Meet the Blakes (2 page)

The doorbell rang. Teri-Lyn headed to the foyer to see the Regency agent stationed there holding the door for Bo and Summer. She was delighted to see her nephew and his girlfriend. They’d just gotten back from their first vacation together in Hawaii and they looked great.

“Hi, my babies. You two are looking rested and tanned.” She hugged them both and handed them a pink folder with a ribbon on it. “Here’s a wedding packet.”

“Thank you again for inviting Wyatt and Corbett to the wedding,” Bo said.

“Wyatt dropped by to personally tell me he was attending.” She smiled. “That boy is an enthusiastic breath of fresh air. We started chatting, and he ended staying for a few hours and had lunch with me.” And the boy would be just perfect for one teenage, entering freshman she knew, Morgan’s niece Avery. Teri-Lyn wondered how she could arrange for them to meet during the upcoming festivities.

“But I still haven’t heard yet from Corbett,” she added.

“Since mom is coming too, I think he and Courtney will attend.”

“Perfect.” Teri-Lyn took Summer by the hand and led her into the living room. “Where’s Autumn? Is she coming?”

Summer smiled. “She has a date tonight and apologizes for not being able to come.”

“Really? Anyone promising?” She’d been thinking about who would be perfect for Summer’s beautiful twin sister one night, and finally it came to her. The next two weeks were not only about the boys getting married—she was going to be engineering a few love connections too. But her plan wouldn’t work if Autumn was dating someone.

“Don’t worry. She said she was dumping him tonight, so you can continue with your matchmaking scheme.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Teri-Lyn smiled and ushered them into the living room. “How was the vacation?”

Summer beamed and gripped Bo’s hand. “Wonderful.”

“Have anything you want to tell me?” she probed. It would totally be Bo and Summer’s low-keyed style to get married in a small ceremony to avoid the chaos going on right now.

“We brought you back a hula skirt and a book on Polynesian dancing. They’re in the car.” Bo smiled.

She squinted at him. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” He chuckled. “Look, Tate and Izzy are here.”

The couple joined the group and Isabelle hoisted little Matt up onto her hip. Isabelle happily opened the folder Teri-Lyn handed her and began reading.

“Summer, we should do a spa day together,” Isabelle said. “We can get a massage and a mani-pedi. Make sure Autumn comes too.”

“That sounds great.” Summer smiled. “The deep tissue massage sounds invigorating.”

“No male masseur.”

The ladies looked at Bo and Tate like they were insane.

“I don’t want no man touching my woman,” Tate huffed. “Bubba, back me up.”

“I agree with Tate,” Bo, Bubba to his closest friends, replied.

“Oh, stop it,” Isabelle said without looking up from the list of group events. “Look, there’s going to be a mock Newlyweds Game! We are so going to win.” Isabelle squealed and kissed Tate.

“It does sound like fun. I was thinking of getting John Jacob to play with me if I can get him to sit still that long,” Teri-Lyn replied.

“I would pay good money to see him as a contestant.” Tate pointed to the section listing the entertainment lineup. “I’m singing one song and that’s it? I thought I’d sing a few tunes from the new album coming up. Izzy and I can—”

Teri-Lyn interrupted. “You’re singing the song you wrote for the wedding and that’s it.”

“But Mama—”

“I want you two to take a break from music for the next couple of weeks and have some fun. You did your due diligence when you found that band to perform.” She pinched his cheek.

“OK,” Tate mumbled.

“Can I eat now?” John Jacob bellowed as he came into the room holding a beer.

“Yes, but don’t overdo it.”

The rest of the family poured into the house and the bridal consultant had finally arrived too. She flashed her hand, signaling she’d need five minutes to set up in the living room.

“Isabelle, can you get Morgan and Seth on that Internet conference call thing on the big screen? We’ll be starting in a few minutes.”

“Sure thing.” Isabelle smiled and handed Matt to his father.

A few minutes later, Jenna gave a rundown of the pre-wedding activities that included the spa treatments the ladies were raving about. In addition to the mock Newlyweds Game, there would also be a paintball game and a horse trail ride around the ranch led by Bo Sr. the day before the wedding.

