Chapter 5 The Unexpected Invitation

A subtle knock on the door interrupted the quiet stillness of the room. Lucia wasn't expecting anyone, and she hadn't called for room service either. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced toward the door. It couldn't be Trey. No, he wouldn't be here-couldn't be. And yet, she couldn't shake the sudden rush of anxiety that prickled at her skin. For a brief moment, she hesitated, considering whether to answer the door at all.

With a reluctant sigh, she pushed herself off the chair, barely aware of what she was wearing-an oversized t-shirt that fell loosely against her frame, revealing more than she would have cared to if she had known someone was about to see her. The hem of the shirt brushed the tops of her thighs, and she hadn't bothered to put on any shorts. Her hair, still slightly damp from the shower she'd taken earlier, clung to her neck and shoulders in soft waves.

She reached for the doorknob, a mix of curiosity and apprehension building in her chest. Who could it be? Slowly, she turned the knob and cracked the door open, peeking out to see who her unexpected visitor was.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him.

David.

There he stood, looking effortlessly charming, his signature smile already in place. His presence filled the small space between the door and its frame, and for a moment, Lucia was caught off guard by how disarmingly attractive he was. The casual, yet confident way he leaned against the doorframe, the slight mischievous gleam in his eyes-it all threw her off balance.

"Hey," he said, his voice warm and teasing. "I figured I'd come by and see if you'd like to join me for a drink downstairs."

Lucia blinked, her mind still processing the fact that David, of all people, was standing at her door. She hadn't seen this coming. After their chance encounter earlier that day, she hadn't expected him to make another move so soon. And yet, here he was, standing at her doorstep, waiting for her to make a decision.

Her immediate reaction was to decline. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy his company-there was something undeniably magnetic about David-but her instincts told her that going for drinks with him could lead to complications. After all, they were practically strangers, albeit ones with a shared experience from their flight.

But then again, wasn't that the whole point of this trip? To get away from the past, from the heaviness of her failing marriage? Perhaps a distraction was exactly what she needed. And David, with his easy charm and playful demeanor, seemed like the perfect escape.

Still, she hesitated. Should she invite him in? Go downstairs with him?

David's smile widened as if he could read her internal debate. "Or," he continued, his tone light, "if you're not up for going out, we could hang out here. You know, just talk for a bit. Thirty minutes tops."

There it was-a more comfortable option. She glanced over her shoulder at the hotel room behind her. It was small but cozy, a quiet space where they wouldn't be interrupted. She looked back at David, who was still watching her with that teasing grin, his hands casually stuffed into his pockets.

Thirty minutes. What harm could thirty minutes do?

After a moment of deliberation, Lucia made her decision. She stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Alright, come in. But you've only got thirty minutes," she said, a half-smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

David chuckled softly, stepping inside the room with a grateful nod. "Thirty minutes is all I need," he joked, though there was something in his voice that hinted at more. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something about David-something that felt different from the playful, flirty exterior he projected.

As soon as he was inside, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Lucia found herself acutely aware of the casual intimacy of the situation-David, standing in her hotel room, and her, still in nothing but an oversized t-shirt. She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling self-conscious, but David didn't seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn't make it obvious.

"Do you want something to drink?" Lucia asked, gesturing toward the mini-fridge. She wasn't sure what the protocol was in this situation-did she offer him a drink, or did she wait for him to suggest something?

David waved her off. "I'm good, thanks. I just wanted to talk."

That threw her off even more. She had expected the usual-small talk, flirty banter, perhaps an offer to go downstairs for drinks. But David seemed genuinely interested in just talking.

She settled down on the edge of the bed while David took a seat in the armchair across from her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, and Lucia found herself studying him closely. There was something almost... mysterious about him, something she couldn't quite figure out. He was attractive, yes-there was no denying that. But there was also a quiet intensity behind his playful demeanor, an intensity that drew her in despite her reservations.

"So," David began, breaking the silence, "what brings you to this side of the world? Business? Pleasure?"

Lucia shrugged, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of the t-shirt. "A little bit of both, I guess. Mostly just trying to get away for a while. Clear my head."

David nodded as if he understood more than she had said. "Getting away can be good sometimes. Gives you a chance to think, to see things differently."

Lucia narrowed her eyes slightly, curiosity bubbling up inside her. "What about you? You never really said what you do."

David smirked, leaning back in the chair, his posture relaxed. "Ah, you've caught me. I've been keeping secrets."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Secrets, huh? That doesn't sound very reassuring."

"Well," he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "it's not that I'm hiding anything. I just... don't like talking about myself much. But for you, I'll make an exception."

There was that charm again-the effortless way he made her feel like the center of his attention. It was disarming, and Lucia found herself leaning in, wanting to know more. She had never been the type to be easily swept off her feet, but there was something about David that made her drop her guard, just a little.

"I'm in business," he said vaguely. "Let's just say I work in a field where I meet a lot of people. Travel a lot. Get to see the world."

Lucia frowned slightly. "That sounds awfully mysterious. You're not some kind of secret agent, are you?"

David laughed, the sound filling the room and easing the tension that had been building between them. "No, nothing like that. I promise. I just... have a complicated job. One that keeps me busy most of the time."

It wasn't the most satisfying answer, but Lucia decided not to press further. They were, after all, still strangers. And while she was curious about David, she wasn't sure if she was ready to know everything about him just yet.

The conversation flowed easily after that. They talked about their travels, shared stories from their lives, and even found themselves laughing at the absurdity of their situation-two strangers, thrown together by fate, now sitting in a hotel room, ordering food and drinks as if they had known each other for years.

Hours passed, though neither of them seemed to notice. What had started as a casual thirty-minute conversation had turned into a full day of talking, laughing, and getting to know each other in ways that surprised them both. Lucia found herself opening up to David in a way she hadn't done with anyone in a long time, sharing parts of herself that she had kept hidden from the world.

And David, for all his charm and mystery, seemed genuinely interested in her-who she was, what she wanted out of life, what had brought her to this moment. It was refreshing, being with someone who didn't have any expectations, who didn't know her past, her struggles.

But despite their easy rapport, there was still something about David that she couldn't quite figure out. He had shared stories about his life, but there were gaps-pieces of the puzzle that didn't quite fit. And while he had been open and friendly, there was still an air of secrecy that surrounded him.

Lucia found herself wanting to know more, to understand the man behind the charm. But as the sun began to set outside the window, casting a warm glow across the room, she realized that maybe, for now, it was enough just to enjoy the moment. There would be time for questions later. For now, she was content to let the conversation flow, to let herself get lost in the easy rhythm of their connection.

Something about David was different, that much she knew. And as the night wore on, she couldn't help but wonder-what secrets was he hiding? And how long would it take before she found out?