Madeline glanced at her cousin and giggled, then copied him. “Me.”
“All right, Baileys, scoot,” I said, trying to shoo Asher’s brothers out the door. “You can come with us to pizza, but I don’t think any of us wants to hang out here in all the dust anymore.”
“That’s fine, Grace,” Evan said. He was the second oldest, and also tallest, at six-foot-four. “We’re on our way to Gram’s anyway.”
“But, pizza,” Gavin said. He was the baby of the family.
“Later, Gav,” Logan said, slipping on a pair of sunglasses. “Grace, we’ll see you later. Miles fam, nice to see you.”
The Baileys said goodbye, then went out and piled into Logan’s muscle car. It ran some of the time, so he loved driving it when it did. The engine started with a loud rumble as the rest of us made our way outside.
I gave everyone the name of the pizza place and basic directions. My hometown wasn’t very big, so I didn’t think they’d have any trouble finding it. They all got in their cars while I locked up.
I had to jiggle the key again to get it to lock. With a deep breath, I touched my fingertips to the door. One step closer. The house we’d dreamed of was mine, and when Asher got home, it would be ours. I’d waited six years. Only two left.
I’d survived this long without him. I could wait a little longer.
Grace Miles is the first heroine in my new family series! The Bailey Brothers is coming soon!
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Afterword
Dear Reader,
It’s with so many feelings that I write this final chapter in the Miles family series.
So. Many. Feelings.
This novella exists because of you. When I mapped out the series, I’d known Ben and Shannon were going to get their happily ever after. But I hadn’t planned feature them in their own story. In my original series outline, Ben and Shannon’s story unfolded across the four series novels, culminating with their HEA in Leo’s book.
But you, my lovely readers, picked up on Ben’s unrequited love for Shannon in the very first book. And so many of you asked for their story, I decided to write it.
I realize this is short—it is a novella, after all—and I know the end will be met with cries of, “More!” But this was the part of their story left to be told. We get to see them slowly coming together across the series. They gradually allow themselves to feel what they feel for each other. Their friendship blossoms. We see hints that they spend time together. That Ben is the quiet support Shannon so desperately needs.
The part of their story left to tell was the final push. I wanted to show Ben deciding it was time to openly pursue the woman he’d loved for so long. And allow Shannon to come to terms with the fact that her life wasn’t over. That she could still have love—real love—even after everything she’d been through.
I ran into an unexpected challenge while writing this book. Although I didn’t see Shannon as MY mom, she had been THE mom throughout the series. How was I going to write her as a heroine? And what were readers going to think of the steamy parts?
My solution was to sink into both of them as characters. In the beginning, Shannon is focusing on her family and Salishan. She’s not thinking of herself as a woman who might date, or love, or experience intimacy. But as Ben showers her with attention, making his intentions clear, she begins to see herself in a new way. She rediscovers a part of herself she’d thought was gone—the part that craves physical connection and intimacy. My hope was that you would discover that side of Shannon right alongside her. That by the time she and Ben sleep together, you’re as ready for it as she is.
And Ben. That sweet, swoony, patient man. I always knew it was his love of the Miles kids that first prompted him to stay at Salishan. His love for Shannon blossomed later, and it was not an easy thing for him to live with. But his dedication and loyalty to that family ran deep. He loved them as his own, and he was willing to stay because of it. They were his family.
And now it’s official.
It’s so hard to say goodbye to this crazy, wonderful family. I had no idea when I began this journey—thinking about a family that owns a winery, wondering who they were and what their stories would be—that they would lodge themselves so deeply in my heart. I’ve spent countless hours with them. I’ve dreamt of them. And I’ve done my absolute best to make their stories heartwarming and wonderful.
Thank you for loving them with me. Thank you for reading their stories and laughing and crying and swooning. I hope that this series has brought you a little bit of happiness. Maybe touched your heart just a bit.
Family series are so my jam, so this certainly won’t be the last. In fact, it won’t be the last time you see these characters. Grace Miles, their half-sister, is going to be the first heroine in my next family series, the Bailey Brothers. So I’m sure we’ll get glimpses of the Miles family again as they all live out their happily ever afters.
Thank you so much for reading.
CK
Acknowledgments
Thank you, first and foremost, to my readers for loving these characters, and this family. This novella is for you.
Thank you to the team of people who work so hard to make these books possible. Elayne Morgan for her fantastic editing. Cassy Roop for a beautiful cover. My beta readers, Nikki and Jodi, for taking time out of their schedules to provide feedback.
Thank you to my family, as always. Without your loving support, I’d never be able to do what I do. Thanks for putting up with my weird job.
Also by Claire Kingsley
For a full and up-to-date listing of Claire Kingsley books visit www.clairekingsleybooks.com
The Miles Family Series
Sexy, sweet, funny, and heartfelt family series. Messy family. Epic bromance. Super romantic.
Broken Miles: Roland & Zoe
Forbidden Miles: Brynn & Chase
Reckless Miles: Cooper & Amelia
Hidden Miles: Leo & Hannah
Gaining Miles: Ben & Shannon
Bootleg Springs
by Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score
Hot and hilarious small-town romcom series with a dash of mystery and suspense.
Whiskey Chaser
Sidecar Crush
Moonshine Kiss
Bourbon Bliss
Bootleg Springs Books 5 & 6: Coming Summer 2019
Remembering Ivy
A unique contemporary romance with a hint of mystery.
His Heart
A poignant and emotionally intense story about grief, loss, and the transcendent power of love.
Book Boyfriends
Hot romcoms that will make you laugh and make you swoon.
Book Boyfriend
Cocky Roommate
Hot Single Dad
The Always Series
Smoking hot, dirty talking bad boys with some angsty intensity.
Always Have
Always Will
Always Ever After
The Jetty Beach Romance Series
Sexy small-town romance series with swoony heroes, romantic HEAs, and lots of big feels.
Behind His Eyes
One Crazy Week
Messy Perfect Love
Operation Get Her Back
Weekend Fling
Good Girl Next Door
The Path to You
The Jetty Beach Box Set Books 1-4
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About the Author
Claire Kingsley writes smart, sexy romances with sassy heroines, swoony heroes who love their women hard, panty-melting sexytimes, romantic happily ever afters, and all the big feels.
She can’t imagine life without coffee, her Kindle, and the sexy heroes who inhabit her imagination. She’s living out her own happily ever after in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three kids.
www.clairekingsl
eybooks.com
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Gaining Miles: A Miles Family Novella (The Miles Family Book 5) Page 10