Sway With Me(70)
“That’s wonderful. Na Zisete! Congratulations!” He came around his desk and kissed their cheeks. If Ryan didn’t know better, he’d say the man was downright giddy.
George clucked as he plopped back down in his chair, opened a file, and handed them a couple of documents. “Sign here. I’ll file the paperwork with the county and you’ll need to file the affidavit at city hall.”
Portia added her signature and passed it to Ryan. “Thank you, George. For everything.”
“You’re very welcome, my dear. A couple more items to complete before you go.” George rummaged through his bottom desk drawer and brought out two items covered with Christmas wrapping paper. “Alexander left you each an additional gift.”
What else could his uncle possibly have left them? He’d already given Ryan the most precious gift in the world—Portia. He watched Portia attack the paper with vigor then take the lid of a box.
“Oh, my goodness.” With both hands, she lifted her present reverently. It was a stuffed brown bear with a red bow around its neck, matted hair, and a missing eye. Hadn’t Portia mentioned a stuffed bear to him once?
“Is that a replica of the bear you lost?” he asked, wondering why his uncle would give her a used teddy bear when he could’ve afforded to buy her a brand new stuffed animal. Or a toy store.
“No,” she whispered, tears shining in her eyes. “It’s not a replica. It’s the exact bear.” She hugged it close to her chest. “How did he find it?” she asked George.
He shook his head, appearing as confused as them. “I’m sorry I don’t know. I was only told to give it to you after you signed the deed.”
Ryan picked up his gift, a small box which fit in the palm of his hand, and tore off the wrapping paper.
“What did he leave you?” Portia asked quietly.
He flipped open the jewelry box. “It’s a diamond ring.” Swallowing the lump in his throat, he plucked the ring from the box and held it up for examination. The marquis cut diamond was at least two carats, possibly even three, set in platinum with baguettes surrounding the center stone and spanning the length of the band. The clear diamonds sparkled like new, but the setting seemed antique. It was exactly what he would’ve chosen for Portia if he could’ve afforded it.
“It belonged to Portia’s Aunt Tina,” George explained. “It was her engagement ring.”
“Why did he leave it to me?”
“Only your uncle could tell you. But I think you know what to do with it,” George said with a smile.
Ryan pivoted in his chair toward Portia. Her lips quivered as he slid the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly, like it was made for her.
Portia wiped the tears from her cheek. “It’s beautiful.”
George coughed. “One last thing. The Will contained an additional clause which states in the event you two got engaged, you would inherit five million dollars. To whom shall I make out the check?”
Shocked, Ryan and Portia locked gazes. Uncle Alexander had given them more than money. He’d given them their dreams. They smiled at one another and nodded in silent agreement.
“Make it out to the Stavros Dance and Art Academy,” he told George, never taking his eyes from Portia.
With the money, he could pursue a career as an artist while he and Portia taught children dance and art.
But that wasn’t enough.
He leaned over and kissed her temple. “We should offer free classes to underprivileged children. No child should ever be deprived of learning the arts. What do you say?”
She gave him a sly grin, her cheeks tinted pink with a blush. “I say let’s go home.”
And they did.
Thank you for reading Sway With Me!
Curious about the sizzling chemistry brewing between Braden and Portia’s sister, Lola?
Please turn the page for a sample of Shelly Bell’s next release,
Stirring Up Trouble
Available from Soul Mate Publishing
Spring 2014
Chapter 1
“Where are my nuts?” Braden Angelopoulos asked his head chef, Christopher.
Before the sixty-year-old Greek man had the chance to answer, Lola strutted out of the walk-in freezer licking an ice cream cone. An image he didn’t need right now.
She stopped in front of Braden, peering up through long brown lashes, then slowly lowering her gaze until it rested on what was now likely an obvious bulge between his legs. “I don’t know. You want me to check for you?” she asked before swirling her tongue around the circumference of her double scoop of vanilla.
The pink-haired, multi-pierced woman was the bane of his existence. Too bad he couldn’t fire her. Or sleep with her. He maintained a strict policy of not dating his employees, a rule he’d never considered breaking until this spitfire practically skipped into the restaurant one night after somehow manipulating her Uncle Alexander into strong-arming Braden into hiring her as his headliner five nights a week. Good thing she could sing because he couldn’t dare refuse the man who held the lease on Braden’s restaurant.