“The man has a reputation for being a pervert. He’s been known to sleep with two and three women at a time. You know how many hits his name gets on the Internet when you do a search for ‘Tate McGill one night stands’?” Lucas pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket and scattered clippings of some of Tate’s exploits about on the table.
She knew about it. Those colorful facts of his past were the reason she’d shied away from him when they met. But they’d built a relationship on trust and complete candor. She demanded it, not wanting to be sidelined by some sort of salacious information that may pop up.
She listened with an open heart, even when she wanted to scream and run out of the room. As outrageous and blush-worthy his antics were, he simply wasn’t that man anymore. But her father was dangerously close to crossing the line.
“Jared, Robert, back me up on this. You’ve known Tate and Seth for a while now. What’s your opinion of him?”
Robert took a deep breath. “Tate’s a good guy. But I know why your father’s being cautious. Fathers do that for their daughters.”
“I’ve never seen him be anything but an absolute gentleman with Izzy,” Jared added.
“Ned was a gentleman too, but he turned out to be an asshole.” Her father pounded his fist on the table. “An innocent man doesn’t send a hit squad to shut someone up who’s investigating him.”
“They aren’t a hit squad, they’re security. The Blakes are a powerful family. John Jacob takes security very seriously.” Isabelle’s jaw ticked.
“So the daddy’s hiding something too?” Lucas retorted.
“You don’t understand. They are protective of Tate for another reason,” she huffed. Regency was diligent about keeping his abusive past out of the media.
“I don’t care. I don’t want another low life getting his hands on my daughter,” Lucas barked.
“I can’t believe this.” Isabelle stood. “Not only won’t you give Tate a chance, but you don’t trust my judgment. Just because Ned ended up being a nightmare doesn’t mean you get to question my decisions for the rest of my life. You raised me to think for myself, but all of you have been bullying me my whole life. It’s out of love, but it’s bullying just the same.”
“I love you, and I only want to protect you,” Lucas said.
She wanted to tell her father that he’d better have a change of heart, because he was going to be tied to Tate forever. But for now she just wanted to get out of there.
“That’s the worst part of it all. You love me, but maybe you should try respecting me.” Isabelle walked away in tears.
* * *
Tate came back to the room from a radio interview to find Isabelle bawling her eyes out.
“Baby, what’s the matter?” He pulled her into his arms.
“I really don’t want to talk about it. I just want to go to sleep. Will you join me?”
“Of course.” He wiped tears from her cheeks.
Isabelle slipped on one of his T-shirts and got in the bed. By the time he removed his clothes and joined her, she immediately cuddled next to him and went to sleep. He ran his finger over the bags under her eyes. This week had taken a toll on her. Each day was something new that was driving a wedge between the two of them. He loved her, but he didn’t want their relationship to cause a rift in her family. He wondered if Lucas had issued her an ultimatum about him.
The next morning he wanted to talk to her about what happened with her dad, but his father, John Jacob, summoned him to a meeting. He thought it was an odd time to get together and discuss business, but he was excited about attending his first Blake Enterprises board meeting.
He thought he’d get to chat with her after the meeting, but the ladies came by to take Isabelle to breakfast and take in some sightseeing, so their talk would have to wait. Tate caught sight of Seth and the boys coming down the hall as he exited his room.
“Good morning Uncle Tate!” the boys yelled.
“Good morning. How are my little shareholders doing? You boys are getting big.” He scooped up Colby, who was reaching to be picked up, and tickled him. “You know what the meeting is all about?”
“I have no clue. Maybe it was just a way to lure Tyler out of his room.” Seth chuckled.
“Oh, to be young and perpetually h-o-r-n-y again.” Tate laughed.
They heard raised voices as they went into the conference room. J.J. and Channing were already there eating breakfast. Tyler was drinking orange juice and sporting a goofy look on his face.
“What’s all this commotion about?” Seth started fixing plates for the boys.
“I was just telling Tyler that too much s-e-x will make you go blind,” J.J. mused.
“I didn’t believe that lie it when you told me that when I was sixteen, and I don’t believe it now.” Tyler threw a muffin at him.
“Channing, on the other hand, should have the vision of a hawk,” Seth mused.
“I’ve decided to become disciplined and not let Little C.J. run my life. You know, I even think better these days.” Channing chomped down on a bagel.
“Really? Glad you can concentrate because you look like you’re ready to break a board over your forehead.” Tate took a bite of the piece of bacon Connor had in his hand.
“No worries. Me, Bo, and Jared are going out again tonight.” He grinned.
John Jacob entered the room. “Morning boys. I know this seems like a peculiar time for a meeting, but I thought I’d seize this opportunity. I don’t know when I’ll see all of you together any time soon.”
John Jacob began talking about profits and bottom lines. For a retired person he was very well versed in the goings-on of the company. The man had built an empire on blood, sweat, and tears and still managed to raise a family with Teri-Lyn. He didn’t like attention and didn’t do many interviews. Most of the Blakes’ philanthropic efforts went unnoticed by the press because John Jacob made sure of it. He told them a long time ago he was fine with the high profile lives they led and encouraged them to sow their wild oats. But he insisted noble acts not be publicized out of respect for the people and causes they were trying to help.
