“You want a . . . a salad?” Zinnia Meadows asked again.
“That’s right. With grilled chicken, not fried,” Sienna told the curvy chef at the Blossom Café. Tonight was her second date with Seth. They had had lunch yesterday and talked all the way through happy hour and into dinner. When they finally parted, Sienna made a date for the next night. Saturday night was no longer the loneliest night of the week for her.
“Okay, spill. Do you have a man?” Zinnia asked in a conspirator's whisper.
“Man?” Violet Fae Rose-Vasseur, the owner and original chef of the café, asked from her spot by the window. The Blossom Café was an institution in Keeneston, just like the Rose sisters who had started it. The tables were wood and the chairs mix-matched and painted cheerful colors. It was simply known as ”the café“ to locals. It had the best food around, you knew all the people there, and, most importantly, it was gossip central. Which was why Sienna should have known better than to open her mouth.
Miss Violet and her two sisters, Lily Rae Rose-Wolfe and Daisy Mae Rose-Lastinger zeroed in on Sienna like sharks on the scent of fresh blood. Somehow, these ninety-five-year-old women could hear her whispered conversation on the other side of the restaurant.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone,” her best friend, Sydney Davies, commented from the table next to hers.
Sienna glanced to the stuffy man sitting across from Sydney and back to her best friend. “Aren’t you in a meeting?”
“Yeah, but you seeing someone takes priority over Saks carrying my clothing line.”
The man from Saks didn’t seem to think so, but Sydney was the hottest designer around right now, and everyone was dying to get her clothing line into their stores.
“It’s just a second date,” Sienna told the now attentive patrons of the Blossom Café.
“I’ve got ten on it lasting five dates,” Daisy called out before the eruption of betting began.
“Really? I’m only worth ten dollars now? I remember when bets placed against my love life were worth twenty,” Sienna said sarcastically to the Rose sisters. Betting was a town-wide hobby run by the three little old ladies sitting innocently at the same table every day. They may all be married now, but they were still the same Rose sisters who fought to get the first bit of gossip, ran the betting books, and made the best food in town.
“We’re retired now,” Daisy told her.
“We have to live on a budget, and our financial advisor told us we have enough to live on only for another fifteen years,” Lily explained.
“Fifteen years worth of money saved up,” Sienna said in shock. “How much more are you trying to save?”
“Five more years or so,” Violet answered as if it were completely normal for people to live well past one hundred fifteen.
“Well, I’ll put twenty on Sienna dating him for more than five dates,” Sydney told the restaurant.
Sienna groaned. “A pity bet, really, Syd?”
Sydney just shrugged her delicate shoulders. “You’re my bestie. Which means I’ll be over tonight to hear all about him while you get dressed.” Sydney winked before getting back to her meeting.
A moment later, Zinnia came out with a grilled chicken Caesar salad and placed it in front of her. “I called Poppy, and she said for me to get the whole scoop.”
Four years ago, Poppy and Zinnia Meadows had shown up in Keeneston. No one knew that the Rose Sisters even had cousins, never mind ones who were happy to come help the sisters by taking over the Blossom Café and their bed and breakfast.
Poppy looked after the B&B while Zinnia ran the restaurant. Poppy would often serve as waitress after getting everything organized at the B&B each day. Lily explained she had overheard her mother telling her father one night that she regretted never forgiving her sister. After some help from Nabi, the head of Mo and Dani’s security team, she had tracked her aunt to Daphne, Alabama. Then, after some more digging, discovered that Poppy and Zinnia were the only family the Rose sisters had left. They were cousins three or four times removed, but cousins nonetheless. Lily had written to them and offered them jobs if they were up for it. And they were.
After the initial shock of the two sisters’ sudden appearance, the town had opened their arms to its newest residents. Within months, it was as if Poppy and Zinnia had lived there their whole lives. They took time to get to know each person who came into the cafe and their whole family history. The fact that the two girls were knockouts didn’t hurt either. Although, they always seemed too busy to date.
“Well, tell Poppy there’s nothing to scoop yet. When I make it to date five, I’ll tell you all about him.”
