Quarterback Draw
Page 64
“Sure, Mom.”
Katrina hesitated. The other house? She wasn’t going to second-guess his mother on housing. “The kids and I can help him with luggage.”
Lydia waved her hand. “He’s used to being on chore duty when he gets here. Luggage will be the least of what he does. Don’t worry.”
Interesting. Katrina wondered what kind of chores were in store for Grant. He didn’t seem to mind with the luggage though, and Katrina’s attention turned to the house as they walked in.
It was a two story, and she’d already noticed the stonework outside and the amazing landscaping. The front porch was a huge wraparound with multiple seating areas. She’d spied a garden out back as they were driving in, and she felt a little spark of envy, since she had always wanted a garden to grow things, which she couldn’t do in her apartment.
Inside, there were dark wood floors and an extremely spacious living area that led into a massive open dining room with the biggest table she’d ever seen. That room led to a beautiful kitchen that made Katrina’s eyes widen.
“Your house is incredible.”
“Thank you. We’ve remodeled over the years, opened things up some. As you can imagine, four boys ran roughshod over this place growing up. And our daughter did her part as well.”
“You painted over my artwork on the wall is what you’re saying, Mom.”
Katrina turned to see a stunningly beautiful young woman walk in from out back. This had to be Grant’s sister.
“Katrina,” Lydia said. “This is my daughter, Mia. Mia, this is Katrina, Anya, and Leo.”
Mia shook her hand. “I know who you are. I’m a big fan.”
Katrina grinned. “Thank you.”
“Mia is home from college for the summer. She’ll be finishing up her last year at the University of Texas starting in the fall.”
Katrina looked at her. “How great for you. What’s your field of study?”
“Business and communications with a minor in mathematics.”
“Wow. That’s intense.”
“Yes, but I like staying busy. And speaking of busy, you seem to be everywhere these days. I saw your cover of Vogue. It was gorgeous. I also love your commercials for the new shampoo. Not surprised they chose you for that campaign. Your hair is even more glorious in person.”
Katrina laughed. “It helps when you have a team to style your hair for the commercials and photo shoots, but thank you.”
A man who looked very much like an older version of Grant walked in through the back door.
“I heard our company had arrived.”
“I hope you washed up,” Lydia said.
“I did.” He turned toward Katrina and held out his hand. “I’m Easton Cassidy. You must be Katrina.”
“I am.” She glanced at her siblings. Leo looked awestruck, like he was meeting the president. How sweet.
“This is my brother, Leo, and my sister, Anya.”
“Hi, kids.” Easton shook both their hands.
“I’ve seen your film,” Leo said. “You were an awesome quarterback.”
Easton grinned. “Thanks. Those days are over now, though. But I still keep my fingers on the pulse of the game, with my boys and with some of the teams I help out with.”
“Mr. Cassidy helps coach one of the local high school teams nearby,” Leo explained to her. “He’s also part owner of the team in Houston.”
Katrina was impressed. “I did not know that.”
“No reason for you to,” Easton said. “I take it you don’t follow football all that much.”
“I know some. Leo is the expert on sports. Anya loves sports as well.”
“We’ve got a lot of experts around here. Some think they know more than others. All these youngsters coming up these days, trying to best the old man.” He shot a look across the kitchen island at his daughter.
Mia shrugged. “I like statistics, Dad. I’m certainly not going to claim I know what it’s like to play the game. I’ll leave that to you and my idiot brothers.”
“Aww, saying nice things about me, like always,” Grant said as he came up behind Mia and put his arms around her.
“You’re a jerk,” Mia said, but smiled and bumped her head against Grant’s chest.
Grant kissed the top of her head.
Katrina could see the resemblance between the two, especially in the shape of the mouth. But Mia was more petite, like her mother, with lighter brown hair and smaller features like Lydia. She also had her mother’s blue eyes, whereas Grant looked a lot like his dad.
“What can I get you all to drink?” Lydia asked. “I’m sure you’re thirsty from the drive. We have iced tea, beer, cold water, lemonade …”
“I would love some iced tea,” Katrina said.
“Beer sounds good to me.”
“Not yet. I want you to come look at the tractor with me,” Easton said to Grant. “I think we might need to replace the carburetor.”
Grant’s lips curved. “In other words, Flynn isn’t here yet, otherwise he’d have had it torn down and rebuilt by now.”
Grant’s dad let out a short laugh. “You got that right.”
“Flynn had an afternoon game. He’ll fly in later. Tucker will be in soon, and Barrett tomorrow morning.” Lydia turned to her. “It’s Easton’s birthday tomorrow, and our thirtieth wedding anniversary, so the boys all decided to visit and help celebrate.”