The reality of what was going on around him became clear when he opened the binder and viewed the mechanics of the company for the first time on paper. Each of the Blake men, including him, had an equal share in the company. Thinking he had no place in family business, he’d given them his voting proxy a long time ago for what he thought was a small portion of shares on his father’s part to make him feel like part of the family. Now he felt like an idiot. He should have taken the responsibility more seriously when he realized how John Jacob had integrated him into the business. He regretted all those times he’d ignored J.J. and Seth when they talked shop.
When the rest of his brothers filed out of the conference room after the meeting ended, Tate stayed behind.
John Jacob sat back down in a chair. “What’s got you down? I would have thought after my inspirational speech that everyone would be a in a good mood. Did Joe try to contact you again?”
“No, he didn’t put up a fuss at all when Regency asked him to leave town. It’s not that. I guess I’m wallowing in my own ignorance. I didn’t…expect to find out what I did today.” Tate shook his head.
“I know you have other things on your mind, like your music career and getting hitched soon.”
“You don’t know how much it means to me to be a part of this family.”
“I do. Just as much as it means to have you as my son. Maybe I don’t tell you boys enough, but I love you and I’m damn proud of you.”
“Thank you.” Tate blinked furiously. “I love you too. I wish Lucas felt even one quarter of that way about me and Izzy being together. His apprehension about us is tearing her apart. I’ve done everything I can think of, and the man just won’t let me forget my past.”
“Do you love that woman?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then don’t give up.”
* * *
&nb
sp; Isabelle woke to the smell of bacon and eggs. Today was the big day. Tate’s concert would begin at eight, and if all went well, she’d be telling him he was a daddy by midnight. She would deal with her father’s objections another time. Right now she wanted to enjoy the moment and be by his side. What mattered today was Tate having an upbeat attitude for his recorded performance. This moment in his career would be committed to film, and she wanted him to look back fondly on this crazy week years from now. She put on her bathrobe and went into the living room to see what she could do to make his day stress-free.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed her.
“I thought we were having breakfast with the family downstairs?” Isabelle ran a hand through his hair.
“I called and told them we couldn’t make it. I thought we’d eat alone and talk.”
“Today’s your big day. Excited?” She smiled.
“No more than usual.” He stuffed some pancakes into his mouth.
“Everything is going to be fine.” She caressed his hand.
“I love your enthusiasm, babe. This has been one hell of a week. Your father hates my guts, and Joe shows up trying to play father of the year. A light falling on my head tonight would complete the pattern.”
A wave of nausea came out of nowhere, and the bathroom seemed so far away it might as well have been in Nova Scotia, so Isabelle darted to the nearest garbage can and puked her guts out.
“Isabelle, are you all right?” Tate came toward her, but she waved him off.
She wanted to answer but another wave of nausea was coming, so she ran to the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” Tate followed her in and held her hair away from her face as she leaned over the toilet bowl in agony. A few minutes later it was over.
“I’m fine. I promise.” She shook her head as she rinsed with mouthwash repeatedly then splashed some cold water on her face.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“Yes.” She laced her fingers with his and led him into the bedroom. “Just keep in mind I planned to do this looking much better than this, but here goes. We’re going to have a baby. I know it’s been a crazy week, and I wanted to tell you at the perfect time. I’ve known since last week, and I didn’t want to keep it from you, but I thought you’d be too distracted to perform, and you were already being tortured by my dad and—”
Tate silenced her with a tender kiss.
“Does this mean you’re happy about this?”
“Does this mean you’re not leaving me?” He caressed her cheek.
“Of course not. Where would you get a crazy idea like that?” She furrowed her eyebrows.
“I know your dad doesn’t want you with me. He’s made that clear.”
“I was heartbroken when he ambushed me at lunch, and it hurts to think that I’m not daddy’s little girl anymore. But life goes on. I’m not living my life to make him happy.” She bit her lip.
“I know things haven’t gone well with your dad this week, but I promise, for the sake of the baby, I’ll try harder. You’re going to need your parents, and I’m sure I can figure out another way to gain his respect.” Tate put his hand on her belly and kissed her again.
It was nice that he wanted to keep trying even though she knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But it wasn’t about her dad anymore. They were a family now, and there was no room for discord.
“No. You’ve done everything possible to extend an olive branch. I’m tired of placating my dad. Come on.” Isabelle pushed off the bed and tugged on his hand.
“Where are we going?” Tate ran a hand through his hair.
“Downstairs to the family breakfast. If Lucas Reed wants a war, he’ll get one.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Isabelle and Tate got dressed and went down stairs in search of the family. Isabelle marched up to the parents’ table in the private banquet room where the family was dining. She was just about to launch into her speech when she turned and saw that goofy look on Tate’s face. She gave him a nudge. Her words would have a hell of a lot more impact if he weren’t standing there grinning. But who could blame him. He’d been smiling all the way down to the restaurant.
