The Blindsided Groom (Last Play Masquerade Romances Book 4)

by Heather Horrocks

  “I’m looking into Daniel’s little girlfriend,” she purred into his ear.

  “What are you talking about?” He pulled away. “Daniel doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

  “That’s not what I heard. He’s seeing one Amy Kingsley for therapy. I was just talking to one of the techs, who shall remain unnamed. I’m going to get the story on his therapy. And I’m going to get the story on you, too.”

  Disgusted with her desire to ruin lives, Knox said, softly, “Leave Daniel alone. He has enough going on.”

  “That depends.”

  “On what?” Knox wished he’d never dated this woman, because breaking up with her had triggered something vindictive. She was the epitome of a woman scorned. “Your basic humanity?”

  “On whether you cooperate with me or not, Knox.” She ran her fingernails down his arm lightly, trailing cold prickles. She tapped his shoulder. “You should call me. Soon.”

  She stood and walked out, not looking back. There were plenty of guys watching her leave, but none with the kind of dread Knox felt.

  He knew Sylvia’s determination and had already experienced her special brand of stalking. If someone at the therapy place was leaking secrets, he had one more reason to get Daniel out of there.

  Daniel looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

  Knox rose and tapped Sam on the shoulder, motioning to his deserted chair. Sam switched seats with him. Knox sat and told Daniel, “Sylvia’s determined to do a story on you, and I know from experience that it won’t be a positive one. She apparently has a source inside the therapy place who is leaking info to her.”

  Daniel frowned. “What can we do about that? I’m not going to stop the therapy. It really is helping me, Knox. My mind is clearer. I couldn’t have even come to a noisy place like this before, and now it’s bothering me some, but I can handle it.”

  Daniel was speaking with a little less hesitation, more smoothly. And he was right, the noise would have bothered him more before. “What if we go up to the cabin and continue therapy there?”

  “We don’t have the equipment there.”

  “We also won’t have Sylvia there. She’ll do a hatchet job on you.”

  Daniel looked undecided. “I don’t know.”

  “I know Sylvia. When she’s through, Jessie will get custody of the kids and all your money. You’ll be living with Mom and Dad for the rest of your life.”

  Daniel frowned. Knox knew he was aware of how vindictive Sylvia could be. It was practically family legend. Town legend. He shook his head.

  “Let’s disappear for a week. Let Sylvia calm down.”

  “We have to let Amy know, arrange for her to come up, too. See if she can still help me.”

  Knox nodded. “I’ll call her and let her know.”

  He didn’t plan on inviting her up, though. Sylvia was one kind of trouble; Amy was another.

  Chapter 4 ~ Have You Ever Seen Two People More Pigheaded in Your Life?

  Amy didn’t recognize the number so she didn’t answer it. A moment later, there was a voicemail. She listened to it. It was Ace Reid, Daniel’s father, asking her to please call him.

  She quickly added him into her contacts so she wouldn’t miss a call from him again, and called back.

  “Hello?”

  “Mr. Reid, this is Amy Kingsley, returning your call.”

  “Amy, glad to reach you. Did my son get hold of you to tell you what they’re doing?”

  “I had a call from Knox this morning telling me Daniel would be going out of town for a week and so they needed to postpone treatment.”

  There was a pause. When Ace continued, his voice had lost its easy-going tone. “That wasn’t quite accurate. He and Daniel heard of someone in your office leaking information to the local press. That wasn’t you, was it?”

  Shocked, Amy said, “No, sir. Of course not.”

  “Glad to hear it. Let your boss know about it. He needs to deal with it.”

  This wasn’t good. They were supposed to be making the Reid family happy. “I will. Right after we hang up.”

  His tone softened a little. “I’m guessing Daniel is a high-priority case for your office.”

  “Yes, sir,” she responded politely. “You’ve guessed correctly.”

  “I have a proposition for your boss. When you call him, ask if he’d be willing to let one of his therapists—mainly you—leave the office and do some therapy offsite for a week.”

  Startled, she sputtered. “I, well—”

  “I know it’s unorthodox. I want Daniel to get what he needs, but we can’t have a hostile press knowing all the details.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Will you go?”

  What could she say? It was highly unusual, but she knew how much Paul wanted to please the family. She’d have to defer to him. “I’ll ask him.”

  “Thank you. I need to know he’s open to it, and also that you are willing to go if he says yes.”

  Feeling a little trapped, Amy said, “If Paul agrees, I will go. I’ll speak with him, then call you back.”

  “All right. I’ll text you the address. Can you be there by this afternoon?”

  “I believe so.”

  When they hung up, she stared at her phone. Going up to a cabin to complete therapy? There was no way. She could do physical therapy with him, but nothing like he’d get here in the clinic.

  She stuck the phone in her pocket and went to find Paul to see if he could talk the Reids out of this plan.

  After she closed his office door and told him about the call, his eyebrows rose. “He wants you to do therapy in a cabin?” He sounded doubtful.

  “I know. He won’t get the kind of help he’d get here.”

  Paul looked at the ceiling, thinking. Finally, he said, “But you are also trained as a physical therapist, and there are still things you can do to help him. Nothing as dramatic as therapy here, of course.”

