Seducing the Wolf (68 page)

“Oh, I’m sure. That’s why Samara and Marcus are moving back to Atlanta this year. Marcus gets homesick every time they return to D.C., and they both want the boys to grow up around their grandfather and the rest of the family.”

“That’s what Samara told me.” Taylor smiled. “I look forward to having them here. Samara has become a dear friend to me, and Micah will enjoy playing with his cousins.”

“So true.” Asha paused a moment. “I hear that you’re taking a sabbatical from touring.”

Taylor nodded. “I am.”

She’d stopped performing three months before her due date. After the final concert, she’d released a statement announcing her decision to take two years off from touring to spend time with her family. Even when she went back on the road, her schedule wouldn’t be the same as before. As much as she enjoyed traveling and performing, becoming a wife and mother had realigned her priorities, and she had no regrets about that.

Asha was quietly studying her. “You know, many women would find it hard to step away from such a successful career. You see it all the time in the entertainment industry with these performers who are on top. They’re workaholics, they’re addicted to the fame, they’re afraid to be forgotten. It takes real courage to step out of the spotlight,
chère
. I applaud you for having that courage, and for putting your family first.”

“Thank you, Asha,” Taylor said humbly. “That really means a lot to me, especially coming from someone I’ve always admired. But I should mention that I’m still recording an album this year. And I’ll be composing music for other artists, teaching violin masterclasses at Emory and performing occasionally with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.” She grinned. “So I’m not
completely
disappearing from the scene.”

“That’s good.” The smile Asha gave her was soft and wistful. “I conquered the fashion industry and became the toast of haute couture, but it came at the expense of raising my daughter and being there for her. Sometimes I wonder if…” She lowered her lashes for a moment, gently fingering the stiletto pendant that dangled from her diamond bracelet. “The thing they never tell you about success is that it can become meaningless if you have no one to share it with.”

Taylor stared at Asha, surprised by her candor, touched by the hint of vulnerability she’d revealed. She wanted to ask her if she regretted choosing her fashion career over motherhood. But before she could open her mouth, Asha suddenly lifted her head and looked beyond Taylor’s shoulder.

Following the direction of her gaze, Taylor saw Marcus and Samara huddled around his father, who sat holding his grandsons. As he gingerly bounced them on his knees, the twins clapped with delight, drawing a hearty rumble of laughter from Sterling.

Taylor grinned. “Too adorable.”

As she turned back around, she caught a look of tender yearning on Asha’s face before she smoothed her features into impassivity and cleared her throat.

“Is it time for lunch yet? I’m famished.”

After the lavish four-course lunch had been enjoyed by all, Taylor slipped away from the festivities to change Micah’s diaper and feed him. The moment she finished, Manning’s mother appeared to scoop him up and carry him off before Taylor could even tuck her breast back into her nursing bra.

She was still laughing as she returned to the veranda and joined Manning on the wicker loveseat across from his parents. He kissed her temple and draped an arm around her shoulder as they watched Prissy gush rapturously over the baby cradled in her lap. Micah beamed up at her and Stan, who sat beside Prissy with a broad grin stretched across his face.

Manning’s parents had been on cloud nine since the birth of their first grandchild. They spoiled Micah rotten, buying him so many gifts and toys the storage closet in his nursery was running out of space. Over the past three months, they’d probably spent more time at Manning and Taylor’s house than they’d spent at home.

“You’re such a good boy,” Prissy cooed to her gurgling grandson. “Such a sweet, happy baby. Even though it’s been a long day for you, you haven’t fussed not once.”

Manning grinned. “Taylor has him well trained at home. As soon as he starts getting cranky, she puts on some music to calm him down. Works like a charm.”

Taylor laughed. “Not always. But often enough.”

During her pregnancy, she’d played her violin for Micah nearly every night. So it was no wonder that the sound of music usually soothed him and lulled him to sleep. Though he seemed to enjoy all the classical greats, he was partial to his mother’s work—Bach was a close second.

