Worth the Wait

by Rhonda Laurel

  Corbett escorted Courtney over to a quiet corner. Wyatt was left standing alone.

  The band began to play, and the newly married couple began making their rounds. Now seemed like a good time to loosen the silk noose from around his neck.

  “Undo that tie at your own risk,” Bo Sr. said as he approached. “Your mama will have a fit.”

  “The ceremony is over,” Wyatt grumbled. “Don’t I get a reprieve?”

  “You should, but she wants to take a few more pictures with you boys before everyone gets too relaxed.”

  “OK.” He sighed. He looked Bo Sr. over. The man looked pretty fancy himself. He was even sporting a new, white Stetson. “You look nice, Bo.”

  He grinned. “Thanks. I can’t wait to loosen my own neckwear, but it will just be a little while longer.”

  Wyatt looked over at Bo talking to Summer’s family. “Bo looks happy.”

  “He should. By the end of the night he’ll be on his honeymoon with the woman of his dreams.”

  “Did he tell you I’m house-sitting while he’s away?”

  “He did. Planning any wild parties?”

  “Of course not. I’m actually looking forward to some peace and quiet.”

  “You have a lot to think about. Have you decided what you’re going to do after college?”

  Wyatt was about to answer when Bo surprised him by calling out, “He has two choices. Graduate school or an internship at Blake Enterprises.” Bo winked at him as he approached.

  Wyatt hugged his brother as he joined them. “Congratulations, Bo!”

  “Thanks little brother. I have to hand it to you. You were well-behaved during the ceremony and didn’t dirty your clothes.”

  “Hey. What am I? One of the kids?”

  “We have a wager going,” Bo Sr. said. “You are the third pick to get messy, just after Jack and Connor.”

  “Well, at least I’m above Gabe and Owen,” he grumbled.

  Just then, Tyler and Channing joined the group. That’s just what he needed, two more super successful people getting in on the conversation about his aimless ambitions.

  “Bubba, it was a wonderful ceremony,” Channing said to Bo.

  “Our Bubba has finally tied the knot. You were the last of us boys on the ranch to do it,” Tyler added, then turned to Wyatt. “Wyatt, do me proud. I got a lot of money riding on you keeping clean until five o’clock.”

  “Wagering at my wedding?” Bo leered at them all at first, then broke into a grin. “Why wasn’t I asked to get in on the action?”

  “Because you were getting married,” Channing said. “The only thing you should have been thinking about this morning was trying not to break into a sweat while saying your wedding vows.”

  Bo turned his attention on Wyatt again. “Back to those post-college plans, little brother. You have to have a plan. You can’t bartend at the Bright Star for the rest of your life.”

  “It’s your day. I don’t want to talk about that.” He really didn’t. Bo had taken an active interest in grooming him, but he was afraid he had no answers for him. He was no closer to deciding what to do with his future than he was three months ago.

  “Nonsense. It’s always a good time to talk about your future.”

  Bo Sr. must have seen the tension on Wyatt’s face, because he intervened. “Wyatt, each of these men took a different path to success. So don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have a solid plan. There is no steadfast strategy. Take Tyler for instance, he’s a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He worked the rodeo circuit, picked grapes at a winery, sold balloons on a board walk on some beach in California when he wasn’t surfing, and was briefly a costumed character at an amusement park.”

  Tyler smiled proudly. “That was one crazy summer.”

  Bo slapped Wyatt on the back. “When I return from my honeymoon we’re going to——”

  “Bodine Jamison Jr.,” Summer interrupted. “Are you harassing your brother about a career on the happiest day of our lives?”

  Bo blushed. “Babe, there’s no time like the present.”

  “Wyatt deserves a day off. Let him be.”

  “OK.” Bo kissed her on the lips.

  “Thanks Summer.” Wyatt smiled.

  “You’re welcome.” She winked at him and tugged on Bo’s hand. “Come. I want you to meet my uncle Clyde.”

