Page 31 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove (Jonathon Island #5)

“Jill’s son,” he explained quietly. “He went to school with us. Was in the twins’ class.”

Daisy gave a nod. Ahh.

Miles gave an impressed whistle. “I did a weekend out there last year. It was incredible.”

The coffee shop owner gave him a sad smile, and Daisy felt a pang of guilt. She wondered what her own mother was doing during the holidays this year.

They reached the end of the street, and Daisy was surprised to find people streaming in from every direction. Families and groups of friends padded down Blueberry Boulevard from the neighborhood up the road.

“Daisy!” a cheerful voice called as they stepped onto the grassy expanse, already dotted with picnic blankets and lawn chairs.

Children darted between adults, tossing a football and laughing cheerily.

Daisy’s eyes searched the surprising crowd for the voice.

She spotted Holland and Jordi milling about.

They both waved, and Daisy heard her name again.

She turned and found Mia waving at her. She was settled on a checkered blanket, with another wrapped warmly around her shoulders.

Beside her, a man in a Carhartt jacket reclined on his elbow, and next to him stood another couple—a good-looking man with his arms around a beautiful blonde woman.

And beside them, a tall man rocking a pair of aviators had his arm slung over the shoulder of an adorable woman with lavender hair.

They obviously all knew each other, but that was no surprise in a little town like this.

“Daisy, sit with us!” Mia called again.

Daisy veered that direction, tugging Hunter along with her. “Hey, you! Who’s this?” she asked.

“This is my boyfriend, Cody,” Mia said, beaming at the man reclined beside her. “And this is his sister, Lily.” She waved toward the lavender-haired woman. “And her fiancé, Declan.”

She took a pause, dramatically catching her breath, before continuing. “And this is my cousin, Dani, and her fiancé, Liam.”

Dani gave a friendly wave and Cody reached up a hand. “You must be Hunter’s mysterious fiancée.”

Daisy laughed, taking the hand and shaking it. “I don’t know about mysterious, seeing as most of my life is broadcast to the world. But fiancée is spot on.” And then it was her turn to beam up at her man.

“I’ve been watching your show,” Lily said, her lavender hair falling over her shoulder. “I am absolutely in love with the new banister.”

Pride swelled in her chest, and Daisy leaned toward the group. “Hunter made it.”

“Come on now,” Hunter said, hiding a sheepish grin.

“We’ve got to get you working on the Grand,” Dani said. “We’d love to have some signature Barrett pieces to really anchor the renovations, right, Liam?”

“Absolutely.”

Hunter’s smile faltered. “Thanks, but Seb already tried convincing my dad to start taking projects on the island. ’S not gonna happen.”

Liam nodded in understanding. “Let us know if you change your mind.”

Before anyone could go on, a loud voice boomed over the crowd.

“Speaking of Uncle Seb…” Dani said, turning expectantly toward the older gentleman walking onto the field.

Daisy had heard about Mia’s father, the mayor of Jonathon Island, but she hadn’t had a chance to meet him yet. The man, tall with white hair, commanded the crowd with his presence, his easy smile connecting with friends and family.

“I want to welcome everyone to the Jonathon Island Thanksgiving football game. I see a lot of new faces in the crowd.” He nodded toward the smiling faces of a few supposed newcomers.

“And it’s a great reminder of how much we have to be thankful for this year.

I know we’ve had a rough stretch, but God always has a plan, and nothing could be more evidence of that than all of you here today…

” His gaze moved over the crowd and landed on her. “We’re glad you’re here.”

Her too.

Seb turned, clapped his hands together, and tossed them into the air. “Now, who’s ready for some football?”

The crowd cheered, and Hunter gave Daisy’s temple a quick peck before jogging off with Liam, Declan, and Cody to join the game.

“Not playing?” Dani asked.

“I think I’ll sit this one out, get to know a few of the locals,” Daisy replied with a wink.

“Well, by all means,” Mia said, patting the blanket in the spot that Cody had vacated.

Daisy settled in, grateful for the warmth of the sun on her face. “Where are the kids today?”

“Oh, they’re around.” Mia chuckled, pointing in the direction of her littlest one, who was showing an older woman a bright-red leaf she’d found. “That’s my mom with Maggie.”

A loud roar sounded nearby, and Daisy spotted Finn, making his best monster impression to Augo, who was pretending not to notice until the monster got close enough to tickle. Finn collapsed in giggles as Lucky bounded over, licking his ear.

Daisy had only met the kids in passing, but they seemed as sweet as could be.

She watched as Hunter joined his brothers, their playful banter and roughhousing eliciting a chuckle from her.

“So, Daisy,” Dani said, leaning in conspiratorially, “have you two made any plans for the wedding yet?”

Daisy felt a nervous flutter, thinking of the lies accumulating between her and her new friends. Would they understand why when it was all over? “Oh, we haven’t really had time to think about it yet. We’ve just been so busy with the house and the show…”

But even as she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Hunter. He was laughing, his head thrown back as Evan attempted to tackle him. Jude joined in, and soon all three were a tangle of limbs and laughter on the grass. The sight made her heart swell, and suddenly, she could see it all so clearly.

She imagined Hunter standing at the end of a long aisle, his broad shoulders clad in a black tux, his brothers lined up in support for the man who never let them down.

She imagined the look on his face as she stepped through the door, and the way her hands would tremble when she placed them in his.

She could see it so clearly, she could practically smell the flowers, hear the bells.

“No…” she repeated distantly. “No plans yet.”

But maybe someday…“Sorry,” Daisy said, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. “I guess I got a little distracted. But enough about me—what about you and Liam?”

“We’re working on it,” she replied warmly. “Planning a spring wedding.”

“And you?” Daisy asked Lily.

Lily sighed. “We just resurrected my family’s fudge shop, and Declan and I are just so busy running it that we haven’t had a chance to set a date.

All I know is that I can’t wait to marry that man.

” With a smile, her eyes landed in the vicinity of her fiancé, who was currently running back to the starting line, a grin plastered on his face.

The sun continued to warm the field as the game went on.

Dani and Mia told her all about the island, pointing out members of the community across the crowded park.

They filled her in on the Grand Sullivan Hotel renovation, and Mia even touched on her children adapting to the new man in her life after the death of her husband over two years ago.

This town had been through so much. And yet they loved so easily.

Daisy wanted that.

But there was always that voice reminding her of the brutal truth. People don’t just love you. Not without you earning it.

It was a lovely idea though.

A cheer erupted, and Daisy’s gaze snapped to the game. Hunter was backpedaling, his eyes on the sky as the football soared toward him. He jumped. Caught the ball. And landed in the makeshift end zone, securing the win for his team.

The field exploded with cheers, and Hunter, flushed with victory and exertion, scanned the crowd until his eyes locked with Daisy’s. A broad grin split his face, and he took off toward her.

Daisy stood, waiting for him. And when Hunter reached her, he swept her into his arms, lifting her off the ground. She laughed, head falling back as they spun.

“Kiss her!” someone shouted—it sounded suspiciously like Waylen.

Hunter’s eyes held hers, the world fading around them, and he lowered her feet to the ground but kept going, dipping her back as he stole a celebratory kiss.

And the crowd went wild.