Page 100 of The Romance Library

Yes. This was a much better solution. Jess and I had just over a week together and I intended to savour every second.

The bakery was busy as always. When I eventually got to the front of the queue and placed my order, Maddie greeted me with a warm smile.

That was the thing about this place. When I’d first heard about Sunshine Bay and the fact that it was one of the happiest places to live, I’d dismissed it. Surely people couldn’t be this jolly all the time. But now I’d been here for almost two weeks, I saw that it was real.

Living in a town with a gorgeous beach probably helped raise the levels of contentment, but I was realising that it was more about the people who lived here.

Everyone was friendly and relaxed. No one appeared stressed or pressured. They just lived how they wanted to. They didn’t sweat the small stuff.

No one seemed to care about what people did for a living, how much they earned, what they wore and whether it was designer or not. They just cared about whether or not you were a decent human and being happy.

Glenda seemed to have money worries, but it didn’t stop her from having a smile on her face and focusing on the positives.

That kind of happiness was infectious. I’d probably smiled more in the past two weeks than I had in the last two years. Admittedly, a lot of that was down to Jess, but it was also because of this community.

Community. When Edwin had first mentioned that word, I’d wanted to roll my eyes. But it wasn’t some buzzword. There genuinely was that kind of spirit here. That feeling of togetherness, solidarity and love.

In a small town like this, they could’ve very easily avoided me and Jess. But instead they welcomed us with open arms.

I’d lost count of how many invitations I’d had to join people in the pub for a drink or come to the cafe, bakery or fish and chips restaurant for a bite to eat. And I knew it wasn’t just because they wanted to get me to spend money. I felt it. It was authentic. So different to my life back in London.

Everything in the city was so cutthroat. Everyone was out for themselves and it was all about being the best. Who could secure the biggest deal. Who made the most money. Who drove the most expensive car and wore the most expensive suit.

It’d been days since I’d driven anywhere and I didn’t miss it. In fact, I didn’t miss anything.

Yes, my penthouse had stunning views of London, but I actually liked waking up, drawing the curtains and getting an uninterrupted view of the sea. Even the sound of the seagulls squawking didn’t bother me.

My morning beach runs were a million times more enjoyable than pounding the pavements in London or running on the treadmill. I loved breathing in the fresh sea air.

‘Two coffees and four warm crumpets with a side of butter and jam.’ Maddie put my order on the counter. ‘Anything else?’

‘It’s the chocolate iced fingers and chocolate muffin that Jess likes, right?’ I wanted to get her a treat. Something sweet that she could enjoy at her desk if her energy levels dipped.

‘Well remembered! She was eyeing up the angel cake too but never ordered it.’

‘I’ll take all three, please.’

Maddie packaged them up and I set off back to the B&B with a spring in my step.

On the way I bumped into Candace.

‘Hi, Theo!’ She smiled. ‘How’s tricks?’

‘Good, thanks, you?’

‘All great, thanks. Haven’t seen you and lovely Jessica for a while. I imagine you two are hard at it.’

A grin touched my lips. That was certainly one way of putting it.

‘Yes, it’s been all go.’

‘Well, you still need to eat. Why don’t you two stop by for dinner later?’

‘That would be lovely. I’ll check with Jess and if she’s free, we’ll see you there.’

Although I was confident Jess wouldn’t mind, I didn’t want to answer on her behalf.

‘Great. I’ll reserve a table for you just in case. Seven thirty good for you?’

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