Colin, Bentley, and Van had helped me. Especially Bentley, who, after I talked to him about my idea, became very interested in the concept and purchased the item I required to make Jordan’s dream come true. Bentley decided it was an excellent investment and BAM would get a great deal of use from it. I knew it was useless to argue with him.
“You’ll know soon,” I repeated.
Jordan sighed, his breath warm on my forehead. “All right, my darling. Keep torturing me.”
I tilted up my head, meeting his gaze. “That’s what wives are for.”
He covered my mouth with his.
“Yes, they are.” He smiled against my lips.
* * *
Hours later, we arrived at the marina. Jordan slipped from the limo, looking confused but holding out his hand to help me from the car. I tugged his hand, excitement coursing through my body as I led him toward the dock.
He laughed, the sound uneasy. “Are we spending the night on the boat? It’s not exactly what I had in mind for my wedding night.”
“Nope.”
I stopped near the end of the docks where larger boats were kept, smiling as I saw what Bentley had arranged. Small lanterns lit up the wood planks all the way to the end, where, moored and floating in the harbor was a large, beautiful houseboat, aptly named, New Beginnings.
I turned to Jordan, who was staring at the boat with undisguised lust. I waved my hand. “Ta-da!”
He blinked, then looked at me. “You arranged a night for us on this boat?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I arranged the next two weeks on this boat, Jordan.”
He gaped at me, speechless. I pulled him down the dock and onto the boat. Inside, he stared, his gaze bouncing from the comfortable cabin, the well-equipped galley, the outside seating area, and down the hall to the sleeping quarters.
“I don’t understand.”
I stepped in front of him. “You told me once you dreamed of taking one of these boats and touring the Thousand Islands. I told Bentley and asked him for help in chartering one. He became so interested, the company bought one. They did some work on it, and we get it for the next two weeks for our honeymoon.”
“You did this for me?”
“Yes. Hiding it from you was hard, but Bentley and Van covered well.”
“They did. I never suspected or heard anything.”
“I wanted to give you—give us—this.” I cupped his cheeks. “Two weeks of the open water, relaxing in the sun, and time together.”
“Sandy,” he whispered, then clasped me in his arms, laughing and crying at the same time. “This is amazing, my darling. Simply amazing.”
He kissed me hard, lifting me off my feet. “I should have carried you over the threshold.”
I smiled against his mouth, kissing him again before he set me back on my feet. I eased back before he could distract me. I indicated the pile of documents. “Those are all the maps and courses. There will be someone here in the morning to show you how it all works and answer any questions.” I smiled. “Bentley offered to get someone to drive it, but I said no. I wanted to be alone with you.”
He moved to the counter, looking over the papers. “Good. I have manned one before. I went with a group of men on an excursion a few years ago. They travel slowly so you have a chance to enjoy your surroundings. As long as I have the maps and chart our course, I’m good. I’ll know where we can dock, and we can decide what stops we want along the way.”
He looked up from the charts, his eyes filled with excitement. “I think this is the best present I have ever gotten, Sandy. Thank you.” He held out his hand. “The best part is I get to share it with you.”
I let him draw me to his side. I nestled against him as he slowly flipped the pages, tracing paths with his finger, tapping various spots. “So much to choose from.”
“Bentley assures me if you enjoy it, we can have it again, Jordan. We don’t have to see it all on one trip.”
He abandoned the maps and wrapped me in his arms. “I’m looking forward to seeing everything with you, Sandy. Lots of boat trips, new cities, galleries, and places to explore. I want us to live every moment together and enjoy whatever life has to offer.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He bent, nuzzling my lips. “I think our course can wait until the morning. Right now, there are other things I want to explore. Like what you’re wearing under that sexy dress and how fast I can get you out of it.”
I slid my arms around his neck. “I like that idea.”
I gasped as he swung me into his arms. “Then let’s go and explore, my darling wife.
* * *
Eight years later
I woke, blinking in the early morning. The sun wasn’t even up yet, the only sounds outside the gentle waves breaking on the shore and, much closer to my ear, Jordan’s deep, steady breathing. His arm was thrown over me, and he was a wall of warmth against my back, keeping me safe, even in his sleep.
I eased out from under his arm, sliding my feet into my slippers and grabbing the leggings and long shirt I had left at the end of the bed. I slipped into the bathroom, quietly dressed and got ready, then headed for the kitchen. I switched on the coffeepot, overriding the timer I had set for later. I couldn’t wait that long.
Once it was ready, I headed outside and walked to the beach to watch the day begin.
I settled in the lounger, drawing my legs to my chest as the dawn broke. Thousands of shards of light scattered across the water, reflecting like diamonds in the early morning sun. The gulls soared high, swooped and dipped in their graceful flight, and I knew the rest of the world would soon wake. I loved coming out here in the mornings, enjoying the peacefulness of the place. Most evenings, Jordan and I sat on the back deck watching the sunset together, but the mornings were usually mine alone.
BAM never did develop the resort Bentley had planned for Port Albany. More than once, he had approved plans, only to stop construction before it started. Aiden and Cami’s house sat alone on the beautiful land, with no neighbors. Bentley didn’t even commence building his own planned cottage.
