Page 19 of Masters of the Game: Colton

“It’s good seeing you again, Kelly,” Cobra said, standing, placing a kiss on her cheek, and giving her a hug.

He had invited them to join him for dinner at one of the most upscale restaurants in Manhattan, known for its fine dining and luxurious atmosphere.

“Wow, woman, you’re even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. ”

Kelly grinned. “That was a year and a half ago at Sebrina and Parker’s wedding. And thanks, I appreciate the compliment.”

“It’s the truth.” He then turned to Colton and gave his brother a bear hug. “Good seeing you. Unfortunately, you look the same. Haven’t changed in looks at all.”

“At least you don’t think I’ve aged any,” Colton muttered.

Cobra laughed. “I’m glad to see you guys. Sorry I couldn’t join you the other night. How was Aladdin?”

“Incredible. Even magical, you could say,” Kelly said, smiling over at him.

“It was great,” Colton chimed in.

Kelly noticed that although the triplets were the same height, probably close to the same weight, and had the same beautiful brown skin tone, there were distinct differences in their features.

Both Colton and Cobra had dimples. Cortez did not.

All three had strong, masculine jawlines but whereas Colton and Cortez’s were chiseled, Cobra’s appeared aristocratic.

Some might even say, arrogant. All three had bearded chins and bedroom brown eyes.

However, Colton’s lashes were longer. But one thing was undeniable—the Masters’ triplets were extremely handsome men.

There was no doubt in Kelly’s mind that women would immediately notice them when they walked into a room.

“So, how are things going with finding a third location for Masters Unlimited?” Cobra asked.

“So far, so good,” Colton answered. “Tomorrow is our last day to meet with city officials. Then we leave on Sunday for LA. I would have to say New York’s presentations have been very impressive, and Kelly has been doing a fantastic job negotiating perks if we decide to open a third office here.

We’re lucky to have her representing us. ”

“It’s been fun,” she said, smiling over at him.

At that moment, the waiter came to give them menus. “I take it you’ve been here before, Cobra,” Kelly said.

There had been a slight lull in the conversation when she’d glanced over at Colton and saw him watching her, the look in his eyes stirring something within her.

She had been so caught up in it that she hadn’t been able to look away until the waiter had arrived with their menus. There was no way Cobra hadn’t noticed.

“Yes, I have. Several times,” Cobra responded.

“So, what do you suggest?” Colton asked.

Cobra looked at his brother. “I love pork chops, so I usually get the Pork Marsala with mushrooms and asparagus. But I know you’re a steak man, so… You can’t go wrong with their ribeye.” Cobra then looked over at her. “What about you, Kelly? What would you like?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say, “your brother”. But instead, she said, “I love seafood. And I see a number of delicious dishes on the menu.”

“Their South African lobster is to die for, and it comes with a delicious sauce, along with a crab cake and green beans. You might want to try it.”

“Thanks for the recommendation,” Kelly said, closing her menu. She smiled at Cobra. “How’s the financial world treating you?”

Cobra leaned back in his chair, showing both dimples. “Not bad. In fact, I picked up a few new clients this week. Four members of the Jets. They want my help in finding ways to ensure they won’t be able to blow all their money by the time they retire from the NFL.”

He then talked about his upcoming trip. Beginning next week, he’d be traveling around the country holding financial seminars for players in the NFL and NBA.

“Now that college athletes are getting lucrative endorsement deals, it’s important that they understand the nature of investments.

And thanks to Lakelyn and Saniya’s coach, I’ve recently picked up a few clients from the tennis circuit. ”

“That’s wonderful, Cobra,” Kelly said.

“I agree. That’s great, Bro,” Colton chimed in.

“Thanks,” Cobra said, smiling. “So I expect to be busy over the next few months.”

Colton grinned. “Does that mean I don’t have to worry if I take an unannounced weekend trip home to Savannah, only to find you already seated at our parents’ kitchen table?”

