“Or I could just live on love.”
“I have so much of it to give, Lacy. I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.” Finn leaned down and kissed her again until the heat of it curled her hair. “Let’s take one more photo before we go, shall we?”
He raised the phone, took the shot, and showed her the screen. “I thought it would be nice to have a few pictures of the place before the demolition.”
Lacy’s smile dimmed. “Of course.”
He raised a brow. “You do want to remodel the place, right? Add some rooms? Brighten up the exterior?”
She bit her lip, looking from him to the house and back again. “I’m confused. Are you leaving the house and building around it? Or did you decide on going forward with my idea of turning this into a boutique property with fewer rooms but more amenities?”
He touched her face, his eyes zeroed in on her, unwavering. “Lacy, I bought the ghost house for you. For us.”
She stared at him, a pinprick of light beginning to dawn.
He pulled her closer, the warmth of him all-encompassing, his gaze endearing. “I can’t promise how often we will be here—that’s something for us to discuss together—but I saw the way you loved this place the first time you brought me up here. And I knew I wanted you both.”
With a fresh tear trailing down her cheek, Lacy lifted her chin, wanting him to kiss her and knowing he would. She loved him. Plain. Simple. More than that, Finn had revealed a glimpse into his own heartbreak, and overnight she had grown protective of him. He was everything she had dared to hope for—and then some—and she wouldn’t allow anything or anyone to get in their way.
“I’m overwhelmed. Stunned,” she said. “You didn’t have to do this!”
“For the beautiful brunette with the bad back and a penchant for good wine? Oh yes,” he said. “Yes, I did.”
Then Finn kissed her again as the old ghost house looked on, patiently waiting for new life to fill its long-empty halls. And Lacy couldn’t wait to oblige, because against all odds, she’d fallen in love—with her billionaire boss.
I hope you enjoyed reading
Lacy’s Billionaire boss,
book 3 of the Beach House Memories series.
I would be so grateful if you would leave a review on Amazon!
Want to read more?
Turn the page for a sneak peek into the fifth and final installment of this series:
Bella’s Reluctant Cowboy
Sneak Peek of Bella’s Reluctant Cowboy
Chapter One, Scene One
A dilapidated beach house was the perfect place to hide. Bella stood on the porch, cuddling Seabiscuit, the Pomeranian-mix pup she’d rescued from the side of a road one lonely night. She tipped up her chin and let the sunlight warm her face. The weathered back porch creaked lightly in the wind, just like old times.
Bella sighed. Kyle wouldn’t think to look for her here because she had never mentioned to her ex-boyfriend that this place existed. So … she had nothing to worry about.
Seabiscuit tried to wriggle free from Bella’s arms. “Oh no you don’t,” she whispered. “Zeke got out and scared Grace to death. Not letting that happen with you, little guy.”
Grace, Bella’s sister, had found a dog abandoned in a parking lot. She’d brought her new pup, Zeke, with her to the family house a few months ago, and nearly lost him out there on that big old beach.
The dog whimpered and Bella sighed. “Fine”—she opened the back door to the house and gently scooted Seabiscuit inside before closing the door again—“be that way.”
She had come to this old house on a mission. The last of her five siblings to make the odyssey, so to speak. After their parents died, Bella, her three sisters, and a brother all learned that everything had been left to charity. Everything except this old beach house.
Dad and Mom had also left some quirky instructions in their last will and testament. Each one of the “kids” had to spend a month in the house, fixing it up. Grace, Jake, Maggie, and Lacy had all done their month, in that order.
And now it was her turn.
Bella surveyed the beach, the colors of sand and sea and ocean blue greeting her. Like her siblings, she had left Colibri Beach behind long ago to pursue life as an adult. Wasn’t that what kids were supposed to do? Grow up and run off to find what they had been dreaming about for as long as they could dream?
In many ways, she was still on the hunt.
A breeze stirred, the air warm on Bella’s face. She closed her eyes, remembering. They had lost their family home in a fire. She barely could picture it now, but thankfully, they always had this place to come “home” to in the summers. Or when their father could find work here. Now this old place was the only home—the only real possession—that their parents had left behind for them.
Bella shook off the melancholy—so not like her. Life was good! She was back at the beach and had a whole month to figure out her life.
