Channing took over. “It is with great pleasure that we announce that Cassie and Michelle have agreed to marry two handsome, loveable, troublemaking cowboys on the same day. We’re having a double wedding.”
The family began whooping and hollering, even Rowdy got in on it. Bo made his way into the massive crowd and congratulated both couples. He’d known it was coming but this was a pleasant surprise. Bo squeezed Summer’s hand and he got a warm feeling inside when she squeezed his in return. The happiness that they just bore witness to was definitely something worth striving for.
Bo Senior came over. “Summer, did Bo tell you that I’m just dying to bounce some grandkids on my knee?”
“Dad!” Bo’s cheeks lit up a bright pink color.
Summer laughed. “Mr. Jamison, my mother has been rallying for my sister and me to ‘get it together’ as well. It doesn’t matter that my older sister and two brothers already have children.”
“Summer and I are—”
Bo Senior held up his hand. “You don’t have to map out a plan for me. You love each other. That’s a good beginning.”
Teri-Lyn came over and gave them another hug. “Here’s the happy couple.”
“Auntie Lyn, it’s a big day here on the ranch.”
“Five down, one to go.” Teri-Lyn winked at him and turned to Autumn. “Autumn, Bo tells me you’re single.”
“I’m just waiting for the right person, Mrs. Blake. Like my sister did.”
“Let’s get you some lemonade and a piece of cake and talk about it.” Teri-Lyn led her over to the food table.
“Auntie Lyn is going to make it her mission in life to find Autumn a good mate.” Bo sighed.
“Well, she knows a thing or two about a good man. She raised a room full of them,” Summer mused.
“Want to get some air?”
“Sure.” Summer picked up her cake and followed him onto the veranda.
Bo escorted her to the porch swing. Summer nibbled on her cake while he rocked them back and forth. It was nice to sit there in silence enjoying the revelry coming from inside.
“I got a call from Wyatt. He’s thinking about transferring to a school in Texas.”
“That would mean you’d see him more often.”
“My mom wasn’t happy, but she likes that he’d be close to me.” He shrugged.
“She’d feel better if his big brother was looking out for him.”
“So would you mind if Wyatt were around more?”
Summer nestled closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. “I say the more the merrier.”
“And Corbett invited us to his wedding, but I wouldn’t go out and buy a dress just yet. Something tells me he and Courtney are on shaky ground.”
“OK.”
“And.” Bo took a deep breath.
“There’s an and?” She giggled.
“John Jacob gave me a box of dirt for my birthday. It was symbolic for the house he’s inviting me to build here on the ranch someday.”
“That’s quite an offer.” She lifted her head up.
“I know it’s early days, but I felt like I had to say this because I can see us being together forever. And this is my home. I may have gotten away from it for a while but this is home.”
Summer looked into his eyes for a long time. “When the time is right, it’ll be my home too.”
Bo kissed her hard. He loved her so much. “So are we still on for the comic book convention next week?”
“You bet. And I have an electronics expo next month. Since Corporate Hijack’s release, it’s been a full-throttle press campaign. Autumn has been handling things like a pro.”
The new games were selling out everywhere, and like he predicted, NuWave had catapulted into a new category. The Waverly sisters were on fire.
“I already have it in my planner. But I warn you; I won’t be responsible for my actions if someone makes some sexist remark to you or Autumn.”
“Well, we have Regency to handle situations like that, but you never know when I’ll need a handsome cowboy to defend my honor.” She bit back a smile.
Bo stood and pulled her up with him. “Let’s get back to the party and get you another piece of cake. I love you, Summer Waverly.”
“I love you too, Bo Jamison.” She got up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Bo returned to the party happy that there was a lot of celebrate. He informed the ladies that he wouldn’t be using his vacation to Executive Desires, but he wanted their blessing to pass it on to someone he knew could use a vacation: Jared. The ladies agreed that was a good idea and he’d call his friend tomorrow and give him the good news.
For so long he thought he needed to get away from the ranch to find himself, when the core of who he was was right there all along. He nodded at his dad, who was talking to John Jacob. He knew his dad wouldn’t admit it, but seeing his mom again had given him a brighter smile and an extra pep in his step. Bo was hopeful that they could be happy together in whatever capacity they deemed fit. He was happy to be back to his roots. He was happy to be back home.
~ About the Author ~
Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary interracial/multicultural romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her. Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Masquerade were released in 2012. Shutter, Memories of You, Star Crossed, MVP, California Bored and Tourism and The Blake Legacy in 2013. The print anthology, The Rhonda Laurel Collection, featuring Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Shutter released June 2013. Texas Heat, Love Notes & Football and The Perfect Storm, books 4, 5 and 6 in The Blake Boys Series released in 2014. Slow Burn, Hollywood Heat, Cowboy’s Heart, and Tempting Fate released in 2015.
The author is happily building her backlist.
