Worth the Wait Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Table of Contents

  Look for these titles from Rhonda Laurel

  Title Page

  Copyright Warning

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Coming Soon

  Also by Rhonda Laurel

  More Romance from Etopia Press

  Look for these titles from Rhonda Laurel

  Now Available

  The Blake Boys Series

  For the Love of the Game (Book One)

  MVP (Book Two)

  The Blake Legacy (Book Three)

  Texas Heat (Book Four)

  Love Notes and Football (Book Five)

  The Perfect Storm (Book Six)

  Slow Burn (Book Seven)

  Cowboy’s Heart (Book Eight)

  Tempting Fate (Book Nine)

  Executive Desires (Book Ten)

  Meet the Blakes (Book Eleven)

  The Final Play (Book Twelve)

  Stranded in Paradise (Book Thirteen)

  Slap Shot (Book Fourteen)

  Off Season (Book Fifteen)

  Worth the Wait (Book Sixteen)

  The Hollywood Heat Series

  Star Crossed (Book One)

  Hollywood Rush (Book Two)

  Ebb Tide

  Shutter

  “Masquerade” Halloween Heat IV

  In Print

  The Rhonda Laurel Collection

  “Masquerade” Halloween Heat MF

  The Blake Boys Collection

  The Blake Boys Collection II

  The Blake Boys Collection III

  Worth the Wait

  The Blake Boys Book Sixteen

  Rhonda Laurel

  Etopia Press

  Copyright Warning

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Published By

  Etopia Press

  1643 Warwick Ave., #124

  Warwick, RI 02889

  http://www.etopiapress.com

  Worth the Wait

  Copyright © 2016 by Rhonda Laurel

  ISBN: 978-1-944138-52-3

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Etopia Press electronic publication: July 2016

  ~ DEDICATION ~

  To Wyatt and Avery, thanks for planting the seeds to make love bloom.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Wyatt Connelly resisted the urge to yank on the necktie that was damn near choking him. But he knew his mom would fly up to the altar and chastise him for ruining a picture-perfect moment. Normally he didn’t go in for the whole-suit-and-tie thing, but today was a special day. Big brother Bo was getting married to Summer, the love of his life.

  He casually scanned the room and found the most beautiful woman in the place: Avery Reed. She looked gorgeous today in a pale pink chiffon strapless dress with her hair done up in curls. She was so fixated on the ceremony that she didn’t notice him watching her. Which was good, because she probably would have given him the middle finger. No, on second thought, Avery wouldn’t do that. Even in her most furious state, she still resonated grace and poise. It was one of the things he loved about her. She was beautiful, smart, opinionated, and unflappable about her convictions, whether it be rescuing animals or helping senior citizens at the retirement home where she volunteered. Avery was always doing the right thing.

  It seemed like only yesterday they’d met at a party thrown by the Blakes. He had been smitten the minute he saw the confident young woman with that beautiful shy smile and soothing voice of hers. She’d smiled and shook his hand, and he’d become flustered like a junior high school boy talking to a girl he liked for the first time. Usually he was an incurable flirt and had a flattering pick-up line for every occasion. But he knew the usual flirting wouldn’t work on someone like her. He’d had to come up with fresh material to impress her while avoiding the steely gaze of every man in the Blake family. They made no bones about warning him not to pull that charming crap on their niece or there would be dire consequences.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Bo Sr. waving his hand, trying to get his attention. He tore his gaze away from Avery to see the older man pointing at the altar. He turned just in time to see Bo and Summer slipping their wedding bands onto each other’s fingers. When the reverend pronounced them man and wife, the guests clapped as Bo took his bride into his arms for a pretty hot kiss for two reserved nerds. Once they headed down the aisle, he turned to see Avery sniffing and dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. It was a happy occasion, but he doubted she’d be in such a good mood from the festivities that it would get him out of the doghouse with her. What did he expect? After their night at the student fair, he’d been avoiding her like she had the plague.

  Each year they’d looked forward to going to the annual event to fundraise for the school’s athletic department. She loved the rides, playing games, and eating junk food. He’d spend all his money trying to win her some ridiculous prize. She’d lecture him about eating too much but loved to share cotton candy and giant pretzels with him. It had been a great day until the unthinkable happened. They’d just gotten off the roller coaster when she’d said she was cold. He’d wrapped his jacket around her, and she’d smiled at him. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t done a thousand times before, but this time it felt different. He’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was soft, sensual, and full of unspoken possibilities that had never been said before. They’d walked back to her apartment in silence. Once inside, neither knew what to say. When she finally started to speak, he stole a kiss and walked out.

  Now Wyatt followed the rest of the wedding party down the aisle. As he passed the row where she sat, Avery looked up. Their gazes connected for a moment. He waved at her, but she turned away and helped the kids out of their chairs. Just like he’d thought. No obscene gestures, but that cold shoulder sure sent a chill down his back. Now all he wanted to do was go over there and kiss her again.

