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On the drive back to Kraken Cove, I try to stay awake, but sheer determination only gets me as far as Nowra, and from there all I remember is the gentle hum of the engine and the low rumble of my dad getting to know my fated mate.

I wake in a dark room, unsure what time it is. When I roll over searching for Liv, I see her sitting up in bed, light from her phone screen illuminating her face. “Babe, what time is it?”

She turns to me. “Oh sorry. Did I wake you? It’s midnight, but I can’t sleep. It’s morning back home.” She stops herself with a laugh. “Back in the States. How strange. I’ll have to get used to this being my home now.”

I roll over and lay my head in her lap, enjoying the warmth of her body and the rich scent of her. “You know I’ll move back with you if you want to. It’s not too late to change your mind.” I’m already closing my eyes again. I can’t help it. I’m catching up on a whole night of sleep.

She strokes a hand absently through my hair. “Mmm, I know, but I like it here. It’s just a shame that I’ll have to travel so much for work.”

“Mmm. A problem for another day. Lie down.” I try unsuccessfully to tug her into her rightful little spoon position in front of me.

“Just a minute. I’m trying to answer all these messages, but I think it’s impossible. That video totally blew up. Like insane numbers. I might even get a big sponsorship deal if it keeps going.”

I chuckle. In the video she posted, we’re fooling around as I try to make her pick all the ingredients of a new dish I created. She filmed it on a whim and posted it as filler between projects. I’m still a bit stunned this is the one that’s gotten so much traction.

“Oh my god!” Olivia gasps. “Noah, I’ve got a message from someone claiming to be a producer at Food Network. They want to talk about a TV deal.”

Instantly I sit, putting my head close to hers to see. “No way! That’s amazing.”

“I know. It’s got to be a fake.”

“Knock it off. You’re brilliant. Your content is brilliant. I bet it’s real.”

She keeps scrolling, then turns to me with a smile. “Noah, look at this. They want both of us. They’d like us to make a food program together.”

“What? That’s impossible.” I grab the phone, and now she’s laughing at me as I stare at the words in the message for myself.

You two are dynamite together. You’d make great television. I’ve sent a DM. Let’s chat. I want to work with you.

A buzz runs through my whole body. I grin at Olivia. “I think we should go for it. This will be great for your channel.”

“But what about The Snapper?”

“Mate, if Jamie Oliver can write books, have his own TV show, and still run a bunch of restaurants, you bet I can do it too. Besides, you saw how well Billy ran things while I was gone. The reality is, it’s still a small town. He doesn’t need me breathing down his neck all the time.”

She answers the message, and we grin at each other for a moment. I’m half expecting an answer to pop up straight away. The anticipation dies a little after a few minutes, and Liv puts the phone aside and throws her arms around my neck. “There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep now.”

“Me neither.” I shiver as she presses soft kisses along my neck and over the lobe of my ear. “What were you thinking?”

“Let’s go for a swim.”

THIRTY THREE

Olivia

“Are you sure you don’t mind my idiot brother being so pig headed about not having a proper wedding?” Jack hands me the cooler bag filled with breakfast provisions. His voice is pitched low so Noah won’t hear. He’s distracted anyway, leaning down to give his mother a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Luke and Mia’s wedding was beautiful and it was lovely to be there, surrounded by people who already feel like an extension of my family. I have to admit, I had a few moments wishing thatI could have that too. But I shake my head. “Listen, he might be pig headed, but the mate thing means more than a wedding anyway. And I don’t want to bring up stuff from the past. This is a fresh start. It shouldn’t feel like that. We’ll do that mating ceremony and tomorrow we’ll meet the celebrant and lock things down legally. That’s all I need.”

Jack gives me a hug and Noah takes the bag from me, taking my hand in his. “Ready?”

A smile passes between the two brothers. I only catch it from the corner of my eye as I turn away and I’m not sure what it means. But I’m glad they’re not at each other’s throats anymore. In fact, while Jack seems stressed lately, he and Noah have gotten along pretty well ever since I returned to Australia.

When we’ve said goodbye to everyone and been wished well by all Noah’s family as if we’re going away on a five month trip instead of overnight, we climb into Luke’s truck, which Noah borrowed for the night so he could bring about a hundred blankets, a tent, and heaven knows what else he has stashed in the five bags in the trunk. He’s been so secretive about this whole thing, refusing to let me pack, only telling me the barest details.

I still have a flutter low in my belly at the knowledge that after tonight, I’ll be his completely and he’ll be mine.

After tonight, I’ll be able to stay with him underwater for as long as I want. We’ll officially be a mated pair.