Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
Text copyright ©2018 by the Author.
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Claimed by her Billionaire
By
Kate Richards
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
Kate Richards
Also by Kate Richards
Claimed by Her Billionaire
Librarian Serenity MacKay’s life is about to take a completely different direction. Up, she hopes. There’s nothing wrong with her current existence in the Cedar Valley, surrounded by cousins, aunts and uncles, her mom and stepdad and lifelong friends. But at twenty-three, a girl needs to leave her childhood bedroom and strike out on her own before she becomes a cliché. Her late father’s sister, her namesake, who she didn’t even know existed makes it all possible with a bequest offering her a chance to grow up and make her own way in Sausalito…on a houseboat of all things. And the attorney handling the estate looks like a Viking god. Could he be interest
Ryan Griffin came into his wealth with a lucky stock purchase that took him, and his brother, from a comfortable living as junior partners in a San Francisco law firm with a bit of family money to billionaires. Their new, boutique law office near the docks in Sausalito makes it possible for him to walk to work from his antique yacht/houseboat. He takes only the cases he wants to, most of which make the news every day. He doesn’t usually handle wills, but for his favorite coffeehouse owner, he makes an exception. The day he meets her heir and namesake his world changes forever.
Serenity and Ryan never saw it coming, the explosion of attraction when their eyes meet in his office. He hands over her keys and his heart in one fell swoop. But he’s over a decade older than her and established. She’s just getting started in life and excited to make new friends. Is that how she sees him, as an older kind friend…or does she also feel the same attraction he does every time he is in her presence?
Prologue
To my beloved niece and only living relative, I leave everything I have. My little floating home, my business, and my heart. Not literally on the heart thing, but I’ve always rooted you on from a distance as was your parents’ wish.
Your father, my brother, taken too soon, would be so proud of you. I wish I’d been able to spend time with you, get to know you, but your stepfather thought it might interfere with his relationship with you so I kept away. The MacKays sent me pictures and news of you, though, all your academic achievements, your Girl Scout badges, and of course they told me of your kind heart.
If what little I’ve managed to accumulate isn’t to your liking, you may sell it all and use the proceeds to make a life you prefer. But it would please me greatly if you’d give it a chance first. A year in my home might give you some perspective a place like Cedar Valley, although wonderful, cannot. I also grew up in a small town and feel like some time in a larger place can be pretty special. Sausalito has a lot of small town in it, too. The best parts.
Breaks my heart that I won’t be with you as you experience the wider world. On some level, I will be. Nothing ends, nothing is lost…and love is forever. I love you very much.
Aunt Serenity
Chapter One
San Francisco was a beautiful city. Serenity would never deny that. But for a girl from Cedar Valley, the City by the Bay could be a bit overwhelming. Great to visit, wonderful for a night out or a seafood meal. Chinatown, Golden Gate Park…endless fun places to vacation with friends and family. But after the peaceful life in small-town Northern California, moving to the city would be just too stimulating in the long term.
Fortunately, Serenity’s late aunt had not left her a business in the city. Or an apartment on one of its fog-shrouded hills. If so, she’d have put them on the market immediately. The very idea left her brain spinning. She’d have had to act against the request portion of the bequest.
Her namesake, who she’d never heard of until now, had willed her a cute, six-stool indoor, three café tables outdoor coffeehouse walking distance from her houseboat in Sausalito. And that she couldn’t say no to. The Yelp reviews for Serenity’s café were outstanding and contained pictures that illustrated clearly the charm of the little shop with its full pastry case and menu board listing lunch specials. Smiling tourists snapped selfies standing in front of the plate glass window, holding up to-go cups and white bakery bags then posted them online. It seemed she’d inherited a special spot.
And a great responsibility, should she choose to undertake it.
To the shock of almost everyone in the family, from Chief Mac down to the little cousins, shy Serenity who at twenty-three still lived in her childhood bedroom, packed her bags, climbed into her little second-hand pickup truck, and headed out to conquer the world, or at least her own fears and doubts.
Her degree in library science was tucked into a box in the bed of the truck along with her grandmother’s teacup collection and her books, clothes, and boxes of yarn. She could imagine sitting on the deck of her houseboat—she’d found no pictures of one she could identify as hers so only her imagination provided details there—crocheting and sipping tea from one of the pretty cabbage rose cups.
The truck was still half empty. Not a whole lot to show for her life so far, but the houseboat was fully furnished with everything she’d need…at least according to the letter the attorney had included with her aunt’s note to her
She had an aunt she hadn’t even known, and now it was too late to ever know her. An aunt who had kept track of her and loved her…couldn’t her mom see what a loss that was? Bad enough she had been too little when her father left, and at some point, apparently, died. Loss after loss. Her stepdad, who’d passed away the previous year, had been great, supportive, loving, treated her like a real daughter. None of this negated her feelings toward Bob.
