Page 39 of One Weekend in Sydney

I bite my lip as I leave the office and head to my car. I’ll be picking him up at my parents. He had dinner with them because I had that late meeting.

It still thrills me how well he’s been getting along with my parents, especially as he’s been working as a farm manager alongside my dad since he moved back. He also insists that he enjoys doing farm chores! It’s a bonus that macadamia is his favourite nut.

Things are going very well between us, and I’m hopeful about our future together. But sometimes, I wonder if he misses the city. He had such a good life in Sydney.

I just love him so much that I want him to stay with me here in Moonstruck Cove forever. A part of me is still afraid that my biggest wish might not come true, because I’d always seen myself as unlucky in love.

Ugh, I don’t want to dwell on that anymore.

Pushing my negative thoughts aside, I go to my car and start heading to my family’s farm. As I pull up at the homestead, I see Mason chatting with my parents on the porch. His easy smile and relaxed posture send a burst of delicious warmth through me. I love seeing him so comfortable with them.

“Hey, you three,” I call out as I get out of the car.

“Hey there, Mayor Davies,” my dad teases, earning a chuckle from Mason.

“Hi, babe,” Mason says, coming up to me and kissing me on the cheek.

“Did you enjoy dinner?” Mum asks. “There are leftovers inside if you’re still hungry.”

“No, thanks. Mason and I are going. It’s pretty late. It’s been a long day.” I don’t want to tell my folks that I’ll be dragging Mason to Lover’s Hill. They know I’ve already taken him there a few times on a full moon.

The Legend of Lover’s Hill is the main tourist attraction of Moonstruck Cove. Every month during the full moon, hordes of visitors come to town. Couples, families and best friends all climb the hill to touch Heart, the heart-shaped rock at the very top, while professing their love for each other. Legend has it that doing so strengthens their bonds.

No one alive knows how the legend started. But despite some Mooners not believing in it, we’re all grateful that our small town is thriving because of the tourism dollars it brings.

As for me, I think there’s some truth to the legend. Why else are people flocking to something that, on the face of it, sounds so ridiculous? It has to have some invisible force that calls people to it.

And I want to take Mason up there again because, even though the place will be packed, it’s a blue moon tonight. How special!

We say goodbye to my parents, and I take Mason’s hand to lead him to the car. “Come on,” I urge.

“What’s the hurry?” He leans to whisper in my ear. “Can’t wait to take me to bed, huh?”

I let out a laugh. “No, we’re going to Lover’s Hill. There’s a blue moon tonight, remember?”

“Do you really want to go when there’s gonna be heaps of people? You already know I love you and our bond is strong—legend or no legend.”

“But it’s a blue moon tonight,” I repeat with a pleading tone. “Besides, I bet we’ll see lots of friends there. And Mooners always love to talk to you. They love listening to your Sydney stories because you tell them so well.”

Mason chuckles. “I should probably do a storytelling hour at Struck and Stuck.”

I grin, already seeing Mason in the spotlight at our local pub. “Hey, that’s a great idea! You’ll be a hit! And it could be a mega-bonding session with you and the other Mooners. Not that you need it. They’ve embraced you like you never left.”

“I shouldn’t have joked about it, Mayor Davies. Don’t you dare make it a thing.”

We get in the car, and I frown. “Can we swap seats?”

“Why?”

“I want to drive.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to climb Lover’s Hill on a blue moon, and you want to go home. I want to keep persuading you while I drive us there.”

Mason sighs. “Okay, we’ll go. Just for you, babe.”

I lean over to place a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, my Romeo.”

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