“It’s beautiful.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“I may not be able to convey the right words to say what’s in my heart most times, but…I’m falling for you and I’m afraid I am liable to screw up at every twist and turn.”
“What you just said was perfect. Just perfect.” She threw her arms around his neck.
Tyler kissed her with all he had. Michelle gripped him tighter.
“If you just give me a chance, I promise no more lurking in the shadows. I’ll be around so much you’ll grow sick of me.”
She hugged him again.
“So where do we go from here?” he whispered into her hair.
“Let’s face it, you’re a stalker and I’m a kidnapper. We both have some things to work on. But I would love to grow up with you. I want to get to know you like… two mature adults. The rest will fall into place.”
“I like the sound of that.” Tyler kissed her. “It’s Christmas Eve. Why don’t we give your audition tape one more try and then we’ll head to the ranch? You haven’t experienced Christmas until you’ve seen of one my Momma’s extravaganzas.”
“Sounds fantastic. And Tyler?”
“Yes?”
“I’m falling pretty hard for you too.”
“I haven’t been able to think about another woman since we spent the night together in Texas. I didn’t want that groupie to kiss me. She caught me by surprise and the cameras were flashing. I was just concentrating on not doing something stupid that would go viral. But I promise that will never happen again.”
“Good.”
“If it’s any consolation, that woman kissed like Rowdy.” Tyler stuck his tongue out and panted like the Blakes’ big golden retriever.
Michelle snorted.
“I like my kisses slow, hot, and full of passion.”
“Why don’t we go back to bed for a while, then get ready to leave?”
“I like the way you think.”
Chapter Eight
Tyler didn’t exaggerate when he said Christmas at the Blakes’ was like something out of a movie. They made it to Texas in the early evening, just in time to join the Christmas Eve festivities. Michelle felt like she was in a surreal dream when Tyler drove through the front gates of the ranch. Giant candy canes lit the roads as they made their way to his parents’ house, which was decorated to the hilt and could probably be seen from space.
“So your family really likes Christmas, eh?”
“Momma has always been excited about it. But since the boys came along, she’s been over the top. Wait until the imported snow gets here so we can make snowmen.” Tyler chuckled.
“Imported snow?”
“Well, we get a snow maker and…”
“Stop. The North Pole has nothing on this place.”
“This time of year always seems magical.” He caressed her hand.
As soon as he cut the engine of the truck, Teri-Lyn bounded out of the house.
“I’m so glad you two were able to make it! Did you settle your differences?” Teri-Lyn hugged them both.
“Yes, we did.” Michelle smiled.
Tyler folded his arms over his chest. “Momma, how could you in be on a plan like this?”
“Don’t Momma me.” She wagged her finger at him. “The family’s been waiting for you. We each get to open one present tonight. Now get inside before I change my mind about the present I got you.”
“What is it?” Tyler smiled.
“He’s so easy,” Teri-Lyn said to Michelle. “Been a sucker for presents since he was a little boy.” She squeezed his cheeks.
There was plenty of laughing and talking coming from the living room. A soft jazz rendition of We Three Kings filtered through the postcard perfect house. Stockings hung on the roaring fireplace and a gorgeous, beautifully decorated tree sat in the middle of the room. The tree was so huge the tree topper scraped the ceiling. There was wrapping paper strewn about and the boys were playing with new toys.
Tate greeted them with two glasses of eggnog. “Glad you could make it.”
“Yes, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without you.” J.J. smiled as he tossed Tyler a present from under the tree.
“Michelle, happy holidays. So glad you could make it.” Channing came over and kissed her on the cheek.
Tyler glared at him. “Watch it, little brother.”
Channing laughed and pointed upward. Michelle was standing underneath the mistletoe.
“Channing, you are so adorable.” Michelle smiled.
“Uncle Tyler! Michelle!” The boys yelled and came running over.
The rest of the Blakes came over with hugs and holiday wishes. Michelle could feel the love coming from all of them, but it was the embrace from Morgan that tugged at her heart.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Morgan said. “I have something for you.”
Michelle followed her friend into the dining room where it was quieter.
“I have presents for you back at my house, but I want you to open this one first.” Morgan handed her a box.
“What is it?” Michelle shook it. “It’s awfully quiet in there.”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “Just open the box.”
Michelle tore into the wrapping paper to find a velvet box the size of a ream of paper. She opened it to find documents inside. It was a partnership agreement for Reed Books to become Reed Bradley Books.
“What is this?”
“I just wanted to show you how much I love you and appreciate all the dedication you put into the bookstore and into my life. Shane Bracht said Harold’s old store next door is still available if we want to buy the space. Apparently Harold left mention in his will to see if the nice bookstore girls wanted the space before it went up for sale. We can expand and implement some of the great ideas you’ve been telling me about.”
Tears welled up in Michelle’s eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”
Morgan gave her a tight squeeze. “Say Merry Christmas.”
* * *
Michelle found Tyler sitting on the couch playing with the boys. He kissed her the minute she sat down.
“What’s got you on cloud nine?”
