What Happens in Paradise (The Love Hotel #2)

Epilogue

JASMINE

Three months later

‘Make a wish!’ Evita called out as everyone gathered around the table with my giant birthday cake.

We were at Lola’s house in South London where we’d come to celebrate my fortieth with our closest friends and family.

As well as Alejandro, or Ale as I now called him, his sisters and their partners, I’d invited Stella, Max, Sammie and Max’s friends Colton, Natalie their adorable daughter, Betty and my family: not just my parents, but my grandad and his wife Lorna too.

I still couldn’t believe we’d been reunited.

Ale could see how disappointed I was that I didn’t get to see Grandad in Jamaica, so he’d secretly liaised with Bob to visit him. It took a few attempts, but when Bob finally got to speak to him, he’d video called me and let’s just say, it was a very emotional call.

When I knew I’d be in London for my birthday, I asked Grandad if he’d like to visit and when he accepted, I organised the flights for him and Lorna.

Telling Mum was hard and when they’d first reunited, it was awkward, but they were slowly working through things and Mum even thanked me for bringing him over, which was progress.

‘Happy birthday, half pint!’ Grandad smiled, then blew me a kiss. I was so happy he was here to share my special day with me.

‘ Gwaan, Miss Jasmine!’ Bob’s voice boomed from my phone. He’d video called from Jamaica because he didn’t want to miss out on my celebrations.

I blew out the candles and tried to think of a wish.

‘What did you ask for?’ Betty asked innocently.

‘It’s a secret,’ Max said sweetly, pressing his finger on his lip.

‘The truth is,’ I said, wrapping my arm around Ale’s waist, ‘it was hard to find something to wish for, because I already have everything I could ever want. I’m surrounded by people I adore, including my grandad, I have my dream job and the most incredible partner a woman could ask for.’

Before I went to Jamaica, I was dreading my fortieth birthday. But now, as clichéd as it sounded, I honestly felt like my life was only just beginning. I had so much to look forward to.

Ale leant forward and gave me one of his amazing kisses that I loved so much.

I’d thought the time we’d spent in Jamaica was magical, but the last few months were even better.

After the first month, it was clearer than ever that we were madly in love, so we started looking for a bigger place together. It took a few weeks, but eventually, we found a house near the beach. It wasn’t cheap, but with our increased salaries, we were both able to afford the rent and still have enough to put aside for holidays and enjoying life.

Work was going brilliantly for both of us. I was loving my new role. I still got to work closely with our guests, plus I was developing a training programme for Love Alchemists in the hotel’s rapidly expanding international locations which was so exciting. And my new boss was much nicer than Hazel. I felt supported and valued.

Ale was thriving too. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t receive comments from our guests about how amazing his food was. He was building a talented team too and I loved seeing how much he enjoyed sharing his knowledge.

He’d been sharing his knowledge with me too. He’d kept his promise to help teach me some more dishes. One of my new favourite things was dancing around our kitchen on our days off together whilst he showed me how to cook or bake something new. Even if my attempts to recreate the dishes weren’t perfect, he always had encouraging words to say and still insisted on licking the plate clean.

And it turned out that that there were many benefits to working with your partner. When we had the same shifts, we travelled into work together. We got to see each other throughout the day and steal kisses and hugs in the stockroom or occasionally, have private meetings in our offices at lunch or after work… We made sure we always locked the door, though.

It was a relief that everything was out in the open and we didn’t have to sneak around. All of our fellow Romance Rockstars were happy for us. Most said they had seen the sparks flying for months. What Celine had said was right: true love was something to be celebrated, not hidden away.

When the investigation was launched into Hazel’s conduct, it came out that her husband had had an affair with a co-worker, so she was particularly sensitive about work relationships. Given what happened with my ex, I understood the pain she went through. But she let her personal experiences affect the way she treated others and the way she did her job.

With the exception of the married employee, everyone else she’d fired for ‘inappropriate behaviour’ was single, so she’d blown everything way out of proportion.

I used to be angry with my ex. And although I still knew what he did was wrong, I no longer cared. If we didn’t break up, I wouldn’t have taken the job at the Love Hotel and I never would’ve met the love of my life. I hoped that one day, Hazel would find happiness with the right person too.

‘I am a very lucky man,’ Ale announced to the room. ‘I had to work hard to convince her to date me, but the battle was worth it!’

Everyone erupted into laughter.

‘We’re happy for you both!’ Lola said.

‘Here, here!’ Stella added.

‘Thanks!’ I said as Ale took more photos of me in front of the cake. He held up his phone to take another, but then paused.

‘Everything okay?’ I asked.

‘It’s a message from Celine with a preview of the article!’ He stood beside me and everyone gathered around the screen to have a look.

Workplace Romance

You’ve heard about the single guests that have found love at the famous Love Hotel. But the hotel’s magic is so powerful that several employees have fallen for each other on the job too. We spoke to the co-working couples that have fallen under the luxury resorts’ romantic spell.

When I saw the large photo of me and Ale together, a huge grin spread across my face. We were gazing into each other’s eyes on the beach with the sunset behind us.

‘That is a beautiful photo,’ Ale said.

‘I love it!’

When it came out that there were two other couples secretly dating at our hotel, Celine was thrilled. The marketing department then came up with the idea that it was something that could be celebrated publicly.

After talking it through, Ale and I said we’d be happy to take part in the article. If it helped to promote the hotel and encourage people to visit the hotel to find their match, then it was a positive thing. I’d never been happier in my life and I wished everyone could experience the feeling of true love that I had.

Once I’d cut the cake, I loaded the slices onto a plate and started doing the rounds.

‘Cake, Sammie?’

‘I’d love some. By the way, thanks for inviting me.’

‘No problem!’ I smiled. ‘And a little birdy told me you’d applied for the Love Hotel…’

‘Stella told you?’

‘No… I have my sources. And let’s just say my sources may be currently assessing some potential matches…’

‘Oh my God!’ she squealed. ‘No way! So do I have a place? Am I going to get the call?’

‘Like I said before, I can’t promise anything, but I’m keeping everything crossed for you.’

‘Thank you!’ She beamed.

After I handed out all the cake, I headed back to my amazing man who’d just selected a reggae song that now blared through the speaker.

‘Remind you of anything?’ I asked, snaking my arms around his neck.

‘ Sí .’ A grin spread across his face. ‘Our first dance lesson and you rubbing against me on the dance floor at Rick’s Café.’

‘Oh sweet memories.’ I kissed him softly.

‘Shall we make some more right now?’

‘Definitely!’

As Ale wrapped his arms around me, I finally thought of something to wish for: I wished that moments like these would last forever.

And when Ale looked into my eyes, I knew that the best memories were yet to come.