Chapter 4

MIRA

My toes sink into the soft, warm sand with each step I take, the hot grains shifting and sliding beneath my feet. The salty tang of the ocean air fills my lungs, and I take a deep breath, trying to embrace our last day on the beach.

My sister's enthusiasm has always been infectious. I glance over to where she's setting up the volleyball net with her friends from college, Jana and Clarissa. They're laughing and chatting animatedly, their bronzed skin gleaming in the sunlight, looking as if they belong in an advertisement for sunblock.

I, on the other hand, feel out of place. I'm standing here in the shadow of an umbrella, slathered in SPF 50 from head to toe. My pale skin has always been a liability in the summer sun. It burns after mere minutes of exposure, no matter how much sunscreen I apply. Lila and her friends are the epitome of athleticism and confidence, whereas I shy away from any semblance of a sports field.

"Mira, come on! You're not going to stay under that umbrella all day, are you?" Lila calls out, waving me over with a wide smile.

"Yeah, join us!" Jana echoes, her enthusiasm matching Lila's.

I wave back hesitantly. The thought of playing volleyball fills me with dread. I can't help but admit to myself that I'm not athletic in the slightest. In fact, I'm pretty much athletically challenged. Coordination? Not my strong suit. But Lila's eyes are so hopeful, and I can't bear to let her down. My little sister's boundless energy and enthusiasm convince me to take a chance. How bad can a sunburn actually be?

With a sigh, I step out from beneath my protective canopy and make my way over to where they're standing. Lila hands me a brightly colored volleyball, and I juggle it nervously. It's heavier than I expected, and I have a sinking feeling that my performance is going to be nothing short of embarrassing.

"We'll take it easy, no pressure," Lila assures me as if reading my mind.

"Right," I murmur, more to myself than to anyone else.

Jana and Clarissa exchange a glance and share a light, knowing laugh. I muster a wan smile, trying not to let my nerves show.

The first few serves are gentle; Lila's being considerate. Despite that, I find myself flailing and missing the ball more often than not. Each failure that I endure is met with encouraging cheers from Lila and her friends, but it does little to soothe my growing anxiety. My cheeks burn from a mix of embarrassment and the punishing sun.

At some point, Lila suggests we switch positions, probably hoping to give me a break. I can hardly hear her over the pounding of my own heart and the distant crashing of the waves. My skin feels hotter than it should from just exertion. I wipe a bead of sweat from my brow and realize, with a jolt, that my arms are beginning to turn an angry shade of red.

"Lila," I start, my voice sounding small and tired, "I think I need a break. I'm starting to burn."

Lila looks at my flushed skin and her face softens with concern. "Oh no, we should have kept you under the umbrella. Do you want to head back to the hotel?"

I nod gratefully, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. "Yeah, a cool shower sounds good right about now."

"We'll catch up later, okay?" Lila pulls me into a quick hug, the scent of coconut sunblock and saltwater clinging to her. "Be careful and drink some water."

Leaving the sandy shore behind, I make my way back toward the hotel. The laughter and energy from the volleyball game fade with each step, replaced by the soothing sound of the waves and the call of distant seabirds. My sunburnt skin tingles uncomfortably, and I pick up my pace, eager to soothe it under a cool shower.

As I near the hotel, thoughts of the handsome stranger I met in the elevator earlier flit through my mind. Dark hair, intense eyes. There was something inexplicably magnetic about him. I find myself hoping for another encounter, though the practical side of me dismisses it as a silly fantasy.

The hotel lobby is blissfully cool, the air conditioning a welcome reprieve from the sweltering heat outside. I punch the button for the elevator and wait, tapping my fingers impatiently against my thigh. The elevator dings and I step inside, grateful to have the small space to myself. I lean against the cool metal wall and close my eyes, replaying the morning's events in my head.

Before the doors close, someone steps in with me. I look up and my breath catches in my throat. It's him, the smoking hot stranger from earlier. He looks down at me with surprise, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as a tornado of sexual tension swirls around us.

"Hello, we meet again," he says, his voice smooth and warm. He's standing against the other side of the elevator with the same two men he was with earlier. One of the men hits the penthouse button and the door slides shut, closing us into the small space.

"Hi," I manage, feeling a flutter of nerves in my stomach.

He chuckles softly. "You look like you've had a bit too much sun." The other two men stand there silently, and I start to wonder if they ever speak.

"Yeah," I admit, glancing down at my reddening skin. "I think I underestimated how strong it was today."

He tilts his head, his dark eyes studying me with concern as I ignore the invisible pull between us. "Ouch. You should get some aloe vera on that. Helps a lot."

"I was just heading back to my room for a shower," I reply, feeling suddenly self-conscious. My inner hussy urges me to invite him to join me, but I manage to resist the impulse.

As the elevator ascends, I glance at him from the corner of my eye, trying to capture every detail without being too obvious. His skin is sun-kissed, but in a way that suggests he spends a lot of time outside. His dark hair is tousled, and there's an easy confidence in his stance. I feel drawn to him, and it's not just because of his looks. There's something deeper there, a warmth in his gaze that makes me feel at ease.

"Is this your floor?" he asks in a friendly manner as the doors quietly slide open.

"Yes," I reply, and he holds the elevator open for me to step out.

"I hope your shower relieves your discomfort." He smiles as the elevator doors slide shut.

Reaching my door, I fumble with the keycard before stepping into my room. The cool, dim interior is a blessed relief from the relentless sun. I head straight for the bathroom, stripping off my sandy clothes and stepping into the shower. The cool water cascades over my overheated skin, and I let out a sigh of relief.

As I stand there, letting the water work its magic, I replay my encounter with Lorenzo in my mind. There's something about him that intrigues me, something I can't quite put my finger on. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Focus on the present, Mira. You came here to relax, not to get lost in daydreams about handsome strangers.

Each drop of the cool water on my overheated skin is a tiny respite from the relentless sun I faced earlier. I stand under the refreshing stream as it washes away the tension along with the sand and salt. After a few more blissful minutes, I turn off the water and step out of the shower, wrapping myself in the hotel's plush, white robe.

I run a towel through my wet hair, contemplating what to do next. Maybe I'll order room service and watch a cheesy movie to escape the scorching heat outside.

Just as I'm deciding between a burger or a salad, a knock echoes from the door. My first thought is Lila, coming back sooner than expected, maybe to check on me. Wondering if she forgot her keycard again, I tighten the robe around my waist and walk over, trying to ignore the way my skin still stings.

When I open the door, I'm not met with my sister's familiar face but with a hotel employee, impeccably dressed in a neatly pressed uniform. He holds a small package in his hands and offers me a warm, polite smile.

"Ms. Mira Jones?" he smiles and holds up his hotel badge.

"Yes, that's me," I reply, curious.

"This is for you." He offers me the package, which I now recognize as a small bottle of aloe vera gel. "Compliments of Mr. Lorenzo Amante."

I blink, taken aback. "Lorenzo Amante?" At least now I know my handsome stranger's name. Why does his last name sound so familiar?

I push the questions to the back of my mind and take the bottle, feeling both touched and a little bewildered that the stranger somehow managed to find out not only my name but also my room number.

"Thank you," I say, glancing at the hotel staff member.

He nods courteously. "You're welcome. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to let us know."

With that, he turns and heads back down the hallway, leaving me standing in the doorway with the small bottle of aloe vera gel in my hands. I close the door, leaning against it for a moment. The thoughtful gesture fills me with a warmth that rivals the sun but in a much more pleasant way.

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.