Discover more about Rhonda Laurel here
http://www.rhondalaurel.com
http://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel
http://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel
http://pinterest.com/rhondalaurel/
Also by Rhonda Laurel
The Blake Boys Series
For the Love of the Game
The Blake Boys Book One
Rhonda Laurel
This quarterback is making the greatest play of his life…
Quiet bookstore owner Morgan Reed can’t wait to lie on the beach on her much-needed tropical vacation, but getting tackled by a tall, green-eyed stranger playing touch football isn’t exactly what she had in mind. Neither is falling for said stranger, or going along with the eccentric islander who sends them off with a mock wedding. But all’s fair when it comes to vacation romance, and Morgan has plenty of time to get back to reality when she gets home.
When he slams into the beautiful Morgan on the beach and sends her to the infirmary, superstar quarterback Seth Blake insists on helping her recover—if she agrees to share his bungalow with him. Seth is nothing less than smitten, and the best part is that the beauty has no idea who he is.
But when he finds out that their little “wedding” was the real thing, Seth finds himself in a sticky situation. Especially when Morgan finds out the man she fell for isn’t at all who he made himself out to be…
Buy For the Love of the Game here
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Game-Rhonda-Laurel-ebook/dp/B00A3X2NS6/
MVP
The Blake Boys Book Two
Rhonda Laurel
The game has just begun…
Morgan Reed-Blake discovers that being the wife of MVP quarterback Seth Blake has its perks…and its challenges. Thrust into Seth’s high-profile world, she must wade through the celebrity, status, and the ghosts of girlfriends past. So when Seth takes Morgan home to his ranch in Texas and introduces her to his family and friends, she’s not surprised when his high school sweetheart comes to call. Morgan suspects she wants to rekindle the flame, and how can she blame her? Distraught over the changes their relationship has ca
used for Seth, Morgan wonders if maybe he’s better off without her.
Pro quarterback Seth Blake is elated that his wife Morgan is giving their “fake” marriage a real chance. But he doesn’t anticipate running into the woman who broke his heart years ago. He hasn’t told Morgan about the complicated relationship with his ex, but as he guides Morgan through the maze of his celebrity lifestyle, can he convince her the past is in the past? The MVP does not accept defeat, and he’s determined not to lose. But winning Morgan might be the most difficult game of his life…
Buy MVP here
http://www.amazon.com/MVP-Rhonda-Laurel-ebook/dp/B00DI9WD3W/
The Blake Legacy
The Blake Boys Book Three
Rhonda Laurel
Two lovers. Two dreams. One hell of a hard decision…
NFL quarterback Seth Blake is having an unbelievable hot streak—he’s won his third Super Bowl title the same day his wife Morgan gave birth to their son. Life couldn’t be better for the new father and MVP. His contract with the Philadelphia Titans expires in a year, giving him a chance to make a professional dream come true: to play in his home state for the Texas Wildcats and return to his much-missed Twelve Horseshoes Ranch—this time, for good.
Morgan Reed-Blake has never been happier. She’s got the best husband, the cutest baby, and she’s successfully juggling career and family. Her bookstore is expanding, her charitable organization is growing, and she’s been offered her dream job on the literacy council. Everything in her Philadelphia world is coming up roses. Until Seth’s contract with the Titans expires, and his dream of returning home comes close enough to touch…and the powers that be in Texas start romancing Seth in earnest. Morgan and Seth both have dreams. But a choice has to be made…
Buy The Blake Legacy here
http://www.amazon.com/Blake-Legacy-Boys-ebook/dp/B00GO4J81I/
Texas Heat
The Blake Boys Book Four
Rhonda Laurel
Isabelle Reed is having a bad year. The classical violinist is struggling with a divorce, and a broken arm has left her unable to play. So when she receives a wedding invitation from her cousin Morgan, her heart just isn’t in it. Going to the wedding will mean seeing everyone from back home, and seeing everyone back home will mean facing the music about her divorce. Unable to miss her cousin’s wedding, she bites the bullet and takes off—and lands right in the arms of Morgan’s brother-in-law, country western music star Tate McGill. She’d heard about the singer and his bad-boy reputation, but there’s something about those storm-filled eyes that made her yearn to look deeper. Even though she should know better than to risk being the subject of a song on his next album.
Country western singer Tate McGill is living the good life. He’s surrounded by beautiful women, hit music, and a great family. But he gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to babysit his nephew Jake for his brother Seth Blake, and finds a beautiful woman in his way. Isabelle Reed is talented and strong-willed, and she’s a natural with little Jake. But she’s keeping a secret from Tate, and he’s determined to find out what it is...
Buy Texas Heat here
http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Heat-Blake-Boys-Book-ebook/dp/B00JRFGIQY/
Love Notes and Football
The Blake Boys Book Five
Rhonda Laurel
New baby. New adventures. Love deluxe.
Philadelphia Titans quarterback Seth Blake couldn’t be happier. Toddler Jake is growing like a weed, and Seth’s wife Morgan is expecting another baby. He’s just signed a new contract to play football for five more years and has a plan for retirement. Things couldn’t be better...until an unexpected family crisis turns the world upside down for them all.
Morgan Blake is ecstatic to become a mom again. The bookstore owner is happily balancing work life, homelife, and love life while preparing for their new arrival. But the family is keeping a secret from her. And the secret will threaten the very happiness she’s worked so hard to find.
