Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
W ith only ten minutes left in her final appearance on Howlin’ Good , Reese congratulated herself for maintaining her composure.
She’d been on the verge of tears ever since she’d arrived at the studio that evening for the live taping. It hadn’t helped when she’d walked onto the set and saw her parents, Raina and Warrick seated in the first row for the second time. Once she realized that Michael had arranged the big surprise for her, she’d wanted to launch herself into his arms and shower his face with grateful kisses.
She’d settled for a simple, “Thank you.”
His gaze had softened on her face. “I’d do anything for you.”
If only that were true , she’d thought sadly.
Finished with her cooking demonstration, Reese spooned some of her curry chicken soufflé into a bowl and passed it to Michael. “Enjoy.”
He arched a brow. “You mean you’re not going to feed it to me?”
She rolled her eyes heavenward. “Typical helpless male.”
As the audience laughed, she and Michael exchanged brief, tense smiles.
“Can I at least have a spoon?” he asked.
She heaved an exasperated breath that wasn’t entirely for the crowd’s benefit. After dropping a spoon into his bowl, she smiled sweetly. “Anything else?”
“Actually,” he said thoughtfully, “I think I’d rather use a fork instead.”
Reese scowled at the audience. “If I didn’t know better, I would think he was stalling to get out of trying my soufflé.”
More laughter ensued.
Muttering under her breath, Reese began searching the cluttered countertop for a clean fork.
“Try the pot on the back burner,” Michael suggested.
Shooting him a dubious look, Reese lifted the lid of the pot he’d indicated. When she saw what was inside, she gasped and dropped the lid with a noisy clatter.
Her stunned gaze flew to Michael, who was smiling softly as he set down his bowl.
“Well? Aren’t you going to pick it up?”
Reese opened her mouth, but no sound emerged.
Michael shook his head at the audience. “A man’s work is never done.”
Only a few scattered chuckles could be heard above the sudden hush that had swept over the crowd.
Michael reached inside the pot and withdrew the solitary item that had rendered Reese speechless: a small velvet box.
A collective gasp went through the audience.
The expression on Michael’s face was as achingly tender as his voice. “I know you’re supposed to be the apprentice here, but the truth is, Reese, I’m the one who’s been learning from you. You’ve taught me so much about life, love and taking chances. I promise you that I’m not the same man you met a few weeks ago.”
Reese’s heart swelled with emotion. “Oh, Michael…”
“My viewers and I are on the same page. I want to keep you on the show as much as they want me to. But more important, Reese, I want to keep you in my life.”
She stared at him, afraid to believe this moment was real.
“I love you,” Michael said huskily. “You mean everything to me. Everything .”
Tears of joy and relief sprang to Reese’s eyes. “I love you too, Michael.”
He looked deeply into her eyes, searching her soul. And then he opened the jewelry box and removed a stunning diamond ring. “In the spirit of taking chances, will you marry me? ”
Smiling through her tears, Reese held out a trembling hand and felt his warm, strong fingers close tightly around hers.
“Yes,” she said fervently. “ Yes , Michael, I’ll marry you.”
He eased the ring onto her finger, then yanked her into his arms and whispered hoarsely, “I love you!” before crushing his mouth to hers in a fierce, devouring kiss.
The audience erupted into thunderous cheers and applause that soon dissolved into laughter and whistles as the couple’s passionate kiss continued.
Reese was oblivious to everything but Michael. In that moment, no one could tell her that she wasn’t the luckiest woman in the world.
How could she not be, when her favorite fantasy had just become a reality?