I finished my perfect hot chocolate, savoring every last drop, and polished off the last of the delicious frittata. Julian was already deep into preparations for lunch, his knife a silent, efficient blur. I thanked him again for the impromptu lesson, promising to make him proud tonight.
“No problem, ma’am. Enjoy the sun,” he replied, not even looking up.
With a contented sigh, I retreated to the room, quickly changing into my bikini and a fresh cover-up. The thought of feeling the warm sand between my toes and hearing the rhythm of the waves was too tempting to resist. I grabbed a large straw hat and my book, ready for some serious relaxation.
Out on the private beach, the sun was already high and glorious. I spread out a towel, applied sunscreen to all the spots I could reach, and then
