Epilogue
EPILOGUE
T hey hung at the zenith of San Francisco’s SkyStar Wheel overlooking Fisherman’s Wharf and the bay, with Alcatraz, Tiburon, Sausalito, and the two bridges affording them the most gorgeous view Dean had ever seen.
Especially with Greer, his daughters, and his mother smack in the middle of that view.
The entire family was out to celebrate for spring break. The girls were home from Cal Poly, and he, as promised, had taken the week off. His daughters were busy snapping selfies and pictures of him and Greer, of their grandmother, of the bay, and the view.
The family had come out for the day in San Francisco, and they filled up two more gondolas.
Nana said, “You know what I want after this?” She paused dramatically, because she needed an answer. She couldn’t just go on. She had to be urged.
“What would you like?” he asked with a smile that came from his overfull heart.
She put her hands together, laced her fingers as if she were praying. “I want one of those big bread bowls brimming with clam chowder. And I want to take it out to the pier where the seals are barking.”
Even at the top of the SkyStar Wheel, the barking of the harbor seals carried on the air. “It’s a deal.”
Lisa bumped shoulders with her grandmother. “Ooh, how about a crab po’boy?” Another San Francisco delicacy.
“And how about one of those jumbo shrimp cocktails?” Cynthia bumped Nana’s other shoulder.
“And a chocolate milkshake,” Nana egged them on.
“Strawberry.” Lisa punched the air.
“Vanilla,” Cynthia added.
Nana clapped her hands again. “We can each try the others’ milkshakes and soup and everything.” She was one-of-a-kind. And she would always make him laugh.
Dean squeezed Greer’s hand. “What would you like?”
As she gazed into his eyes, he knew exactly what she wanted. He leaned close, as if he were about to kiss her ear, and whispered, “Later.”
She smiled. “Nana has the best idea. I want a clam chowder bread bowl.”
“Ladies, your wish is my command.”
Greer had moved into his house two weeks ago. If the family thought it was fast, since they’d been dating less than two months—if you could call the beauty of what they shared mere dating —no one had said anything. Not even his girls. In fact, they seemed happy.
After returning from Mexico, she’d moved her things out of Conrad’s house and into her friend Violet’s. There’d been no ugly scene with Conrad because Greer had remained firm, calling the man beforehand and telling him her intentions, just as she had on the beach. Dean had gone with her to the house for moral support, but this time Conrad seemed to listen and hadn’t even been there on move-out day.
When it became clear she spent more nights in his bed than she did in Violet’s guest room, he asked her to move in. So she’d signed another lease with her renters. They were responsible people who kept up the yard, put no holes in the wall or done damage to the carpets. Then she’d moved into his house.
Life couldn’t be more perfect.
Their group piled off the SkyStar after an exhilarating ride far above the bay. And not just because of the view. It was Dean’s daughters, the glow on their faces. It was Nana clapping her hands for a clam chowder bowl. And it was Dean sitting next to her. How happily he smiled, his scent manly and slightly sweet and spicy.
The way he was in their bed.
As they headed toward Pier 39 and the harbor seals, Nana claimed Dean’s arm to hang on to as they walked, Cynthia and Lisa on their grandmother’s other side. Greer’s heart beat faster just watching him, not only for the view of his very nice rear end but for the sweetness of a son taking care of his mother.
Bernice slipped her hand through the crook of Greer’s elbow, leaning close to say, “You make him happy.”
Greer admitted, “He makes me happy too.”
“I’m so glad Contemptible Conrad is out of your life.” Bernice would always make her laugh. Just as Nana did.
It was Violet who’d said, “Our movie and popcorn nights have been fabulous. But you’re at Dean’s place more than you’re here. So just bite the bullet and move in with him.”
Greer had thrown her arms around her friend. “I love you.”
After returning from Mexico, she’d called Conrad before going to the house, telling him she was moving out. She didn’t want a hundred roses strewn over the carpets or champagne chilling in a bucket beside a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. She didn’t want him to pull any of his love-bombing crap.
With his first “But,” she’d said, “You’re not changing my mind on this, Conrad. It’s over. I can’t say it any more clearly than that. In fact, it would be really nice if you aren’t even there when I come to collect my things.”
It was harsh, but she didn’t want to give Conrad any wiggle room.
Both Dean and Violet had gone with her, not because she couldn’t do it on her, but three cars meant they had to make only one trip, even if the cars were packed to their roofs. She’d brought no furniture when she’d moved in with Conrad, having left all of hers in the rental house. And it was no longer her home.
Her home, now, was with Dean. And this family.
Looking at her two nieces walking arm in arm, Bernice said, “The girls adore you.”
Greer snorted. “They tolerate me.”
Bernice shook her head in two sharp bursts. “Oh no. They think you’re so smart. And that you’re the reason Dean figured out how to say all the right things.”
She looked askance at Bernice. “But everything he says is real. They know that, right?”
Bernice rolled her eyes like one of her grandchildren. “Of course they know. But they still think you’re a good influence.”
She had to admit that things with Dean’s daughters were going well. She’d only lived in the house for ten days when they’d arrived home for spring break. Dean and Greer had gone down to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo to break the news about the move. They’d had a fun pizza dinner, and the girls had seemed okay with the plans.
Things had gone smoothly in the few days they’d been home. Neither of them seemed to resent another woman sharing their father’s bedroom. And while Greer had at first been slightly unnerved making love with the girls in the house, Dean had whispered in her ear that he would kiss away all her cries of pleasure.
She almost clapped her hand over her mouth at the memory. Who would have thought that at her age sex could be this good? Everyone said that women weren’t interested in sex after the AARP card arrived along with menopause. Well, she was here to tell everyone that was so not true. Well, at least it wasn’t true if they had a lover like Dean.
“You know the first thing I loved about Dean?” Greer asked.
Bernice shook her head, her eyes smiling. “No. Tell me.”
“His family.” She stopped to give Bernice a hug. “Especially you.”
Before, there’d been only her wonderful and special friends, especially Violet. But now she had a whole family. What could be better than friends and family?
Dean turned slightly as he walked, calling out, “Are you monopolizing Greer?”
Bernice laughed loudly, such a lovely typical Bernice sound. “You’re the one always monopolizing her. I’m just taking my chance when I can.”
Cynthia held out her arm to her grandmother. “Dad’s too tall for you to hang on to, Nana. Take my arm instead.”
Lisa skipped around to her other side. “Hold on to us together, Nana.”
The utter sweetness of it turned Greer’s eyes teary.
Then Dean was sweeping back, throwing his arm across Greer’s shoulders, his lips on her cheek. And the promise of his arms around her tonight.
God, yes, she had him, and she had his whole big loving family too.
Life had never been better.
The Once Again series, where love always gets a second chance.
Book 11 Beachcombing in the Bahamas
They’ve kept their love a sexy secret. But now everything is about to come out on a Christmas trip to the Bahamas! A sizzling mature romance!