” Seth said from the bar, making a Shirley Temple for Nina.

“Sorry about that. Charisma got hung up at the beauty salon.” Lamont grinned.

“So, I still don’t get a tour? I want to know what’s so fabulous that has my family gushing about this penthouse all the time.” Charisma smirked, playing with her necklace.

Morgan didn’t realize her hand was shaking until she set her wine glass down on the table with a clink. “Charisma, I fed you and have shown exceptional control this evening. Don’t push your luck.”

Everyone looked at Morgan. Seth stood up but Morgan gave him a small nod, letting him know everything was OK.

Lamont wrinkled his brow, finally picking up on the tension. “Wow, you two sure don’t sound like cousins.”

“My cousin can be quite bratty at times. Been that way all her life.” Charisma huffed.

Morgan stood. “Lamont, I don’t know what my cousin has told you, but we do not have an amicable relationship. Never have. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for you, she would never have set foot in my home.”

“Here we go. Playing Little Miss Victim again. It’s always about somebody hurting Morgan.” Charisma scoffed.

Morgan turned to Charisma, taking careful breaths. “
You’re
the one who’s always trying to hurt me. As far as I am concerned, we are not family. Family doesn’t try to stab each other in the back and spread lies about them for money.”

“You’re just mad because you’re not the only person in the family involved with a football star.” Charisma clenched her perfectly manicured fists.

Morgan narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare try to make my marriage sound like your pathetic attempt to land some celebrity with a big bank account.”

Charisma’s her eyes widened in shock. She started walking toward Morgan, but her jaw dropped when Lamont stood up and stopped her.

“Charisma, I think it’s time to go. We’ve caused enough disruption to Morgan’s dinner party tonight.”

“But—”

“Walk out or get rolled out of here like a bowling ball. It’s your choice.” Morgan motioned to the door. Seth was standing there, holding it open.

Lamont uttered a low apology again to Seth as he ushered a muttering Charisma out the door. She threw one last incensed glare over her shoulder and stomped out as well as her stiletto heels would allow.

Morgan took a deep breath and addressed her guests. “I’m sorry you had to witness that. I hope you’ll remember this night for my lamb and not the family feud.”

There was a moment of silence. Then Nina smiled and rubbed her belly. “That lamb was pretty good. Do you have anymore?”

Morgan laughed, feeling ten times lighter. “Sure. I would never starve a pregnant woman.”

The mood of the dinner party improved tremendously once Nina ate a second helping of the lamb, then everyone moved on to dessert. By the time everyone left it was after midnight. Seth carried Morgan out of the kitchen to deter her from doing the dishes and driving herself crazy over what Charisma had done. After all, tomorrow was another day.

Chapter Five

Teri-Lyn and John Jacob snatched their grandson out of Seth and Morgan’s hands right after they walked off their plane at the private airport. It had been months since Jake’s first visit to the ranch. John Jacob mentioned that he’d played a round of golf with T.K. last week and that brought up the subject of Seth’s impending free agency. T.K. wasn’t allowed to talk to Seth directly, but he was certainly reaching out like the hand of God and talking to everyone who knew him.

Seth and John Jacob unloaded the car while Morgan, Teri-Lyn, and Jake went inside.