Cherish & Blessed by Tere Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

really been serious about a girl before, so we were a little startled….”
    “And you came to check out her and the family?” Matt smiled sympathetically.
    “Yes. No offense, but he’s our only child, and we’re a bit protective.”
    “Understood. Don’t worry about it.” He went back to unloading the bag, casting a quick glance at the labels. This was a pricey spread, little jars and bottles of fancy things he might find at a dinner with Bennett and Daisy. “We feel the same way.”
    A clatter of sound made them both look up. Blake and Evan were passing through, each carrying a small suitcase. Kent—officially locked in a deer-in-headlights expression—followed behind with two bags.
    Evan’s face was tight, so Matt did his best to shoot him a loving smile. It worked at least a little bit.
    “Wine and cheese when you get back down?” he asked, dry and fancy at the same time.
    Evan looked heavenward. “Sounds delightful.”
    Matt laughed. “We have some other people coming,” Matt said, half in the fridge and half out, after the party went upstairs. “Friends of ours.”
    “Oh, how nice. Another gay couple?”
    It sounded so weird the way she said it—no judgment, just… eagerness.
    “Uh, no. Evan’s partner and her boyfriend.” Did they know other gay couples? There was Griffin and James, but they were on the West Coast. And a few people from the LGBT “Goal” group at the NYPD, but no one they really socialized with on a regular basis.
    “More policemen!” The strange tone was back. It suddenly occurred to Matt that maybe cop bothered her more than gay .
    Well, that was going to make things interesting.
    They settled down as a group in the living room, with plates of cheese, meats, and bread, and two bottles of wine. The kids perched closest to the food, clutching their sodas, though Katie cast a few longing glances at the wine.
    The narrowing of Evan’s eyes stopped that pretty quickly.
    “So how long have you two been together?” Cornelia asked just as Matt was attempting to eat a cracker heaped with salami. He tried not to choke.
    “Uh… four and a half years,” Evan provided while Matt chewed.
    “So the kids are….”
    “Mine. My wife passed away almost six years ago.” Evan’s voice was cool as he regarded Cornelia over the rim of his glass. Matt chewed faster, and Katie got a grateful nod when she handed him his drink.
    Cornelia blinked. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said carefully. It was clear she wanted to ask more but didn’t know how to say “Then how did you end up with a dude?” for which Matt was eternally grateful.
    Kent and Miranda were sitting to Matt’s left, and he watched as Kent moved uncomfortably in his seat. Miranda had a tight hold on his arm, but the tension between them was obvious. Any pleasure at Miranda’s plans backfiring on her now became sympathy—this kid had no clue what he was walking into, and it was probably tough to know his girlfriend had done it on purpose.
    “So a nursery—interesting. What sort of stuff do you sell?” Matt asked, loud and diverting. “Like flowers and bushes?”
    Blake leaped into the discussion of his business with both feet and embraced the change of topic enthusiastically. In the next thirty minutes, Matt learned everything he ever wanted to about the business of selling flora and what sort of trees would thrive in their front yard.
    “I would be glad to draw you up a detailed plan,” Blake said before gulping down half of his wine.
    “That would be so nice, thank you.” Evan glanced at his watch. “Maybe we should start getting things ready for dinner. Helena and Shane should be here soon.” Matt started to get up, but Evan raised his hand. “Miranda, why don’t you come help me?”
    No one in the room could mistake that request for an actual question. Miranda unclenched Kent’s arm and stood up reluctantly, scuffing her feet on the rug as she followed Evan’s ramrod-straight back out of the room.
    Matt