“I love you,” Jake murmured then pulled her from her chair and tucked her on his lap.

   Lydia knew she should be embarrassed that they were carrying on like teenagers, but looking around the room, she discovered that they were far from alone. Jason Danvers stood slowly dancing in place with his wife, Claire, in his arms. You didn’t need to hear the words because the love between them was obvious for all to see. A few feet away, Gray Merimon’s eyes were riveted on his wife, Suzy, as she spoke to another couple. Every few seconds, Gray’s hand would stroke lovingly up and down her spine and she’d get the softest smile on her face. Then there was Nick Merimon, curled around his wife and whispering something in her ear. Lydia could see the blush steal over Beth’s cheeks as she cuddled closer to her husband.

   Curious as to where the rest of their friends were, Lydia looked around the room until she located Declan Stone sitting beside his wife, Ella. They were talking softly to each other as Declan twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. He laughed at something she said before leaning forward to drop a kiss onto the tip of her nose. Next, there was Mac Powers with his arm around his wife, Ava’s waist while they spoke to Ava’s brother, Brant, and his fiancée, Emma. Lydia wondered if the women knew that even as their men spoke to each other, their eyes never left the woman at their side. At one point, Mac rubbed Ava’s stomach, and Lydia had to wonder if there would be an announcement coming from them soon. And Emma lit up like the Fourth of July when Brant caressed her cheek with his finger. Just a few feet away stood Gwen and Dominic. They’d finally informed all of their friends and family that they’d been married for some time now. When Gwen stood on her tiptoes to throw her arms around Dominic’s neck and hug him close, he obliged her by bending lower and gently encircling her waist before straightening and lifting her off her feet. The honeymoon obviously wasn’t over for those two.

   “What are you looking at?” Jake asked as he glanced around, trying to see what had her attention.

   “Wait just a second,” she requested as she attempted to locate her last two friends. Ah, there was Mark DeSanto laughing with his cousin, Denny, while keeping Crystal locked firmly against his side. Lydia couldn’t miss the possessiveness in his touch as he hooked a hand around the nape of her neck to keep her from straying. The heat they generated between them with just one look was enough to power the city for a month.

   And finally, there were the newlyweds, Mia and Seth. Mia had once said that Seth was a traditional man who wanted to build a home and a family with her once she was ready to settle down. Lydia didn’t think Seth could possibly have any doubts that he and his bride had finally arrived at the same place. Mia hadn’t taken her eyes off him since Lydia had been watching, and likewise, his beautiful bride equally captivated Seth. Lydia had to giggle, though, when in true Mia fashion, she had her hand on her groom’s ass while he spoke with his gorgeous relatives. Despite all of her teasing, it was obvious that Seth was the only Jackson that Mia would ever truly see.

   As Jake helped her to her feet, Lydia paused once more to look around the tent to savor the sight of all of her blissful friends—the women of Danvers with the men they loved. In a resort town such as Myrtle Beach where anything seemed possible, Lydia wondered if there had ever been any doubt that they’d all get their happy ending.

   The funny thing, though, was that the men in their lives were only a part of it. The one constant that each of them could fall back on again and again through the years would be their sisterhood. Ten women from different backgrounds who’d found each other at Danvers International, and no matter what life brought their way, that was a bond that would never unravel or break. And Lydia was so excited to step forward with these women at her side to see what the future would hold for them.