Stan beamed as Micah grabbed one of his fingers in his chubby fist. “Boy’s got a strong grip,” he said proudly. “Just like his daddy did.”

“And his uncles,” Prissy recalled fondly.

“Yup.” Stan grinned teasingly at Manning and Taylor. “Have you two decided yet whether he’s going to be a scientist or a violinist?”

“He can be both,” Manning and Taylor chorused, then grinned sheepishly as his parents laughed.

“Not even married a year and they’re already sharing the same brain and completing each other’s sentences.” Stan grinned at Prissy. “I’ve got a good feeling about these two.”

“So do I.” Prissy smiled smugly. “As you may recall,
I’m
the one who predicted that Taylor would be our daughter-in-law one day.”

“You certainly did,” Stan conceded, tweaking her nose. “And I’m sure you’re going to remind us all of that every chance you get.”

Prissy sighed. “Maybe not
every
chance…”

They all laughed.

Gently rocking Micah in her arms, Prissy casually mentioned to Manning and Taylor, “Your aunt Celeste is really sorry she couldn’t be here. She was hoping to come, but her husband wanted them to spend Mother’s Day with his mom in Vermont.”

“Good,” Stan muttered darkly under his breath.

Prissy tsked at him. “Be nice, honey.”

A few moments later, Taylor’s mother and Boyd strolled up from the garden holding hands and smiling contentedly. They, along with Tru, had come for the weekend to celebrate Taylor’s first Mother’s Day. They’d all had a wonderful time together, and Taylor appreciated the special gifts she’d received from everyone. While Tru had to leave that morning after breakfast, Elyse and Boyd were flying back later in the evening.

They sat down on the empty loveseat next to Manning’s parents. As Prissy cooed sweet nothings to Micah, Elyse said with mock sternness, “All right now, Priscilla. You’ve been hogging that baby all afternoon. It’s my turn to hold him again.”

“I know,” Prissy said guiltily. “I’m sorry, Elyse. He’s your first grandchild too.”

“That’s right. Now hand him over.”

Prissy grinned. “In another minute. I promise this time.”

The others laughed and shook their heads.

Basking in all the attention, Micah vigorously kicked his sturdy legs and waved his chubby fists, drawing delighted exclamations from everyone.

After fawning over her grandson a little longer, Prissy pressed a tender kiss to his forehead and then gently transferred him into Elyse’s arms.

Taylor’s throat tightened as her mother cradled the baby against her chest, her eyes closing in an expression of poignant gratitude. “Sweet Micah,” she whispered. “What a precious gift you are.”

As Manning and Taylor exchanged tender looks, Prissy gave Elyse’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. The two women shared a quiet smile.

Just then Mama Wolf and Sterling emerged from the house.

“The twins are down for their nap,” Mama Wolf announced to the group. “How’s this one holding up?”

Everyone looked at Micah. Curled against Elyse’s bosom with his tummy full of his mother’s breast milk, he was suddenly struggling to keep his eyelids open.

“He’ll be out like a light soon,” Sterling humorously predicted.

Everyone smiled and murmured in agreement.

As Elyse lovingly stroked Micah’s cheek, Taylor grinned at her. “Are you sure you and Boyd are leaving tonight? I don’t think you’ll be able to pry yourself away from your grandson.”

“I know,” Elyse said with a wistful laugh. “It’s going to be
very
hard.”

“That’s why you and Boyd have to come back next month for Father’s Day,” Mama Wolf said decisively. “It’s going to be at my house in Savannah. We usually go to Tybee Island and rent a boat for the day so the fellas can do some deep sea fishing.”

When Boyd’s eyes lit up, Elyse laughed knowingly. “You had him at
boat
.”

Boyd grinned, warmly clasping Mama Wolf’s hands. “We’ll be there.”

She smiled with pleasure. “Wonderful.”

Manning’s brothers and cousins sauntered over and gathered behind Taylor’s mother to beam down at the newest member of the Wolf Pack.

“The next generation,” Michael remarked warmly.

