MVP (10 page)

“Thank you, dear.”

“My pleasure, ma’am. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Yes, there’s a box of flyers I wanted to give Morgan before she left today. Can you help me with them?”

“Show me the way.” He smiled at her.

They slipped out of the room and walked toward the administrative office.

“Morgan is such a sweetheart. I would hate to think what would happen if the library couldn’t continue the reading hour. She loves it more than the kids.” Harriet laughed.

“She does get a lot of pleasure out of it.”

“She’s very good with kids.” Harriet winked at him.

“She is an excellent story teller.”

“Well, it’s in her genes. Her mother would pack a crowd in here when it was her time to read.”

“Her mother?”

“Yes, Elizabeth Reed was a librarian here many years ago. She would bring Morgan to work with her. Elizabeth would read to Morgan on her breaks and the kids in the library would flock around her. Pretty soon it became a ritual. We had an unofficial reading hour for a long time before someone took notice and decided to give us funding for it.” Harriet led him over to a wall covered in framed photos. “Here’s a picture of the two of them.”

Seth looked at the picture Harriett pointed to. Morgan must have been about five years old and sitting in the lap of a woman who looked just like her. They had the same sweet smile and bright eyes. They were sitting on a bright red beanbag.

“Would you believe that’s the same beanbag she’s sitting on now? Morgan insists on keeping it. Whenever it tears she takes it home, repairs it and brings it right back. Elizabeth would have been so proud of her. Morgan fought to get her bookstore off the ground. She even fought with herself to come back here to the library. She stayed away for a long time after her mother died. Sometimes I would see her sitting outside on the steps, but she would never come inside. Then one day, she walked in and declared she wanted to volunteer here. Of course I said yes. She’s been crusading ever since about the importance of reading and how it sparks the imagination.”

Seth and Harriet made their way back to the reading room just as Morgan was getting to the end of the book. Now he knew why she didn’t talk about her mother that much. The pain of losing her mother was infused with her crusade. If only she’d just take the money he would readily give her. There had to be something he could do to make her see she didn’t have to fight all the time.

Chapter Six

The team was holding a party to kick off the new season. Seth informed Morgan that his attendance was mandatory, but he assured her it wasn’t a big deal. It was a chance for the team to catch up with each other and toast the coming year. After she settled her nerves she’d decided to ask Nina for some help. They’d been out to lunch a few times after their first meeting and Nina seemed to pop up at the bookstore every so often. Morgan reached for her phone and called her.

“Hey, Nina. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

“You didn’t. I have a few minutes before my next appointment and this client is never on time.” Nina laughed.

“Your client?”

“I own an event planning company.”

“Oh. Wow.” Morgan bit her lip. She didn’t mean to sound so surprised that Nina had a job.

“I bet you thought I just flitted around town spending Patton’s money?” Nina cooed.

“Well, yes, to be honest, and quite fashionably in your Christian Louboutin’s.” She laughed.

“Patton gave me the money to start up and after some networking it paid off. I developed a little client base after the people who were trying to be nice to Patton sloughed off. You know, I envy that about you. You had your bookstore and your community projects going before you met Seth. No one is ever going to think he did anything for you.”

“But like you said, you’ve made it into something of your own.” She didn’t want Nina to think she was judging her.

“Patton would have bought me a rocket to get to space if he thought it would take my mind off my obsession with babies. That’s the only thing he can’t give me. Nothing on his part. My body won’t cooperate.”

Morgan fumbled for a way to respond. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“You did not call to hear about my fertility issues. What’s up?” Nina voice picked up.

“I was hoping you’d have some time to help me shop for a dress for that team party that’s coming up? The last thing I want is to be the laughing stock on some gossip show.”

“So you want to make a stunning debut?”

“I don’t want to end up in somebody’s what not to wear column.” Morgan laughed.

“When I’m finished with you they’re going to send you to Milan for a fashion shoot.”