“Dad, you owe Tate an apology,” Isabelle said.
The room went quiet.
“I beg your pardon, young lady?”
“You’ve been treating him like crap all week, and it’s time you stopped.” Isabelle folded her arms over her chest.
“I’m not apologizing for what I said. I’m surprised the cowboy has enough time to make music and live that crazy lifestyle. Now he wants to settle down and marry my baby. That two bit gigolo can tell it to someone else,” Colonel Reed huffed.
“You don’t talk about my son like that.” John Jacob threw his napkin onto the table. “You’ve insulted him at every turn this week, and I’ve had enough of it. My son is a good man who loves your daughter. Everyone can see that but you. He doesn’t deserve this nonsense you keep bringing on him.”
“A good man? I’ve done some digging on your son. His exploits are all over the Internet. Now he wants to take up with my daughter, pretending he’s changed his ways.”
Isabelle caressed Tate’s arm.
“That couldn’t be farther from the truth. He’s kind, patient, and has a good heart. He makes me very happy. In fact, if someone could come up with her a word exponentially better than happy, I would be that word.”
“I thought Ned was a good man too, and he treated you badly.” Colonel Reed clasped his hands together.
“Tate is not Ned. He’s sensitive and caring, and he’d had a pretty hard life until the Blakes adopted him. That’s what Regency was protecting, the abuse he suffered as a child.” Isabelle sniffed.
“But I didn’t protect you from that asshole Ned. Then you made me promise not to wring his neck. I’m sorry, but I didn’t keep it, I went to Georgia and put a hurting on him he’ll never forget.”
“You said you wouldn’t.” Isabelle’s eyes widened.
“There’s no way a man puts his hands on my daughter and doesn’t have to pay the consequences. I don’t think I can take it again if I let someone else hurt my little girl. I failed you once as a father, and I won’t let it happen again.”
“You didn’t fail me. I didn’t want you beating Ned to a pulp because it would have spurned legal consequences and he’d still be in our lives. I didn’t want that for you, Tate, or anyone else I loved.”
Curtis spoke up. “Lucas, I know you are trying to do what you feel is right, but I’ve never seen Tate treat Isabelle with anything but love and respect.”
“No offense, big brother, but you didn’t have this problem with Seth. I don’t expect you to understand,” Lucas huffed.
“Uncle Lucas, you can’t be serious,” Morgan spoke up.
“What?” Lucas looked at his niece.
“Boys, cover your ears,” Morgan said to her sons then turned her attention back to her uncle. “Seth had his share of women. I can’t turn on my television without seeing some skank he dated before—”
Seth coughed. “Baby, I think you’ve made your point.”
Morgan gave him a look and continued. “My point is, the family was so busy being nice to their favorite quarterback I guess they overlooked his glamorous dalliances.”
“I knew about it,” Curtis interjected. “As a matter of fact I used to find his prowess entertaining until he popped up on my doorstep married to my daughter. But one look at the man and I knew he loved her. Tate looks at Isabelle the same way.”
“You never told me you had any concerns,” Lucas said to his brother.
“That doesn’t mean I didn’t have them. But he had a great effect on my daughter. She got her nose out of a book and started enjoying life. She has kids now. For a while I thought she’d turn into to some kind of spinster cat lady.” Curtis flinched when his wife Sydney hit his arm.
“For sure.” Robert nodded.
“It was a close call.” Jared hunched his should
ers.
“Shut it, both of you.” Morgan glared her brothers. “I would have to say Seth and Tate run neck and neck for the title of reformed playboy. Then there’s Tyler and Jared. Don’t get me started on them.”
“Please don’t,” Tyler and Jared said in unison.
“I love Seth, and I like to yank his chain about his past exploits because I know he loves me. I love Tate too. They’re cut from the same cloth. They were raised by a man who taught them how to treat the women they love. You’re hurting Isabelle by not giving Tate a chance.”
“Colonel Reed,” a voice called from the end of the table. It was Sam. “I followed Isabelle back to Georgia at the request of John Jacob to make sure she was OK. I had a chat with Ned, and he got the message about leaving her alone, but your daughter was mighty damn courageous all on her own. You would have been proud of her.”
Isabelle’s eyes locked with Sam’s. She’d felt like Sam looked familiar to her the first day she met her, and now she knew why.
“Sam’s the reason Ned didn’t press charges against you for battery,” John Jacob said.
“If you don’t want to be in my life anymore because I’m with Tate, I can accept that. But it would be an awful shame if you didn’t get to know your grandchild.” Isabelle placed her hand over Tate’s, which was on her belly. “I guess John Jacob will have to pull double duty in the grandpa department.”
“Fine by me,” John Jacob said.
“My baby is having a baby?” Colonel Reed uttered.
Cecilia, Teri-Lyn, and Sydney clapped in delight.
“Yes.” Isabelle nodded and put her arm around Tate’s waist. A wave of relief flooded over her. It felt so good to have it out in the open. She knew her dad was a tough cookie, but she knew the caring man who raised her was in there somewhere, underneath that gruff exterior.
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