As the sun rose the following morning, they lay together in the huge, soft bed inside the beach hut and Diesel played with Jenny’s hair as she traced her hands over his chest.

Sleeping next to him had felt so good, he was so strong and protective she had never felt safer.

“I don’t want to go home,” she said as she nuzzled into him. “But I know if we don’t, Bull will definitely be firing me.”

“I’ve told you, it’ll be fine,” he said. “We can stay or we can go, it’s totally up to you.”

She looked up at him and leaned in to kiss him. His dark eyes flashed over her and made her skin goosebump.

“And besides,” he said, “would it be such a bad thing if you didn’t work at Tanners anymore? I don’t know what I think about my woman hanging around in that kind of environment.”

Jenny’s heart skipped a beat.

“So I’m your woman, am I?” she said cheekily.

“Damned right you are,” he said. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to let you go? No fucking way…”

He held her tightly and it made her warm inside. It was good to feel so wanted and adored. And it was even better because she felt exactly the same way about him. She had never met anyone who she had wanted to be around more. Everything clicked into place so well it was well and truly fate.

“Well, just so you know, I won’t be quitting,” she said sassily. “I like it there. But don’t worry, I have absolutely zero intentions of getting up on the stage myself.”

“You’re damned right.” His eyes glinted. “This here is mine and mine only.” He trailed his fingers down her arms to her stomach.

“Always,” she whispered.

Diesel smiled at her and kissed her again and she felt herself becoming dizzy and euphoric. He did things to her that she had never even known were possible, and it felt so right she was addicted.

“We should stay,” she said as she let her fingers interlock with his and they held hands on top of his chest. “It would be a waste to walk away from here when we’ve only had one proper day and night.”

“Well, you’ve got my vote,” he joked. “I’m in no rush to get back home. I’d quite happily stay here with you forever.”

In her wildest fantasies that would be perfect, but Jenny was a realist and she knew they couldn’t stay on vacation forever. They had escaped the confines of their town to strengthen their bond, and it had worked miraculously, because now she knew they were together for real. She had thrown caution to the wind and gone with her gut instinct and it had paid off massively. She had found herself her perfect man. Even against all the odds.

“We’ve got a bright future ahead of us,” Diesel smiled. “Together, I know we are capable of great things.”

“I feel it too.”

“I’m going to look after you,” he said as he kissed her on the top of her head. “I’ve never wanted a woman in my life before I met you… and now that I have, I want to give you the best of everything. I want you to know that.”

“You don’t have to give me anything.” She touched his face gently. “Just keep being you and that’s all I need.”

He kissed her on the forehead again and held her tight.

She climbed out of bed and looked out to the ocean. The sky was darker than it had been the previous day, but she didn’t mind. She had no intention of leaving their bedroom. She reached for her purse and pulled out her cellphone and quickly sent a text to Britney as she couldn’t wait any longer to let her in on the news.

J: In the most amazing cabin on the beach… The V’s are definitely a thing of the past. Incredible night! See you in a couple of days. J x

She pressed send and grinned as she switched her phone to silent to mute the inevitable oncoming onslaught of messages that Britney would no doubt send her the second she read it.

“Hey,” Diesel called to her from the bed. “Get back over here.”

Jenny smiled and began to walk back toward the bed and her man. As she crawled in next to him and looked into his eyes she had never felt more complete or more whole. She had found everything she had ever been looking for, and she felt so lucky, she would never not be grateful for this moment.

“Let’s make a deal,” she whispered as they knotted their hands up together. “Let’s come back here as often as we can… And we definitely need to go on vacation properly at least twice a year.”

“Deal,” Diesel shook her hand and laughed. “Man, you’re going to get me in so much trouble with the boys.”

“And why’s that?” she asked cheekily.

“Because I can tell you’re going to be my favorite distraction.” He kissed her deeply on the lips.

“Don’t forget what’s ahead,” she said with more warning than she would have liked.

“I know, they’re going to need me,” he said sadly. “But I want you to know that you will always come first now. Okay?”

She didn’t have an answer for him apart from another kiss and collapsing into the big, muscular groove of his arm.

“Whatever happens,” she whispered. “You’ve got me.”

“And me you, babe,” he said. “Whole and true.”

They lay together and listened to the continuing sounds of the ocean and of the waves breaking along the shore. It was hypnotic and it made Jenny feel sleepy and warm in his arms. They had found each other and they had found their place in the world, and they both knew that returning home now, nothing would ever be the same again. For them, Slate Springs was about to become better than ever. And Jenny couldn’t wait to be taken along for the ride of her life.

THE END