* * *

Nina picked her up the morning of party, stating they were going to make a day of it. She insisted on getting Morgan a full spa treatment to relax her nerves. They had lunch and talked for a bit before going back to Nina’s house to get dressed.

“How long does it take you to get ready every morning?” Morgan joked as she squirmed in her chair.

“My husband would say too long, but he never complains about the finished product. There.” Nina applied the last bit of mascara to Morgan’s eyelashes.

Nina slid the mirror to Morgan, who was at a loss for words.

“If you’re speechless imagine how Seth’s going to react.”

Morgan eyed her reflection in the mirror. “I don’t know if he’s going to recognize me.”

“Great!”

“Not great. You’re good Nina but this isn’t me.” She sighed.

Nina put the mirror down. “Can I be honest with you?”

“More so than the past two months?”

“Yes.”

Curiosity got the better of Morgan. “Go ahead.”

Nina grabbed a few of her makeup brushes and placed them back in the case. “I learned the hard way about all this fame shit. Being the spouse that’s not in the limelight is hard. The key is to let all the garbage in the media fall away and concentrate on your marriage. You know Seth. He’s a good man. Just have faith in the vows you took and ignore the rest of it.”

Morgan frowned. “Nina, how bad is it? I don’t think you’re telling me this as a public service announcement.”

Nina fiddled with her makeup case. “I’ve seen the wives of some of the other players say things to him you wouldn’t hear in a porn movie. You have an opportunity tonight to let everybody know that Seth’s off the market and it’s a bad idea to mess with your marriage.”

“Thank you for the advice.” Morgan hesitated but then lifted a gift bag and placed it on the table.

“What’s this?”

“A thank you for helping me get ready.” After spending some time with Nina and a few prodding questions to Seth, she had a good idea of the hell Nina was going through miscarrying those babies. “There were three great books on difficult pregnancies that I thought you might like to read. In this book”—Morgan pointed to a book titled
Late Bloomer
—“the woman tried to get pregnant for fifteen years and then boom; she got knocked up at age forty two. Go figure. But it’s about the spiritual journey she took as a result of not being able to have a baby exactly when she wanted one. She said when she finally gave up on her dream, a miracle happened. Maybe you can get your miracle someday.”

Nina’s jaw had dropped open. “Thank you, Morgan.” Tears glistened in Nina’s eyes and then she hugged Morgan. “I can’t believe you are making me cry and we are on our way to a party.”

Morgan laughed but hugged back.

* * *

Seth didn’t usually mind the team parties, but he was not looking forward to this one. The subtle snipes, the fake smiles, it was all part of this world when he was in front of the camera. He had managed to have an intimate book release party; they had a good time with family and friends. But this crowd of brazen jug heads could break up a marriage easily. Hell, it already had. Tim Seaver’s wife had thrown a chair through a glass door last year when she caught some groupie giving him a hand job in the bathroom. Elton Chatz had to have physical therapy for months after trying to intervene in a cat fight between his new girl and his baby momma at one event. Seth did not want reality entertainment becoming part of his life.

Patton greeted him with a hug. “Hey man, you nervous?”

“Nah, I’m just curious where our wives are. I thought I’d get to talk to Morgan before this evening started. Wanted to tell her to just ignore anything stupid she might see or hear tonight.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. Nina will be around. I think they’re becoming friends.” Patton smiled.

Seth smiled back, happy to know Morgan and Nina were developing a friendship of their own. Patton waved over a few of their teammates. They joked and talked about the upcoming season, all of them anxious to get back to work. He grabbed a mini quiche on the serving tray as it went by and a glass of champagne. Suddenly his teammates went silent except Lamont Brayer.

“Damn. Who is that?”

Seth didn’t bother looking up but Patton’s nudging implied he should. They were surrounded by beautiful women all the time but it never stopped them from checking out fresh meat. But it was Morgan’s entrance that was causing a ruckus. His mouth went dry when he saw her wearing a beautiful black, one shoulder dress that hugged her frame all the way down to the short hemline that stopped just above her knee. The black, three inch open toe heels she wore showcased her pretty toes and brought attention to her well defined legs. Her skin had a silky glow to it. Her hair was blown out, with a few scattered curls, and she’d done something to her eyes, because they looked more dramatic, her long lashes more pronounced. Red lipstick adorned her full, pouty mouth.

