Mum looks across the crowd at me.
“Finding that special someone to share your life with is a journey. It can be difficult and frustrating.”
“Who wants an army of gulls to help them?” Grandma shouts.
We all laugh, but no one takes her up on it.
“But every day is an adventure, and you never have to feel alone again.”
A hand slips into mine, and I turn and find Elijah beside me.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone here from Sunshine Cove. If you are passing through, we hope tonight brings warmth to your heart, and if you are one of us and single, well, I’m not done yet. Have a great time, eat some food, drink, explore our wonderful town and the people who live here, and enjoy the night. Thank you so much for being part of Smitten Knot Bitten!”
With that ominous note, my mother hands off the microphone.
The music starts again, and I shake my head when I see Grandpa pull Grandma out to the middle of the road and then hold his hand out to her.
She scowls. “This doesn’t get you out of my shit books, Seymour.”
He starts singing and dancing around her. She turns, glaring at him, but she can’t hold it, and when he holds out his hand again, she takes it. He pulls her into his arms, and they kiss.
“I want that to be us,” Elijah says.
I take his hand and pull him out there. He holds me close as we dance on the spot, then I pull him down and kiss him.
“Oh, look at that. It is us.”
I spot Daphne and Ivy being chased by Danger and Sergeant Sully and close my eyes, groaning.
“Do you think Danger is going to have sleepovers with that bird?” I whisper.
Elijah stiffens. “I hope not.”
“My turn, I think?” Mack says.
Elijah kisses me and then gives up his space to Mack.
“Are you happy? Is there anything you want in this world?”
“No, Mack, I have everything I need right here.” And it’s true. I really do have everything I ever dreamed.
He kisses my temple and guides my arms up so they are wrapped around his neck. I will never tell my mother this, but I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful as Sunshine right now.
Mack stops moving. I lift my head and follow his gaze to find him staring at four people who are carrying a massive chocolate creation to a table near the beach.
“My god, that is incredible,” I whisper in awe. “Mack, I’ve changed my mind. I need that much chocolate to be happy.”
He snickers, but I’m stolen away by Devon, who spins me round and round until I’m screaming with laughter and so dizzy I need to cling to him.
He stops abruptly and sets me down, but I’m no sooner on my feet again than he’s kissing me, and I’m falling again. I cling to him as the world melts away.
When the kiss ends, I realise this fantasy dream that I expected to pop like a balloon is my life. This alpha is mine.
“Do you remember when you confessed your feelings to me?” Devon asks with a huge smile.
I wince. “Oh, god! Tell me you didn’t hear that! The day before I left. You were asleep.”
“I wasn’t asleep, but I knew if I said something, if I even moved, I wouldn’t let you go, and everyone said you needed to, but it was my most bitter regret.”
