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CHAPTER1
BELLA
As I walk along the beach, the sand is warm beneath my bare feet, and the sun is starting to dip below the horizon. The sky is painted with shades of orange, pink, and purple, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the crashing waves. I can feel a gentle breeze blowing through my hair and across my skin, carrying the scent of salt and sea.
Jessica just got me a job at her annoying older brother’s fancy resort. Although I haven't seen him in ten years, I have heard tales of his arrogance. I notice the boats along the shore. I plan on having a little fun before I let anyone know I left Los Angeles this morning.
"If you're going for a ride, you need to get a life jacket. It helps you stay afloat if you somehow find yourself in the ocean," a man says from behind me. I stop in my tracks. I can hear the condescending tone the voice speaks with, like he's used to explaining the simplest things to people all the time.
"Did you just 'mansplain' the meaning of a life jacket to me?" I ask, not bothering to turn, not giving him the pleasure of my attention.
"Well, I can see you're walking towards the boats without one, which isn't advisable for newbie’s, so yes, maybe you need someone to explain a few things," he says.
Embarrassment and rage make heat flood my cheeks. I can feel my entire face turn red.
"I guess it's a good thing I'm not a newbie then," I say, turning around to glare at the stranger.
I ignore the flip in my stomach as I face the man behind me. He's shirtless and covered in tattoos that make him dangerously sexy. He's wearing only beach shorts, revealing his very long legs. He has a well-sculpted body with dark hair that the wind tousles. If I weren't so furious, maybe I'd take a moment to admire how water slowly rolls down between his two large pecs down to his abs that look like carved granite. He's sexy, there's no simpler way to explain it. I feel my belly flutter even more aggressively.
"Right, I guess you'll be going on the boat without any of the resort's assistants as well since you're such a 'pro' at boating." He makes air quotes when he says 'pro.'
I can tell he's goading me, but his condescending attitude makes me want to prove him wrong.
"You know what? Fuck you," I say, and I turn, marching angrily towards the boats.
I step in shakily. I can feel his intense gaze on my back, but I ignore it, as well as the fluttering in my stomach that the feeling brings.
The boat has several buttons, but the giant red start button is hard to miss. I push it and the boat rocks beneath me as it purrs and pushes itself from the dock. It's been set to autopilot like all the other boats; this resort really is ahead of its time. No wonder Jake is so cocky; he must be making a ton of money.
"See," I say, turning to the gorgeous man that stands at the dock staring at me with an amused expression on his face. I walk to the edge of the boat so he can see my triumphant smirk clearly. "I can handle my--"
My feet slip, and I tumble down into the cool water as my boat drives away without me.
'Traitor!' is the first thought that pops into my head as I sink in the clear blue water.
The second thought that follows makes me panic. 'I can't swim!'
The lit surface above mocks me. I kick my legs as fast as possible, like the swimming coach I had the summer before I turned ten had told me while I was getting swimming lessons as a kid. I part the water with huge strokes of my arms, and I can feel the panic fueling every stroke vividly. I'm probably not swimming with any coordination, but I don't care. My chest is on fire. I need to breathe.
The next thing I feel is an arm around my waist, and I'm dragged onto dry land almost immediately.
My body heaves up water, and my lungs try to steal all the air they've been deprived of.
"Are you alright?" the sexy tattooed man asks.
No, I am not alright. I just felt death’s cold grip!I wrap my arms around myself, shivering. Fear grips me at the thought of almost dying.
“Let’s get you a towel.” He leads me to the public bathroom on the resort with his arms around me the whole time. I feel my body react to his touch, against my will. Luckily there are only a few people around, though their stares are intense; I can just imagine how we look. A shirtless tattooed man leading a dripping wet woman.Oh, the scandal!
“You should shower first. I will go find you that towel and a change of clothes.” He leaves me standing in the middle of the bathroom, and I feel goose bumps cover my skin. I know these ones are not caused by the cold.
* * *
After my shower,I step out of the bathroom to meet the towel and dry clothes waiting for me. On top of the towel is a note. I reach for it and unfold it.
Come to the bar if you are up to it. I have something for the nerves.
Against my better judgment, I find myself walking up to the handsome stranger already seated at the bar. He is now wearing a shirt similar to mine and I immediately know where he got my clothes from. There is no one present other than him and the bartender. He turns to me and his eyes rake my body from head to toe. Maybe it’s just me, but I think I saw possession in his startling blue eyes and I quickly turn away.