  Avery stood by the floral archway leading to the tented ballroom and smiled. She loved weddings. She loved the flowers, soft music, and the fancy clothes everyone wore. Best of all she liked gathering with the family to celebrate another joyous occasion. She knew the family was elated that this day had finally come. After rescheduling a few times to avoid conflicting with Corbett and Courtney’s wedding, Uncle Bo and Summer had finally tied the knot. The Blake brood was on its best behavior. The kids were good sports about the stuffy suits they had to wear. Mackenzie looked so pretty in her flower
girl’s dress and had managed to make it all the way down the aisle thanks to coaxing from her dad.

  There was a magical feeling in the air, and it all would have been perfect if Wyatt hadn’t been there. They hadn’t seen each other since that day at the fair when he’d bolted after that hot kiss they’d shared. The kiss had left her feeling good yet confused. Something had changed between them the past few months and that kiss was proof. But after the kiss, it seemed the dance they’d been doing for three years was grinding to a halt, and neither knew what to do about it.

  And that wasn’t the only thing. He’d been acting odd lately. She’d chalked it up to senioritis. He was partying hard with his friends again like the old Wyatt she’d first met. He’d made such progress since he’d transferred to Texas University and now he seemed dead set on derailing it all. They were in their final year, and he should have been focusing on the future. Instead, he was going back to childish ways and bad behavior. If he managed to buckle down, he was poised to graduate, and she was too. He was a year ahead of her, but she’d been carrying a pretty heavy course load in school and would be finishing at the same time.

  He’d managed to pull himself together for the wedding activities. He’d also avoided her all week on the ranch. She’d decided she wasn’t going to let those playful eyes and bright, cocky smile get to her today. Wyatt was gorgeous and he knew it. He was smart, funny and had the trademark jet-black hair and auburn eyes like his brothers Bo and Corbett. He had a “life is a big party” persona and enjoyed being the go-to guy for a good time. That’s the façade he presented to the world. But he was different with her.

  She’d seen Wyatt wave, but she’d ignored it. The nerve of him after avoiding her all week. The reception would begin in an hour after the bridal party had taken their pictures. That meant there was an hour’s reprieve before she came face to face with the jerk who planted that toe-curling kiss on her.

  * * *

  Wyatt was grateful the official photos were over. All that standing still and smiling had been grating on his nerves. He’d preferred to keep moving to stave off the nervous energy surging through him. It was time to get on with the reception and that meant mingling, dancing, eating, and seeing Avery. He’d climbed into the limo with the groomsmen and within a few short minutes they were at the reception tent. They filed out, ready to party. The guests had already arrived. He’d immediately scanned the tent for Avery, but he couldn’t find her. How exactly could he hide from her if he didn’t know where she was? He turned when he felt some slight pressure on his arm. It was his brother Corbett guiding him over to the bar, and he ordered two scotches. Wyatt knocked back the stiff, strong liquor and made a face.

  “Feel better?” Corbett said.

  “No. Now I feel like my chest is on fire.”

  “But it did take that crazy look off your face.”

  “Crazy look? What do you mean?”

  “Like a scared deer at a busy intersection.” Corbett chuckled and smoothed his suit lapels. “What’s got you so rattled?”

  “Nothing. Nothing.” Wyatt motioned for the bar tender to give him another. “Everything’s fine.”

  “Yeah. Sure.” Corbett shook his head.

  He furrowed eyebrows. “It’s woman troubles.”

  “What did you do to Avery now?”

  “What makes you think it’s about Avery?”

  “Because whether you’ve wanted to admit it or not, for the past three years whenever you have woman troubles, it has something to do with Avery.” Corbett covered the second glass of scotch the bartender had put down with his hand, stopping Wyatt from drinking it. “Getting drunk at your brother’s wedding is not going to help.”

  “It couldn’t hurt.” He tensed when he spotted Avery talking to Morgan.

  “But a good pinch from mom will if you get stinking drunk for Bo’s big day. Besides, you look so nice in your grown-up clothes. I’d like to remember you this way.”

  “I don’t usually go for these stuffy clothes,” he said grudgingly. “But I guess I can do it for Bo. And you of course for your wedding day too. Two weddings in one year in our family. Who would have thought it?”

  “Don’t count those chickens yet. If Courtney changes one more thing, the date will be moved again.”

  “Why are you letting her push you around? It’s your wedding day too.”

  “It’s her perfect day, and I want her to be happy.” Corbett sipped his drink. “You’ll learn soon enough about putting someone else’s happiness before your own. Did you and Avery have a fight?”

  He tugged on his tie. “It wasn’t really a fight.”

