Love Notes and Football (3 page)

Michelle was waiting at the door with her arms open. “Get in here, prego.”

“I missed you.” Morgan hugged her tightly. “I brought you cannoli.”

“Thanks. I missed you too. How’s your dad?”

“He’s stabilized. I hate that word—stabilized.”

“I sent him a fruit basket and I put aside a few mystery novels he might like. Maybe you could read to him when you’re there.”

“That’s a great idea.” Morgan put her arm around her friend and stepped into the store.

Michelle had done some redecorating. Her friend had exceptional taste and a great eye for art. The place was furnished with bold colors that awakened the senses. Reds, blues, greens and earth tones ran rampant through the rooms and in the cafe. Customers commented on the unique design of the bookstore all the time, but they were going to love this.

“This is gorgeous,” Morgan said. “When did you find the time for all the new décor?”

“When I was waiting around like a chump for your brother-in-law to come to town and take me to dinner,” Michelle said with a look that said she was none too happy about the situation.

“I told you Tyler was trouble. If it’s any consolation, the guys had a bet going on with their golf game. Loser had to hand wash everyone’s underwear for a month. Last I heard, Tyler was losing.”

“Good, I hope they throw in a few funky jock straps too. What are you doing here? I thought you were coming back next week?”

“Jared is going with me to the hospital. He had a meeting around the corner so I told him to pick me up here.”

“Didn’t want to go by yourself?”

Morgan shook her head. “Strength in numbers.”

“Give your dad a hug for me. Oh, let me get those books I set aside for him.”

Morgan kept herself busy around the bookstore while she waited for her brother Jared. She took out the list of books she wanted to add to Jake’s library at home. Benny the Bunny had made his way west to California, and Seattle was his next stop in the series. She enjoyed reading to him each night. She loved his curious mind, asking questions like when was the baby going to arrive because he wanted to meet his little brother or sister.

“Hey, squirt. You ready to go?”

“I just have a few things to do before I leave.” Morgan picked up the book she’d put aside for him. “I saw this and thought it may help with working through the divorce.”

Jared laughed. “You have a book for every occasion.”

“If I didn’t, I shouldn’t be in the bookselling business.” Morgan went over to the café and poured a glass of cranberry juice. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Sure.”

Jared flipped through the book while Morgan drank her juice.

“You still mad at me for not telling you about Dad?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes.”

“I didn’t want to upset you.”

“I know. But I’m still mad.”

“Have a cookie.” Jared went over to the counter and got a cookie out of the case.

“Jared Oliver Reed, if you think plying me with sweets will earn you easy forgiveness, you’re severely mistaken. You’re lucky I don’t jump across this table and throttle you.”

He looked down at the cookie, shrugged, and took a bite. “You are mellower with this pregnancy. When you were pregnant with Jake, you actually did try to choke me at Thanksgiving dinner.”

She put her finger to her lips. “Didn’t I challenge you to an arm wrestling match too?”

“Yeah, I thought that was a sucker’s bet until you won. But what really hurt was that you were eating that ham sandwich while you did it.”

She sighed. “This one sleeps most of the day and eats in the middle of the night.”

“Before I forget, I’ve been working on something in my spare time.” Jared pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

“What’s this?”

“Jake’s new tree house. I took a look at some of the trees in your backyard at the ranch when I was there for the party.”

Morgan took a closer look. It was a three-dimensional mockup of a spacious tree house, complete with a ladder and a dumbwaiter. “You are an awesome uncle. I’m sure Seth can get someone to build it.”

“Already arranged. Tyler said if I could design it, he would build it.”

“Jake is going to love it. Thank you.”

“So does this mean I’m forgiven for not telling you about Dad?”

Morgan felt her momentary joy plummet back to earth. “I’m scared, Jared. I’m not sure what to do for him.”

Jared stood and offered her a hand. “Me neither. This heart attack brought back memories of when mom died, which I hadn’t thought about in years. I know it was even tougher for you because you were so young. So if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”

Morgan gave him a big bear hug. “Will you hold my hand like you used to do when I was little girl?”

“I could even manage a reassuring hug and half of my cookie.”