Cobra chuckled. “Like you, I go home every chance I get. It’s worth it to experience Inez Masters’ home-cooked meals.”

They paused the conversation when their food was delivered and more wine poured.

Kelly thought everything looked delicious and the service was exceptional.

“I talked to Cortez earlier,” Colton said.

“Victoria is doing well, though she’s complaining about being fat, but eating every chocolate bar she can get her hands on. ”

Cobra laughed. “Would you believe Haddison said the same thing about Kennedy when I talked to him over the weekend. The only difference is Kennedy’s obsession isn’t chocolate bars but potato chips.”

“Are their due dates still close?” Kelly asked.

“Yes,” answered Colton. “I guess the Bennett family will split up when the time comes. Some will head to Minnesota when Kennedy delivers, and the others will travel to LA when Victoria has her baby.”

“There’s no need for the Bennetts to travel to LA.

The Masters are all over that one,” Cobra said, chuckling.

“The folks intend to get there at least a week before Victoria’s delivery date.

I talked to Mom this morning. She is over the moon at the thought of being a grandmother, and Dad isn’t any better.

He wants to be called Pop instead of grandpa. ”

Kelly thoroughly enjoyed her dinner, as well as Colton and Cobra’s company.

It was evident Colton and Cobra had a close relationship, and she knew it was the same between the two of them and Cortez.

According to Monica’s cousin Victoria, who was married to Cortez, there was never a dull moment when the triplets got together.

The car ride back to the St. Laurent was just as enjoyable.

There was nothing more beautiful and majestic than New York at night.

Today’s meeting with the mayor and his staff had gone well.

She and Colton liked the presentation and the chartered tour of the city, especially Harlem, had been spectacular.

She’d taken note of additional vacant lots in the city, other than those the economic agency had recommended, and had texted her team those addresses.

Tomorrow would be another tour day. She and Colton were interested in affordable housing and schools for any employees wanting to relocate from Orlando and Boston to New York, and so they wanted to see what the city had to offer for both public and private education.

Her research had indicated that the cost of living in Boston was far greater than that of Orlando, and the cost of living in New York was substantially more than in Boston.

“You really did a great job today, Kelly. You handled the mayor and his staff admirably. You knew the right questions to ask, and you brought up several points I hadn’t thought of.”

“Thanks,” she said, turning her attention from the nighttime scenery to Colton. He was sitting a few inches from her in the back of the private car that was returning them to the hotel.

“I enjoyed dinner with you and Cobra,” she said. “You seemed to have enjoyed your steak.”

The deep, resounding sound of Colton’s chuckle stirred something inside of her. Why did he have to be so sexy? “I most certainly did. It was delicious.”

Just like him—delicious! All evening, she’d barely been able to take her eyes off of him. And sitting beside him, alone in the backseat of the car, she was acutely aware of the depth of intimacy they were sharing. But none was deeper than what they’d shared last night and before dawn that morning.

She couldn’t help wondering what tonight would bring. Would they sleep together again? He was definitely not out of her system, and from the chemistry that had flowed between them at dinner, she could tell she wasn’t out of his either. In fact, she was amazed Cobra hadn’t said something.

“I noticed my brother was trying to claim all your attention tonight.”

His comment drew her out of her thoughts. “Cobra was being friendly as usual. Of the three of you, he is the youngest, right?”

“Couldn’t you tell?”

She couldn’t help but release a short laugh. “I often wished I’d grown up living in the same household with my three siblings. We missed out on a lot.”

“But you’re making up for it now, right?” he asked.

“We’re trying to. I like having two older brothers and a younger sister. Even if she is only two days younger. Do you miss not having sisters?”

“No.”

“That was a quick answer, Mr. Masters,” she said grinning.

“Only because I didn’t have to think about it.

The three of us would have turned a little sister into a holy terror.

Mom already had her hands full--the three of us were your typical rowdy boys.

We fought among ourselves and then fought anyone who tried taking one of us on.

