The Perfect Storm (The Blake Boys Book 6) (3 page)

Not quite ready for sleep, he went into the study hoping to find something to read that would lull him to sleep. Their library was comprised of an impressive collection of military biographies, books on corporate strategy, and thanks to Jake, an array of children’s books.

It was the perfect time to read the new spy thriller Morgan had brought to the house. He kicked off his boots, went into the kitchen to pop some microwave popcorn and grab a cold beer. Tyler and Channing hadn’t come home yet and his parents were upstairs in bed. He reached for the microwave handle when the timer dinged and noticed that the thin pale strip on his ring finger that was once covered with his wedding ring was fading.

He was fifty pages into the book before he laid the book on his chest and fell asleep. He only stirred when he felt a feather like kiss on his forehead. He opened his eyes to see his mother Teri-Lyn put a blanket on him.

“Hey Momma. What are you doing up?” He yawned.

“I came downstairs to get a cup of tea and heard you in here snoring like a bear. Did you have a good time at the Bright Star?” She took a seat in an arm chair.

“Yes, I did, but I was tired so I called it an early night. But I got the assurance that the boys would stay out of trouble.” He ran a hand over his face.

“I’m sure they won’t, but it was nice of you to remind them to be good.” She laughed.

“I missed hanging out with those rug rats.”

“They missed you too. Hell, I missed you the most. You are my first born, after all. I learned how to be a good mom by practicing on you.” She smiled.

“Don’t tell them I said it but I don’t mind being pestered by Ty and C.J. It brings back fond memories.”

“That’s always been their way of getting your attention.” Teri-Lyn coughed. “So did you meet anyone tonight?”

“I’m still ruminating over my failings with the divorce.”

“It’s not about a failure, it’s about realizing it just wasn’t mean to be.”

“I miss Eden sometimes and heaven only knows why. Most of the time she was pouting and surly.”

“You were together for a long time. You just need time. But don’t stew too long. Jump back into the dating pool in with both feet and swim around.”

Sure he could jump back into the dating pool, but what if he’d forgotten how to swim?

“I think I’ll turn in.” J.J. got up and reached for the beer bottle and popcorn bag.

“I’ll take care of that.”

“Thanks. You are too good to me.”

“If ever need anyone to talk to, I’m here.”

“I know. Good night Momma.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“Goodnight John John.”

* * *

After a week of staring at the phone number, J.J. took the plunge and called Heather, the woman his friend Steve’s wife insisted was perfect for him. He was more nervous than he liked to admit. But what harm could it do having dinner with a nice woman as a segue to full-fledged dating? Too bad he made the mistake of mentioning the date during the poker game with the boys the other night and found himself overrun with condoms. There were condoms left on his bed, in his car and somehow they’d managed to sneak some into his desk drawer at Blake Enterprises.

J.J. wrapped a towel around his waist and walked into the bedroom to find Teri-Lyn, Morgan and Isabelle rifling through his closet.

“Hello, ladies.” He tightened the towel.

“Hey, baby.” Teri-Lyn held up a blue dress shirt. “We thought we’d come help you pick out an outfit for your date tonight.”

“How did you know I had a date?”

Morgan came at him with a bottle of cologne. “Channing told us. You know he can’t keep a juicy detail like that a secret. Where are you taking her? Is it a formal or casual atmosphere?”

“I made a reservation at Clifford’s.” J.J. waved away the cloud of cologne Morgan spritzed at him.

“Clifford’s is kind of formal. How about a suit jacket with a pair of jeans? You have so many clothes it’s so hard to choose.” Isabelle held up one of his gray suits.

J.J. watched as the women put together an entire ensemble right down to the boxer shorts.

“Try this on so we can get a good look at you.” Teri-Lyn handed him the clothes.

He stood there for a minute waiting for them to exit, but no one budged. He cleared his throat. “Ladies? A little privacy?”

“What are you being so shy about? I’ve seen every body part you have, mister.” Teri-Lyn wagged her finger at him.

“Please, it’s a sausage fest at my house.” Morgan shrugged.