She jumped off the porch, her bare feet sinking into deep sand. Despite the hazy sky, warm air swam around her. She peeled off her hoodie and tossed it back onto the porch. With her dog safely tucked inside, she could take a walk through the old neighborhood and into town. She needed to pick up a leash. Bella never needed one in Washington, so it slipped her mind to bring one along.
She had made it about halfway down the block toward town when her cell phone rang.
“Hi, Lacy,” she said, seeing her middle sister’s name on the screen.
“Hey yourself, brat.”
“Nice way to talk to your baby sister.”
“The one who made me eat tofu for breakfast last month—and who stuck a bunch of elderberry gummies into my suitcase before I left the beach house.”
Bella laughed lightly. “Just trying to keep you healthy. You have a wedding to plan, you know.”
“Yes, well, I want to keep you safe.”
“Oh? Do you have reason to believe that I’m not safe in the family beach house?” Bella paused. “I mean, other than the rickety porch and gaps in the walls that let air in occasionally.”
“You noticed all that, huh?” The tone of Lacy’s voice sounded as dry as soap. “Might want to wear a sweater inside—and keep your phone on you at all times.”
“Okay, silly girl. I will. Is this really why you called?”
“No. I was checking in. I had hoped to be back in Colibri this month while you served your sentence, but as it happens, Finn has other plans for me.”
“Honestly, your fiancé is the nicest man. So is Grace’s husband, Chase. And Maggie’s Luke.” Bella sighed. “All my sisters have found the best guys.” She didn’t add that she was beginning to wonder if there were any more available, though she seriously doubted her prospects. She certainly hadn’t come to Colibri with any romantic ideas of her own.
“So you’re saying you haven’t landed any cowboys up in Washington?”
She hesitated. Bella had never mentioned Kyle to her sisters because, well, in her heart she never saw a future with him. No sense mentioning him now. “Not exactly.”
“What about the library? No male bookworms ever approach you for advice?”
“Yes, but they are usually over eighty years old.” Bella smiled. She had loved books as a kid, like her sister Grace had. In fact, she’d often sneak into Grace’s room when they were little and “borrow” books, especially since so many had disappeared in the fire. But she never saw herself becoming a librarian.
Well, a part-time librarian.
“Don’t worry, kiddo,” Lacy said, “you’ll find your prince. But like Maggie always tells you, don’t be too gullible.”
Maggie was their oldest sister and she always had plenty of sisterly wisdom to share. Her sisters and brother always seemed to shrug it off, but for some reason, her words often stuck to Bella like old wallpaper.
Lacy broke back into her thoughts. “Just promise me you’ll have some fun while you’re at the house. I think it’s in pretty good sha
pe, though I’m sure you’ll have your opinions about that.”
Lacy knew Bella well. As easygoing as she was, she liked things clean. And chemical-free. “I unpacked all my non-toxic cleaners and essential oils this morning. Cleaning with them does wonders. You’ll see.”
“Ah. So, the next time I’m there I should expect the place to smell like, what, lemons? Lavender?”
“And oregano, among other things.”
“Oh.” Lacy laughed. “I was kidding, but I guess—”
“I wasn’t. Ha ha.” She slowed when a flyer taped to a light pole caught her attention: Save the Animal Shelter! Bachelor Auction this Saturday.
Lacy was speaking, but Bella hadn’t heard what she’d said. She blinked, bringing herself back to the conversation. “Did you say something, Lacy?”
“Ignoring me already? I was just telling you where I stashed some haircare products in the downstairs bathroom. I think you’ll like the stuff. Maggie picked it up with her industry discount and the shower smelled like a high-end salon whenever I used it.”
“Uh-huh. Okay.”
Lacy sighed. “And … I’ve lost you. Call me if you need anything.”
Bella blinked again, unsure of what Lacy had said. “Sure. Of course. Love you.” She tucked her phone into her pocket and turned away from the sign that had derailed her attention, continuing to walk past houses—some that had not changed one bit, right down to the overgrown bougainvillea on its trellis or a paint-chipped garden gnome, and others that had obviously been torn down to the studs and rebuilt with modern materials.