  Tyler smirked at Wyatt. “Looks like you have a stay of execution from Bo until he gets back from the honeymoon.”

  “Great. Maybe I can come up with something by then,” Wyatt replied. Just what he needed. Avery hated him, and he had to figure out his entire future when he had absolutely no idea.

  * * *

  Avery sat with the Blake brood she still occasionally babysat and helped them eat their wedding cake. A few minutes later, Sam’s sister Parker joined her. They’d become friends since Parker began visiting the ranch more frequently, and she enjoyed having someone else around to hang out with.

  She’d hoped Teri-Lyn would forget about making the special announcement, but she knew her surrogate grandmother never forgot a thing. She thought she had caught a break when she saw her talking to Bo and Summer about their honeymoon plans. But after chatting with the newly married couple for a half hour, Teri-Lyn was headed her way with a look of determination on her face.

  She wasn’t afraid of public speaking, but she didn’t want to disrupt the festivities just to share her little bit of news. She’d been on the fence about telling Wyatt first, but since he’d been giving her the slip all day, that wasn’t really an option, even if she weren’t upset with him. When he wasn’t talking to one of the guys, he was dancing with every woman in the place. He’d literally had contact with everyone at the reception except her.

  Teri-Lyn reached the table. “Hey sweetie, it’s time for your big announcement.”

  “The kids aren’t finished with their cake. Maybe we can do it later.”

  “Any later, everyone will be too drunk to understand what you’re saying.”

  “That’s fine.” Avery shrugged. “I can send a group text tomorrow.”

  “You will do no such thing.” Teri-Lyn picked up Mackenzie from Avery’s lap and gently handed her granddaughter to Parker. “It’s family tradition to announce good news at parties. And you have very good news to share.”

  Parker overheard them and interjected. “Go ahead and get up there. This is your moment.”

  “OK.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and stood. Avery felt like she had a thousand butterflies in her stomach as she ascended the steps of the stage with Teri-Lyn. She’d already told her mom and dad about her plans, but this was different. She was about to tell the world what she intended to do after she graduated college. Once the words left her mouth, there would be no turning back. She didn’t want to disappoint anyone if she didn’t meet the high expectations they had for her. But none were higher than the expectations she’d placed on herself. She’d never really failed at anything. What if she failed at this?

  Teri-Lyn motioned for the band to stop playing and took the microphone off the stand. “Can I have everyone’s attention? We never let a celebration go by without the announcement of something new and wonderful happening in the family. Today is no exception. My sweet, intelligent, beautiful, kind—”

  Avery coughed.

  Teri-Lyn got the hint and laughed. “I could go on all day about this wonderful young lady. I just love her to pieces. Avery has something she’d like to share.”

  Avery kissed Teri-Lyn on the cheek and took the microphone. The guests quieted, waiting for Avery to deliver her news. She knew most of the people in the sea of faces staring at her, so it shouldn’t have been a big deal to make her announcement. Still, she felt like she was in the hot seat and her mouth was getting dry. Then she saw Wyatt making his way through the crowd until he was front and center. He gave her a reassuring smile, and she relaxed. He always made her feel better, even if she was mad at him.

  Avery cleared her throat. “
Hello everyone.”

  The crowd applauded and she hadn’t even said much yet. No pressure there.

  “As many of you know, I’ve had a pretty aggressive course load since I started college. After a lot of careful consideration, I’ve decided on a career path that I believe will help me make a good contribution to the world.” Avery smiled and looked at her Aunt Morgan. “That’s why I’ve decided to become a doctor.”

  The crowd applauded again mixed with some cheers, but she held up her hands to get them to quiet down again.

  “I’m sure med school will be challenging, but I look forward to one day becoming the kind of doctor that will make this family proud. Thank you.” She took a short bow, got off the stage, and walked into the crowd of happy family members.

  “Avery! I’m so happy for you!” Morgan hugged her. “I can’t believe you kept that a secret from me.”