Katrina hesitated. The other house? She wasn’t going to second-guess his mother on housing. “The kids and I can help him with luggage.”
Lydia waved her hand. “He’s used to being on chore duty when he gets here. Luggage will be the least of what he does. Don’t worry.”
Interesting. Katrina wondered what kind of chores were in store for Grant. He didn’t seem to mind with the luggage though, and Katrina’s attention turned to the house as they walked in.
It was a two story, and she’d already noticed the stonework outside and the amazing landscaping. The front porch was a huge wraparound with multiple seating areas. She’d spied a garden out back as they were driving in, and she felt a little spark of envy, since she had always wanted a garden to grow things, which she couldn’t do in her apartment.
Inside, there were dark wood floors and an extremely spacious living area that led into a massive open dining room with the biggest table she’d ever seen. That room led to a beautiful kitchen that made Katrina’s eyes widen.
“Your house is incredible.”
“Thank you. We’ve remodeled over the years, opened things up some. As you can imagine, four boys ran roughshod over this place growing up. And our daughter did her part as well.”
“You painted over my artwork on the wall is what you’re saying, Mom.”
Katrina turned to see a stunningly beautiful young woman walk in from out back. This had to be Grant’s sister.
“Katrina,” Lydia said. “This is my daughter, Mia. Mia, this is Katrina, Anya, and Leo.”
Mia shook her hand. “I know who you are. I’m a big fan.”
Katrina grinned. “Thank you.”
“Mia is home from college for the summer. She’ll be finishing up her last year at the University of Texas starting in the fall.”
Katrina looked at her. “How great for you. What’s your field of study?”
“Business and communications with a minor in mathematics.”
“Wow. That’s intense.”
“Yes, but I like staying busy. And speaking of busy, you seem to be everywhere these days. I saw your cover of Vogue. It was gorgeous. I also love your commercials for the new shampoo. Not surprised they chose you for that campaign. Your hair is even more glorious in person.”
Katrina laughed. “It helps when you have a team to style your hair for the commercials and photo shoots, but thank you.”
A man who looked very much like an older version of Grant walked in through the back door.
“I heard our company had arrived.”
“I hope you washed up,” Lydia said.
“I did.” He turned toward Katrina and held out his hand. “I’m Easton Cassidy. You must be Katrina.”
“I am.” She glanced at her siblings. Leo looked awestruck, like he was meeting the president. How sweet.
“This is my brother, Leo, and my sister, Anya.”
“Hi, kids.” Easton shook both their hands.
“I’ve seen your film,” Leo said. “You were an awesome quarterback.”
Easton grinned. “Thanks. Those days are over now, though. But I still keep my fingers on the pulse of the game, with my boys and with some of the teams I help out with.”
“Mr. Cassidy helps coach one of the local high school teams nearby,” Leo explained to her. “He’s also part owner of the team in Houston.”
Katrina was impressed. “I did not know that.”
“No reason for you to,” Easton said. “I take it you don’t follow football all that much.”
“I know some. Leo is the expert on sports. Anya loves sports as well.”
“We’ve got a lot of experts around here. Some think they know more than others. All these youngsters coming up these days, trying to best the old man.” He shot a look across the kitchen island at his daughter.
Mia shrugged. “I like statistics, Dad. I’m certainly not going to claim I know what it’s like to play the game. I’ll leave that to you and my idiot brothers.”
“Aww, saying nice things about me, like always,” Grant said as he came up behind Mia and put his arms around her.
“You’re a jerk,” Mia said, but smiled and bumped her head against Grant’s chest.
Grant kissed the top of her head.
Katrina could see the resemblance between the two, especially in the shape of the mouth. But Mia was more petite, like her mother, with lighter brown hair and smaller features like Lydia. She also had her mother’s blue eyes, whereas Grant looked a lot like his dad.
“What can I get you all to drink?” Lydia asked. “I’m sure you’re thirsty from the drive. We have iced tea, beer, cold water, lemonade …”
“I would love some iced tea,” Katrina said.
“Beer sounds good to me.”
“Not yet. I want you to come look at the tractor with me,” Easton said to Grant. “I think we might need to replace the carburetor.”
Grant’s lips curved. “In other words, Flynn isn’t here yet, otherwise he’d have had it torn down and rebuilt by now.”
Grant’s dad let out a short laugh. “You got that right.”
“Flynn had an afternoon game. He’ll fly in later. Tucker will be in soon, and Barrett tomorrow morning.” Lydia turned to her. “It’s Easton’s birthday tomorrow, and our thirtieth wedding anniversary, so the boys all decided to visit and help celebrate.”