She turned the corner, which sent her down along Colibri Boulevard where the middle of town resided. Bella frowned. If she remembered correctly, the animal shelter was past the main road. She picked up her pace, passing a cute little bakery on one side and her brother-in-law, Luke’s, surf shop on the other. Vaguely, she thought she heard her name called, but she kept moving, intent on finding that shelter.
Bella slowed, recollection dawning. The shelter’s entrance was in an alleyway. Part of her couldn’t wait to go inside and see the sweet little animals. Another part of her dreaded it as she would most likely cry and want to take them all home with her.
Her family wouldn’t take kindly to that at all …
“Bella!”
Maggie, her oldest sister, was breathless behind her. “Didn’t you hear me calling you? I saw you from Luke’s shop window.”
Bella cringed. “Sorry, Mags.” She glanced toward the alley. “I guess I was too occupied with wanting to visit the animal shelter.”
“Oh, honey. Are you sure that’s wise?” Maggie dipped her chin, her mouth shaped into a pout. “You know how tenderhearted you are.”
“I just want to, you know, see what it looks like in there now.” She stuck her tongue on her upper lip, stared back at Maggie, then sighed. “I saw a flyer that they were doing a fundraiser.”
One of Maggie’s eyebrows shot up. “You are not thinking of bidding on one of those bachelors, I hope.”
“No. Of course not.” Bella shook her head, laughing lightly. “I-I just wanted to check out the shelter. That’s all.”
Maggie eyed her. “Well, be careful. You can be so … gullible sometimes.”
Bella frowned.
“Stop being so fragile. Listen, take it from someone who spent her month at the house already, you’ll find yourself with plenty to do. Promise me you won’t even think about filling up the place with stray animals.”
Bella gave her sister a placating look. She knew Maggie meant well, but as the oldest sister, she sure had a lot to say. She slung an arm around Maggie’s neck and hugged her quickly. “I promise.” Bella moved past her, down the alley, and inside the animal shelter’s open doorway.
A young woman with a black ponytail and name tag that said Clementine greeted her. “How may I help you?”
“I don’t really know.”
“You want to adopt a dog. Or maybe a cat?” She clapped. “Wait, I know. You want a parakeet. But, sorry, we’re fresh out.”
Bella laughed, despite the shelter’s dingy interior and acrid … aroma. “I read that the shelter is having a fundraiser soon.”
“And you’ve come to sign up. Perfect!”
Bella shook her head, though truthfully, it had crossed her thoughts. She changed the subject by reaching for a leash from the paltry for sale section. “Actually, I need a leash for my dog.” She thumbed through the offerings and found a small one. “I’ll take this.”
“Great.” Clementine rang up her sale, collected the cash, and gave her change. Then she slid a sign-up form and a pen in front of her.
“The bachelor auction will be this Saturday at Brooke’s Beachside Bakery. There’ll be free dessert! Get your name on that list so we can assign you a paddle.”
“Paddle?”
“A number. You’ll hold up the paddle with your number on it when you want to bid on a hunk.”
“Oh, no, I—”
The woman slid the page and pen in front of her more decisively this time. “It’s for charity. And we’re desperate.”
“Really?”
The woman’s smile dimmed considerably and she nodded. “Yes. If we can’t catch up on the rent, we’ll lose our lease. Will you help?”
Bella considered the woman’s plea followed by the sign-up list in front of her. She didn’t have much to contribute save a few bucks and some essential oils she could donate if they were having a silent auction too.
But she had a brother with money. Surely Jake would loan her some for a good cause such as this?
She reached for the pen and jotted down her name and email as Clementine squealed a thank you!
Bella had just agreed to participate in a bachelor auction. Without so much as a peek at the shelter’s resident creatures, she turned around and left the building before she could change her mind.
Read about the bachelor auction and more … in Bella’s Reluctant Cowboy.
Also by Francesca Lane
Hello!
Thank you for reading Lacy and Finn’s story. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. I’d be super grateful!
I don’t know about you but I believe in quiet, barefoot days, aimless musings, and falling in love with sweet, romantic stories. If you do too, please check out the rest of the Beach House Memories series:
Beach House Memories series
Grace’s Fake Groom #1
Daisy’s Secret Billionaire #2
Luke’s Second Chance Family #3
Lacy’s Billionaire Boss #4
Bella’s Reluctant Cowboy #5
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