“Morgan and I are going to be business partners. She wants me to own the bookstore with her.”
“That’s great. You’ll have the bookstore and the cooking show, you sure you’ll have time for me?”
“Tyler Blake, you want to get handcuffed again?”
“That depends. What do you have in mind?” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Quiet, children are present.” Michelle smiled at the little Blake boys.
“Michelle, did you see my car? It looks like Uncle Tyler’s.” Jake help up a model of Tyler’s car.
“Awesome.” Michelle pulled the tot onto her lap and gave him a hug. Connor and Colby wedged in between her and Tyler. “Maybe you can work on his pit crew.”
“Hey, Jake, don’t you have a question for Michelle?” Morgan yelled over to them. Jake’s eyes shifted to the side like he was trying to remember his line. “Michelle, are you and Uncle Tyler going to get married?”
Tyler nearly choked on the eggnog he was drinking. Michelle shot a look at the precocious toddler’s parents. Seth and Morgan were over by the bar laughing and giving each other a high five.
“Give me another hug and you guys get back to opening up those presents.” Michelle gave them each a squeeze and sent them back in the direction of the tree. Then she glared at Morgan and Seth. “Shouldn’t you two be somewhere trying to make another b-a-b-y?”
Morgan and Seth looked at each other like they were contemplating it. Seth winked at Morgan, took her hand, and led her out of the living room.
“I was just kidding!” Michelle shouted after them. “Where’s a hose when you need one?”
* * *
Tyler burrowed under the tree for the gift he had for his father, the latest smart phone with all the bells and whistles. John Jacob’s general take on computers were that they were evil,
but lately he’d been attempting to learn because even Jake was proficient with electronic devices. When Colby picked up Seth’s cell phone and called Morgan, he’d had enough. Not to be outdone by his grandsons, he’d asked Teri-Lyn to teach him how to use all the electronic devices within a twenty mile radius.
“Merry Christmas, Tyler.” Sam linked her arm with his and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I hope you’re not mad at me for my part in your kidnapping.”
“I would consider forgiveness if you admit I’m your favorite Blake.” He raised an eyebrow.
“You know I can’t do that.”
“I may be traumatized for months. Years.”
“Alright. Alright. When I was watching over this family in a professional capacity, you were my favorite charge. There was never a dull moment with you.”
“Was that so hard to admit?” He chuckled.
“No, but you better not tell J.J. about any of our adventures.” She looked around for her fiancé.
“My lips are sealed.” He laughed.
She glanced at Michelle, then back at Tyler. “Look at you, bringing a woman home to spend the holidays. Next thing you know you’ll be getting married and having a few kids of your own.”
“Baby steps, Sam. Baby steps.” He gave her a squeeze.
“Merry Christmas, little brother. Glad you made it home in one piece,” J.J. said as he approached and surprised them both with a hug.
“Merry Christmas to you too.” Tyler smiled. It was great to see his brother so enthusiastic about the holidays.
“I need my fiancée.” J.J. pulled Sam by the hand in the direction of the mistletoe.
When John Jacob didn’t turn up in any of the rooms, Tyler went outside on the front porch. He found his father looking up at the stars.
John Jacob looked back at him when the door closed. He chuckled and took a sip of his scotch. “I see you’re not being held hostage anymore.”
“No, I’m not.” Tyler blushed.
“I’m glad you could make it for Christmas. Your mother loves it when everyone is home.”
Tyler smiled. “I must admit it’s my favorite time of the year.”
“You were always the first one up on Christmas day,” his father said. “If you bothered to sleep at all. The excitement in your eyes is much like the gleam I see in them when you’re racing.”
“I love racing.” Tyler sneaked a glance at his dad. Now was a good time as any to ask the question that had been on his mind for a while. “Are you proud of me, Daddy?”
John Jacob gave him a strange look. “Of course I am. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. I’ve always felt like the odd duck around here.”
“I knew you would find your way in your own time. It took me some time to figure things out before I settled down with your Momma. But once I did, I came back and fought for her. I knew she was meant to be my wife.”
Tyler laughed. “Momma said you did a whole lot of beggin’ to win her over.”
“She’s not half wrong. Loving a woman is easy. Trying to reconcile all those mushy feelings, not so much.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Did you make things right with Michelle?”
“Yes I did. I told her it would truly break my heart to lose her.”
John Jacob nodded. “Sounds like love to me.”
* * *
Tyler knew the ‘talk’ was inevitable so he decided to seek Morgan out while she was in a good mood. He promised her a long time ago that he wouldn’t get involved with Michelle until he truly knew what that meant to him. He got that she worried, and he would never forget her face-off with Tate when Isabelle left the ranch in tears after Tate pushed her away. That was enough incentive to keep him out of his sister-in-law’s crosshairs.
“Hey, Morgan.” Tyler put his arm around her.
“Merry Christmas, Tyler. The boys tell me you’re taking them down to the racetrack tomorrow for a ride in your car?” She put her arm around his waist.
“Yeah, I, uh, thought it would be cool.” He stammered.