  Her heart sank. If Paul was on board, she’d have to do it. “I have to do it?”

  “Yes. Just try to get him back in here as soon as possible.”

  She sighed dramatically, and said, “Then I’ll need you to keep my cat while I go up there.”

  “Fine.” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t blow this, Amy. We need this endorsement. This will make us or maybe even break us. It’s all on you. Keep Daniel happy. Keep Ace happy. And if his brother is there, keep his brother happy, too.”

  “His brother is never happy.” Not with her, at least.

  Thank goodness the area around Waco got mostly rain, and only an average of one inch of snow each year, because otherwise the drive up to the Reid family cabin could have been so much worse.

  The sun was high in the sky, and her car thermometer read sixty degrees outside.

  As she drove, she wondered what kind of welcome would greet her at the door.

  These houses were sprawling and growing more spread out as she drove farther from town. She didn’t know how many acres each sat on, but it must be quite a few, because she’d drive for several minutes before reaching the road leading to the next one, and then again, the next.

  There were cabins, and then there were deluxe cabins. These were more like gentleman ranch houses, probably with pools in the back, and maybe even access to Lake Waco, which served as the western edge of town.

  If the Reids kept horses there, they’d also have live-in caretakers. She’d know soon enough.

  She slowed her Camry as she spotted a metal sign arching over the next road, spelling out Reids & Wranglers. That had to be a reference to their football roots—the Waco Wranglers.

  She turned and drove under the sign and up a long way to the main house. She pulled up in front of the large, elegant brick building and prepared for battle, if need be. Daniel wanted her help and so did his father. Maybe she’d get lucky and Knox Reid wouldn’t even be here.

  She hefted one of three bags of therapy tools—a far cry from the machines available in the clinic—slung it over her shoulder, and
shut the trunk. Shifting the bag, she stepped off toward the house.

  She rang the bell and waited. It sounded quiet inside, and she wondered if anyone was even there. She rang again.

  This time, she caught a glimpse of someone looking out the side window. A moment later, the door opened.

  Daniel smiled at her. “Amy, hi. Knox said he was going to call you.”

  “Hi, Daniel.” Not that Knox had told her where they were going or invited her up. “Oh, yes, your brother did call.”

  “Come on in.”

  “Ready to get to work?”

  “You bet. I want to get better.”

  She nodded. “You already are.”

  He grinned. “I feel like I am.”

  She stepped inside the spacious home. How would it be to have a home this beautiful as your second home? She smiled at the thought.

  “Who was at the door?” a man’s voice called out, growing closer. And then Knox Reid stood there, staring at her.

  An electric shock zinged through her, and she lowered the heavy bag to the floor. “The therapist,” she said, daring him to say anything.

  “How did you—?” He stopped and glanced at Daniel.

  “Your father called.” She smiled at him, doing everything but batting her eyes in innocence.

  Knox scowled. “My father?”

  “Yes, you know. The man who sired you.”

  Daniel snorted a laugh. “That’s a good one, Amy.”

  “Yeah, a really good one,” muttered Knox. “How long are you here for?”

  “The duration.”

  “So you’ll need a room to sleep in,” Daniel said. “Follow me and you can get settled in before we start therapy.”

  She walked beside Daniel as he shuffled down the hallway. “Look, my right foot isn’t drooping quite as much.”

  “I noticed that. You’re doing awesome.”

  Behind them, Knox snorted derisively.

  Daniel glanced at her. “Ignore him. I always do.”

  She grinned. “Good plan.”

  Daniel pointed at a door on the left. “Each room has its own bathroom, but this is the one for the main floor.”

  Leading her down the hallway, Daniel said, “The first room on the right is mine.”

  She caught a glimpse of neatness.

  “And you can have this room.”

  She reached for the door, only to have Knox say, “No, that’s not necessary. I’ll take this room. The other one is larger, and I think you’ll enjoy it more. It has a private balcony overlooking the lake in back.”

  She looked back at Knox. What was up with this? “Oh. Thanks.”

  “You’re going to give her your room?” Daniel asked. “Why?”

  “It’ll just take a moment to grab my things out of there. You’ll love the balcony. And the hot tub.”

  What, exactly, was going on here? Daniel had offered her a room next to his own. An innocent act, she was sure. And now Knox was giving up his room to take the room in between them?

  “You need some privacy,” Knox assured her as he slipped into his bedroom.

  She looked at Daniel. “Is he always this weird?”

  He nodded. “Always. And getting worse.”

  When Knox came out carrying a bag and dropping it inside the door of the middle room, he lifted her bag as if it weighed nothing and waved her on to the last room as if he weren’t being weird about everything.

  She entered. He’d left the blinds open so she could see the lake view from there.

  She walked forward, mesmerized. Opening one of the French doors, she stepped out onto the balcony and placed her hands on the railing.

  Knox stepped out beside her. “Like the view?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  He smiled down at her, and that smile sort of weakened her knees. Too bad it vanished a second later, as if he remembered he didn’t like her.

  “Good,” he said with a nod, and then waited.

