Gypsy Beach (26 page)

“What?” Sienna stood and stared up at her
home.

“I came here this morning to pick you up for
the hearing. While I was looking for you, I found what Roby and
Robert Upton were here looking for. They’re who went through the
house, baby. Nana has owned the Inn free and clear for the last
seven years. Roby and Upton were in cahoots. Upton never filed the
deed when your grandmother purchased the house so that Roby could
reclaim the Inn after Nana died.

“When the storm came through, Roby thought
the plan was going to fall flat, but when investors showed up
wanting to buy up property, he was set to pay off the taxes and
sell to the highest bidder. You showing up first threw a major
wrench in his plans. And when they figured out that you were going
to make major repairs, Upton panicked. If you found the paperwork
and figured out what they’d done, it would’ve ended his bid for
County Clerk. They’re both spending the night in the Pender County
jailhouse, and you, my sweet Sienna Rose, own this Inn free and
clear.”

She’d started crying at the beginning of his
tale and was sobbing by the end. “I… I can’t believe it. Thank
you!”

Ryan grinned. “So, now am I allowed to sell
my house?”

“Are you sure you want to live with me? You
want Evie to grow up in the Inn?”

“I have never been more certain of anything
in my life. Evie will love it here. This is where we all belong,
and if I sell my house, we can pay back the loan you took out on
the Inn, finish the repairs, and I can officially go back into
business, hire a crew, make a real life, the way it always should
have been.”

Those hazel eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
She gifted him with that broad dazzling grin. “Come on!” She took
off towards the Inn. Laughing, and suddenly feeling lighter than
air, he threw his body forward and lifted her up into his arms as
he continued to run.

“Stop running, and put me down so I can kiss
you, Ryan McNamara!” She laughed.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ryan set her down and devoured
her mouth.

John shook his head as he scooped up Evie and
carried her towards them. “Why don’t baby girl and I go for a long
walk on the beach and out to that Lobster Shack she keeps talking
about, and you two celebrate appropriately? I’ll call when we’re
heading back.”

Ryan’s tongue made a hesitant retreat from
Sienna’s mouth. He kept her cradled in his arms as he shot his best
friend a smirk. “I’d say you owe us that much.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it. Sienna, I do apologize
for what I said the other night. I’m not afraid to admit when I get
everything wrong. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t be happier for
either of you. Thank you for bringing my best friend back to
life.”

Sienna brushed another kiss on Ryan’s hungry
mouth before she lifted her head. “I’m pretty sure he’s the one
that brought me back to life, but you’re welcome. Now, go have some
hush puppies. We have a few things to take care of.”

She took off again, and with a ravenous
growl, Ryan chased after her.

A week later Ryan, Sienna, and Evie stood on
the massive front steps of Atlanta First Methodist Church, right on
Peachtree Street, just like Evelyn Baldwin had commanded. The
processional from the funeral home hadn’t yet arrived.

He tightened his arm around Sienna as she
withered. His parents approached.

“Hi, Grandma!” Evie grinned as she swished
her dress back and forth over her tights.

“Evie Grace, act like a lady. We don’t wiggle
or pull on our dress.” Mrs. McNamara scolded. Ryan narrowed his
eyes as Sienna rolled hers.

“She’s fine, Mom, and you remember Sienna
Cooper don’t you? My fiancée.” Unmitigated challenge lit his
words.

Humility had been a slightly easier pill to
swallow for his old man. He extended his hand. “Congratulations,
son. I’m so pleased for you both.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Yes, well, perhaps we could handle the
wedding at the club.” His mother would never change.

“No.” He huffed. “We’re getting married on
Gypsy Beach. You’re welcome to come whenever we get it planned, but
it sure as hell won’t be at the driving club.”

With one forced nod, Mrs. McNamara slithered
back into line. “Yes, well, we would like to attend, Ryan. You’re
our only son.”

“We’ll let you know when we get it planned.”
With that he guided his little family up the steps and into the
church.

He wasn’t certain what he was supposed to
feel. He watched Alexa walk in with her father. She was wearing a
black net fascinator that obscured her face, but she gave Evie a
teary smile as she passed.

Relief was the only emotion he recognized. He
wrapped his arm over Sienna. She offered him a meek smile and spun
the vintage silver engagement ring she’d picked out at a flea
market a few days before. Ryan had purchased it and proposed
immediately, much to her delight.

After the funeral, Evie was spending the
night with Alexa. He, and the small crew he’d hired out of
Wilmington, had been contracted to restore the damage to Wright’s
drugstore stockroom and three other houses on the beach. The
Lobster Shack was considering a remodel to fancy it up a little and
had asked Ryan to do the work and Sienna to help them with the
designs. The Wishing Well was thinking of expanding, and the Inn
was booked from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July. Ryan had
decided that a celebration was called for. He wanted to celebrate
their engagement in style.

He’d made reservations that night in one of
the top-floor suites of the Peachtree Plaza and had gotten tickets
to a play at the Fox Theatre. He planned to wine and dine his
beautiful fiancée at Bacchanalia that evening before the play, and
they were having a late brunch at Mary Mac’s tearoom the next day
before they picked up Evie. He planned to show Sienna all that
Atlanta had to offer to celebrate their engagement. It was a
beautiful city, after all.

She deserved to be cherished and venerated
after all they’d been through in the last decade. He would always
take excellent care of his Gypsy girl, and when he got her back to
their suite that night, he planned to worship her thoroughly.

It was a new day, and for the first time in a
long time Ryan McNamara had everything he’d ever wanted seated on
either side of him. Hope was alive and well, both in Atlanta, GA
and on Gypsy Beach.

Thank you for reading Gypsy Beach. I hope you
enjoyed it! If you did, and you would like to know more about my
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Continue the Gypsy Beach journey in Gypsy
Love. Available now. Gypsy Heat available August 2015.

Jillian Neal is a Romance author that
manages to blend her imagination, Southern sass, and loving heart
in every novel she pens. She showed her talent for weaving
intricate plot lines and showcasing dynamic characters in her
seven-book, urban fantasy, series, The Gifted Realm. Her skillset
continues to shine in her contemporary series, Gypsy Beach, which
will leave you with a longing to pack your bags and move to a tiny
beach town full of bohemian charm.

She lives outside of Atlanta with her
husband and their children.

For more information on her and her stories,
visit http://jillianneal.com