es clicked against the pavement as she walked towards the private car waiting to whisk her away to the luxury resort she had boo

picturesque scenery as the car wound down the narrow roads. Despite her carefully curated career and lifestyle, her life in

, she felt drained. This island escape was supposed to be a reset-a place where she could be anonymou

e had nothing on this-a sprawling estate with lush greenery surrounding villas that nestled quietly ag

her status. Lucia gave a nod, appreciating the discretion. They handed her the key to her villa, a private suite over

said as they handed her the keys. "We hope you enjoy your

hought. Two weeks of nothing but peace and quiet. She started toward the direction of

it isn't the Queen o

ile was wide and teasing, and his eyes twinkled with amusement, as though the universe had pulled some grand cosmic joke at her expense. His tailored button-up shirt, unbuttoned at the colla

eyes. "You've got

e had noticed earlier. "I could say the same thing. Of all the re

ng up her key card as she turned to walk away.

oid? Why would we do that? I was thinking we could continue our plane c

man like David-a complete stranger who already had a knack for pushing her buttons-disrupt her carefully planned solitude. She could sense the ki

, she

cold, you know. We shared a flight, and now we're

e raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "

incidence, call it what you want. But if I remember co

cia crossed her arms, h

Love at First Flight,'" h

ing to her face despite herself.

htly closer. "Well, you didn

l and continued walking toward her villa, refusing to let his playful demeanor distract her.

what was it again?" She shot him a g

aid smoothly.

a's door and inserted the key card, the lock clicking open. "And

enjoy it." His voice dropped to a low murmur, and for a second, Lucia felt a twinge of something... unsettling. But not in a bad way.

she asked, turning

something more thoughtful. "Why are any of

hind his cool exterior, but he wasn't offering mu

hould ask. I'm just a fe

eyebrow. "Yo

s for the next two weeks. I guess the uni

aving the door ajar, signaling the conversation wasn't over. "So, let me

omething like that. I lik

r simplicity, David." She moved to close the door, but not before throwing hi

s hands in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dream of it, Ms. Carrin

e her thoughts, her past, her ex-husband-and yet here was this man, injecting himself into her quiet retreat with

ean view, her mind raced. She had a feeling that this vacatio