Beside him stood Aiden, his right-hand and best friend. Tall and broad, he towered over everyone. He had Cami tucked to his side, the protector of his family. The protector for all of those he loved. He now lived life to the fullest, shying away from nothing. Especially his feelings. He was open and passionate.
Maddox laughed, the fireworks reflecting on the lenses of his glasses. Dee smiled up at him and he lowered his face to hers to kiss her, showing his love for her freely. He had come so far from the man who refused to admit love could even be a possibility for him.
Richard VanRyan was next to him—Maddox’s closest confidant and friend to all at BAM. He was such an integral part of our lives, I couldn’t imagine an event without him. Loyal and steadfast, he belonged to our group. His wife, Katy, was nestled in his embrace, the rock in his world. They were an amazing couple.
Reid stood close to me, as he always did at any event. His words still echoed in my head, making me smile. Becca sat in a chair, not wanting to miss the fireworks but too tired to stand. He was behind her, his hands on her shoulders, keeping her close. The boy who had made my heart ache for his loneliness had grown into a caring, wonderful husband. He smiled when I caught his eye, silently asking if I was okay. He had been a little worried I would be upset over his toast, but there was no way I could be anything but deeply touched. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and I was proud to be one of those that he loved.
Van stood to the side, Mila on his shoulders, carefully held in place with one of his large hands. Sammy and Liv were tucked beside him. Reed stood in front of him, Van’s other hand resting on his shoulder. Reed would get excited and point something out to Van, who would smile and ruffle his hair or squeeze his shoulder. Van was the gentle giant who loved hard, especially when it came to his family.
Halton was a late addition to our blended family but loved. Aloof and cool when I had first met him, he had changed and found himself, thanks to Fee and the love she brought out in him. He wasn’t with us on the beach, but I knew he was on the deck at his house, sitting with Fee, and no doubt surrounded by his children. The loner, no longer alone, and complete only when with his family.
How far they had all come.
All my boys were settled, happy. They were the tapestry of my life, woven in bright, beautiful colors that lit my world. Because of them, I had a life I loved. Because of their dream, I’d had something to live for after I lost Max. Because of BAM, I found Jordan and discovered a new life. Not better, but different—just the way Jordan had said. They were all my family—loved through the heart or brought into my life through marriage, they were mine. All of them.
As if sensing my growing emotion, Jordan tucked me tight to his side, pressing a kiss to my head.
“This has been one of the best days ever, my darling. Thank you.”
He was right. I was surrounded by love.
And all of this happened because three lonely young men met in college and became friends. Together, they formed their own family and built an empire.
I would never forget meeting them that fateful day as they argued over household chores in their backyard. Their lack of knowledge about how to do anything was obvious, and it brought out my maternal instincts. I had stepped in to give them a hand and soon found myself immersed in their world.
They added a depth to my life I had been missing, and somehow, I gave them what they needed. I became the love they could accept, until they were able to love themselves enough to find the person they were meant to share their life with. And because of their love, I was strong enough to do the same when it was my time to find love again.
They were the sons I never had, the businessmen I was honored to be associated with, and they had all become the men I knew they would be one day.
But they were, and always would be, boys to me.
The BAM boys.
My boys.
Thank you so much for reading SANDY - VESTED INTEREST BOOK 7. If you are so inclined, reviews are always welcome by me at your eretailer.
I rarely cry when writing-and I am not sure I have ever wept while editing. I did-twice. And when I reached the words at the bottom of the page and realized my BAM series was done-I was snotty mess.
If you have not met the VanRyan clan, Richard and Katy VanRyan’s story begins with my series The Contract. You meet a more arrogant version of Richard, which makes his story much sweeter when he falls.
If you love a hero who is looking for a new beginning, Linc, from my novel The Summer of Us, would be a recommended standalone to read next. It is a story of second chances set in the small-town of Mission Cove.
If you’d like another glimpse into the Vested Interest family’s future, click below to grab a little more time with them - Extended Epilogue Sandy.
Enjoy reading! Melanie
As always, I have some people to thank. The ones behind the words that encourage and support. The people who make my books possible for so many reasons.
Lisa, thank you for all you do. You deserve all the wine.
Beth, Trina, Melissa, Peggy, and Deb—thank you for your feedback and support.
You gift me with your time and care and I thank you for that.
Karen, what started as a simple email had become one of the most important, treasured relationships in my life.
Thank you for holding my hand, laughing at my incompetence, drying my tears,
and making me laugh.
You are a star. My star. (ahem)
To all the bloggers, readers, and especially my promo team. Thank you for everything you do. Shouting your love of books—of my work, posting, sharing—your recommendations keep my TBR list full, and the support you have shown me is deeply appreciated.
To my fellow authors who have shown me such kindness, thank you. I will follow your example and pay it forward.
My reader group, Melanie’s Minions—love you all.
And my Matthew—all my love—always.
Vested Interest Series
BAM - The Beginning (Prequel)
Bentley (Vested Interest #1)
Aiden (Vested Interest #2)
Maddox (Vested Interest #3)
Reid (Vested Interest #4)
Van (Vested Interest #5)
Halton (Vested Interest #6)
Sandy (Vested Interest #7)
Insta-Spark Collection
It Started with a Kiss
Christmas Sugar
An Instant Connection
An Unexpected Gift
The Contract Series
The Contract (The Contract #1)
The Baby Clause (The Contract #2)
The Amendment (The Contract #3)
Mission Cove
The Summer of Us
Standalones
Into the Storm
Beneath the Scars
Over the Fence
My Image of You (Random House/Loveswept)
Revved to the Maxx
About the Author
NYT/WSJ/USAT international bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseag
ency.com
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Sandy: Vested Interest #7 Page 19