“A mansion on the beach definitely helps.” She gave his ribs a poke, so he knew she was kidding. “You aren’t staying here?”
“No, I’m staying at Mason’s until all the renovations are done and we’re ready to move here as a family,” he said with an incredulous laugh. “Can you believe that? Does it sound right to you, or totally bonkers?”
“I think it’s pretty fantastic, so far.”
Sky wrinkled his nose. “That’s what I was hoping, but you have to tell me if I missed something. Promise?”
Kayla groaned sympathetically, resting her hands on his shoulders. “Of course, my love! I’ll always have your back. I already know that this is where you belong, though. Your mother might be awful, but you’re a hero here, and you have a mansion on the beach. The mayor isfineand a menace at a family function. What is there to miss?”
“He’s a reformed menace,” Sky said defensively and tapped his lips. “He might be lurking, waiting for something to do,” he added quietly, then cleared his throat as he reached for her hand. “As I said, we’re remodeling. I was hoping you’d like the pool house and want to stay, too, because I can’t move home and live here without you.”
Her head snapped back and her brow furrowed. “Me? You don’t need m?—”
“Yes, I do,” Sky insisted. “I would lose my mind here without you. You’re my…Sarina. I can’t imagine building a life and starting a new adventure without you. Mason and his dad will do anything you want with the pool house, and you can have your own office next to mine.”
“Aww! My love!” She wound her arms around his middle and hugged him tightly. “I’m so flattered, but what would I do here?”
“I need help and should have hired an assistant a long time ago!” Sky confided. “Or an author manager. Is that a thing? There’s no one I trust more but it’s up to you. You’re one of the best editors in the business and everyone knows you. You could do just about anything you want!” Sky replied. “You could work remotely or you can commute into the city a few days a week. I plan to keep our shoebox so we have a place to crash there.”
“Your assistant?” she echoed, nodding slowly.
Sky flashed her a sheepish smile. “I’ve never had to balance a relationship with my career before. I don’t want to screw this up, now that it’s actually happening. I’d pay you really well, and you can live in the pool house—or just about anywhere in this house—for free for as long as you want,” he offered in a hasty rush.
“Holy—!Wow!” Kayla fanned her eyes and whispered several more wows. “That’s a very generous offer. It’sa lot, though, and really sudden.”
“It is,” Sky agreed. “That’s why I wanted you to have a weekend to think it over and explore Roseview. I also want to give you all the dirt and latest gossip, so you know exactly what you’re getting into if you do stay.”
“That isn’t so scary. I’m definitely curious,” she replied as her neck stretched toward the French doors. “Is that the pool house on the other side of that gorgeous English garden?”
Sky pumped a fist excitedly. “It is, and I saved the big guns for later. You are going to fall in love with Sam. We’re having dinner with him and Sarina at Mason’s tonight. Tomorrow, you’re spending the day at the spa and getting a private tour of the winery.”
“Oh, you monster!” she gasped and clutched her chest. “An adorable toddler, a spa, and a winery? Maybe I will stay…”
That was Sky’s wish, and for once, he was feeling bold and optimistic. Fate—in the form of his sister and Lexie—had given him a chance at happily ever after with the man of his dreams. Sky was going to have it all, with his best friend at his side.
Epilogue
Two years later…
As mayor, Mason was probably a little biased, but he didn’t think anything could top a Roseview wedding. Funerals could be complicated and messy, depending on the family. Reunions could be awkward and tense. But the town’s cherry blossom trees were in full bloom in the spring, making it impossible to find a bad view, no matter where you were standing. Roseview put its most charming foot forward, and romance was always in the air because spring was also wedding season.
Even the fake weddings were spectacular.
Mason’s second wedding was taking place at the Sutton House as well. But this time, it was real and his heart was racing for all the right reasons. He was fighting back tears of joy as he waited with Sarina and his father by the gazebo steps in the rose garden. His first wedding had been on the beach, not far from where they were standing. Many of the smiling faces were the same. Minus Nana and Lance and a few other neighbors who had passed.
Nana was there in spirit, though. Her garden was her passion, with its prize-winning white roses and wisteria walkway and gazebo. Across the gazebo’s steps from Mason, Kayla and Little Sam stood as Sky’s best friends of honor. Little Sam’s tux, and Sarina’s and Kayla’s dresses were powder blue, Nana’s favorite color.
Lexie looked radiant and was beaming, seated next to Kayla’s new girlfriend, Rachel, an attorney and recent transplant from the city. Rachel had recently purchased Mason’s “old” house and he had a feeling that Kayla wouldn’t be needing the pool house for much longer.
Mason’s mother was seated in the front row. He caught her dabbing at her eyes under her sunglasses. In a strange turn of events, Adele and Kate became friends. They bonded after Sam Sr.’s stroke and Sarina and Mason’s divorce. Kate thought Adele was a riot and didn’t take a thing she said seriously, while Adele respected Kate’s bluntness. She actually responded well when someone laughed in her face and told her she was being ridiculous.
Perhaps it helped that they were connected by their children’s unconventional marriages and intertwined relationships, and their love for Little Sam. Very few people could relate to their unique situation or embrace it so effortlessly. And Adele did seem genuinely pleased with how things had turned out and to have Sky home for good.
A string quartet played “Still Into You” by Paramore as Adele and Nadine stepped out of the house’s back doors with Sky. Mason started sobbing as they passed under the wisteria walkway and approached the garden. Sky and Mason chose classic, matching tuxedos, but Sky switched his dress shoes for his Converseand skipped the tie. He’d never looked more handsome or more perfect to Mason.
Tears spilled down Sky’s cheeks and he was trembling as he joined Mason and they held hands.
“Are you okay?” Mason whispered.