Finally, Aiden and Maddox met with him, asking his reasoning. I sat in on the meeting at their request. Aiden was worried that Bentley would sell off the land, and he wanted to purchase some of it to ensure their privacy if that was the case. Bentley surprised us all when he hesitated, drumming on the desk with his fingers, tugging on his sleeves—all nervous tells for Bentley, who usually displayed no nerves at all.
“I don’t want to sell or develop it. At least, not to outside interests.”
“What do you want to do with it?” Aiden asked after exchanging a glance with Maddox.
Bentley was silent, then he met my eyes. I saw something in his expression. It was wary and unsure—very unlike Bentley.
“Just tell us,” I encouraged, wondering at his reticence.
“I want to keep it. Build houses for us.”
For a moment, there was silence.
“Us?” Maddox questioned.
“Well, anyone interested,” Bentley amended.
“I’m confused,” Aiden admitted.
Bentley leaned back. “I was talking to Richard one day while he was here. The night we were at your place for dinner, Aiden. We were on the deck, looking at the water. He wondered why I had never gone ahead with the resort idea. I told him honestly part of it was due to the fact that I didn’t want you living with a resort in your backyard, Aiden. He agreed that was good planning but asked why I hadn’t divided the land and built some houses. Then he jokingly said I should build a BAM compound. He said he would even buy a share in a house if it was a private community.” Bentley paused. “I laughed with him, but then…” His voice trailed off.
“You want to build houses for us to live in?” Maddox asked, shocked. “Bent, I’m not much for out-of-town living. You know that.”
Bentley leaned forward. “What about weekends or the summer? Your kids love going to see Aiden. So do mine. What if
we had a place to stay for a night or two—longer if we wanted?”
Aiden clapped his hands. “That is an awesome idea.”
Bentley looked my way. “Any chance you and Jordan would like to live out that way?”
I laughed. “Jordan would love that. He’d pitch a tent there tomorrow if I told him. We’ve been talking about looking for a place close to the water for retirement.”
They all made a face at my words, but we all knew it was going to happen at some point. Years before, I had gotten so busy that I’d hired a new assistant to help me keep up. Fee was hardworking and fit in well. She was married to Halton, and they were now part of my extended family. They had a large bunch of children, so she only worked part time these days. But she was an amazing asset to the company, and I knew she would step into my role easily. If they gave her a couple of assistants, she could work around her children’s schedule and be everything the boys needed her to be. She was a natural leader, and she could handle it.
“How many houses, Bent?”
“I was thinking six. I spoke with Richard the other day and asked him if he was serious. He said he was if he could share since they would only be able to come in the summers and the occasional holiday now Gracie is in school. But he loved the idea.”
“I should talk to him about shared ownership,” Maddox mused. “That might work out well for us both.”
“Maybe a semi-detached. You each have half.”
“That would work.”
I smiled to myself. Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox were close. But Bentley and Aiden had a special bond. I knew Maddox had always felt a bit outside their friendship, but since meeting Richard, he had formed his own bond there. It was good to see.
“How would you design it?”
Bentley sat up, excited. “The way the land sits, it’s perfect. Almost a ring of houses, one set higher than the other, but all with views of the water. The center would be a common area.”
Maddox nodded. “And BAM keeps the land, right? Same as Aiden? He owns the house, but the land is leased.”
“Yes, a lifetime lease with the option for his children to re-lease for another ninety-nine years. And so on until BAM ceases to exist, then the land goes up for sale.”
“And the houses?”
“If you want it built, BAM designs it, with your input. They’ll have the same feel but not the same look. Each one will be individual.”
“I count four in this room,” Aiden said.
“Plus Reid. You know he’ll want in,” Maddox stated.
“Five.”
“Van and Halton would probably share. Maybe another semi,” Aiden mused. “If designed right, it would look really cool.”
I laughed, and three sets of eyes looked at me.
“Sandy?” Bentley asked.
“A BAM compound. Only you, Bentley.”
He chuckled, then became serious. “I can’t imagine sharing that spot with anyone else. It stirred something inside me the day we looked at it. Emmy finally made me realize the reason I keep backing out of starting to build is I don’t want anyone else to live there but us.”
Aiden jumped up. “Let’s do this. BAM!”
A couple of years later, Jordan and I sold the condo and moved here. We loved the house—the peacefulness of the area, the light-filled rooms, and having the boys and their kids around so much. The added bonus for Jordan was his boat that was parked right at the end of the long dock. He often took the boat out for a sail on sunny days, and I knew he looked forward to more time on the water.
We had all the privacy we wanted, but the center of the “circle of life,” as Aiden dubbed it, was constantly busy. There were a couple of fire pits, a large pool, swings, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy. The three front houses, the largest buildings, had direct access to the beach. Aiden was on one end, Bentley on the other, and Jordan and I between them. Behind us, Maddox and Richard shared a place on the other side of Aiden’s, Reid was in the middle, and Van and Halton split the last house. The houses were all staggered so they could see the water. In the summer months and holidays, our little grouping was bursting. Other times, it was Aiden, his family, and us. I loved it all the time.
