About Ryan. He’s a special man, despite his billions. I’m guessing you don’t even know he has them, but he does. Don’t hold it against him. He has a good soul, and you’ll have to forgive an old woman for hoping two young hearts will find one another because love is a wondrous thing.
If you want to honor my legacy, give the leftovers from the day to the hungry who come to the back door. Mildred upstairs lives for free, technically her rent is a hundred a month, but I always let her help out instead. If you move on, if you say to a bigger boat with a certain billionaire lawyer, find a good new owner for the Java Nest. She deserves that after putting up with me all those years.
I’ll see you someday, but all my love always,
Your Auntie Serenity.
Ryan returned from a long day at court to find her sitting on the floor with the binder, her cheeks wet with tears. He sat next to her and enfolded her in his arms. “What’s wrong, Serenity?”
She sniffed. “How was court?”
“I lost.” He shrugged.
“I’m sorry.” She nestled into him, rubbing her cheek against his jacket like a kitten. “Was the client upset?”
He grinned, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. “Violent. But he’s behind bars now where he can’t hurt anyone and as the jury verdict came in, I realized something?”
Serenity rested her cheek on his chest and looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“I suppose I have to tell you sometime, but I have money.”
“Okay, good. It’s better than not.”
“Actually I have a lot of money.” He studied her face but saw no change in her expression.
“I know.” Rising on her knees, she shifted to sit on his lap. “Aunt Serenity told me.”
Oh God, she was losing it. “Baby, your aunt is dead. Are you saying her ghost talked to you?”
“No.” She reached for the binder and showed him the last page. “She wrote me a book. And she told me not to hold your wealth against you.”
He chuckled. “Sounds just like my old friend. What else did she tell you?”
Serenity flipped the book closed. “That is between Auntie and me. But I agree. You’re pretty nice for a rich guy.”
“Thank you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I appreciate that.”
“So, why did you tell me now? About the money, I mean? Did you think I’d care?”
Shifting her to face him, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Because I plan to change how I practice law. My brother always said I am a little arrogant, but I don’t want to be. I think it’s time to use my skills to help those in need.”
“Serenity always did that, didn’t she? She told me about feeding the hungry and her tenant.”
“Yes, your aunt was a good influence on me. It just took me a while to absorb the lessons.” Rising to his feet, he took her with him and they were still hugging when the door opened and startled them both.
“Hey! I came for my wheel money. Hi, Dad.”
“Son, you need to learn to knock.”
“On the coffeehouse door?”
“Darn Griffins,” she muttered. “Harley, you and your dad keep scaring the life out of me. I swear I’m going to hang bells around your necks so I can hear you coming.”
At his crestfallen face, she felt terrible. “We were just going to have dinner, Harley. Want to come?”
“Pizza!” he crowed. “Double pepperoni okay?”
Ryan slung an arm around his neck and his other arm around Serenity’s waist. “Maybe Serenity would rather have another topping like mushrooms.”
“Oh no. Anything but fungus.” Going through the door was awkward, all linked like that, but Ryan wasn’t about to let go of either of them.
Not today.
Not ever.
Epilogue
Summer in Sausalito was a busy time. Tourists flocked the streets, moving in and out of shops, buying souvenirs and taking tours of the houseboat docks. Many came into the shop for a coffee or pastry, maybe a salad for lunch or a salad. Serenity had added a new line of teas at the request of UK customers as well as a framed photo over the cash register. It was a panoramic view, had to be to hold all the members of her family, old and new.
Standing on the deck of the Queen of Hearts, a huge number of MacKays, all the neighbors from their dock and the next one, including Mary, Harley’s mom, who turned out to be a great friend. Joseph and Katherine Anderson couldn’t come, but some of their married children who were like family to Ryan had. His brother Glenn. Stan.
And at the front, Serenity, Ryan, and Harley, all smiling hard in the sunlight. It wasn’t a wedding picture. Serenity still wasn’t sure that her aunt hadn’t been right about not needing a marriage to have a relationship that worked. Maybe someday. But family mattered most. All the relationships that made it up, blood, friendship. Love. She loved Ryan so much, it made her heart hurt sometimes just to look at him. The picture was of her moving in party. In accordance with Serenity’s wishes, she had found a new owner who would appreciate the Java Nest.
There was a cousin for that.
Kate Richards
Kate Richards divides her time between Los Angeles and the High Sierras. She would gladly spend all her days in the mountains, but she’d miss the beach…and her very supportive husband’s commute would be three hundred miles. Wherever she is, she loves to explore all different kinds of relationships in her stories. She doesn’t believe one-size-fits-all, and whether her characters live BDSM, ménage, GLBT, spanking, or any other kind of lifestyle, it’s the love, the joy in one another, that counts.
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Also by Kate Richards
Finally, My Love
Demons Love Cinnamon
Christmas Afternoon Delight
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Dungeon Time
Switch, The Trainer
Confessions From the Carnivore Club, Dave and Nancy’s Story
Sierra Seduction
Sensual Delights A Cookie Club Romance
One Night on the Beach
Avalon for Christmas
The Virgin and the Playboy
The Virgin and the Best Man
Two Men and a Virgin
Two Men
Virgin Under Ground
Gale Force Passion
Trail of Hearts
The Milkman Cometh
Madame Eve’s Gift
Frontier Inferno
An Apple Away (The Wiccan Haus)
It’s Just Love
Kimmy
For Ben (Corbin’s Bend)
Her Cowboy (Corbin’s Bend)
Roy and Teri’s Accidental Staycation (Corbin’s Bend)
Honey’s Sexy Surprise
Haunting Suspicions
All’s Fair
Lily in Chains
Terci in Chains
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The Soviet Connection (Omega Team)
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Shifters and Spice Anthology
Floating Hearts (Melody Anne’s Billionaire Universe)
The Foreman and the Lady (Lone Star Burn)
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Saving Cicely (Hell Yeah!)
Topaz’s Trials (Red Petticoat Series)
Bound by Her Captain
His Wild Colleen (Wild Irish)
Claimed by her Dragons(Paranormal Dating Agency)
Witch Way Out (Magic and Mayhem)
Lord Protector (Phoenix Agency)
Her Uncommon Protector (Phoenix Agency)
Captive for Christmas
Wolves and Bears and Foxes, Oh My!
An Evening at Animals
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bsp; An Evening at Crossroads
An Evening in the Superstitions
Fire and Ice
Christmas with His Omega (as Lorelei M. Hart)
The Dragons and their Unicorn Omega (as Lorelei M. Hart)
He’s Pregnant! (as Lorelei M. Hart)
Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe_Claimed by Her Billionaire Page 5
