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ROOM SERVICE - SARA
Thanks to the man with the deep sexy voice and extraordinary skills, I’m feeling better. Finished for the day, I retrieve my luggage from the locker I rented and book an Uber.
While I wait, I send Brax a message apologizing for the missed meeting and request another time to meet. I know he lives nearby, though I don’t know the exact location.
I buckle up in the back seat of the Uber and check my phone again, but Brax hasn’t responded. I’m determined not to let anyone down and follow up with an email. I’m sure I’ll find a way to meet up with him and make amends.
I booked a week at the Halfmoon Secret Cove Resortnear Saltery Bay on the Sunshine Coast. I intend to go sightseeing for an extra week, and while I haven't told anyone, not even my sister, I am on the lookout for the perfect guy for a summer fling. Have I already found him? If only I knew how to get in touch.
When I start my new job, I’ll be so busy trying to get up to speed, I won’t have time for a relationship. A fun summer romance seems like the right move. A no-strings-attached, anonymous bit of fun I can leave behind.
My sister Maddie keeps encouraging me to start dating, but I’m scared to put myself out there. I don’t want strangers knowing my story and seeing my scars. The red welts where pins and bolts and staples held me together while I learned to walk again are not exactly sexy.
Although I regained the ability to walk, I’ll never be able to have children. It’s a fact I’m coming to terms with, and there’s no point crying over things I cannot control, when there are so many blessings in my life. Thanks to Reid, I can help lots of people through the charity and live a fulfilling life.
The grumpy giant wasn’t what I had in mind, but he’d be perfect. I can’t get him out of my mind. He’s right there, swimming around in my head as I replay the way he held me close, his deep, commanding voice.
Handsome and masculine, he’s sexy AF, yet gentle and tender. He didn’t push me away or make me feel stupid, like I was overreacting. He knew what to say and do to draw me out of my shell and help me pull myself together.
I try to ignore my yearning desire, but the ache between my legs won’t go away.
I wish I’d given him my number, but he didn’t ask. He’s probably involved with someone. As I stare out the window, I think I should probably give up on the idea of romance and just focus on sightseeing. If a stranger has the power to make me lose my head in five minutes, it’s probably better to avoid getting involved with anyone.
The Uber pulls up outside the resort. The Halfmoon Secret Cove Resort is located on ten acres of ocean-front land, completely secluded, and surrounded by an old-growth forest. It looks even better in real life than it did online. A broad smile spreads across my face. It is more charming than I could have imagined.
They offer a few different accommodation options, but I didn’t want to stay in the main lodge or one of the cabins, so I booked a secluded suite with a water view.
I grab my luggage and haul it to reception. Before I enter, I take a deep, calming breath. The chime over the door dings, announcing my arrival, but the reception desk is unmanned.
There’s an old-fashioned bell on the desk and I strike it gently, glancing around. Wooden chairs with black and white brocade upholstery line the edges of the room, with lounge chairs and sofas in the center. It’s modern and clean, but at the same time, charming.
Tourist brochures are stacked in a vertical display fixed to the wall, and I flip through a few while I wait. A mermaid’s tail catches my eye, and a thrill runs through me.
It’s the Emerald Princess, a 600-pound bronze mermaid statue, submerged sixty feet under water. The dive site is popular with tourists, and the statue is located just off the beach at Mermaid Cove.
For a long time, I've wanted to see her with my own eyes. I got my PADI scuba diving certification before the accident, when I was at university.
A bell tinkles, drawing my attention to a woman striding into reception, wearing a bright, welcoming smile.
“Hello dear. You must be Sara,” she says. Her blonde bob is threaded with silver, but her voice is youthful and bright. “I’m Annie.”
I’m early for check-in and hope I didn’t disturb her. If my room isn’t ready yet, I’ll be happy exploring the local trails on this sunny afternoon. I’m already dressed in athletic clothes.
“Hi. I’m sorry I’m early. I know I said I’d call, but I ended up calling an Uber. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s no trouble. Truly,” she says. Her bright smile, rosy cheeks and kind eyes put me at ease. “I would have asked my nephew to give you a ride if I’d known. He’s on the road with a guest right now.”
While Annie checks me in using the computer, I glance at my phone to see if I have any messages and notice there’s no cell reception.
“Here’s your key.” Annie passes me the resort map and key card. “Why don’t you leave your luggage here by the desk? My nephew will deliver it to your doorstep.” She spies the mermaid tour brochure I placed on the counter. “If you have any queries about tours, he can help you.”
The grin on her face appears brighter somehow and I wonder whether she gets a kickback for booking tours or if she’s trying to set me up with her nephew.
“Actually, I need a favor, and you might be able to help me. I don’t have a cell signal, and I need to send an email. Does the room have access to Wi-Fi?” I feel a little foolish for not asking when I booked.
Annie shakes her head. “But you’re welcome to use the computer in the office.”