Mom claimed there were times she spent more time in the principal’s office than at home. ”

“So, you guys were the rowdy Masters?”

“No, we were known as the Masters of the Game.”

“What game?”

He smiled at her and reached for her hand when the car pulled up at the hotel. “That’s the Masters triplets secret, sweetheart.”

**

“I don’t think you ever got that cup of coffee last night, Colton.”

He closed Kelly’s hotel room door behind him and leaned against it. She looked so good in that green dress and those high-heels. “Although I might have missed out on coffee last night, I sure enjoyed dessert.”

She glanced back over her shoulder at him and smiled. He knew she was aware just what dessert that he was referring to. “You had dessert at dinner tonight. Do you have room for more?”

He moved away from the door and noticed she was watching him. Her eyes, those beautiful dark eyes, seemed to follow his every step. “Not right now. However, there is something else I might like. Something that would be fitting for the way we’re dressed tonight.”

She looked down at her dress and then back at him. “What?”

“Dancing. I want to hold you in my arms and dance with you before I let you get some sleep.”

“You’re not staying?” She sounded disappointed.

“Not tonight. Your body had enough of me last night, Kelly. I know that you’re still sore in some places.”

Tilting her head, she looked at him. “How do you know that?”

“A lover, one who is attentive to your every move, can tell,” he said.

She glided her hands beneath his dinner jacket and let them rest on his chest. “I heard the best way to ease soreness is to continue to use those muscles.”

“Most physical therapists have debunked that belief,” he said, giving her a tender smile. “What helps is a soak in warm water, and a good night’s sleep to relax those muscles. So, for now, let’s dance.”

“What about music?” she asked.

A smile tilted his lips. “I’ve got it right here. My playlist,” he said, taking his phone out of his jacket pocket to start the music. It was a song by Adele.

Gently, he pulled her into his arms and whispered close to her ear, “Dancing with you has been on my “to do” list for a while now, Kelly.”

She looked at him. “We’ve danced together before. At the weddings.”

“Yes, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely every time. But this time, I’m looking forward to doing it in private, without a lot of eyes on us.”

They danced to at least four songs on his playlist, and he savored the feel of her in his arms. He took the liberty of touching her wherever she allowed, which was basically wherever he wanted, while intermittently kissing her.

During the last song, he couldn’t resist kissing her longer, deeper, and before he knew it, they were both aroused.

He loved her taste, her scent, and her ability to make him appreciate being a man.

Most importantly, he loved every moment he spent with Kelly.

He loved touching her. He loved kissing her. He loved being with her. He loved her.

When he ended the kiss and dance, he said, “I was able to get tickets to the Adele concert for Saturday night.”

She blinked, stunned. “You did? Did you know I’m a big fan of hers?”

He chuckled, hearing excitement and happiness in her voice. “That’s what I heard. And before you ask, I’m not giving up any names. Sebrina and Parker are flying in to join us. I understand that she’s a big fan of Adele, too.”

Kelly chuckled. “She is. A few years ago, for Sebrina’s birthday, Monica, Kennedy, Victoria, two of their other cousins – Lauren and Cody, and I flew to London to attend an Adele concert with her. It was amazing.”

“I’m sure this one will be amazing as well.” Placing another kiss on her lips, he said, “Come walk me to the door.”

“And you’re sure you want to leave, Colton?”

“No, I don’t. But I refuse to be a greedy ass where your body is concerned. Since there’s nothing on our schedule for Friday, how about if we spend a few hours at Coney Island?”

“I would love to if you can wait until after noon. I have a meeting with my team that morning.”

“No problem. I can use that time to talk to Lake. He’ll be back in Orlando for the next few weeks, then he has to leave again,” he said.

“I understand his daughter and niece are making quite a name for themselves on the international tennis circuit.”

“They are. In fact, the media refers to them as the next Serena and Venus.”

Before opening the door to leave, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. With luck, all her dreams tonight would be about him.