  Uncomfortable, she slipped back inside.

  He followed and, thank goodness, left her room.

  She could breathe again.

  She stepped back outside and studied the lake for long moments. Finally, feeling more at peace, she turned to go back in.

  There, where Knox had been blocking her view, she could easily see that the “private” balcony extended down along all of the bedrooms, including the one in the middle.

  What a surprise. Knox had an ulterior motive.

  What on earth did he think would happen if she was in the middle bedroom? Did he really think she was going to go after Daniel in the middle of the night? What was wrong with Knox, anyway?

  And how did he think whatever would happen from the middle room couldn’t happen from this room, since she could just walk down the balcony?

  Sheesh. She was getting a little tired of this guy.

  Spinning on her heel, she re-entered her new bedroom, one that still had echoes of Knox Reid.

  Time to put him aside, and get to work with his brother.

  Four hours later, Knox ordered several pizzas delivered to the cabin. He’d paid an exorbitant delivery fee, and he’d need to have Amy open the door so neither he nor Daniel would be recognized, but Daniel had to be working up an appetite with all the workouts Amy was putting him through.

  He walked back into the workout room where she’d set up her temporary clinic. There were large workout balls, small balls, weights, and all sorts of things—and Amy seemed to know how to use them in interesting and unusual ways.

  Daniel would start off slowly, but even Knox could see that he was picking up a little speed on them.

  Could it be that Daniel might actually be improving somewhat?

  That kind of blew Knox’s mind.

  His impression of Amy was changing. He was actually impressed with her seeming dedication to her job.

  He’d be more impressed if she wasn’t so enticing. He saw the appreciative looks his brother was giving her, and he didn’t like it one bit. Amy Kingsley might put on this sweet little innocent act, might even be helping Daniel to improve, but Knox still thought she was after his brother.

  Shaking his head, he watched Daniel lift a weight he hadn’t managed before.

  Darned if she wasn’t helping his brother.

  Ace Reid picked up his phone.

  His wife shook her head. “We need to stay out of this, Ace. You’ve already interfered by calling that therapist. Amy.”

  Ace said, “I want to get Daniel and Jessie back together.”

  “They’ve got to do it on their own time.”

  “Have you ever seen two people more pigheaded in your life?”

  When Rebecca laughed, Ace smiled. He’d been married to this woman for over thirty years, and he still loved the sound of her laughter.

  She got a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Daniel does take after you and so does Knox, for that matter.”

  “Sure, blame it all on me.” He reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her toward him for a kiss.

  “Don’t make the call,” she whispered. “Come to bed.”

  “I will.” He released her. “As soon as I’ve made the call.”

  Rebecca shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “And you love me.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Ace pushed a button and lifted the phone to his ear. In a moment, he heard a woman say, “Hello?”

  Chapter 5 ~ Then Just Give Us a Hint and Beat Us Up a Little

  The doorbell rang, and Knox said, “Hey, would you please get that? I’ve ordered pizza and I don’t want anyone to know Daniel is here.”

  Amy looked over at him disdainfully.

  Daniel pushed to an upright position, sweat glistening on his brow. “Does this mean therapy is over for today?”

  “You wish,” she said, but nodded. “Sure. You’ve done really well.”

  The doorbell rang again, and this time the person camped on it.

  “All right, already,” A
my said, and pushed her way past the big guy, bumping his arm.

  “Hey,” Knox said, as if she’d actually hurt him.

  “Wimp,” she called back over her shoulder.

  Daniel snickered and followed behind her.

  “Stand back,” Knox said, “so the pizza guy doesn’t see us.”

  Amy unlocked the door and swung it open—and stood still, surprised.

  This was no pizza guy. This was a pretty woman, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties, with brunette curls with blonde highlights curling about her face—and a frown and angry brown eyes. “Where is he?”

  “He?” Amy said, stupidly. Which “he” did she mean? Was this the ex-girlfriend reporter that Knox had warned her about? She’d better play dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The woman stepped up into the house and face to face with her.

  Amy stepped back. “What’s with you, anyway?”

  “I just wanted to see the other woman. I thought you’d be prettier.”

  Amy’s eyes widened. Witch.

  The woman took another step. “Where is he? He’s a dead man.”

  She had to get this reporter out of the house. She stepped in her path.

  The woman stopped and smirked at her. “Do you really think you can come between me and my husband?”

  “What the heck are you talking about?” This didn’t sound like a reporter. This sounded like a ... wife!

  Was this woman Daniel’s wife?

  Or was Knox married? Why did that thought send jealousy spiraling through her? She didn’t care if he was married.

  “Okay, gentlemen,” Amy called out. “I can’t handle this one on my own.”

  Knox caught Daniel’s eye. “It’s your wife, dude. How’d she find you here?”

  Daniel’s eyes widened and he shrugged. “Someone must have told her I was here.”

  Together, they said, “Dad.”

  Jessie said, “Let me at him.”

  “Come on, let’s go save Amy,” Daniel said, and led the way.

  “Speak for yourself,” Knox said. He kind of enjoyed the thought of Jessie taking Amy down.