AllFreeNovel
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One of them had been the turquoise-blue of the Caribbean Sea, softly lapping against a white-sand beach and framed by palm trees.
This trip is my first time out of the country, if one doesn’t count the road trips from my home in Washington State to Vancouver, Canada, and I don’t. Not really. No, this is it. I’m here. I’m doing it.
And the absolute last person I should be thinking about is Caleb.
I run a brush through my brown hair in too-aggressive strokes as if I can comb him out of my thoughts.
I feel calmer when I finally ride the elevator down to the lobby. My walk takes me through the resort’s garden, as the softly chirping insects serenade me as I stroll through the open colonnade.
The restaurant opens to the garden on one side and the sea on the other. No windows are needed in the perpetually warm climate.
The air is hot and humid, wrapping around me like another layer of clothing. But the breeze from the sea cools me down in gentle gusts. TheCaribbeanSea, that is.
A wave of giddiness sweeps through me.
I’m abroad,I think,and no one can take that away from me.The magic is right here. It’s in the new experiences, the calm ocean, and the sandy beaches. I just need to reach out and grab it.
I stop by the maître d’s stand. The linen-clad tables beyond are filled with dining guests and the place looks packed. I rock back in my sandals and peer around. There’s no empty table in sight.
Maybe I can get away with room service and binging an old TV show after all.
“Good evening,” a smiling host says. “Do you have a reservation for tonight?”
“I don’t, no. I can see that you’re pretty busy. Is there a space for one?”
“Just one?”
“Yes.” I can feel myself shrink.
“Let me check…” He looks down at the screen and taps it a few times. “We do seem to have a table available. You’ll get our last one of the night!”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Thank you.”
Next to me, a man clears his throat. “There you are,” he says to me. “Sorry, I’m late. Table for two, actually.”
I stare up at the stranger.
His head of dark-brown hair towers over me by a few inches, and he’s wearing a white button-down. He’s also watching me meaningfully.
“That’s not a problem,” the host says and grabs another menu. “Right this way.”
He turns and sets off through the packed restaurant. I remain locked in a staring contest with the intrusive stranger.
He raises an eyebrow. “Share the last table?” he asks and motions for us to start moving.
I’m too stunned to do anything but follow the host obediently through the restaurant. He leads us to a two-top right next to the boardwalk and the soft waves. There’s a single lit candle on the table, it’s flame flickering in the light breeze.
“Here you are,” the host says cheerfully and sets the menus down. “Your waiter will be over soon to take your drink orders.”
And just like that, I’m left staring at the tall stranger in front of me. He pulls out a chair and takes a seat as if he hasn’t just stolen it. There’s a hint of stubble along his sharp jaw. He looks closed-off and a bit predatory, like he spends a lot of time getting his way. Just as he is right now.
“Excuse me,” I say. “What was that?”
“Maybe I just wanted to get to know you,” he says.
Judging by his lack of accent, he’s American, too. I cast a meaningful look around the crowded restaurant. “No, you wanted a table in a full restaurant.”
“Nothing escapes you.” He nods to the chair in front of him. “Have a seat.”