“It is. They can’t stop talking about their Uncle Tyler’s race car. I know you’ll take safety precautions, so I’ll be nice because it’s Christmas and save the lecture.”
“You will?”
“I know you love them and would protect them with your life. You’re a great uncle even when you’re fighting with Jake over Michelle.”
He sighed. She wasn’t going to make this easy. “About that. I just want you to know that I’m keeping my promise. I told you I would stay away from Michelle until I knew my intentions. I—”
“Stop right there. I love you both and I want you to be happy. Everything in between is none of my business. Unless you mess up, then I’ll be all over you like a tick on a hound dog.” She squinted at him.
He pulled at his collar. “Understood.”
“That warning applies to Michelle too. You’re both my family.” She squeezed him tight.
* * *
Jake, Connor, and Colby had fallen asleep by ten o’clock, so the Blakes retreated to their homes in preparation for Christmas day. When Tyler nudged Michelle at the crack of dawn, she thought he was feeling amorous. She was little disappointed to learn he wanted get downstairs to open presents.
They woke Channing and made their way downstairs. Teri-Lyn and John Jacob were up waiting for them, knowing no matter how old they were, they were still kids at heart that couldn’t wait for Christmas day. The gifts started flowing, and Michelle was moved to tears when Teri-Lyn told her to get in there because there were boxes under the tree for her too. They were real, meaningful gifts—not extras one would keep in case a surprise visitor would drop by the house. She received a pair of family pajamas like Tyler and Channing’s, clothes, jewelry, as well as culinary supplies she would need for a cooking show. Michelle and Teri-Lyn left the men to their gifts and retreated into the kitchen to make Teri-Lyn’s Christmas breakfast casserole, and of course, hot chocolate for everyone.
Michelle gave Teri-Lyn a huge hug. “Thank you for the exquisite cooking tools. But I didn’t get the job yet. I just sent in the audition tape yesterday.”
“I have a good feeling about this. You’re a damn good chef in training and you’re cute as a button. They’d be idiots not to put you in front of a camera.” Teri-Lyn pulled the ingredients out of the fridge.
“Did you see the beautiful charm bracelet Tyler bought me?” Michelle lifted her arm.
“He was a nervous wreck when he picked it out. I told him you’d love it.” Teri-Lyn smiled.
“I want to thank you for all the love and support over the past months. I really enjoyed our talks, considering you knew how I felt about Tyler.”
“I talk books with Morgan. I take in the symphony with Isabelle. And I go to the golf range with Sam. All of you have unique interests and I love being able to share them with you. It brings us closer as a family. Whether or not you or Tyler wanted to admit it, you were already part of the family.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t take my ranting the wrong way. I was frustrated.” Michelle got a cheese grater out of a drawer and shredded the sharp cheddar cheese block.
“The two of you remind me of me and John Jacob when we were your age. The trouble that man put me through…” She shook her head and made Michelle giggle.”But in the end it was worth it.”
“It’s barely morning. What will they do for the rest of the day?” Michelle peeked into the living room.
“We’re all going down to the hospital to deliver presents. The family makes a donation every year, but we thought it would be nice if the kids got some special attention. Then we come home and open more presents. Then eat. We pretty much eat and open presents all day. It’s been more exciting the past few years with Jake and the boys.”
Tyler came into the kitchen and gave them both a big hug. “Are you two going to get in there and open presents?”
“Yes. There better be a commemorative plate of you in your racing
outfit in one of those boxes.” Teri-Lyn kissed him on the cheek and took the tray of hot chocolate into the living room.
Tyler shook his head and put his arms around Michelle’s waist. “My momma kind of has a thing for those plates. I’m surprised she doesn’t have the twins’ conception on one of them.”
“So, did you get anything good?” Michelle put her arms around his neck.
“Yep. She’s standing right in front of me.”
“Good answer.”
“It’s the only answer.” He tugged on her hand and led her back to the family.
* * *
Within an hour the rest of the Blakes, Bo, and Bubba had arrived at the house and were headed to the hospital. Donned in Santa hats, everyone grabbed a bag and headed into the children’s ward to make it an eventful day. There was no media; John Jacob insisted his family’s charitable act be private and not a publicity stunt. The kids were in good spirits, and it took all Michelle had to cry in front of them. Some of them had medical problems no child should be burdened with, and it tugged at her heart to see so many stricken with cancer. The Blake men were a hit, who chatted with the kids about sports and other things. Tyler, whose racing poster was plastered on the wall in the giant play room, was a big hit. He recounted the story of his recent win, as the kids sat attentively at his feet. Morgan and Isabelle donned scrubs and visited the babies in the neonatal unit, while Michelle, Sam, and Teri-Lyn helped the staff set up for the luncheon. A few hours later the Blakes were back at the house opening presents, eating food and laughing and talking. The boys were especially excited about getting to ride in Tyler’s race car after dinner.
It felt good to be in the presence of all the love that flowed around the room. There was no awkwardness about being in the middle of it all, because like Teri-Lyn had said, she was already family.
Slow Burn (The Blake Boys Book 7) Page 9