But family was everything to the MacKays and although her mom and dad had never married and she bore her mother’s maiden name, she carried it proudly. But one of the reasons she’d stayed home after college was Bob’s illness. She’d helped her mother care for him for two years, watching the big bluff man fade until he was gone. Then she’d stayed to be with her mother while they grieved. She might have never left if that letter hadn’t arrived.
But when it did, everything changed. Time to live her own life, and distance might help her get over the anger she felt at her mother for denying her a chance to know her aunt. And her father…
The drive to Sacramento didn’t faze her; she’d made it many times before, but once she left Sac behind, things got real. Sure, she’d been behind the wheel on weekend trips with girlfriends or cousins. She had so many cousins, someone always wanted a getaway, and nobody went alone.
So…she’d never made a trip farther than Sacramento without someone else along for the ride.
And as the state capital disappeared in her
rearview, and the GPS voice told her to stay on I80 and I580 for almost ninety miles before exiting, her hands gripped the steering wheel tight. Cousins weren’t just for fun times. Flat tire? There was a cousin for that. Plumbing problem…got a cousin. Difficulty with filing taxes, just ask McKay CPA. Once she was over one hundred miles from home, what would she do if she had a problem?
Her business would likely have service needs, and a computer system she wouldn’t understand. Would her librarian skills translate to coffeehouse owner? Did she have employees? A difficult coffeemaker? The place she liked at home had a big stainless steel espresso maker. It had dials and gauges and a grinder and none of it made sense to her. Could they explode?
Did they come with an instruction book that made sense?
The tires whirling over the road seemed to echo her worries. She didn’t even know if the place made a profit. The note asked her to stay a year, to give it a shot. Could she do that? She still had a heck of a time understanding why her mother had refused to let her meet her aunt. She hadn’t lied about Dad not being her actual father…had even allowed her a picture of the man who had disappeared shortly after her birth. That picture was tucked in the box with the teacups.
When did he die? Of what? The questions swirling around her head had made it easier for her to leave. In fact, she’d never before made plans to leave Cedar Valley. Nothing had drawn her past the local communities where she had friends and family galore and a job in her field. She’d had a vague idea about renting an apartment or townhouse as soon as her mom had a little time to get over losing Bob. No more than that.
Exiting the freeway, she tried to make sense of what the GPS was telling her. Her appointment at the lawyer’s office near her new home was still an hour away, so even with a few wrong turns resulting in the GPS lady “recalculating” she thought she might make it on time. A little earlier and she might have snuck a peak at the houseboat on the way. Little Serenity MacKay…moving to locations unknown. What would her dad think? I wish I’d met Aunt Serenity, but you, Daddy…how long did you live after you left us? Did you miss me?
She probably would only stay here a year. She didn’t know anyone, after all, and her life was back in Cedar Valley. The library had promised her a job on her return, treating this like a sabbatical. But, maybe in that time, she’d find a connection to a side of the family she didn’t know. The MacKays were the kindest, most supportive people on the planet. What were the Jeffries like? She must have had friends. Her note made it clear she had no other family.
Stuffing aside thoughts she could deal with later, Serenity focused on finding parking. GPS lady had just announced, “You’ve arrived at your destination,” in a voice that she could swear held relief. Disappointing an electronic person. Not the worst thing she’d ever done.
The gray-siding covered building housing Griffin and Griffin, Attorneys at Law was set back from the street with simple, attractive landscaping on either side of the path leading to the steps. When she entered, she found herself in a room with gray leather couches and a desk. On the desk sat a bell and a note.
Ring bell for service.
Interesting choice for an attorney. Couldn’t he afford a secretary or receptionist? Not her problem, she supposed. He was probably not a powerhouse attorney, just a guy who handled wills and things. Once she signed for everything and received her keys, she didn’t have to deal with him again. After all…she had a cousin for her legal needs. Sure, he lived in Sacramento, but if he couldn’t help her with something, he’d refer her to someone local. A minute passed, two, three…and she rang the bell again. This time a little more insistently. Still nothing.
What to do? It wasn’t as if she could come back later. She had nowhere else to go, and Griffin or Griffin had the keys to her new place. Two dark wood doors broke up the brick wall, one on either side of the desk. One for each Griffin, she supposed. Father and son? Brothers?
