Page 103 of Recipe for Temptation

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?

Chapter Thirty-Five

Hours later, Michael lay in the darkness of his bedroom with Reese cradled against his side, her head on his shoulder. His hand drifted lazily over the curve of her hip as he brushed butterfly kisses along her hairline. He couldn’t stop kissing her, touching her, making love to her. Thankfully, he didn’t have to. Reese wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he. Ever.

After wrapping up at the studio, they’d headed over to Wolf’s Soul to celebrate their engagement with family and friends. Together they’d mingled with their guests, accepting congratulations and good-natured teasing about their onscreen kiss, which Drew dubbed the longest lip-lock in television history. He was already salivating at the thought of what Michael’s romantic proposal had done for the show’s ratings.

All Michael cared about was the woman in his arms. He couldn’t help marveling at the way things had turned out. Up until a few hours ago, he’d been facing the unthinkable possibility of a future without Reese. Now, he was on top of the world.

And to think he’d almost blown it.

“I shouldn’t have waited so long to tell you how I felt about you,” he murmured.

“Better late than never.” Reese lifted her head, searching his face in the silvery moonlight streaming through the wall of windows. “I, too, could’ve shared my feelings sooner, but I was so afraid you weren’t ready.”

“That’s not what was holding me back.” He touched her hair. “The day after our picnic, Marcus called to tell me about an argument he’d overheard between Mom and Grant. Apparently Mom had asked Grant if they could stay another week, and he got upset and accused her of still being in love with Dad. Marcus was stunned. He waited until no one else was around and confronted Mom. She denied Grant’s accusation, but she admitted that she’d been feeling confused about the past lately. She said she loves Grant dearly, but the more time she spent with Dad, the more she realized how much she gave up all those years ago. But she promised Marcus that she’d keep her doubts to herself so she wouldn’t throw Dad’s life into upheaval—again.”

Michael watched as comprehension dawned on Reese’s face. “You thought that if your mother could have buyer’s remorse after nearly thirty years, I might someday regret breaking up with Victor.”

Michael hesitated, then nodded. “It killed me to think?—”

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