“I’d like to lick those candy apple lips,” Lamont Brayer said.

Seth snapped out of his daydream. “What did you say, Brayer?”

“I said—”

“That’s my wife and if you go anywhere near her, I’ll kick your ass.”

Patton put a crushing hand on Lamont’s shoulder. “I think you owe the man an apology.”

“Shit, Blake, I didn’t know. Sorry. No disrespect intended but I didn’t know your wife was that damn hot.”

Patton squeezed harder. “Lamont, you were almost home free.”

* * *

Morgan shook so much from nerves walking through the room she grabbed Nina’s hand. “See, he looks confused.”

Nina laughed. “No, that’s not confusion getting bigger in his pants.”

Morgan made her way over to Seth, who looked good enough to eat in his charcoal gray suit. It fit him like a second skin, like most things did over those defined muscles. He had his hair spiked up a little tonight and he’d shaved. Clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow, it didn’t matter to her. His scent was the combination of body gel, shampoo, and cologne. It melded into something utterly masculine and only he smelled that way.

He stared at her but didn’t say a word. Patton did the introductions of their teammates. Not that she heard the names, but she managed to shake hands. Her gaze was glued on the only man who remained silent within the group. Those green eyes seemed to be getting darker by the second as he kept his gazed fixed on her. At some point Nina turned Morgan’s hand loose and grabbed Patton’s, and everyone eventually scattered, leaving her alone with her mute husband.

“Now is not the time for you to go silent on me. What do you think?”

Morgan tried to do a discreet turn to show him her dress but Seth caught her mid turn, slipping his hand around her waist and pulled her against him.

“Don’t make another move or this is going to be the most embarrassing night of my life,” he drawled into her ear.

Seth stood at full attention between them.

She grinned and slid her arms around him. “Does this mean you like my dress?”

He looked down at her and swallowed hard. “You’re killing me, Morgan.”

“You look…incredible in that suit.” She played with his tie.

“I look like a vagrant compared to how beautiful you look tonight. I already threatened Lamont for making a crass remark about you.”

“This outfit comes with a hitch I’m afraid. I will need a huge favor when we get home.”

Seth looked like he would fight an army for her. “Anything.”

“I am going to need a really good foot massage. These heels are tortuous.”

He smiled. “I can’t tell by the way you gracefully floated over here.”

“I got a crash course at Nina’s charm school.” Morgan laughed.

* * *

As Nina navigated Morgan through the party, introducing her to some of the player’s wives and girlfriends, a stunning woman in a silver gown, her blond hair perfectly coiffed on her head and a diamond necklace hanging around her neck, glided up to them.

“Morgan Blake, right?” The woman extended an elegant hand. “You’re the talk of the town these days. I’m Jocelyn Fontane, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Morgan shook hands on autopilot. She had read articles about Jocelyn Fontane. Not only was she wife of the owner of the Titans, but she was pretty active in the community. Jocelyn Fontane was just the person who could open doors to help her with her literacy campaign but it didn’t feel like the right time to talk about it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Fontane.”

“Please, call me Jocelyn. Morgan, tell me more about yourself? Seth told me you have quite a few irons in the fire.”

A golf ball-sized lump formed in Morgan’s throat. Nina made eyes at her to answer Jocelyn.

“Well, I own Reed Books. It’s a small bookstore but we have a huge inventory. I read in the children’s room at the library every other Sunday. I would like to start up a reading initiative again. There are still a lot of people out there who cannot read, even in this day and age.”

Jocelyn tilted her head and gave Morgan a different look from before. A little surprised perhaps, and more than a little impressed. “That’s a noble cause you have, Morgan.”

Morgan shrugged, the lump in her throat still refusing to budge. “I like to believe it’s my responsibility to do what I can.”