Morgan smiled and grabbed her purse. “You’re my favorite brother in this whole, wide bookstore.”

“Heck with that, then. Get your own cookie.”

Chapter Two

Morgan opened her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was a little past midnight and they’d had a perfectly good meal a few hours ago, but she was once again famished. She rolled over to find the other side of the bed empty. Seth wasn’t sleeping much these days. The new season, the baby, and her dad being sick had kept him pacing in his study most nights well after she’d gone to bed.

Morgan padded down the hall in search of her husband. She stopped at Jake’s room to see if he was in there. Jake was sleeping soundly in his bed, but Seth wasn’t there. She checked the study—also empty. Hearing the sounds of soft music from the living room, she rounded the corner to find the coffee table awash in candle light and Chinese food containers, and Seth sitting on the sofa waiting for her with a pair of chop sticks in his hand.

“You think you know me so well, don’t you?” She folded her arms over her chest.

Seth rubbed her belly. “I would never presume to know all the mysteries of my wife. But I do know my son is hungry, like he is every night at this time.”

Morgan swatted at his hand. “You mean your daughter. I can’t wait until the sonogram next week so I can shut you up.”

Seth chuckled. “I’m telling you, it’s a boy.”

Before Morgan could rebut his declaration, Seth pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. Damn him, he knew a few good kisses would wipe her memory clean.

Her stomach rumbled. The baby was reminding her that food was the first priority, not hanky-panky with Daddy.

“OK, I get the picture,” Seth said. He settled onto the couch and pulled her against his chest. “I took the liberty of preparing Baby a plate.”

Morgan noticed the plate loaded with her favorites.

“Open,” Seth mumbled as he put a spring roll to her lips.

She complied and took a nibble from the corner of it. “What else did you get?”

“There’s some egg foo yong, lo mein, and your favorite, steamed broccoli in garlic sauce.”

“Yum.” Morgan smacked her lips as she took another bite of the spring roll.

He nuzzled her neck. “So Jared and I volunteered to share the landscaping duties of your father’s house.”

“That’s nice of you.” Morgan rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m a nice guy.” With one swift movement, Seth was facing Morgan and began trailing kisses down her neck while unbuttoning the satin pajama top. He pulled down the lace camisole and moved his tongue over her nipple. She groaned as the sensations activated the homing beacon in her clit. Seth gently held her nipple between the chopsticks and began to suckle. Morgan shrugged off the other strap. She ran her fingers through his hair and reached for another dumpling.

“Did you just reach for food?” Seth nipped at her breast.

“This chopstick thing totally works for me.” Morgan leaned forward and let him take a bite of the dumpling between her lips.

“Oh yeah? You should see what else I can do with chopsticks.” Seth flashed a wicked grin.

Morgan smiled when Seth liberated her from her pajama bottoms and panties and spread her legs. He caught her clit between his teeth and like the precision of a skilled surgeon, he held them perfectly still as he began a slow, darting rhythm with his tongue that made her whole vagina convulse. Morgan dropped the spring roll she was reaching for and fisted Seth’s short hair in her hand as he sucked and coaxed her climax. Morgan let out a taut yelp, on the verge of eruption. Then Seth pulled back, making her wait for it. She gripped his hair so tightly she thought she’d pull his hair out.

He rose up, pulled down his shorts and exposed his massive erection. Seth didn’t waste any time delving back onto the couch and into her, careful to keep his weight off her. Morgan slid her hands under his T-shirt and gripped his shoulders. Seth deepened the kiss and sank even deeper into her. She closed her eyes as Seth hit her G-spot each time he thrust into her. When she came, she bit his shoulder hard. He let out a rough growl and climaxed right after her.

Seth rolled off her and turned her to nestle beside him, tickling her as he rubbed his facial hair along her shoulder. Morgan leaned over to get another spring roll.

Seth took a big bite as she put it to her lips.

“Hey!” Morgan pouted.

“Hey yourself.” Seth kissed her on the cheek. “Are you cold?”

“Not really, but maybe we should cover up in case Jake comes into the room. I don’t think playing firemen will cut it this time.”

“I’m going to put a bell around that boy’s neck,” Seth mused.