The guys would be having a bachelor party bash at the Bright Star while the women were celebrating their last night of freedom with a casino night at Teri-Lyn’s house. Everyone was excited about the events. Tyler and Channing were so busy canoodling with Michelle and Cassidy, she didn’t think they heard a word the wedding planner said. Michelle and Cassidy had had their last fittings two weeks ago, and the rest of the bridal party would be picking up their wedding duds as well. The only thing left to do was confirm the lodging arrangements. The ranch was going to be flooded with people, and most of them were staying on the premises. It seemed like every house on the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch would be at capacity, with the exception of Tyler and Channing’s homes. Teri-Lyn thought the future newlyweds could use the privacy.

* * *

As the family disbanded for the evening and the catering staff had gone home, Teri-Lyn persuaded the engaged couples to stay for another slice of the delicious red velvet cake Michelle had made. But to be honest, she just wanted to enjoy a quiet moment with them before the chaos began.

“Let me help you with that.” Cassidy came into the kitchen and picked up the serving tray with the plates of cake ready to deliver.

“Thank you, baby. I’ll get the coffee.” Teri-Lynn picked up the other tray.

“You are the best.” Cassidy followed her into the living room.

John Jacob dug his fork into the cake as soon as Teri-Lyn set it down in front of him and took a huge bite. “Michelle, you outdid yourself this time. This cake is delicious.”

“John Jacob, you have a great appreciation of food. I’d love to have you on my cooking show sometime.” Michelle beamed as she poured herself a glass of port.

Tyler shook his head. “We don’t need Daddy getting into the competition to see who can get more fan mail after an appearance on your show.”

“Seth still the reigning champ?” Channing asked.

“Boys, it’s not a contest. You’ve all gotten your fair share of inappropriate letters. What I don’t need is some young hussy writing to my husband.” Teri-Lyn poured herself a cup of coffee. “Now let’s finish up this wedding business.”

“Mama, this is a pretty aggressive schedule. Are you sure there’s time to do all of these things?” Channing asked.

She perused the list. “What do you want me to remove? The fellas’ night out at the Bright Star?”

“No!”

“I’m definitely doing the spa day.” Michelle pointed at the paper.

“I’m going to check out the jewelry fair,” Cassidy chimed in.

“Cassidy, have your folks told you what day they’re coming to town? Your mom hasn’t returned my call.” Teri-Lyn bit her lip. Cassidy’s mother Hyacinth had been difficult to get a hold of since the wedding announcement. Teri-Lyn worried that she’d feel left out of the planning, but the woman thwarted any attempt to get together.

“No, they said they’d rather stay at a hotel, so I asked Jenna to put them into the block of rooms we have reserved at the Crystal Lily Hotel.” Cassidy shrugged in resignation.

“We can’t have that.” Teri-Lyn threw her napkin down on the table.

“Mama, I’ve insisted many times that they stay at the ranch, but they won’t budge,” Channing replied.

“It’s not a big deal. My family is…a quirky bunch. They can get pretty weird about lodging accommodations. To be honest, I’d prefer they be someplace they want to be and not ruin everyone’s good time.”

“But—” Teri-Lyn started in again.

John Jacob caressed Teri-Lyn’s hand. “We’ll call them one more time, and if they say no, then we’ll respect their wishes. We’re all getting to know each other, and we’re still relative strangers. It will just take a little time to jell together.”

Cassidy sipped her tea. “I guess things were simpler when you got married. What was your wedding like?”

Teri-Lyn gave her a sly look. “You can’t fool me, young lady. You’re trying to change the subject. But I’ll indulge you.”

“She means, she loves to tell stories about her own wedding,” John Jacob said, pulling her close for a hug.

“It was a very simple affair on my father’s farm. John Jacob got on the microphone at the Bright Star and invited everyone. I think half the town showed up.” She laughed. “Afterward we had some good barbecue, drank a lot of Bo’s moonshine, and danced the night away.”

“Moonshine? Really?” Michelle propped her chin on her hand. “How did the two of you meet?”

John Jacob laughed and instinctively touched his nose. “I was minding my own business at football practice when a petite redhead sauntered past me on the field. I was so busy watching her I got hit in the face with the ball.”

Teri-Lyn straightened up in her chair and put her coffee cup down. “That’s not right. I was at cheerleading practice minding
my
own business, when he yelled out across the field that I must be tired because I’d been running through his mind all day.”