“Tate sent his stinky work handkerchief to use as a blindfold so I didn’t accidentally see your junk. But I’m not putting it on.” Isabelle’s nose twitched as she dangled the cloth in her hand.

J.J. felt his cheeks heat. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d appreciate it if you all could at least turn around.”

The ladies mumbled about his modesty but finally faced the wall. J.J. slipped on the pair of boxers under the towel before he took it off. So, this is what he missed growing up without sisters? The cologne Morgan sprayed on him did smell pretty good, and he did like the suit jacket Isabelle selected.

“So J.J., you’ve been out of commission for a while. Need any pointers?” Morgan stole a glance at him.

“Eyes forward.” He motioned with his hand. “Women still like to pay their own way and hate it when men try to do open doors for them?”

They all gasped.

“I’m kidding.” He burst out laughing and continued buttoning his shirt.

“I didn’t know you had a sense of humor.” Isabelle giggled.

While he dressed, the ladies continued to chatter about the things they wanted to do together before Morgan headed back to Philadelphia. It felt good seeing his mother surrounded by daughters; he was seeing a side of her that must have been suppressed from being in a house full of males most of her life. Her relationship with Morgan and Isabelle was refreshing compared to the combative stance she and Eden had taken. He often wondered if the rift between them would have been mended if he and Eden had given her grandchildren.

“You can turn around now.”

He turned in the mirror to assess his attire, but Teri-Lyn beat him to the punch by stepping in front of him and straightening his collars and running a hand through his hair.

“There you go. You look so handsome.” She pinched his cheeks once the spot check was complete.

“Yes, he does.” Isabelle nodded.

“Before I forget”—Teri-Lyn picked up a bag and handed it to him—“I bought you something for the occasion.”

Morgan and Isabelle furiously made hand signals that he couldn’t decipher behind Teri-Lyn’s back trying to give a clue of the contents of the bag. He prepared himself for the worst and gingerly opened the bag to find an economy size box of condoms.

“The ranch is a skank free zone. We’d like to keep it that way.” Teri-Lyn said.

“Momma, do you know what a skank is?” He raised an eyebrow.

“The girls told me what that means. Keep it covered at all times.” Teri-Lyn glared at him. “Have a good time.”

Morgan and Isabelle both bit their lips trying not to laugh. J.J. made a quick exit out of his bedroom and headed downstairs. He passed his father, who was on his way to study. John Jacob offered him a big smile.

“Have a good time.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

He headed out, hoping all the excitement wasn’t going to be all for nothing. Then again, the date couldn’t possibly be worse than getting condoms from his mom.

* * *

J.J. stared at his fork, contemplating whether or not to jam it into his eye. Heather hadn’t stopped talking since he’d picked her up. She was a pretty, poised investment banker who enjoyed golfing, tennis and going to the symphony.

The text messages from his brothers didn’t stop. He could just imagine them sitting in Seth’s living room taking bets on whether or not he’d get laid. Heather’s incessant blabbering had diminished any physical interest he had in her. He muddled through dinner and was relieved when she said she didn’t want dessert because she was watching her weight, which was ridiculous, because she was a waif. He liked a woman with some meat on her bones. Heather looked like she’d snap like a twig if she stepped off a sidewalk too quickly.

He took her home after dinner despite her protests that it was still early. She wanted to go dancing. He marveled at her energy, but he didn’t know people still went out to nightclubs on a week day. He’d been feeling so old and out of touch lately.

J.J. walked Heather to her door and thanked her for a lovely evening. He kissed her on the cheek and bid her a goodnight but she had other plans. She pressed him against the door and gave him a tonsillectomy. His body was trying to convince his mind to relax and enjoy the sensual assault but he knew it was wrong. She slid her hand down the front of his trousers and caressed him. J.J. froze when his dick rose to attention.

“Heather, we’ve only had one date.” He gripped her shoulders, trying to gently push her away.

“J.J. Blake, are you a prude?” She smirked.

“No. Just a man who likes to take his time when I’m getting to know a woman.”

“I’m a Scorpio. My natural hair color is brown and I’m on the pill and the patch to make sure I covered all the bases.” She threw her arms around his neck.