Today, however, was a special day. It was my husband’s birthday, and he was retiring. I had a huge day of celebrations planned, and everyone would be here. Richard and his family had flown in yesterday. Gina, Eric, and their children would arrive later this morning, Warren travelling with them. Colin was coming out with Miranda, his wife now for almost six years. They had two children, and we saw them often. Sadly, Jennifer wasn’t able to come from Europe, but she sent Jordan a gift he would open later. Aaron came to see us last week while he was in town, still as busy as ever and unable to attend today since he would be out of the country on business.
I startled at movement out of the corner of my eye. Jordan stood, holding two mugs of coffee. “Room for one more on there?”
I smiled and shifted forward on the lounger. He slipped in behind me, handing me a mug. “I saw you down here and figured you’d need a refill.” He slid his arm around my waist, tucking me tight to his chest, dropping a kiss to my head. “Hello, my darling,” he murmured against my hair.
I leaned my head on his shoulder, peeking up at him. “Hello, my love.”
“You’re up earlier than usual. Today have you in knots?”
I laughed. “Today is simply a day of joy. I have caterers coming who will look after the meals. The tent is already set up in the circle. The band will be here for music and dancing later. Our family will be here—all of them,” I added drolly.
His chest rumbled in amusement. “All hundred of them.”
“It feels like it some days.”
Bentley and Emmy had three children and Aiden five, thanks to the surprise addition of triplets from Cami’s last pregnancy. She made him get a vasectomy after that. Maddox and Dee had two. Reid and Becca had two, but Becca was pregnant with their third. Van and Liv had their three, and Halton—the man who swore he would never have children—had four, and Fee was heavily pregnant with number five. Richard had the same number—five little VanRyans running around, driving him crazy. Or so he said. Watching the way he played with them, his patience never giving out, was an amazing thing to witness. Both he and Halton were natural fathers, and it warmed my heart, seeing them with their children. Add in Colin’s two, Gina and Eric’s three, and the compound would be bursting with everyone today. I was Nan to all of them, and Jordan was Pops. We loved our titles and the craziness that happened when any of them was around. Hugs, kisses, playtime—all of it. They loved spending time on the boat with Jordan, cooking in the kitchen with me, walking with us on the beach. We loved every moment.
We’d also invited some friends—many of whom we met at the dancing club and through our boating adventures. I planned it so the daytime was filled with family-friendly events, and once dinner was over, I had hired enough caregivers so the parents could relax and enjoy a night of dancing and fun while the kids happily slumbered in their beds.
It promised to be a great day. I wanted to celebrate Jordan’s birthday and retirement with those he loved the most. Our twenty-six-plus grandkids and great-grandkids ranked highest for him. He thought of Colin and Jennifer as his as well, despite their being grown-ups, the same way I felt about his kids. He and Aaron got along very well, even making a few fishing trips together. We were truly a blended family, but somehow, it all worked for us.
“Thank you for today.” Jordan murmured. “It’s going to be wonderful.”
I patted his hand.
“Have you told Bentley your news yet?” he asked.
“Yes. He suspected I would want to cut back once you finally retired. He wasn’t shocked.”
“I bet he wasn’t happy either.”
“Fee will still be there part time. He was so worried about her leaving to be at home with her kids, he’s going to let her hire two other assistants so they can all job share. I suspect Agatha is going
to be the star—she’s a natural, and the boys like her. On any given day, there will be three people to look after them. They’ll manage.”
Jordan chuckled. “Three people to cover you stepping back to three days a week.”
“Two days a week.”
Jordan sat up, twisting me around. “Two?”
“Happy birthday. You said you wanted more time with me. You got it. I’m going in on Mondays and Thursdays. The rest of the time, I’m yours.”
He kissed me, tasting like coffee and mint and Jordan. “Best gift ever.”
I chuckled. “Let’s see if you think that when I’m ordering you around.”
He leaned back, sipping his coffee. “I like you bossing me around.”
“Uh-huh.”
We were quiet, listening to the sound of the water.
“I suppose I should go get ready. I have a lot of organizing to do,” I murmured, loathe to move.
“Stay one more minute.”
“All right.”
He tightened his arm around me. “Thank you, Sandy, for today. For loving me. For giving me this beautiful, crazy, outrageously large family to be part of.” He drew in a slow breath. “When Anna died, I wasn’t sure I would ever really live again. Our life together has been so much more than I ever expected.”
I turned and looked at him. “You gave me my life back as well.”
“It’s been amazing.”
“We still have years ahead of us.”
He leaned forward and kissed me. “I look forward to them all.”
* * *
Fireworks exploded, brilliant flashes of light streaking across the sky. Rockets spread thousands of stars in the dark, twisting rivers of diamonds floating through the air, disappearing into the water. The children who were still awake cheered. For those who fell asleep, there would be an earlier display for them to look forward to tomorrow that the boys would take care of. All around us, the adults oohed and aahed, enjoying the spectacle. Jordan held me close, his breath warm on my neck as he rested his head beside mine. He brushed his lips over my neck, making me shiver, silently conveying a promise of more later. It was a promise I looked forward to him keeping.
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 90