Tyler groaned. “Gee, Daddy, I didn’t know you were such a class act back then.”

“I would never use such a cheesy line. Clearly your mama’s memory is fading.”

“Watch it.” She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “It was a rocky start. He was very full of himself because all the girls were chasing after him in school. But after a whole lot of begging, I finally went out with him.”

“Your mama and I have never seen eye to eye on the series of events that led to us marrying. She used to take shots at me from the porch with her shotgun.”

“Whaat?” Cassidy asked. “Clearly, there’s a story there.”

John Jacob chuckled and looked down at Teri-Lyn. “Remember that time I came back from working in Arizona?”

Teri-Lyn smiled. She remembered that day fondly. It was a turning point in their relationship.

The minute she’d seen his truck coming down the road, Teri-Lyn had loaded her double-barrel shotgun. So the rumors were true that John Blake was back in town, and if gossip was correct, he’d been back for almost a week. A week! The jerk had been away for a year without so much as a phone call or letter. Maybe he needed that week to get up the nerve to face her, or maybe he was just a jerk who did what he pleased.

On the porch beside her, Murray the basset hound raised his head and whined in the direction of approaching vehicle.

“Oh, don’t you dare go running out to greet him after all this time.” The closer the truck came, the more elaborate and delicious the revenge scenarios playing out in her head became. She wanted to make him squirm. She fired a warning shot, but the truck kept coming down the road, so she fired again.

So what if he was handsome as hell and had those deep, probing green eyes that spoke to her soul? He was six foot two, gorgeous, with thick, wavy black hair and an infectious smile. And the women in town would come by just to see him do ranch work with his shirt off. He was too good-lookin’ for his own good.

“New shotgun?” John Jacob smiled as he climbed out of the truck and removed his Stetson. He had a black eye and a few grazes across his face. She forced herself not to feel any sympathy.

“If you plan on having children, I’d stop right there,” she declared and aimed the weapon at his crotch.

“I do plan on it, one day. I was thinking a house full of boys and raising them on a big ranch like the one Mr. Lambert’s selling.” He ran a hand through his hair.

“Good luck to the woman fool enough to marry you.”

John Jacob reached down and patted the dog’s head. “Hey, Murray. You’ve been looking after her for me?”

“He’s an excellent guard dog. As a matter of fact—”

Before she knew it, John Jacob had taken the shotgun out of her hands and was kissing her passionately. All she knew when they came up for air was that the birds were chirping louder and the sun seemed brighter than before.

“Have you been fighting’?” She asked.

He shrugged. “I’d call it a welcome back party at the Bright Star.”

She rolled her eyes. “I hope you didn’t bust up poor Cal’s place again. He just re-opened it after your good-bye party.”

“I offered to pitch in with the repairs.” He leaned in to kiss her again.

Teri-Lyn pushed him away. “John Blake, what makes you think you can just come back and claim me?”

“I didn’t come back to claim you. You were already mine when I left.” He laughed.

“You arrogant bastard!” She folded her arms over her chest. “I’ve been too busy having a good life while you went off to who-knows-where to give you a second thought. Kent Bingham proposed to me.”

“The way I hear it, he asked you to marry him three times, but I don’t see no ring on your finger. Could it be you were missing me too much to accept his proposal?” He put his arms around her.

Kent Bingham was more boring than watching paint dry, but she’d never admit that to John Jacob. Teri-Lyn tried to pull away from his grasp.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t be involved with a man who just takes off and doesn’t even bother to write. I don’t even know where you’ve been, and there’s probably a trail of women behind you. There are days when I hate myself for ever loving you.” She pulled away.

“I told you I wouldn’t be back until I made something of myself. I’m here now because I created a foundation for a good life. With you.”

“You had a good life before you left.”

“You’re right, I did. It may be hard for you to understand, but I needed to be a man you can be proud of and have confidence that I’ll always take care of you. I couldn’t do that before. Anything less than the best is not good enough for you.”

“I may not have accepted Kent’s proposal, but he’s a nice, dependable guy. Which is more than I can say for you. He and I have spent time together, and we have the makings of a solid relationship. I won’t hurt his feelings, not even for you.”