Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
I walk over to the mirror above the sink, uncap the bottle, and squeeze a generous amount of the gel into my hand. Carefully, I apply it to my reddened skin, feeling the soothing coolness seep in immediately. As I work, I can’t help but think of Lorenzo’s kindness. A stranger, who barely knows me, went out of his way to help. It’s unexpected, and it makes my heart flutter a little.
Once I’ve covered every sunburnt inch of my skin with the gel, I turn my attention back to my decision about dinner. But before I can make my choice, there’s another knock at the door. My mind races, hoping it’s him.
I open the door a bit hesitantly this time, my heart thumping louder than it should. But it’s just Lila, looking suntanned and glowing, a wide grin on her face.
“Hey! How’s the burn?” she asks, stepping inside before I can answer.
“Better,” I say, holding up the aloe vera gel. “Someone sent me this just now.”
“Oh?” She raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Who?”
“I met a man in the elevator earlier and he took pity on my lobster-red skin,” I explain, downplaying the crazy feelings that have been flowing through me since the first time I laid eyes on the handsome stranger.
Lila’s eyes widen, and she lets out a low whistle. “Fancy! A mysterious yet considerate stranger. This sounds like the start of a rom-com.”
“Lila, it’s nothing like that,” I protest, though I can’t help but smile.
“Uh-huh.” She gives me a knowing look. “You need any more aloe? And by the way, we just finished a round of volleyball. It’s crazy out there. I came to see if you wanted to grab some dinner with me while Jana and Clarissa hang out with two hotties they met on the beach.”
That sounds like those two. They live to flirt. “Actually, I was just about to decide what to order.” I gesture to the menu lying on the bed.
Her eyes light up. “Perfect! Let’s order room service and have a girls’ night in. Besides, you need a break from the sun.”
I laugh, grateful for her company. Tomorrow, we all head our separate ways, and it will be several more weeks before I see my sister again. “Sounds good. I could use a burger.”
We peruse the menu together, settling on burgers and a couple of desserts that look too good to resist. Lila calls in the order, and we flop onto the bed, chatting about everything and nothing while we wait.
As we talk, I can’t help but glance occasionally at the bottle of aloe vera gel sitting on the nightstand. I wonder if I’ll see Lorenzo again. Maybe it's just a fleeting encounter, destined to become one of those intriguing but unfulfilled “what ifs.” Or maybe, just maybe, there’s more to this story.
Our food arrives, brought up by the same polite hotel employee from before. We dig in, enjoying the savory comfort of burgers and fries.
“Here’s to no more sunburns, thoughtful strangers, and sisterly bonding,” Lila says, raising her soda in an impromptu toast.
I clink my glass against hers, feeling a rare mix of contentment and excitement. “To all of that and more.”
We share a laugh, and for the first time today, I fully relax. It feels as though the sting of the sunburn, both literal and figurative, has started to fade. And as I lie back against the pillows, I allow myself to believe that maybe unexpected things are just around the corner.
FIVE
LORENZO
The view from the hotel penthouse balcony is growing tedious as I long for my home in New York City. The city that never sleeps’ restless energy mirrors my own. I take a deep breath, the cool salty sea air filling my lungs, but there's no real calm to be found here tonight.
I twirl the glass of bourbon in my hand, watching the amber liquid catch the light. The city holds countless threats and opportunities, alliances and betrayals. It's a delicate balance and one I manage daily. I miss it and can’t wait to return home. The only thing holding me back is thoughts of a gorgeous blonde I can’t wipe from my thoughts or my heart.
The sliding door opens behind me, and I hear Luca's footsteps. I don't need to turn around to know it's him; his presence is as familiar as my own shadow.
"Lorenzo," he says, his voice low and urgent. "We have a problem."
I turn to face him, sensing the weight of his words before he even speaks them aloud. “What is it?”
He steps closer, lowering his voice even further, though we’re alone out here. “Intel just came through. The Grimaldis have someone in the hotel. They’ve been leaking information.”
I feel a spike of anger, but I keep it controlled. “What do they know?”
Luca’s expression darkens. “We suspect they know all of our movements. And they were able to find out Mira’s name and room number as easily as we did. They probably suspect something happened between the two of you since you sent a bottle of aloe vera gel to her room.”