Zinnia stuck her bottom lip out in a pout but hurried back to the kitchen instead of pressing further. Sienna dug into the salad. She had a sexy dress she wanted to wear that night, and she didn’t have room for the hot brown she had really wanted for lunch. The hot brown is a Kentucky food tradition. It is an open-faced sandwich stacked with turkey and bacon, smothered with cheese, and finally topped off with plenty of creamy Mornay sauce. It was the best thing on Earth. Unfortunately, it also instantly added five pounds to your hips. Sienna looked down at the salad and frowned. Tomorrow she’d have the hot brown.
* * *
Sienna stepped slowly up to her front door, Seth’s hand at the small of her back. She didn’t want the night to end, but in a couple of minutes Malik would be calling and she took her patient’s confidentiality seriously—even with that player's agent and even with the potential shot of ending her sexual drought.
“Thanks for dinner. It was a wonderful night. I’m sorry I have to cut it short.” Sienna stood at the door as her fingers played nervously with her key.
“I am too. I’m wining and dining some corporate heads tomorrow during the game in hopes of getting my guys some good endorsements. Then I meet with a couple of them after the game and fly out to Indianapolis to catch the evening game there for more of the same. I’m going to make sure I get back to Lexington soon though,” Seth said as he ran his hand down her arm. His gaze had her wondering if Malik could wait an hour to go to bed.
“You certainly travel a lot.” Sienna smiled at him.
“The beginning and end of the season are my busiest times. Setting up endorsements for the season and then for the summer. Would you mind if I give you a call while I’m traveling around? It would sure make traveling a lot less lonely,” Seth said. He looked kind of embarrassed.
“Of course,” Sienna said before leaning forward. She placed a gentle kiss on his lips. It would have gone further, but the earth began to shake.
“Does Kentucky get earthquakes?” Seth asked, pulling her from the porch.
Sienna giggled. “It’s not an earthquake. It's just Hooch.”
Seth looked at her in confusion. “What’s a hooch?”
A bone-chilling howl let loose from inside the house. Horses scattered in the pastures, and the door handle shook ominously. Seth look petrified as Sienna smiled lovingly at the door and went to open it. “This is Hooch.”
She opened the door, and Hooch bounded out. Well, bounded may be a slight exaggeration. Hooch meandered his girth out of the door, took a look at Seth, and drooled before letting out a deep bark that echoed through the night.
“He’s my baby,” Sienna said happily as she rested her hand on a head at least four times larger than her hand.
“That’s not a baby; that’s a monster. I’ve never seen a dog so big before,” Seth said in horror.
Hooch let out a low growl and flashed the impressive set of teeth he had. “I don’t think he likes being insulted. You’re a handsome fellow, yes, you are,” Sienna cooed. Hooch thumped his tail and wiped his drool on her leg.
“He’s actually nothing more than a big baby. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. It takes too much energy, doesn’t it, big boy?” Sienna baby-talked to Hooch who was close to splintering the porch boards with his tail thumping.
Seth’s eyes went even larger. “A gentle giant, huh? Well, I look forward to getting to know you and him better in the future.”
Seth stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. Sienna felt her heart kick up in anticipation of the kiss. He looked into her eyes and gently framed her face with his hand before slowly lowering his lips to hers. It was gentle, it was romantic . . . it was over? Sienna opened her eyes when Seth’s lips were torn from hers. She found Seth lying on the porch with Hooch standing over him, a long line of drool dangling dangerously close to Seth’s face.
Sienna watched in a mixture of amusement and horror as Seth tried to push Hooch off him, causing the drool to jiggle precariously with the movement.
“Get off, you . . .” Seth gave Hooch another shove to try to dislodge him, but the battle was lost. The drool fell straight into Seth’s sputtering mouth.
“Hooch!” Sienna said sharply. “Heel!”
In seconds, Hooch was by her side as Seth rolled onto his stomach and spit off the side of the porch. “Oh God, it got in my mouth!”
“I am so sorry,” Sienna cried and rushed toward Seth, smothering a laugh.
“It’s okay. I’m just going to wash my mouth out with some bleach. It’s all good.” Seth waved her off and moved to stand. “That certainly does make for a memorable end to the evening.”
Sienna heard her cell phone start to ring. “I’m so sorry, but I have to take this.”
“It’s okay. I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is the first day of regular season, and it’s going to be a very long day.” Seth leaned forward and placed a quick peck on her cheek. “I’ll call you.”
