Slow Burn (The Blake Boys Book 7) (12 page)

“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.

Tate was almost finished frying the last turkey, while J.J. and Seth were playing with remote controlled helicopters meant for the boys. Channing was showing off his new brief case with his initials embossed on it to John Jacob, Bo and Bubba.

Michelle was excited about the prospect of being in business with Morgan, but her friend was more interested in the juicy details of the merger between her and Tyler at the house in Denver. Once the tots were busy playing with the array of toys they’d received, Michelle, Morgan, Isabelle, and Sam snuck away to the kitchen to gossip about the Blake men.

“Thank you for helping me.” Michelle gave them each a hug.

“I’m just glad everything worked out. I don’t think Tyler’s gonna get tricked a fourth time.” Sam laughed.

“It felt good to do something naughty for a change. I feel like such a bad girl,” Isabelle quipped.

“You tamed Tate McGill, I think you get top honors,” Michelle replied.

“Sam, does this mean Regency will create a file of the misdeeds of the Blake Girls?” Morgan flashed a cheesy smile. “What would we have to do to catch up with the guys?”

Sam thought for a minute. “Let’s see. Quit your jobs, let Teri-Lyn raise the boys and pick a fight at the Bright Star every night for two years. That might cover their high school years.”

“What exactly have they been doing all these years?” Michelle asked.

“Just being the good looking, rowdy cowboys they are. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree you know.” Sam waggled her eyebrows and motioned her head towards John Jacob.

“Well, we have one civilized man in the bunch. Bo is handsome, sweet, sensitive and smart. They could all learn a thing or two from him,” Morgan huffed.

“We should shield him before they corrupt him. It’s only a matter of time,” Sam mused.

The ladies all leaned in the direction of Bo sitting on the couch. “We have to find him a woman.”

Tate came in and declared the turkeys were ready. It was time to eat. Tyler held out Michelle’s chair for her at the table, and the family ribbed him about it. John Jacob told everyone to quiet down so he could say the dinner prayer.

“There has been no greater moment in my life than being here with the woman I love and the family I adore. I am thankful to be blessed with both in my life.”

“Amen.”

Chapter Nine

Six months later.

Tyler tried his best to behave; there were cameras around them after all. But seeing Michelle work her magic on the set of her show, The Novel Foodie, made him want to make out with her right there. She’d done an amazing job acclimating to the stardom, the viewership on her show skyrocketed the moment she went on camera and flashed that beautiful smile of hers.

“Are you having a good time?” Michelle asked.

“I’m having a great time. You rock.” Tyler kissed her.

“And we’re back in five, four, three, two, one…” The director motioned to Michelle to begin her dialogue.

“This is the perfect race day menu. Plenty of tasty appetizers that will excite the palates of kids of all ages. You can find these appetizers and other delicious meals in my cookbook,
The Novel Foodie Cooks
, coming out next month. I’d like to thank my guest chef Tyler Blake, whose been burning up the racing scene for the past year and has just won the Headley Classic Racing Series. Congrats to him on his third victory this year.” Michelle smiled and put her arm around him. Tyler’s constant coughing was his not so subtle hint that she’d left something vital out of the script.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Tyler smiled as he chucked a beer battered jalapeno popper in his mouth.

“I don’t think so.” Michelle kept her smile plastered on her face as the camera man zoomed in on them.

“You promised last night,” he mumbled.

“Oh, that.” Michelle let out an exaggerated sigh. “For those of you out there who may not know, Tyler and I have been dating for the past six months.”

“And?” He put his arm around her.

“It’s been the best six months of my life.” Michelle kissed him. “Until next time, my fellow foodies, eat well, eat often, and share with good friends.”

“And we’re done,” the director yelled. “Great job Michelle and Tyler.”

Michelle giggled when Tyler pulled her in for a scorching kiss. Their public displays of affection were nothing new to the crew, who began eating the food while they cleaned up the mess around them. He was proud of her. So much had changed in six months’ time. He was making his mark in the racing world and Michelle had just signed a contract with a major cooking network to take her show, The Novel Foodie, national. She was also knee deep in expansion plans for Reed Bradley Books.

By the time they came up for air, the sound stage was all but empty.

“That was another great show,” Tyler murmured.

“Thank you. I think we make a good team. My ratings always go through the roof when you make an appearance on the show.” She rubbed her nose against his.

“Higher than that week you had Jake and the boys on making messy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”

She swatted at his bicep. “Stop competing with the boys.”

“You left out the part I wrote about being the best lover you ever had.”

“This is a wholesome cooking show, remember? You convinced me to nix the sex kitten routine and focus on cooking good food. The fact that I am devastatingly beautiful is just a plus for the viewer.” Michelle ran a hand through her hair.

“A lot of good that did,” Tyler quipped. Michelle got a lot of fan mail, but most of it was from male viewers flirting with her. “Morgan and Seth are going away for the weekend, and Sydney and Curtis will have the boys. I thought I’d cook you a nice meal at the penthouse tonight.”

“You’re gonna cook?”

Tyler waggled his eyebrows. “You forget, I’m good with my hands.”

“Don’t I know it.” She kissed him.

With their new, busy schedules, it was hard to find the time to be together. But they were committed to making the time. Tyler came to Philadelphia regularly for visits, and they kept in touch constantly when he was on the road. It felt good being with the one person that he cared deeply for, and they were making an effort to build a solid foundation for their future.

“I’m so excited about our trip to Vegas. I can’t wait to see Tate perform. I have to look for my ‘Tate’s Angel’ T-shirt.”

Tyler nuzzled her neck. “I know vacationing with the whole family isn’t all that romantic. But I promise we’ll carve out some time for ourselves.”

Tate was on tour and his concert was ending in Las Vegas. The family decided to make it an event and all meet up there. Besides seeing his brother in concert, Tyler planned on staying in their hotel suite the entire time.

“Are you kidding me? I knew getting involved with you was a package deal. Everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel like I belong. And they’re giving us the space to figure things out for ourselves.” She sighed. “Well, most of the time.”

Tyler shook his head. “Seth and Morgan think they’re the boss of us.”

“Yeah. Can you believe they paid Avery to babysit us that time?”

“I guess they didn’t trust us after we got into that pudding fight with Jake and the boys.” He shrugged.

The great pudding war left yet another kitchen of Morgan’s and Seth’s in disarray. Their cook Kara threatened to quit on the spot when she saw the carnage. Tyler and Michelle cleaned up the mess and promised never to eat pudding in the house again.

“Maybe they’re right about us. We have way too much fun with the boys.” Michelle chuckled. “Think we’ll ever grow up?”

“I think we’re doing quite well. I love you, Michelle.”

“I love you too.”

Tyler walked out of the sound stage with his arm around her. He would never have guessed that when he finally stopped running from love, Michelle would be there waiting for him with open arms.

Hollywood Rush

Bonus excerpt from the
Hollywood Heat
series by Rhonda Laurel