  “It was hard. But I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t chicken out.”

  “Your mom and dad must be going crazy,” Isabelle chimed in.

  “They were both very happy. Dad did that little dance he does when he wins a bowling trophy…for a half hour…in our kitchen.”

  Seth came over and gave her a good squeeze. “I am so proud of you, Dr. Reed. We have to do something to celebrate. How about a new car?”

  She laughed. “I like my current car just fine.”

  “There’s got to be something you want?” John Jacob added.

  “Right now I’d settle for another piece of wedding cake.”

  The rest of the family came over with hugs and well wishes. She thought Wyatt had disappeared again, but he’d just been pushed to the back of the crowd by the older folks. When they locked eyes, everyone else just seemed to fade away.

  “Congratulations, Princess.” He smiled and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  “Thanks.” She rolled her eyes. He knew that ridiculous nickname made her furious, but he’d refused to call her anything else.

  He moved closer to her. “I thought I was going to be the first person you told when you made your decision.”

  “Are you serious?” She glared at him. “You’ve been a ghost for the past two months.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been busy.”

  “With what? Kelly, the girl who lives down the hall from you?”

  “No. I’ve been doing serious things, like thinking about my future. Not everyone has it all mapped out like you.”

  “Well excuse me for having a plan. You could have done that too if you weren’t so busy partying all the time and bartending at the Bright Star. Those things are just distractions. Which I think is what you wanted, so you wouldn’t have to make any decisions,” she fired back.

  “Working at the Bright Star puts money in my pocket. And partying all the time? I spend most of my free time helping you with your wacky projects. Let’s see, I’ve helped you with the doggie car wash to raise money for the animal shelter. The books on wheels you deliver to the seniors at that assisted living community. The field trips with the kids to the zoo and picking them up from soccer practice. You name it, I’ve done it for you. But I don’t get credit for those things, do I?”

  “You get to feel like a decent human being who likes to help others.”

  “I don’t do those things to be a better human being. I do them to help you.”

  “Easy, you two.” Teri-Lyn approached and put her arms around the both of them. “This is a wedding, not a prizefight.”

  Avery folded her arms over her chest. “He’s infuriating.”

  “Why? Because I won’t do everything you want me to do?”

  “Well, yeah.” Avery looked around to see the half the reception guests staring at them. She touched her eyebrow with her finger and turned to Teri-Lyn. “I’m so sorry. We’ve made a scene.”

  “No. Tyler challenging Jake to an eating contest was making a scene. This is more of a lively debate, but I’d hate for the men in the family to think you two were really fighting. You know how interactive they like to get.”

  “Can we talk then?” Wyatt said through clenched teeth. “In private?”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Teri-Lyn agreed.

  “But I was going to fix Mackenzie’s bow on her dress and help Connor find his tie.”

  “Mackenzie is dancing with her dad, and we’ve given up on finding any of Connor’s clothes. It’s simpler to buy him a new outfit.”

  “OK,” Avery barely blurted out before Wyatt took her hand and bobbed and weaved across the reception area until they got on a path leading away from the backyard. They walked a few feet from the house before they stopped at a nice cottage. It was Bo and Summer’s guesthouse. He opened the door and turned on the light.

  She looked around. “This is nice.”

  “Yeah. I stay here sometimes so I don’t disturb mom and Bo Sr. if it’s late when I arrive at the ranch.”

  She laughed. “Is that really the reason?”

  “OK. Seeing their senior PDAs make me uncomfortable. They can’t eat popcorn without kissing each other. Corbett and Courtney are bunking here too for the wedding.” He shrugged off his suit jacket. “Want something to drink?”

  “What do you have?”

  “Non-alcoholic? Not much. But there are some sodas and sparkling water.”

  “It’s just the two of us,” she said, frowning. “No one would know you gave me something to drink. Besides, I’ll be twenty-one in less than a year.”