“Yup.” Montana smiled. “When we’re too old to play our pickup games, Matthew, Malcolm and Micah will have to carry on the tradition.”

Marcus chuckled. “While we watch from the sidelines in our rocking chairs.”

Mason snorted. “Speak for yourself.
I’m
never gonna be too old to play sports. Hell, I’ll be eighty years old schooling
their
kids on the court.”

Everyone laughed and guffawed. As Sterling playfully rubbed the back of Mason’s head, he grinned.

“Over there talking about schooling somebody.” Magnum snorted. “Listen, son. You may be a stud wide receiver, but when it comes to playing basketball, you’re no LeBron James. But don’t worry. By the time your nephew turns five, I’m sure he won’t mind helping you with your weak jump shot.”

“
Oooh!
” the others hollered raucously as Mason scowled.

Grinning lazily at his family’s antics, Manning leaned down and brushed his mouth across Taylor’s.

“Hey, hey, none of that,” Maddox teased.

“Oh, no, don’t stop them,” Mama Wolf interjected. “I want all the great-great-grandbabies I can get. And the more they have, the better my chances of finally getting a girl.” She winked at Manning and Taylor. “So get to it.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

When Manning and Taylor returned home that evening, he carefully unstrapped their sleeping son from his car seat while Taylor grabbed the pound cake Mama Wolf had baked for her.

After putting the cake in the kitchen, she headed up to the nursery to help put Micah to bed. When she reached the open doorway, she found Manning standing beside the crib holding their son protectively against his broad chest, his cheek resting on top of the baby’s head.

Taylor drank in the sight of them, her heart overflowing with love and joyous wonder.

Sensing her presence, Manning lifted his head and smiled at her.

She returned his smile as she started across the astronomy-themed nursery, which featured walls decorated with planets orbiting through the galaxy. It was the largest bedroom on the second floor, and the only one with a skylight that enabled Micah to sleep beneath the stars every night.

Reaching her husband and son, Taylor rubbed a gentle hand over the soft black curls crowning Micah’s head. “We wore him out today,” she whispered.

“I know.” Manning grinned. “He’ll probably sleep through the rest of the night.”

“Probably. Good thing I fed and changed him before we left your parents’ house.” Taylor leaned down and kissed the soft skin of Micah’s bare foot, smiling when his little toes curled reflexively. She and Manning were still in that new-parent phase where everything their child did was a delightful miracle.

Manning brushed his lips across Micah’s temple and murmured, “Let me put him down before he wakes up.”

“Okay.” Taylor smiled. “But first—”

“Group hug.” As Manning turned toward her, she pressed her cheek against Micah’s warm back and wrapped her arms around Manning, tenderly embracing her husband and child.

When she finally pulled away, Manning smiled and kissed her forehead, then carefully lowered Micah into the crib and covered him with a snuggly blanket adorned with rockets.

Wrapping their arms around each other, Manning and Taylor stood gazing down at their sleeping son, enthralled by every flutter of an eyelash, every delicate inhalation of breath.

Taylor smiled softly, remembering how much she’d enjoyed being pregnant. Manning had thoroughly pampered her. He’d given her foot and back rubs, kept the kitchen stocked with the foods she craved, and treated her to weekly prenatal massages at a luxury day spa. As her pregnancy progressed, he’d loved to kiss and caress her swollen belly, pressing his mouth close so he could talk to their unborn son. He’d beamed with excitement and wonder every time the tiny imprint of a hand or foot appeared against Taylor’s stomach (he’d once insisted that the baby gave him a fist bump).

When Taylor wasn’t on tour, they’d spent many nights curled up on the sofa reading maternity books and watching sappy reality shows that chronicled the journeys of other couples expecting their first child. Sometimes they’d just snuggled in bed and talked, making future plans for Micah and other children they would have. Whenever Taylor sang “Lullaby of Birdland” to Micah, Manning would lay his head in her lap, close his eyes and smile contentedly as she stroked the top of his head.