Meet the Blakes (8 page)

Bo chuckled. “I’m in the mood to kick a little ass today.”

Everyone had officially gone insane.

“Mr. Blake, can I talk to you for a minute?” Teri-Lyn crooked her index finger at her husband.

He smiled at her. “Yes, dear.”

“You’re not really going to play, are you?” She gave him a stern look.

“Yes, I am.”

“And how do you expect to keep up with the kids? You hurt your back looking under the couch for Jack’s toy the other day.”

“That toy was in a really odd place. I don’t know how Jack got back there.”

She caressed his arm. “You have nothing to prove.”

“Remember that conversation we had about feeling old?”

“Gotcha.” She knew that look in his eye. His motivation for playing paintball was the same as hers for playing tennis with the ladies the other day. John Jacob had been forced to give her some aspirin and a good rub down that night. “Just be careful and take it easy on them.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He winked at her, then turned to his brood. “Bo and I have Sam, Cassie, Summer, Isabelle, and Nina against the boys. Michelle will be the official if she promises not to cheat for her husband-to-be.”

“I’ll have the muscle cream ready.” Teri-Lyn laughed, linked arms with Morgan, and walked back to the truck.

* * *

Of all the ideas she’d had for the wedding celebration, the spa on the premises was the biggest hit. After the chaos on the paintball field, everyone was sorely in need of a massage. The boys were complaining about what they called muscle-bound Lotharios touching their women and insisted on accompanying them on their spa treatments. Summer’s new cell phone screensaver was a picture of Bo, Tate, and Channing lounging around in robes, waiting for their mud masks to dry.

To avoid having the same issue with John Jacob, Tery-Lyn conveniently forgot to mention her appointment. She entered a room illuminated with candles and saw a list of instructions for preparing for her massage. The tranquil soft sounds of a waterfall filled the room as she undressed, wrapped a towel around herself and hopped up on the table ready for her massage with Warner, the masseur all the ladies had been raving about.

There was a light knock at the door, her cue to position herself comfortably on the table. As soon as the door closed, he began to rub her immediately. Teri-Lyn groaned as his hands drifted from her shoulders to her lower back and applied a subtle pressure there as if he knew just where she ached.

“Warner, you do have magic hands.” She was peaceful and content until he caressed her ass. She stilled, not knowing if he’d touched her there accidentally, but when he didn’t stop after a few seconds, it was time for a face slap. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Teri-Lyn gathered her towel and sat up to find a grinning John Jacob.

“John Jacob! You scared the daylights out of me. I thought you were off on an errand with Bo.” She huffed. “Where’s Warner?”

“I gave Magic Hands the afternoon off. Why did it take you a full minute to stop the derriere rub?” He folded his arms over his chest.

“It was not that long, and I was about to launch into my righteous indignation when I sat up.” She bit back a smile. “Were you jealous?”

He squinted. “Hardly. That muscle-bound pretty boy doesn’t have anything on me.”

“I agree. He doesn’t have your swagger, maturity, and classic good looks.” She pulled him closer and unbuttoned his shirt. The hair on his chest always looked smooth and uniform, as if he combed it or something. Everything about the man after all these years was still rough, untouched perfection.

“Damn right. And he doesn’t have my years of experience and wisdom.” He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across the corner of her mouth.

“And he doesn’t have the best set of lips this side of the Texas. Did you lock the door?” She slid his shirt off his shoulders.

“You know it.” He tugged at her towel and pulled her to the edge of the table.

John Jacob ran his hand down the curve of her spine. She complained about aging, but her skin was as soft and supple as the day they met. He knew plenty of men who’d divorced and married younger women, but he thought they were damn fools. T.K.’s latest trophy wife was running him ragged.

John Jacob kissed her lips, her face, that spot at the base of her neck that drove her crazy. After all these years, their lovemaking was still exciting. He’d perfected that move that had landed him in the hospital the night they were fooling around in the kitchen and was anxious to try a few more things.

He took her nipple into his mouth and tasted her as if it were the first time. She was his and always would be. Teri-Lyn unbuckled his belt and undid the snap on his waistband, so he quickly rid himself of boots, jeans, and boxer shorts. He hopped on the table and lay on top of her, but stopped when the table moved.

