white clouds. This was so much better than any beach-infused
daydream she’d ever conjured while staring at that picture on her
bedroom wall.
Mark chuckled and hopped out. “Come on,
Alice. Let’s explore the rabbit hole.”
She pushed open her door and slowly slid off
her seat until her feet struck ground. The
view . . . the villa. No fantasy did justice to the
reality. The air smelled of the sea, fresh and vibrant, and the
breeze kicked her hair away from her face in such a refreshing
way.
“So . . . do you like it?”
Mark glanced at her from across the hood of the SUV.
She took a deep breath and slowly blew it
out. “I love it.” She walked toward the villa like it was a mirage
and would evaporate. Instead, the closer she got, the more real it
seemed.
Lush vegetation consumed the landscape around
the large covered porch, and as she waited for Mark to unlock the
door, she smoothed her fingers down a palm frond the size of an
elephant’s ear.
Mark took her hand and led her inside, which
was just as magnificent as outside. Windows, windows everywhere,
letting in the sun and the view. A large, fully-stocked kitchen
waited for Mark’s culinary skills to breathe life into it, and a
high-ceilinged living room opened onto a massive, multi-level deck
and sun room.
But the bedroom was the grandest of all. A
stone floor cooled her feet after she kicked off her shoes and spun
a slow circle. Where to look first? One half of the room housed a
sitting area complete with large, cushioned chairs and a polished
stone table that felt like cold glass when she touched it. An
enormous bed situated in front of a huge picture window dominated
the other half of the room. It was covered with a plush, white
comforter that looked like a thick layer of pristine snow.
Gauze-like curtains hung from a circular runner on the ceiling over
the bed. The sheer curtains currently hung open, draping delicately
over the ornate, wooden headboard.
As she gaped over the bedroom, Mark meandered
to the sliding door facing the sea and slid it open. The breeze
wafted in, billowing the airy drapes hanging throughout the
room.
“Come here.” He waved for her to join him.
“Come and see this.”
She gasped as she stepped outside and the
wind lifted her hair away from her face. Off to one side hung a
massive hammock large enough for at least four people. Down one
level was a pool, which faced the sea. It was one of those infinity
pools that appeared to end against an invisible barrier or simply
fall away like a waterfall.
A place for lovers.
This villa was definitely a place for lovers,
designed specifically to encourage intimacy.
Only a small section of the deck was wood.
The rest was stone, including the steps that led from the upper
level to the lower. And beyond was another set of stone stairs that
led to the private beach a hundred feet below. Karma hadn’t even
realized how high up from sea level they were.
“So, what do you want to do first?” Mark
eased his arms around her waist from behind.
The question caused her brain to go into
lockdown. How could she decide? Everywhere she looked was another
wonder to explore.
The sudden rumble of her stomach broke the
quiet mood.
She slapped her hand against her abdomen with
a giggle. “Um, how about lunch?”
He chuckled and pulled her back inside. “I’ll
get the luggage if you want to see what’s available.”
In the kitchen, she found just about
everything they could ever want.
Fresh, colorful fruit filled a bowl on the
counter. Bananas, mangoes, limes, and a coconut. An actual coconut.
Not something you see in your everyday Indiana kitchen like an
apple. But here, coconuts were probably commonplace.
She smiled, set the coconut back in the bowl,
and started preparing lunch.
* * *
Mark made three trips to the SUV, but he eventually
hauled all their luggage into the bedroom while Karma busied
herself in the kitchen.
Kneeling beside his hunter-green suitcase, he
peered over his
daydream she’d ever conjured while staring at that picture on her
bedroom wall.
Mark chuckled and hopped out. “Come on,
Alice. Let’s explore the rabbit hole.”
She pushed open her door and slowly slid off
her seat until her feet struck ground. The
view . . . the villa. No fantasy did justice to the
reality. The air smelled of the sea, fresh and vibrant, and the
breeze kicked her hair away from her face in such a refreshing
way.
“So . . . do you like it?”
Mark glanced at her from across the hood of the SUV.
She took a deep breath and slowly blew it
out. “I love it.” She walked toward the villa like it was a mirage
and would evaporate. Instead, the closer she got, the more real it
seemed.
Lush vegetation consumed the landscape around
the large covered porch, and as she waited for Mark to unlock the
door, she smoothed her fingers down a palm frond the size of an
elephant’s ear.
Mark took her hand and led her inside, which
was just as magnificent as outside. Windows, windows everywhere,
letting in the sun and the view. A large, fully-stocked kitchen
waited for Mark’s culinary skills to breathe life into it, and a
high-ceilinged living room opened onto a massive, multi-level deck
and sun room.
But the bedroom was the grandest of all. A
stone floor cooled her feet after she kicked off her shoes and spun
a slow circle. Where to look first? One half of the room housed a
sitting area complete with large, cushioned chairs and a polished
stone table that felt like cold glass when she touched it. An
enormous bed situated in front of a huge picture window dominated
the other half of the room. It was covered with a plush, white
comforter that looked like a thick layer of pristine snow.
Gauze-like curtains hung from a circular runner on the ceiling over
the bed. The sheer curtains currently hung open, draping delicately
over the ornate, wooden headboard.
As she gaped over the bedroom, Mark meandered
to the sliding door facing the sea and slid it open. The breeze
wafted in, billowing the airy drapes hanging throughout the
room.
“Come here.” He waved for her to join him.
“Come and see this.”
She gasped as she stepped outside and the
wind lifted her hair away from her face. Off to one side hung a
massive hammock large enough for at least four people. Down one
level was a pool, which faced the sea. It was one of those infinity
pools that appeared to end against an invisible barrier or simply
fall away like a waterfall.
A place for lovers.
This villa was definitely a place for lovers,
designed specifically to encourage intimacy.
Only a small section of the deck was wood.
The rest was stone, including the steps that led from the upper
level to the lower. And beyond was another set of stone stairs that
led to the private beach a hundred feet below. Karma hadn’t even
realized how high up from sea level they were.
“So, what do you want to do first?” Mark
eased his arms around her waist from behind.
The question caused her brain to go into
lockdown. How could she decide? Everywhere she looked was another
wonder to explore.
The sudden rumble of her stomach broke the
quiet mood.
She slapped her hand against her abdomen with
a giggle. “Um, how about lunch?”
He chuckled and pulled her back inside. “I’ll
get the luggage if you want to see what’s available.”
In the kitchen, she found just about
everything they could ever want.
Fresh, colorful fruit filled a bowl on the
counter. Bananas, mangoes, limes, and a coconut. An actual coconut.
Not something you see in your everyday Indiana kitchen like an
apple. But here, coconuts were probably commonplace.
She smiled, set the coconut back in the bowl,
and started preparing lunch.
* * *
Mark made three trips to the SUV, but he eventually
hauled all their luggage into the bedroom while Karma busied
herself in the kitchen.
Kneeling beside his hunter-green suitcase, he
peered over his
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