Page 157 of Sunshine

Twinkling lights lit the grounds along with standing sculptures. Guests began arriving, and Mrs. Cullen stood at the entryway, greeting everyone like old friends.

I did another circuit of the estate, checking all of my stations. Logan had really outdone himself and the food perfectly matched the décor of the experience.

In addition to light finger foods, Logan had cooked paella, steamed clams, and other foods that made you think of the Mediterranean coast. Another experience gave you the feeling ofbeing lost in the forest, and he’s made venison, served on a slab of hardwood and dusted with cranberries.

There was a section of the ballroom dedicated to the circus, and we even had rope dancers along with a man doing balloon animals for whimsy. Another experience had a nightclub vibe, with a man on stage playing acoustic guitar. Out back, on the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean, guests could paraglide down to a landing pad.

For a few hours, I lost myself through the rooms. Everywhere I looked there were smiling faces. Not just the bored “night on the town” smiles, but some of the guests looked like children tasting ice cream for the first time.

Buzzing with energy, I found Julian and Luca wandering around and greeting the guests. Luca looked every bit the corporate lawyer in his immaculate suit, and with permission, Julian had worn his turn out gear.

He’d skipped the helmet, hood, and air pack so he wouldn’t have to spend hours walking around in gear that could weigh more than seventy-five pounds, but wore the black and yellow jacket, pants, and boots.

Julian kissed me on the cheek. I pulled him close so I could whisper in his ear. “Wear that home so I can jump you in it.”

“Sure thing, babe.” He looked smug.

“Thank you for coming.” I should have set up a dark room I could drag him and my alphas into. No that wasn’t professional, I told myself. Behave until we got back to the house.

“No problem. I’ve already had a few people offer to donate to the local station so win-win.” Julian gave me the thumbs up.

Luca kissed my cheek, his thumb lightly brushing his bondmark. The skin was still mostly pink, and extra sensitive. “You look ravishing.”

“My alpha who loves me very much bought me this necklace.” I touched the heart shaped diamond, the stone warm from my body heat.

“He does.” Luca purred, stepping into my personal space. “Only the best for my beta.”

Warmth spiraled through me, and I wondered if Logan had a space in the kitchen where the four of us could have some alone time.

“There she is.” Mrs. Cullen beamed and crossed the ballroom floor. In her wake were two elderly gentlemen and an elderly woman. “Meet my pack. Alfonso, Eric, and Mariella.”

“So wonderful to meet you,” I said, shaking hands with them.

“Is that a new bondmark?” Mrs. Cullen smiled, her face looking ten years younger.

“It is.” Luca put an arm around my waist. “It’s Sunshine Kahele now.”

“You have excellent taste, my dear.” Mrs. Cullen shook hands with me again. “When you told me about your concept for this event, I thought for sure you were overreaching.”

“But she wasn’t, was she?” Another woman entered our space, wearing an expensive blue tweed jacket and skirt combo. “It was pure inspiration.”

I vaguely recognized her from the Financial Times. Mrs. Cullen introduced me to a small group of people, all of whom were the who’s who of the area.

Every one of them praised my ingenuity and creative vision. I was vaguely embarrassed, but every time I talked about the collaboration I’d had with Logan and even Ginny, Julian pinched me.

“Just accept the compliments,” Julian whispered. “You worked hard and deserve the praise.”

After that I just smiled and nodded. Julian was right. I should take the compliments. I had worked hard, and it was paying off.

The evening was in full swing, with happy people wandering around the Villa with smiles on their faces.

Across the room, I spotted Becca. I forced myself to keep smiling, even though the paella sat like lead in my stomach.

I turned to the side, as though I could hide myself. I didn’t have time or energy for Becca’s crap anymore. I wasdone.

Luca and Julian both looked puzzled, no doubt sensing my reaction through the bonds. I nodded at Mrs. Jennings, who was asking me to fit her into my schedule.

I handed her my card and told her to contact Ginny, and we could set up a time and place. I kept Becca in my peripheral vision, but the crowd shifted, and I lost sight of her.

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