“Wait a minute now.” He held her off. “I need to know a little bit more than that.”

Heather folded her arms over her chest. “I got a Brazilian wax just for the occasion. I thought for sure we’d have some toe curling sex tonight.”

“How about getting to know me better?” Geez, how things had changed in seven years.

“I already do. You have the resume a woman dreams about. A rich, gorgeous, ex-pro football player who is now the head of a billion dollar company. You need someone on your arm who can complement your lifestyle. My family is wealthy. Not as wealthy as yours but I know the ins and outs of high society and could be very good for you. People will forget you were ever married to Eden Masterson.” Heather ran her hand through his hair.

He didn’t want to forget he was married to Eden. Right or wrong, she’d been a part of his life for a long time and helped shaped the man he is today. It felt wrong to bad mouth her or act as if she were some unfortunate disease he’d survived.

“Heather. I’m just not ready for this.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked away. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard her call him a jerk under her breath.

J.J. turned on the radio to the sports station when he got into the car to drown out the horny voice in his head telling him he’d just made a big mistake. Maybe he should have let her have her way with him. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have enough condoms. But he knew better than that. He just wasn’t ready to jump back into the dating pool if it meant swimming with the sharks.

CHAPTER THREE

Sam Carson checked her reflection in the decorative mirror as she pushed through the glass double doors leading to the reception area of the executive offices. The Blakes were one of the richest families in Texas, and one of Regency’s most esteemed clients. One couldn’t tell from driving by the Twelve Horseshoes ranch that the security was so state of the art, only a few people in the country had it. Their patriarch, John Jacob, had ramped up his already tight safety measures when Jake, his first grand son, was born. They looked, for the most part, like a hard working family of ranchers who lived a quiet life. But it took a lot of money and man power to maintain that illusion of simplicity.

“Hi, Anna Beth. Nice to see you again.” Sam smiled at the executive assistant.

“Hi, Sam. It’s audit time again, isn’t it?” Anna Beth mused.

Sam looked around. “Where is my favorite CFO?” Bo Jamison normally greeted her in the reception area with a present when she came for the audit.

“Mr. Jamison is on a forced extended vacation. Mr. Blake instituted a new policy that everyone had to take a vacation this year, even though he never does.” She laughed.

“Good for Bo. When is he returning? I can adjust some things on my calendar and reschedule.” Sam whipped out her cell phone and opened the appointment app.

“That’s not necessary. Mr. Blake will be filling in for him. He’s waiting for you in his office.”

“I thought Mr. Blake didn’t come into the office anymore? Isn’t he semi-retired?”

“John Jacob, Jr. The
other
Mr. Blake.”

“Oh. OK, thanks.” She tried to keep her smile intact. In all the years she worked with the Blakes, she’d never met the elusive John Jacob Blake Jr. Sam strode down the corridor draped with expensive artwork and football memorabilia, stopping when she reached two huge oak doors, and gingerly knocked.

“Come in.”

“Hello. Mr. Blake. I’m Samantha Jane Carson, the security specialist assigned to your family. I hear you’ll be replacing Bo for the audit.” She extended her hand, and then swallowed hard when the man stood up. The six foot three, broad-shouldered ex-football player turned corporate magnate was as deliciously rugged in person as he was in photos. There had to be a law against a man that good looking just roaming around Dallas, hell the state of Texas. His freshly divorced status was becoming the talk of the town. Women far and wide were vying to become the next Mrs. John Blake. His body was still in remarkable shape, even though he long since retired from football. Those trademark green eyes, beautifully intense and probing, were looking at her like she had two heads.

“Is something wrong?”

“Call me J.J.” He pulled out a box of cigars from his desk drawer and handed them to her. “I thought you were a man.”

“I get that a lot.”

“The cigars Bo told me you liked certainly was a misdirect.” He raised an eyebrow.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good cigar.” She folded her arms over her chest.

J.J. gave her a once over. “I wouldn’t peg you as a cigar smoker.”

She shrugged. “Well, I use them to barter for things.”

“Like what?”

“Favors. This brand is very hard to come by, and they give me leverage when I need it. It’s helps to have a leg up in this business.”