“I look forward to it.” Sienna sent him a wave as she dug into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Hello, Malik. How are you doing tonight?” She turned from watching Seth’s taillights disappear into the night and focused on Malik.
* * *
Sienna sat back against the chair as Jaylen practically bounced around the room. His first time starting for the Thoroughbreds resulted in a game-winning touchdown. His normally happy nature was heightened, and he had even brought her a bouquet of flowers as a thank-you.
“I can’t believe how focused I was. Did you see me? It was like I could see the path I needed to run opening up before me. I did everything you taught me and crushed it. Coach Everett was impressed.”
Coach Trey Everett was also from Keeneston. He’d played high school football there before going to Vanderbilt and then to the NFL. When he’d moved back to Keeneston, he had helped coach the high school team with Cade Davies and then spent five years at the University of Kentucky coaching before being picked up by the Thoroughbreds as the running back coach.
“I know. Trey told me when I saw him Sunday night at the Blossom Café. You were fabulous, Jaylen.”
Jaylen finally collapsed on the couch. “And I’ve told all the guys about your advice on sleeping and sex. I got a little somethin’ somethin’ Saturday evening and fell asleep at eleven. They guys laughed at me in the locker room before the game, but they aren’t laughing now. They all are going to try it. Although Deon said he might have to bribe his wife for that much sex. He was already on the phone with Seth, asking about the jewelers and if ten carats was big enough.”
Sienna tried to keep a professional face but failed as she imagined the entire team begging women to have sex with them so they could relax before each game.
“Oh, and I found this awesome house I want to buy. I asked Seth for all my account information so I can see if I can afford it. As soon as I get that info from the financial advisor a lot of us guys use, I’ll be on my way to being the first homeowner in my family,” Jaylen said with pride.
“That’s very impressive and something to be proud of.”
“Seth is hoping to lock up a shoe deal for me if I continue to play as well as I have. Then, I’m hoping I can use some of that money to buy a house for my parents. I’ll have to remember to ask my Rook Capital Management advisor about that, too.”
Sienna nodded her head. She’d heard some of the players talking about investing with them. The person who ran it was a Wall Street billionaire who had the magic touch. Lots of the agents advised their players to go in with a respectable firm like that instead of giving control of their money to their cousin or best friend like so many did.
“That’s very kind of you, Jaylen. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss before practice begins?” Sienna asked.
“I think that covers it, Doc. I can’t thank you enough for helping me take my game to the next level.” Sienna was picked up from her chair and wrapped up in another bear hug before she could blink.
“You’re welcome,” she managed to groan as he gave her one last squeeze.
As soon as Jaylen left, Zack Sanders arrived. It was going to be a busy day. All six-foot-four inches and 310 pounds of muscle walked in. His sandy blond hair was wet from the shower, and his face had the beginnings of a beard that Sienna had learned wasn’t to be shaved until the season ended. Football players were a superstitious lot, and the entire offensive line believed shaving somehow hurt their chance at winning.
“Hey, Doc,” Zack said in his Midwestern accent. “Mind if I sit down? I just got done lifting weights.”
“Of course,” Sienna motioned for him to sit on the couch. “What did you want to see me about?”
“It’s embarrassing,” Zack started as a blush crept up his cheeks, “but I need help with something.”
“That’s what I’m here for. And you know I never say a word, so no matter what you tell me no one will ever know,” Sienna said reassuringly.
“It’s about women, Doc.”
Sienna almost groaned. “Have you been talking to Jaylen?”
“About the sex thing? I already know that. I learned about the mental and physical benefits of sex in college. No, it’s more about talking to women.” Zack grimaced.
Sienna forgot that Zack had a biology degree from Duke. He was the smartest player on the team and quite possibly in the entire league. “Go on,” Sienna encouraged.
“In college, I was always at practice, in the weight room, or studying. I didn’t really have time to date and all those women who just tried to bag players seemed so shallow, I didn’t waste my time on them. Well, I’m trying to break out of my shell now that I’m out of school and went to a club with the guys after the game last night. I froze, Doc. A real nice lady came and started talking to me, and I froze. I couldn’t think of one thing to stay. I stuttered something that didn’t even make sense, and after trying to draw me into a conversation, she finally gave up and left.” Zack fell back against the pillows and let out a frustrated sigh.
“Don’t worry, we’ll work this out.” Sienna gave him a pat on the knee and got to work.