AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the center of the roof terrace was a beautiful blue pool, not shallow, like the one in the Continental’s ground, but deep and wide. All around it were tropical flowers, hanging in baskets around an awning. Beneath it, in the shade, were chairs—not beach chairs, but comfortable, wicker armchairs for relaxing.
“This’ll do nicely,” I said. I looked around to make sure that there was no one else was there.
I sat down and opened my book for a while, but I was too distracted and my mind was full of questions. Did Alex know where I was? And what was he thinking about our awkward encounter this morning? My heart fluttered as I thought of him, swimming naked in the ocean. I longed to see him again, and yet somehow, I hoped he wouldn’t find me.
At the other end of the pool was a bar, but despite the rows of glasses and bottles on its shelves, there was no one behind tending there. I guessed that it wouldn’t be staffed until the hotel opened officially.
My eyes drifted back to my book, and I tried to read for a while. I heard a noise in the distance, like someone was walking around, but I kept my eyes glued to the page. I didn’t want to advertise my presence too much.
Then, I heard a clink and looked up towards the bar. Was someone helping themselves to a drink? I frowned and put down my book, and stood up. I stepped around one of the beautifully carved pillars under the shady awning, and then, I saw him.
It was Alex.
He was dressed in a smart, dark suit, but he’d taken off the jacket and neatly draped it over the barstool. Standing behind the bar, he expertly threw together a cocktail, topping it with a slice of lemon. He looked out at the pool for a moment, and in the dazzling sunlight of the afternoon, I saw his piercing blue eyes look out, as he raised the glass to his lips.
Then, he saw me.
Alex put the drink down on the bar.
“Lena?” he said, incredulously.
“Alex?” I replied.
“What are you doing up here?”
“Nothing … I mean, I was reading my book.”
“The party’s starting downstairs. You’d better go.”
“I don’t want to.”
He scowled. “You might be done with your work, but I still need you to help promote this thing. A lot of people want to talk to you,” he drawled ironically.
I walked toward him, moving out from under the shade of the awning and toward the cocktail bar. There was an enormous, comfortable blue sofa, and I sat down on it.
“I know that,” I said. “I just wanted to take a little break from it all. This is a lot for me to do, as well as for you, too,” I said, eyeing the cocktail glass.
Alex scowled and looked away. “What would you know?” he said, picking up his drink and taking a sip, “about how I feel?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Alex huffed and came out from behind the bar. “You know exactly what it means,” he said. “You think I didn’t hear you and your friend laughing about me behind my back?”
“We weren’t laughing about you,” I said, rolling my eyes.What was it with this jerk?He was so moody and oversensitive about the smallest things.
“Then what were you laughing about?”
I leaned back on the sofa. “You know, not that it’s any of your business or anything, but Krista was telling me that you like me.”
“And?” he said, suspiciously.
“I told her she was being ridiculous.”
Alex looked like he was about to say something, then thought better of it.
“Where’d you learn to make a drink?” I asked. “That looks great.”
Alex sighed, as though the question was a waste of his time. “Not that it’s any ofyourbusiness,” he growled spitefully, “but you know the first place I ever owned was a bar?”
