1. Meg: My Own Paradise

Chapter one

Meg – My Own Paradise

Just another day in paradise , I think, as I wake up smiling to the sun's rays lining up on my pillow. Paradise is something few people get to experience these days, but I'm lucky enough to actually live in it.

My small beach town, Seaside Cove, awaits just down the road from our cottage. Seaside Cove is a sweet hidden gem on the Florida Atlantic coast. Unlike many oceanfront places it has maintained its old-fashioned feel. Townspeople know each other. Amazingly the shore is mainly small cottages and local businesses.

Why we are not overcome with more high rises is probably because the Interstate is not close and most big box businesses have not yet invaded our area.

We look out to the ocean from our front porch. And better yet, we're only steps away from Seaside Inn, where I work.

After my sister Mia and our grandfather who owns Seaside Inn, my next biggest love has to be animals – the ones who live with me and the ones that Inn guests bring along on vacation. Those are mainly dogs, and I get to walk them every day. What a perfect job!

Mia is older by two years and the responsible one. I'm the independent and carefree sister, with dreams of meeting the handsome and caring billionaire who'll sweep me off my feet. Maybe on a white horse. Yeah right!

More likely my dream guy will end up stuffy and nerdy, and I'll be forced to work next to him on a daily basis.

Regardless of any man in my future, I know where we will be. Right here! I love the town and our inn. It's perfect.

I cannot imagine anyone trying to change things, or worse, trying to buy our inn out from under us like in other places. It's valuable ocean-front land without the influx of modern skyscrapers and I love it just the way it is.

Any man who steals my heart had better not have any hurtful plans for my hometown.

Woe to that man for sure.