Off Season (The Blake Boys Book 15) Read Free

as he shook T.K’s hand. “T.K., it’s always good to see you. How’s the family?”
    “The team is looking good for the new season.” T.K. flashed a big smile.
    Seth laughed. “I was referring to your wife and sons but it’s good to know the team is in good shape.”
    “Trust me, I know more about the Tomcats.” T.K. played with the brim of his white Stetson in his hand.
    T.K. was a great businessman, but his personal life had suffered from all those years of ambition. There had been rumors that his fifth wife Selene, who was significantly younger than him, had been running him ragged. He had two sons, Logan and Austin, from his first marriage, but relations between them had been strained for the longest time. The Blake men had gone to school with the two boys who’d had nothing but contempt for their father for the way he’d left their mother.
    “Well, come in and I’ll fix you both a drink.” Seth moved some things out of the way to make a path to the living room then went over to the bar.
    John Jacob looked around at the camping gear and toys scattered about. “It’s your turn to watch the kids tonight?”
    “Yes. I’m setting things up while Morgan picks up a few last minute things from the market.”
    “T.K. and I were having lunch at the club. I told him how happy you were since you retired, but he didn’t believe me. So I thought I’d let him see for himself.” John Jacob turned to T.K. “Does this look like a man itching to get back into football?”
    “It looks more like insanity.” T.K. took a seat on the barstool and glanced at the camping gear and the tent in the living room.
    “This is my life these days.” Seth handed them both glasses of scotch. “Now that I don’t have the noose of a football schedule around my neck, we take more family vacations. I’m spending quality time with the kids. I even coach the soccer team at the boys’ school.”
    T.K. clutched his chest as if he were having a heart attack. “Stick a knife through my heart. It would hurt less.”
    “Aren’t you being just a tad dramatic?” John Jacob replied.
    “No. I don’t think so.” T.K. slammed back his drink. “I thought the biggest travesty in this family was when Tate didn’t pursue a professional career in football. He had a real gift, but you let him strum on that damn guitar instead.”
    “The boy had a natural affinity for music,” John Jacob fired back. “It was in his blood, you know that. Forcing him to do something else would have been wrong.”
    “Sometimes we have to steer our kids in the right direction. They don’t always know what’s best for them,” T.K. replied.
    “How’s that working out for you?” John Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Logan barely spoke to you at the club today.”
    “He was born with a chip on his shoulder. He got too much of his mama in him. But he’s not too proud to accept that paycheck I give him.” T.K. raised his glass as a signal for Seth to refill it.
    “Logan’s good at his job. Don’t take that away from him,” John Jacob said. “He doesn’t put up with your foolishness.”
    Seth interrupted. “If it makes you feel any better, Bo has been working me like a dog down at the stables. And I don’t mean the pampered kind of dog like Rowdy or Bingo.”
    T.K. shook his head. “I know you have had a ton of offers since you retired, including mine to join the Tomcats organization.”
    “Sure. I’ve been offered everything from announcement gigs to writing another book. But I choose to focus on my family. So if you’ve come here with another job offer, I have to decline it.” Seth folded him arms across his chest.
    “I didn’t.”
    “Oh.” Seth unfolded his arms and ran a hand through his hair. “Then I’m sorry I made that assumption. I guess I’m just used to the hard sell about the Tomcats whenever I see you.”
    John Jacob laughed. “You may want to hold off on that apology.”
    “I know when I’m beat. But I did come here to ask