‘How did you know who I am?’ I gasped.
‘Jess told me all about you.’ She smiled. ‘You’re writing your first novel, right?’
‘Right! Thanks for the advice you gave. It was so helpful.’
‘You’re welcome! And once you’ve finished your book, let me know and I can put you in touch with some editors and agents.’
‘You’d…?’ My eyes bulged. ‘You’d dothat? Forme?’
‘Of course! The Romance Library team are like family. I’d be happy to help.’
‘Thank you!’
‘Now, shall we get going with these wedding favours?’ she asked.
‘Okay!’ I said, grateful for her help.
After placing the gifts on everyone’s plates, we joined Jess and Theo back at the library to take some wedding snaps, and by the time that was done, we had to head back to the beach and get ready to greet the guests.
When they opened their gifts, they all cooed with excitement and everyone wanted to know what book the person next to them had received. It was definitely a hit.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the fish and chips had been served and inhaled, the speeches were done (I blushed when Jess and Theo gave me a special shout-out for leading the organisation of the wedding at such short notice), the cake was cut and the DJ was declaring the dance floor open.
Jess and Theo, of course, were the first ones to get the party started. Doing their own routine to ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyoncé, swiftly followed by ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas.
For the next couple of hours, Jess and Theo didn’t leave the dance floor. Seeing them so happy made me smile.
My eyes flicked to Ben who was on the other side of the beach.
I knew where he was, because I’d been trying and failing all night to avoid looking at him, but my gaze was repeatedly drawn to Ben like a moth to a flame.
I’d seen him turn down all the women who flocked to ask him to dance. Well,almostall of them. Mrs Gray seemed quite insistent, so he’d danced with her twice. I think he had to resist a third dance when her hand wandered too close to his arse. That did make me chuckle.
Glenda had also had a little boogie with him, but otherwise he’d mainly hung out with his brother Tom, who’d introduced himself earlier and seemed lovely.
I’d slipped away from the party briefly to the B&B to get Ben’s surprise and drop it off at his flat along with the key he’d given me. The gift was wrapped in paper and placed in a box, with a note on top which said:
Open when you’re feeling down (if you’re okay when you see this, then maybe wait until AFTER you’ve left Sunshine Bay).
Hope you like it.
Love, Sarah xxx
PS It’s perfectly safe to take through the airport.
When I’d helped Ben unpack, I’d seen how much his childhood teddy, Snuggles, meant to him. So I’d found it in the box he left unpacked and after doing a lot of research, I’d tracked down the best stuffed toy repair company I could find and taken Snuggles there personally to get a ‘glow up’. They were fully booked for a while, but it was worth the wait because they’d done a great job.
I hoped Ben liked it. He’d done so much for me and I wanted to do something nice to show how much I appreciated him.
Although I would’ve loved to have seen Ben’s face when I gave it to him, I reasoned it’d be better if I didn’t. It might make saying goodbye even harder.
When the opening bars to Cameo’s ‘Candy’ echoed around the beach, my eyes bulged. My surprise wasn’t because ‘Candy’ was playing. I knew it was popular at parties and weddings. What caught me off guard was the memories that came flooding back.
The last time I heard this was at Adrian’s wedding, where I’d danced with Ben. That seemed like a lifetime ago, but like just yesterday at the same time.
Back then I had no idea how hard I was about to fall for him.
Of course I was attracted to Ben. But I didn’t know that I’d end up madly, deeply, hopelessly in love.