And were either of them in the office? Going with her dominant hand, she bore to the left and rapped on the door. “Hello? Anyone in there?” The attorney who had forwarded her aunt’s note as well as a formal notice of his position as executor had been named Ryan. A small gold plate on this door said Glenn Griffin. Passing behind the desk, she approached the other door. Sure enough, the ornate script on the plate read Ryan Griffin. “Hello?” she called, then, done with waiting, she tried the knob. The door opened at her twist, but nobody sat at the large redwood desk inside. A picture of a sailboat held pride of place between a pair of windows with a view of the water and all the boats moored or docked below. Seemed to be a water-loving town. Outside, the wind ruffled the bay into white-tipped wavelets that seemed to be constantly moving toward the delta and beyond. She moved closer, beguiled by the beauty of the arm of the great Pacific. Clouds moved, following the water on its way inland.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? I feel lucky to be alive every time I look out that window.” The deep voice came from right behind her shoulder, and she jumped, spinning to see a man so handsome he stole her breath.
Tall, at least six foot three, towering over her five foot four, he wore a dark-gray suit that had to be Armani or something and was most certainly tailored to his frame. His patterned tie lay perfectly knotted and smooth against a shirt so white it almost blinded her. As she watched, tongue-tied, he removed his jacket and hung it in a closet then—oh no he didn’t—but he did. He rolled the sleeves up almost to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms that offered a tease of what lay under that fine silky cotton.
Serenity, who had never considered herself a suit girl, who had a history of dating guys who wore jeans and hard hats to work, decided she’d been missing something very special. His square jaw was gilded with a neat scruff, his silvery gold Nordic blond hair long on top and shaved up the sides. His eyes were blue, but not the dark-blue most of the MacKays bore, but almost aqua. A color she’d seen on a glacier once. Clear and yet so dense, giving away nothing. The tour guide had told them the blue occurred when snow falls on a glacier then becomes part of it, all the air pressed out, ice crystals growing…but his blue eyes had gold sparkles in them a glacier could only envy.
“Miss MacKay?” He leaned close, searching her face.
Without intending to, she tipped her head back, lips parting, breathing in short puffs.
“You are Miss MacKay, correct? Are you all right? Why don’t you take a seat?” The god of all men took her arm and settled her into a visitor chair before disappearing and returning with a coffee mug. He pressed it into her hands. “Drink this.”
She too a gulp and choked on the iced liquid. “I thought it was coffee.”
“No…” He looked puzzled. “I thought you needed water. Would you like some coffee? I’m warning you, I’m not good at making it, but I’ll try. My secretary is in charge of that, and she’s not here just now.”
She quickly sipped at the cold beverage. “It’s fine. The coffee cup just made me expect something hot, so I was surprised. It’s fine.”
“And you are Miss MacKay? Miss Serenity MacKay?”
The dark-haired vision nodded. Meaning, he hoped, that she was his expected appointment. He’d never seen a picture of her, although her aunt had been his father’s client for over twenty years, and, when his dad died and they took over this office, she’d become his.
Glenn had offered to take on the small-potatoes client. His words not Ryan’s. But Ryan had demurred. The old lady wasn’t a big moneymaker for them but he genuinely liked her and had spent quite a few hours in her coffeehouse. She’d given him free cookies for taking out the trash or other quick favors when he hung around there as a kid, a walking stomach according to his parents.
“If you’re feeling better, maybe we can take a look at the will. I have to be back in court this afternoon.”
“Probate court?”
“No. I’m a defense attorney.” He smiled and leaned a hip on the edge of the desk. “In the middle of a rather high-profile murder case across the bridge at th
e moment.”
“Then how did you end up in charge of my aunt’s will?”
The question of the year. “Serenity was my dad’s client. He’s gone now. After she learned of her illness, and the likelihood she didn’t have long”—he ached inside just remembering that conversation—“she asked me to do it.”
Serenity shook her head slowly, her long black braid swishing over her back with the movement. “Are you qualified? I mean…” Her cheeks pinkened, a rosy hue darkening them. “I’m sorry. That was probably rude.”
Ryan shrugged. “It was straightforward. You were her only relative. She left you everything. Any law student could have handled this one.”
“I’m gathering you’re kind of a power lawyer. Can I afford you to be executor?” She sat there, hands clasped in her lap, wearing a denim skirt and pink button-down blouse topped with a white cardigan, looking younger than he suspected she was. Of course she couldn’t afford him.
“This is pro bono or, more aptly, friendship work. Dad took his pay in coffee and pastry. He ate lunch at the coffeehouse every day.
“But, basically, once I hand you the keys and a big manila envelope, make sure you understand what the estate comprises, my job is done. So…yeah. No worries, here.”
“That’s very kind of you,’ she murmured, and he realized she was focused on her hands in her lap while talking to him. Then she lifted her gaze, dark-blue eyes awash, crystal tears clinging to ebon lashes. She couldn’t be too sad over her aunt’s death, since she’d never met the woman, so what?
“Friends matter to me, and your aunt was a good one.” He reached for a tissue from the box on his desk and passed it to her. “Why are you crying?”
She blinked, sending a few tears down her cheeks, and swiped them away. “My aunt died.”
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