"I asked them to give you a two-year extension," Lyla said. The thread of hope in her voice was like a lifeline across the cold conference table.
"Yes, yes," Mr. Tambor said, "she pushed for two years, although we couldn't make heads or tails of that specific number. As a result, the Board of Trustees has decided to revoke the age requirement completely."
"Two years?" I asked Lyla.
Her smile, a ghost of what it had been when we were younger, was growing in strength as she stood up. "It is my firm belief that Landon has found an appropriate, perhaps perfect, match."
"Ms. Townsend, do I have to remind you this is a very busy group of people? We must keep these meetings strictly business in the future." Mr. Tambor stood up again, gave my shoulder a squeeze, and turned to go.
Following his lead, the other twenty trustees rose, but I called them to a stop. "No."
"Landon, what on earth are you doing?" Lyla asked.
"I'm putting a stop to this gesture. I appreciate it, Lyla, I really do, but you are much better suited and more deserving to inherit all of this."
The whole room stopped and stared at me.
Mr. Tambor chuckled. "Someone get this man another phone as soon as possible." He clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Son, you've missed the message completely. I called you yesterday afternoon to tell you how we approve."
"Approve of what?" It all felt like a dizzying dream.
"We approve of your plan to honor the past and simplify the future. That’s what is best for the Michel Fund, and we’re entrusting you to lead the way."
With that, Mr. Tambor would accept no more arguments. He strode out of the boardroom, already calling to his assistant for notes on his next meeting. The room emptied in a matter of minutes, despite those trustees who stopped to shake my hand and offer congratulations.
Soon it was just Lyla and me facing each other across the airplane landing strip of a conference table. I collapsed in my chair and stared at her. I couldn't think of what to say.
Lyla made the first move. She ran down the side of the table and crashed into the chair closest to me. "Oh, Landon, I'm so happy. Thank you! I thought for a moment you were going to turn it all down and then I'd be stuck."
"Stuck with a fortune at your fingertips plus a billion dollar company? Now you're starting to sound like me." I shook my head in disbelief, but I was smiling.
"Now I get a chance to live my life. I mean, I'll help you with the Michel Fund, but it won't be the only thing. We'll be a team. Please say we can be a team again because I need you." Lyla gripped my hand.
"Why do you need me?"
She laughed, a heartwarming sound that sent me years back. "Because I need you to help me live. Really live, just like you've always talked about."
"How about we start with lunch?" I asked.
She laughed and dragged me from my chair. She looped an arm through mine and led me through the boardroom doors.
There in the private hall stood Riley. She was a dark silhouette against the jaw-dropping San Francisco skyline, but I could see nothing else. When she turned and smiled at me, it was like the sun through a thick bank of fog.
"Did you say lunch? I know this great place up the coast called The Sand Dollar." Riley walked over and gave Lyla a hug. "Thanks for calling me back."
I looked at the two smiling women in shock. "And how are we going to get all the way to Michel's Beach in time for lunch?"
"Oh, I hitched a ride in your helicopter. You coming?" Riley laced her fingers through mine and pulled me toward the rooftop doors.
"Yes," I said. "I'd go anywhere in the world with you."
Riley smiled. "Then let's go home."
Epilogue
Riley
I shifted the car into neutral and coasted into the gravel parking lot of The Sand Dollar.
"Is that how you did it?" Landon asked with a smile. "I always wondered how you managed to drive that dead rental car to our door."
He jumped out and ran around the silver sports car to open the door for me.
"Seems like you're feeling a little sentimental, too. Isn't that the same shirt you were wearing when we met?" I asked him.
Landon feigned horror. "Me wear the same shirt twice? Don't you know who I am?"
I eyeballed him from head to toe. He looked wonderful, with his broad shoulders relaxed in the old shirt, his step light in scuffed loafers. "I'm going to guess you’re some local beach bum with too much time on his hands."
"I'll tell you what I'd like to get my hands on." Landon grabbed me close and ran his hands down my back to my waist.
I shivered in delight under his nuzzling and then pushed him away. "Come on, everyone is probably waiting for us."
