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‘Awww, thanks!’ I beamed. ‘Actually, Victoria, what did you mean when you said the four of us would be going to California?’

‘Oh, sorry, yes. Jasmine and Alejandro will also be moving there temporarily to help get things set up.’

‘That’s brilliant!’

‘It is indeed. This resort will be our biggest and most ambitious yet. We already have some high-profile singletons who will be joining us as guests to find their perfect match.’

‘What, like celebrities?’ My brows shot up to my hairline.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘A certain singer who you’ll almost certainly know will be visiting us to find the one at the Californian resort, so I’m sure the world will be watching.’

‘Oooh!’ I said, dying to know who it was.

Although Victoria still hadn’t revealed the exact location, something told me it would be somewhere glam like Beverly Hills. So although they probably invited guests from all over the US, I reckoned that there was strong possibility that the guests would include the rich and famous too.

Imagine you’re a normal person who got accepted to go to the Love Hotel and then all of a sudden when you rocked up, you got matched with Harry Styles or Michael B. Jordan? That’d be crazy!

I could already tell that working at the new resort was going to be loads of fun and doing that with the love of my life and my new friends, Jasmine and Alejandro, was gonna be a blast.

‘I’ll email the paperwork shortly. Everything still okay with your current employer?’

‘Yep.’

Normally I had to give a month’s notice, but when I told my boss what had happened and promised that I’d help find a replacement, she took pity on me and reduced it (I think the fact that she’d got married four months ago and was still in the honeymoon cloud of happiness helped). So I’d fly back to London, work a full week next week, then I’d be free to start my new life.

Everything had worked out perfectly.

‘Excellent. Well, I’ll leave you to celebrate. Congrats again!’

‘Thank you.’

I ended the call and Romeo picked me up and spun me around before kissing me softly. Then we remembered Linda was there, so we needed to behave ourselves.

‘Look at you two,’ Linda beamed. Biscotti barked then rushed over before licking my leg excitedly. ‘I knew from the moment I saw you two together that you were meant to be. You’ve shown me that true love can conquer all and I’d like another shot at that whilst I’m still young enough to enjoy life.’

Romeo and I both froze and our gazes shot to Linda.

‘Do you mean…?’ His voice trailed off.

‘Yes, son. I’m going to leave your father. I’m going back to England. It’s time. You’ve got Sammie now, Mirabella is settled in Rome and if I’m in England I’ll get to see more of Giorgio and my family. Yes, I’ll miss the beach, but I can always come and visit. Plus, it sounds like I’ll be coming to visit you both in California soon,’ she smiled.

‘Mamma.’ Romeo raced over to Linda and pulled her in for a hug. ‘I am so happy for you.’

‘Thank you. It’s going to be tough financially but?—’

‘You do not have to worry about money, Mamma,’ Romeo cut in. ‘I have been saving. I have an account for you with enough money for you to rent your own place for the first few months.’

Linda’s eyes widened and tears rolled down her cheeks.

‘Thank you, son. I love you so much.’ Linda threw her arms around Romeo. ‘Time for a fresh start for all of us,’ she said as she gently pulled away.

‘We should toast this.’ Romeo pulled out a bottle of my favourite prosecco and poured it into three plastic champagne flutes. I hadn’t even seen that he’d packed them, but clearly what he’d said before was true. Romeo believed in me so much that he’d come prepared to celebrate my success.

What an amazing man.

‘To Mamma and her new life. And to my soulmate, Sammie.’ Romeo raised his glass and my heart fluttered. ‘Here’s to love.’

‘To love!’ I said, clinking glasses with them both. ‘And our long and very happy future together.’

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