  He shook his head vehemently. “No can do. I don’t want to die tonight. Besides, I’m pretty sure this house is under surveillance.”

  “I would be the one drinking, not you.”

  “But I would be the one who let you drink.”

  “You’re not the boss of me.” She put her hands on her hips.

  “But you are my responsibility.” He handed her a lemon-lime soda. “Like it or not, it’s been that way since we started attending school together.”

  “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me? I’ve become a burden to you? If I’m not around you can have a blast and party your ass off until you stumble on stage for your diploma?”

  Wyatt raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “What?” she demanded.

  “You cursed.”

  “So?”

  “It’s a little unsettling. It’s like hearing one of the kids curse.”

  “Now I’m relegated to being a little kid?” She slammed the soda down on the counter and headed for the door. “I’ve had it with you. Instead of apologizing for being an evasive jerk for months, you drag me all the way over here to further insult me. Adios.”

  “Wait.” Wyatt flew across the room and blocked her path to the door. “This is not why I brought you here.”

  “Forget it. I don’t want to hear—” Avery stopped when Wyatt took her into his arms and covered her mouth with his.

  Avery instinctively reached up and wrapped her arms around Wyatt’s neck when he pulled her closer to him and put his arms around her waist. He was much taller than her, but the high-heels she was wearing today made it a little easier for their lips to meet. She let out a soft sigh as he parted her lips with his tongue and delved deeper into her mouth. There were a thousand sensations pinging through her as his hands explored her body. This is what she’d imagined it would feel like to be locked in an embrace with him and for once he wasn’t moving away. They’d kissed before, but only once like this. Those other kisses over the years were just a prelude to the current of passion flowing between them right now. She ran a hand through his hair and slightly tilted his head to get a better angle to deepen the kiss.

  She didn’t have wonder if he was as excited as she was, the hardening length of his manhood becoming noticeable against her stomach. She’d felt that before when they’d been close, but she’d never touched him down there. And she wanted to feel him, like he was caressing her ass with one hand as he cupped her breast with the other. Feeling daring, she moved her hand to the front of
his trousers to feel his girth. He groaned in response.

  “I’ve been wanting to do this since the day I met you.”

  “Why didn’t you?” she breathed.

  He smiled. “A variety of reasons, but I can’t think of one right now.”

  “Good.” She’d missed his playful smile, sparkling eyes, and natural charm. It had a way of disarming her even when she wanted to strangle him.

  Wyatt kissed her again, and she explored his body some more, running her hands over his solid muscles. The room seemed to be moving—no, it was them. He was slowly walking her backward down the long corridor that she was sure led to the bedrooms. Instead of panic, she felt warm and full of anticipation. Despite their miscommunication lately and her frustration and anger, she wanted him. Wanted this. She wanted him to be the first man she’d ever been with. It felt right and terrifying at the same time.

  They fell onto the bed and continued their lip-lock as they fumbled with each other’s clothes. Wyatt trailed kisses down her neck and tugged on her dress until her bare breast was revealed. She almost stopped breathing when he took her nipple into his mouth. The motions he made with his tongue ignited a flame within her that she hadn’t known existed before now. Her hands trembled as she struggled with his tie. Once that was gone, she continued to shake as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, while he found the zipper of her dress and slowly pulled it down.

  “You are so pretty,” he whispered.

  “Thanks.” She blushed and hesitated. “Wyatt?”

  “No worries. I have protection. It never hurts to be doubly careful.” He opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out a row of foiled packets. “You are on the pill, right?”

  “What? No.” She shook her head.

  He stopped. “You’re not?”

  “Why would I be on the pill?”

  “Uh. I—” he stammered. “Because you’re the most cautious and responsible person I know.”

  Avery sat up, covered her breast, and cleared her throat. “I know this goes without saying, but you do know I’m a virgin.”

  “Oh.” The blush on Wyatt’s cheeks began to spread farther on his face. “Really?”