"I can't believe you planned a meeting for our day off." Landon sighed and opened the door of The Sand Dollar.
I caught him before he could stride into the bar. Andrew was waving his hands around as Lyla shook her head at him. She jumped up from her barstool, and they continued to argue without noticing us.
"That is not how you make a proper mint julep. You're supposed to muddle the mint, not crush it into a lifeless pulp," Lyla cried.
"Yes, please offer me your expertise because it's not like I've been tending bar for years." Andrew yanked the glass away from her and rolled his eyes.
"That's it. I'm doing it myself." Lyla smacked a decisive hand on the bar and marched around to join him on the other side.
Andrew put down the glass and stopped her with both hands. The struggle elicited a squealing giggle from Lyla that had both Landon and me struggling to smother our laughter.
"Whoa, what's going on down here?" Owen appeared from the back stairs.
"Looks like happy hour to me." Anna followed him into the bar and wrapped an arm around his waist.
Andrew tickled Lyla again. "Get back, woman! Can't you see I have paying customers?” He turned to Owen and Anna. “How'd you like the apartment?"
"It's like a little slice of heaven up there," Owen said.
Andrew winked at Anna. "Are you sure you're talking about the room?"
Anna blushed but gave Owen a squeeze. "Remember, today isn't about us. It's about the other happy couple."
"That reminds me," Andrew said, pouring a beer for Owen. "I'm starting a pool on where they'll go for their honeymoon. Lyla keeps talking about Fiji, but I'm thinking Hawaii."
"Or Las Vegas," Lyla said.
"No, that's where you want to go." Andrew grinned at her. To Anna and Owen, he said, "Don't trust her, she's a card shark."
Landon grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bar. "How about we talk about the wedding first? Isn't that why my lovely bride-to-be called this meeting?"
Lyla looked down her nose at Landon's clothes. "Is that how you dress for a wedding planning meeting? Are you getting married on the street?"
Landon stuck his tongue out at her and turned to me. "Can I tell them?"
I nodded. Happiness had filled my chest, and I couldn't find the breath to speak.
"Riley and I discussed it and we've decided to have a big, glitzy event wedding at Golden Bluff. Something so elegant and overblown that even my mother would approve," Landon said.
Our friends faced us with varying expressions of horror.
"After a private ceremony, just friends and family, here at The Sand Dollar," I added.
Andrew let out a huge sigh. "Perfect. That is perfect. When will you have the private ceremony?"
"Tonight," Landon and I said together.
Lyla was the first to wrap us in a big hug. "Oh, I'm so happy for you. We all are!" Then she pulled back and blinked concerned eyes at Landon once more. "Please tell me that's not what you're wearing."
We laughed, and Landon pulled me tighter into his arms. Whatever he wore, he was going to be mine, for richer or poorer.
Other Books From Tristan Vaughan
Unlawfully Yours
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His Town
Blind Faith
Wylde Ride
Judged
Dancing with Fire
SEAL’d Tight
Tackled & Pinned Hard
Beyond The Edge of Attraction
The Heir
Conviction
Get Conviction FREE Here
The Windfall
It Takes Two, The Matchmaker Series
It Takes Two, Connected Hearts
Chosen by Him, The Chosen Series
Chance Encounter, The Series
The Edge Series
Box Sets
The Chance Encounter Series
The Diamond Club, Volumes 1-5
The Diamond Club, Volumes 6-10
It Takes Two, The Matchmaker Series
About The Authors
Tristan Vaughan
Tristan Vaughan is a bestselling author after launch his first joint book with co-author Ellie Danes. Tristan enjoys writing steamy romances with a twist and dreaming up new stories with exciting characters. In his spare time, Tristan enjoys running, playing sports and also teaches yoga. He lives with his partner and love, Ellie, and their three girls.
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Ellie Danes
Ellie Danes is a bestselling author with over forty published works and more added each month. Transplanted from New Jersey at an early age, she now resides in central Virginia.
When she’s not writing or reading, Ellie is out on the streets, likely running, doing yoga or dreaming up ideas for her next series.
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