“You will do no such thing.” Morgan elbowed him in the ribs. “Pretty soon these moments will be few and far between.”

“I know. But it just means we’ll have to be more creative.” He waggled his eyebrows. “We need alone time so we can continue building that football team.”

“You keep talking like that and I’m going to give you a”—Morgan made a snipping motion with her fingers—“in your sleep.”

“You won’t have to if Jake doesn’t stop accidentally punting me in the family jewels every time he crawls into bed with us. I feel like I have to wear a jock strap to bed.”

“Maybe that’s his way of saying he has enough siblings for now.” Morgan giggled and picked up another dumpling.

* * *

Jake didn’t inherit Seth’s knack for grooming. Unlike Seth, who paid through the nose for his stylist to give him that flyaway look, Jake came by it naturally. A few swipes of the brush were all he needed, but the minute Morgan turned her back to get his socks, he bolted out of his room.

Morgan searched the house with socks in hand. She gave up when her cell phone rang and she saw her cousin Izzy’s face on the cell phone display. Jake appeared out of nowhere looking innocent, like he was waiting to see if she’d come after him or answer the call.

“Izzy! How are you? How’s Tate? Where are you?” Morgan handed her son the socks and pointed him in the direction of the war room where Seth was playing the prototype for the new video game he was endorsing.

“Slow down.” Isabelle laughed. “First of all, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Right now I’m trying in vain to teach my son good grooming habits.” Morgan walked into the kitchen.

“The sonogram is today, right?”

“We have an appointment this afternoon.”

“Call me the minute find out the baby’s sex.”

Morgan laughed. “I will.”

“How’s Uncle Curtis? Any improvement since we last spoke?”

“He’s holding his own. He’s mad because no one will sneak in any contraband food.”

“Listen, if you ever need someone to hide in the closet with you, I can be on the first plane to Philadelphia.”

When her mother died, she’d hidden in her bedroom closet for most of the day of the funeral. But she hadn’t been alone. Isabelle had sat in there with her and occasionally had gone to get them food.

“Thanks, Izzy,” Morgan croaked.

“And I’ve been meaning to say thank you for whatever you said to Tate to make him come after me.”

“I didn’t tell Tate anything that he didn’t already know. He finally started listening to his heart. So what’s next for you two?”

“I took an official leave of absence from the symphony so I could devote time to my physical therapy. Tate is finishing up his album. We’re going to spend as much time together as possible between all that.”

“Hey! We never got to have that dirty talk we were supposed to have.” Morgan tapped her fingers on the counter.

“We’ll definitely get to it next visit. Tate’s taking me to lunch. Call me the minute you get out of the doctor’s office.”

“I will. Give him my love.” Morgan hung up the phone and yelled, “When I get in there, everyone named Jake better have socks on his feet!”

Morgan walked into the war room. Both Seth and Jake wiggled their bare feet at her.

“You are a bad influence, Mr. Hot Foot.” Morgan wagged her finger at Seth.

“You know I find clothes confining.” Seth winked at her.

“This coming from a man who’s about to model for an exclusive men’s line. That was Isabelle on the phone.”

“How are our two love birds doing?”

“Sounds like they’re doing just fine. I wonder what Tate’s new sound will be like?”

Seth scratched his beard. “No more scandalous ditties in his future, that’s for sure. But I think we’re going to see a whole new side of Tate.”

“He did work his magic on our song. That’s when I knew there was hope for him.” Morgan sat next to Jake and put his socks on his feet.

“Hey, if they get married, Isabelle will be your cousin
and
your sister-in-law. She will be Jake’s third cousin and aunt. And—”

Morgan held up a hand. “Please stop. Our families are turning into one of those ‘I’m my own grandpa’ scenarios.”

Seth burst out laughing. Morgan couldn’t help but laugh too. It felt so good to laugh for a change. “How’s the video game?”

“There are a few flaws to work out, but I’m sure they’ll fix it.”

Morgan looked at the screen. It was strange to see the animated likeness of Seth running around. “Babe, it’s almost time for the doctor’s appointment.”

He turned off the screen and scooped up Jake. “Get your shoes, kid. Time to go see Uncle Jared.”