Page 138 of The Last Goodbye

“Okay. Let’s go see it.”

I tugged her back down and kissed her, and then she settled her head on my chest, and sleep took us both.

I’d never felt so at peace in my life as I did now. Briar had completed me in a way that I couldn’t explain.

Forever had truly started the day she’d walked into my life.

And every day since.

Everything was coming together, and tonight was officially the soft opening for the new Bennett’s on the Bay, with just close family and friends. It was everything I could have wanted—similar to the old restaurant, but with a more upscale vibe. And my girl had timed everything just right, so we’d only had to close the doors for two weeks.

All the guys were here, and several locals I was close to had been invited as well.

It was small and intimate. Tomorrow night would be the grand opening, so I wanted the staff to get out of here early so they could rest up for the big day.

I’d sent all my employees home, and everyone else had said their goodbyes, so now it was just our friends here, enjoying a nightcap.

“So, I got a strange email today,” Tatum said as she sipped her wine.

“From who?” Phoenix asked, already sounding irritated despite not even knowing what it was about, which made everyone laugh.

“Let her tell us before you get all pissed off,” Cannon said.

“It was from a lawyer. He said it was regarding Raelyn, my stepsister. So it seems like she’s been trying to get in touch with me as well, but I don’t know why she’d have a lawyer reach out on her behalf.”

“It sounds like a scam. Don’t go meet this guy anywhere, Tate.” Phoenix looked intense, and she nodded.

“Of course I won’t. I just wrote back and asked him to pass on my phone number to Raelyn and have her reach out directly.” She sighed. “I’ve been trying to find her, and what are the chances that she’s been trying to find me at the same time?”

“Slim to none,” Phoenix grumped, and Brody flicked him in the ear.

“I think it’s great,” Gracie said. “And maybe this lawyer is someone who finds people.”

“Or maybe he’s her friend or even her husband, and he’s helping her find you,” Briar said.

“Or maybe it’s a scam, and someone is trying to get your hopes up before tearing them to shreds,” Phoenix growled. “You just can’t go trusting strangers.”

“Always so cynical,” Tatum said. “I’m going to go with the girls on this one. I like their guesses much better than yours.” She laughed and added, “Also, I just texted everyone the photos that we took out back before everyone arrived. The lighting was perfect, and I got a bunch of great shots.”

I was grateful that she’d insisted that we all take some pictures out back behind the restaurant before everyone else got here.

Everyone said thank you as they checked their phones.

“Look at us.” Briar leaned close to me, holding up her phone. We were standing against the restaurant’s wooden fence in the photo, facing one another, her leg hiked up as I held her close to me. Her long blond waves cascaded down her back, and she looked fucking gorgeous.

Mine.

“I’m a lucky man,” I whispered against her ear just as my phone vibrated, and I glanced down to see a text from Winona.

She’d done me a favor, and I was grateful.

“All right, let’s call it a night. We get to do it all again tomorrow,” I reminded everyone. “Thanks for being here.”

We all hugged goodbye, and Briar and I made the short walk home to the houseboat. We’d put an offer in on the house we’d seen the other day. We’d been going back and forth a few times, but we’d agreed on the price, and we’d close on our new place in about thirty days.

We had a lot to celebrate right now.

The restaurant would be open for business tomorrow. Briar would be starting the demo on the old restaurant building next week, and we were moving into our new home in a month.