“What’s wrong? Don’t say you forgot the condoms.” She giggled as she kissed on his neck.

“Very funny.” He nipped at her bottom lip. “I’m wondering if this table will be able to hold us.”

“We’ll be fine.” She stroked him.

“Woman, the things you get me into.” He moaned as she caressed him just the way he liked it.

John Jacob kissed her again as he braced his knees on the table, entered her, and began a slow, steady rhythm. But she’d always been an impatient woman, and she traced her fingers along his side, then reached around and gave him a good slap on the ass. He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair and gave it a firm tug, so she’d stay in place, but she wasn’t having that. She ran her thumb over his nipples, which she knew would break his concentration. They came together over and over again, hearts pounding and sweat pouring and age had nothing to do with it. They’d been coming together in this frenzied state since the first time they made love on their wedding night. When he couldn’t hold back his climax any longer, he looked her in the eye and released his pent up passion. She followed him with a hearty yelp as he collapsed on top of her. They remained that way, panting for a few moments before either of them could speak.

“Maturity, my ass.” He kissed her hard.

She laughed. “I knew that word would set you off.”

“Woman, were you goading me?”

“No, I was inspiring you to do your best, like those pep talks you give your grandsons to eat their vegetables.” She caressed his chin, then looked around. “Speaking of food, how about we grab some chow at the food pavilion?”

“I’d love that, but we need to go back to the house and change first. We got oil everywhere.”

She was right there. There was oil on the floor, table, and some of it had gotten on their clothes. “If we go home, we’ll have to take a shower.”

“You’re right.” She tapped her finger to her lips. “I could use a good soak. Let’s make it a bubble bath instead.”

“And I think we have some leftover chili in the fridge that Tyler made the other night.” He added.

“Great. My stomach
and
my loins will be on fire.” She shook her head. “Don’t forget about the bottle of champagne from the dinner party.”

“So, a big bowl of chili, champagne, and a bubble bath.” He slipped on his jeans.

“Can you think of a better way to spend the rest of the afternoon?” She winked as she buttoned her top.

“No ma’am, I can’t say that I can.”

CHAPTER SIX

John Jacob sat in the chair watching his grown sons behave like children while trying on their tuxedos. It seemed like only yesterday they were kids asking to stay up late and watch western movies with him. It was during that time, when they were entranced by the old cowboys on screen, that he could take a good look at them. To see who had lost a tooth, who needed a haircut, an extra hug, or words of encouragement.

“Let me get a good look at you.” He stood. “Ty. How does that shirt feel against your skin?”

“I like this material much better. I don’t feel so itchy.” Tyler looked at himself in the mirror. “Do you think we should have gone with the cutaway coats?”

“No, I think you made a fine choice,” John Jacob countered. “C.J., does the collar feel good?”

“Much better. I don’t feel like I’m choking,” Channing replied.

“Do they have anything sweat proof?” Tyler grumbled. “What if I start sweating buckets?”

“If you didn’t break a sweat proposing to Michelle, I don’t think you’ll have a problem at the ceremony,” Channing mused.

“He’s right, Ty. Every man gets nervous the day of the wedding. Just take a deep breath and focus on Michelle.” John Jacob grinned.

“Can you help me with this tie, Daddy?” Channing held it up.

“Sure. You know I was so nervous the day of my wedding, Bo had to tie mine for me.” John Jacob worked on the tie.

“Really? I can’t imagine you anxious about anything, let alone marrying Mama.” Tyler laughed.

“Giving the appearance of nerves of steel takes years of practice. I was praying she didn’t change her mind and become a runaway bride.”

“Well, you’ve mastered the nerves of steel, that’s for sure.”

“I was a wreck on my wedding day, but Bo was my rock. His pep talk before was what calmed me down.”

Channing smiled. “Bo has always been there for you. Hasn’t he?”

“Yes, he has.” He’d been particularly important to John Jacob on that day when he’d thought he’d never be good enough for his beautiful bride. Luckily Bo had been there to talk some sense into him.