Buy Love Notes and Football here
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Notes-Football-Blake-Boys-ebook/dp/B00MPTF2HA/
The Perfect Storm
The Blake Boys Book Six
Rhonda Laurel
Sometimes you have to tear everything down and start over…
Private security specialist Samantha Jane Carson gets the surprise of her life when she arrives at Blake Enterprises for the annual security audit. Instead of her usual contact, she’s greeted by the company president himself, the sexy and elusive J.J. Blake. It’s her job to know everything about the Blake family, and J.J.’s recent divorce is the talk of the town. Women are lined up to become the next Mrs. Blake, and who wouldn’t want to be? J.J.’s gorgeous, rich, and has stormy green eyes that hold women captive.
J.J. Blake is making some major changes in his life. Freshly divorced from ex-wife Eden, he’s building a new house, coming to terms with the injury that ended his NFL career, and is ready to start fresh—without romance complicating things. His friends and family encourage him to get back into the dating pool, but he’d rather not be sucked into those rough waters again. Work is the obvious diversion, and he opts to handle the security audit himself for some good old-fashioned guy/tech work. But when Sam Carson walks into his office, J.J.’s brought up short. The “Sam” he was expecting turns out to be Samantha—beautiful, smart, and a tough-as-nails ex-cop in a polished, professional package. And she’s just the kind of woman who could drag him under…
Buy The Perfect Storm here
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Storm-Blake-Boys-Book-ebook/dp/B00OMCEPGW/
Slow Burn
The Blake Boys Book Seven
Rhonda Laurel
Tyler Blake is making quite a name for himself in the racing circuit and has everything he’s ever wanted—fame, the support of his family, and hot women clamoring for his attention. But he can’t get a certain bookseller out of his head. The passionate night he spent with Michelle Bradley on the eve of his brother’s wedding still haunts him. He’s too busy living the dream to want commitment, but when he hears Michelle is seeing someone, it bothers him more than he’s willing to admit.
Michelle Bradley is making some major changes in her life. Fed up with months of pursuing the elusive Tyler Blake, she’s ready to throw in the towel. The night she spent with Tyler might as well never have happened, because he doesn’t seem to know she’s alive. But when a cooking class inspires Michelle to funnel her passion into the fine art of cuisine, she finds a new outlet: writing a food blog. Until a glimpse of Tyler on television kissing a woman after a big win sends her into a tizzy. With the help of the Blake women, Michelle kidnaps Tyler and takes him to a secluded cabin so they can have it out once and for all. She hopes the fabulous meal she’s prepared will entice him to stay, at least long enough for dessert…
Buy Slow Burn here
http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Burn-Blake-Boys-Book-ebook/dp/B00RHB6VEO/
Cowboy’s Heart
The Blake Boys Book Eight
Rhonda Laurel
Reconciling the past. Speeding toward the future. Can a cowboy's heart survive the now?
Country singer Tate McGill has never been happier. He's engaged to Isabelle, the woman of his dreams, and his music career has shot him straight to the top. With his adopted Blake clan gathered in Las Vegas for the last leg of his world tour, Tate's excited to publicly announce his engagement. But his excitement is bittersweet. Isabelle has found a collection of beautiful, unpublished country songs by Tate's late birth mother and a lifetime's worth of letters between her and his adopted mother, Teri-Lyn, matriarch of the powerful Blake family. Tate's given all he has to overcome his abusive past and build a future for himself and Isabelle, but he's not sure if his birth mother's words will bring him closure, or more pain.
Isabelle Reed has a wonderful secret—and terrible timing. She's engaged to her sexy country music star, Tate McGill, and after months of physical therapy to heal the arm broken by her abusive ex-husband,
she's finally able to play her violin professionally again. But best of all, she's pregnant! Unfortunately, her timing couldn't be worse. Tate's afraid to have children, fearing he'll perpetrate the cycle of abuse he suffered as a child. And with the shadows of his birth mother's letters, and Isabelle's disapproving father coming to meet “that cowboy,” Tate has enough on his plate. His entire career is riding on this last gig of his tour and on the film that’s being made about him and his band. He can't be distracted by the ghosts of his past that Isabelle knows her news will raise. If she can just hide her morning sickness until after Vegas…
But Isabelle's father won't be appeased, and when Tate’s past follows him to Vegas, it only fuels her father's disapproval. With the baby coming, Isabelle wants everyone to get along. Will she really have to choose between her new life with Tate and her father's love?
Buy Cowboy’s Heart here
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Heart-Blake-Boys-Book-ebook/dp/B00UY4LBUU/
Tempting Fate
The Blake Boys Book Nine
Rhonda Laurel
Love can heal the most stubborn heart…
Attorney Channing Blake is looking forward to a new chapter in his life. He’s graduated law school in Washington, DC and has returned home to the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch to take a job with Blake Enterprises. But he’s not the only one who’s back in town. Emma Winterbourne, his on-again, off-again girlfriend, has failed to make it in the Big Apple and is back in Texas, looking to pick up where she left off with good old Channing. Although the chemistry between them has always burned hot, Channing isn’t sure he wants to be her whipping boy any longer.
Executive Desires (The Blake Boys Book 10) Page 10