  “Are you going to talk to her today or just gaze at her from across the room?”

  “Distance is safer.”

  Corbett slapped him on the back. “It’s been in my experience that when you really like someone, distance is the last thing you want.”

  The mood got considerably brighter when Anna Beth began walking in their direction.

  “Wyatt you look so handsome,” Anna Beth said as she gave him a hug.

  “Thank you, Anna Beth,” Wyatt replied.

  “Corbett, always good to see you.” She reached out and clumsily hugged him.

  “You too. It’s been too long. You look great, by the way.”

  “You do look great,” Wyatt said to Anna Beth, but gave his brother subtle side-eye. “Where’s your date?”

  “I decided not to bring him. He wasn’t the kind of man I wanted to bring around the Blake family.”

  “Did he do something to upset you?” Corbett asked.

  “Yes. No. Well—” she stammered, then took a deep breath. “A friend of mine told me he was yapping about coming to the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch. I got the feeling he was more interested in seeing celebrities than spending the day with me. I revoked him as my plus one last night.”

  “Then he was an idiot.” Corbett smiled.

  Wyatt was pretty amused at the series of questions Corbett had been firing at Anna Beth. Corbett had always gone out of his way to chat with Anna Beth. She was a pretty, sweet woman who was the backbone of the executive offices operation at Blake Enterprises. She was good at her job and they trusted her implicitly.

  “Anna Beth. What a shame about your date,” Courtney said as she joined the group and linked arms with Corbett. “No one should have to come to a wedding alone.”

  Wyatt clutched his chest. “Courtney, you sure know how to sneak up on a guy.”

  Courtney glared at him. “You’ve always been jumpy around me. Why is that?”

  “I guess I’ve always been sensitive to supernatural entities,” Wyatt mused.

  Corbett gave him that look that meant play nice. “Wy.”

  “OK. OK.” Wyatt held up his hands.

  “Don’t worry Beth Ann, your prince will come someday.” Courtney tightened her grip on Corbett’s arm. “You have to get out of that stuffy office more. You won’t find him in J.J.’s office.”

  Wyatt noticed Anna Beth’s knuckles whiten as she tightened her grip on her champagne glass. “I don’t mind being single when the alternative is being miserable with a person who’s with me for all the wrong reasons.”

  Wyatt nodded and bit back a smile. Score one for Anna Beth.

  Corbett let out a nervous laugh. “What matters is that everyone is happy in their own skin.”

  A familiar voice interrupted from behind them, “Is everyone having a good time?” It was Teri-Lyn.

  “Great,” Wyatt replied. As usual, Teri-Lyn’s knack for showing up to defuse high-pressure situations was a blessing. He was pretty sure a powder keg had been lit.

  “You boys look so handsome in your suits. Your mama has been crying all morning about how wonderful it is to see her boys together for such a happy occasion.” Teri-Lyn turned to the ladies. “Ladies, you both look very pretty.”

  “Well, she’ll get to cry even harder when we have our wedding,” Courtney blurted out.

  Everyone gave Courtney a strange lo
ok.

  “I mean,” she said and bit her lip. “That it will be an equally joyous occasion.”

  “Courtney, honey, it’s not a competition. There’s plenty of joyful tears to go around for special occasions like these.”

  “We’ll all be crying, for different reasons,” Wyatt murmured so only Teri-Lyn could hear.

  She gently nudged him in the ribs and gave him a stern yet gentle look. He’d confided in her months ago that he thought Corbett and Courtney were ill-suited for each other. She told him the story of J.J.’s first nightmarish marriage to that beauty queen Eden, who sounded just like Courtney. She reminded him that no matter how cantankerous Courtney could be, she was going to be his sister-in-law. He still didn’t like the idea of Corbett being bossed around for the rest of his life, but that was his brother’s decision. On the up side, he was gaining an awesome sister-in-law in Summer and her equally wonderful sister Autumn.

  Jenna, the wedding planner, took a microphone and got everyone’s attention before announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jamison Jr.”

  Bo and Summer entered the tent and the guests applauded. Teri-Lyn went over and hugged the couple. Their mom, who was still crying, was being comforted by Bo Sr. When the tears subsided, they went over and gave the couple a bear hug.

  “I’m so happy for the two of them,” Anna Beth said. “That is true love.”

  “Yeah…” Corbett added.

  “If you’ll excuse me. I’m going to mingle.” Anna Beth put down her champagne glass. “Wyatt, you’ll save a dance for me?”

  “You know it.” Wyatt smiled.

  Anna Beth went over to talk to Cassidy and Michelle. As soon as she was out of hearing distance, Corbett lit into Courtney.

  “You were really rude to her.”

  “So what? You should be more concerned about my feelings than hers.”

  “Let’s go talk in private.”