John Jacob had yanked the tie from around his neck and had thrown it on the dresser. He’d been trying to tie the thing for twenty minutes and it looked more mangled after each attempt. What was he so nervous about? It was the big day, and all his dreams were about to come true. He was marrying a certain beautiful, fierce redhead that made his heart beat wildly against his rib cage every time she walked into a room. He had a great surprise for her that he was sure she’d love. For months he’d kept silent, though he was bursting to tell her. This present was just the beginning of the life he had planned for them.

The knock on the bedroom door was the perfect opportunity to give the poor tie a break. “Come in.”

“How’s it going in here? I can hear you swearing all the way down the hall.” Bo smirked.

“This is worse than doing a jigsaw puzzle.” John Jacob threw the mangled silk at him.

“Let me try. They don’t call me Steady Hands Jamison down at the Bright Star for nothing.” Bo went to work on the bow tie.

John Jacob raised an eyebrow. “I thought there was another reason the ladies called you that?”

Bo laughed. “Maybe even a few.”

“So why are you so calm today? I thought you said Bonnie had been giving you long, doe-eyed looks all week.”

“I had a talk with Teri-Lyn. She made me feel better.”

“She does have a way about her.”

“She’s going to make a fine mother someday. She’s loving, kind, and has a way of bringing out the best in people. Look at the miracle she pulled off with you. You were a mess until she took pity on you and decided she loved you.”

John Jacob scowled at him. “I wouldn’t say a mess, more like a handful.”

“Well, after today the real adventure begins. It’s been a pleasure running around with you. Gabe would have been so proud of you.” Bo nodded.

There wasn’t a day that went by when John Jacob didn’t think about his big brother Gabriel. A huge hole had been left in his heart when Gabriel died in combat, and it seemed like it would never be healed. Bo helped him keep it together.

“Thanks. I never thought I’d be back in Texas for good. What are your plans?”

Bo shrugged. “I thought I’d stick around for a while. Bonnie and I have a good thing going, and it’s nice to stay in one place for a bit.”

“I have big plans and I’d like you to be a part of it. That is, if you want to stay.” John Jacob looked at his friend.

Bo smirked. “Somebody has to teach your kids the proper way to saddle a horse.”

“And someone has to teach yours how to be civilized.”

Bo gave one last tug at the tie and pointed at the mirror. “There you go. You almost look respectable.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself. Thanks for being my best man. I hope I can return the favor someday.”

“Don’t let Bonnie hear that.”

“So what do you think of the finished product Daddy?” Channing asked as he tugged on his shirt cuffs beneath the tuxedo jacket.

John shook his head and focused on his sons.

“Say cheese, boys. I promised your mama a progress report.” He took a picture of them and sent it to Teri-Lyn. “Have either of you narrowed down the honeymoon plans?”

“Michelle wants to go to Venice and Prague,” Tyler replied.

“Cassie and I are going to do a road trip down the California coast.” Channing grinned.

John Jacob chuckled. “Looks like both your protection details are going to have fun.”

Channing rolled his eyes.

 “I know it’s a pain in the neck, son, but it's necessary.”

Tyler nodded. “We know, Dad. Regency has been part of our lives for a long time. It makes me feel good knowing someone is watching over Michelle when I’m not around.”

“Good. I just want everyone to be safe.”

The boys retreated to their dressing rooms. Teri-Lyn texted back that they were so handsome that she was crying again.

* * *

The mock Newlywed Game had been going on for a while and John Jacob and Teri-Lyn were in the lead. Curtis and Sydney were trailing close behind, and Bo Sr. and Bonnie were doing pretty well too after having spent so much time apart. John Jacob looked at his sons’ grim faces and knew he should probably take it easy on them.

Ty and C.J. were shooting him dirty looks, while Tate and J.J. heckled him. Seth’s competitive streak was flaring up and he’d challenged two of John Jacob’s answers. Bo Jr. was too busy canoodling with Summer to keep track of the score.

“OK, John Jacob. What is the first meal your wife ever cooked for you?” the mock game show host asked.

John Jacob held up the card that said spaghetti and meatballs.