Chapter 3 THREE

It was a beautiful morning, Marissa thought to herself as she opened her eyes, stretching beneath the soft sheets. The morning sun poured through the sheer white curtains, casting a delicate glow across the room. A breeze drifted through the open glass doors leading to her veranda, bringing with it the scent of salt and hibiscus.

She rolled over, groaning softly as her body protested getting up. She would have preferred spending the rest of the day on the bed or sit at the terrace but that's not why she came to Bevin.

First, she needed her coffee. Not just any coffee-Kaffa, her favorite instant coffee.

Groaning, she hoped the resort would have that brand since she had forgotten to pack any. Marissa climbed out of the bed and went to the bathroom, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and gasped at her tearstained cheeks. Blinking her eyes against the image, she proceeded to brush then have a hot bath.

After, she dressed in a simple linen dress; black, with a hint of pale blue, then wore a black sandal. Combing out her hair, she deciding on just letting it hang free on her shoulders. She applied a lip gloss, took one last look in the mirror and let herself out.

Going down the stairs, she met Lilian talking with the bellboy from that day. When Lilian saw her, she excused herself and approached her with a gentle smile.

"Good morning, had a good sleep? I didn't expect to see you down here this early."

Marissa tried to return the smile. "The clock. I still need it changed." Her tone was calm.

"I'm so sorry about that. We would do that today when we clean your room."

Marissa saw the gigantic clock hanging on the wall. It was 7:45 and she could see why everywhere looked deserted. It was a resort, so apparently no one was rushing anywhere.

Turning her eyes back on Lilian, she started. "Is there instant coffee?"

Lilian blinked at her. "Of course, do you have a particular brand?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Kaffa –that's the name. It's the only one I take."

Lilian pursed her lips and gave her a hesitant smile. "We do not have that, but we have a variety of others."

She started to shake her head, but Lilian continued. "You should try one of them, I'm sure you would find one you'd like."

Marissa didn't like the sound of that. She had grown used to drinking that particular brand, so she was sure she wouldn't like any of the others. Furthermore, she doesn't really like coffee.

She thought about it for a moment then shook her head. "Don't worry about it, I'll have something else."

Lilian regarded her briefly. "Are you sure about that?"

Marissa nodded. "I'll just have breakfast instead."

She nodded. "What would you have? Is there a favorite?" she asked Marissa. "Do you have any allergies?" she asked as her eyes bored into hers.

She thought for a while and decided on something simple since she won't be getting the coffee she desired.

"No!" she blurted out more sharply than she had intended. "No allergies. I'll just have a crescent roll and a pineapple juice." As Lilian started to speak, she added immediately. "No ice please."

"No ice. Got it." She said with a nod. "You take a seat at the dining room and I'll get it shortly for you."

Marissa turned towards the dining room and Lilian disappeared behind a door to get to her order.

She thought briefly about the man from the previous day as she went to the same table they sat. She was already having a favorite, she thought to herself and surprised all the same that a lot had changed in just a day.

Moments later, other guests started coming in, taking seats across the room. Other staff members too, started coming in to attend to them.

She was about to get impatient when Lilian appeared in front of her with a tray bearing her order. "Here you go.' Dropping it gently on the table in front of Marissa, she stood up straight and looked down at her.

Marissa was indeed impressed with the breakfast placed in front of her. The crescent roll looked and smelled heavenly.

Giving Lilian a little grin, she grabbed the glass of juice to take a sip. "Thank you. It looks great."

"I'm glad. You should enjoy." She said to Marissa and slowly walked away.

An empty dish, drained glass and few minutes later, Marissa was thrown at how fast she had guzzled everything down. Over the years she had turned out to a picky eater and rarely cleared her plate, no matter how little.

But here she was, getting down everything placed before her.

Was there something in the air? Somewhere in this island that's getting to her to feel different?

She stared at the tray- hard, then gave herself a mental shake.

Getting up, she went to the reception to drop off the keys.

Time for that walk, she told herself as she put some distance between herself and the resort.

The ocean stretched wide and endless ahead, glittering under the rising sun. Palms swayed gently, and the salty air touched her skin like a balm.

"I knew it was you."

Marissa's heart thudded erratically as she turned to find herself staring up into smiling eyes. She noticed he was dressed in a lightweight blue shirt and jeans. Her eyes moved over him, taking every detail of his tall, powerful frame as he towered over her.

She had been standing there on the sand by the shoreline, looking over at the calm water and down into the horizon. It was calm and serene, just what she needed.

"Here," he thrusted a cut open coconut with a straw towards her- she just noticed the coconuts. "I know you'd like it." He stood squarely in front of her.

There was an air of confidence about him that unsettled Marissa. Was it really confidence she sensed though? She couldn't decide.

She looked from the coconut to his face, back at the coconut, then dragged it back to his face. "I don't know you, so why would I accept that from you?" her voice was fierce as she spoke.

He simply shrugged. "Well, it would interest you to know that I'm harmless."

"And I'm supposed to believe that, because...?"

Lazar stared at her briefly. "Because I like you."

Marissa stared at him incredulously. Did she hear him right? What the hell?

She could only stare back at him, then her eyes shadowed. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Is that what you think I'm doing?"

"That–" her voice was sharp and husky as though she was running out of breath. "Is what you are doing!" she muttered.

His eyes, unwavering, pierced through hers. He was studying her, she could tell. "I'm not flirting and about this-" he glanced down at the coconut he held out to her. "We could go down there and get you another one."

Marissa felt something down in her guts that the man was harmless but she doesn't even know him. Eyeing the coconut stubbornly, she swore she wanted it and might just assuage her thirst for the coffee.

"Well, if no one hears from me in the next twenty-four hours, you would be held responsible." She threatened, knowing well that no one would notice since nobody knew where she was.

He grinned. What could be the worst to happen? Marissa held out both hands and carried it while holding his gaze.

The grin on his face grew. "Thank you for trusting that I'm harmless."

"I don't." Marissa murmured.

He nodded. Balancing the other coconut on his right hand, he dipped his head to take a small sip. "Tell me, where are you from and how long do you plan to stay here?" Lazar asked briskly.

Marissa took a long sip, marveling at how good it tasted. It was her first time drinking from a coconut, by the way.

When she raised her head, his eyes were trained on her. "I...I think it is best if we don't ask personal questions." It took all her strength to keep the tremble of emotion out of her voice.

Lazar stared intently at her and his eyes narrowed on the bright sparkle in her eyes.

"You know what?" he started, his tone was gentle. "I totally agree. No personal and intrusive questions."

Marissa was momentarily surprised by that.

"I can call you Marissa?"

The question startled her. His face told her that it was a simple and innocent guess, but...

"Yes! You can call me Marissa." She finally mumbled out. "And you? What should I call you?"

"Lazar." He said, his expression still the same.

"Lazar?" she had never heard such a name.

She wouldn't deny that it suited him, but it made her wonder what his real name was.

He simply smiled and nodded. "Just call me Lazar."

Marissa nodded and raised the coconut towards her mouth to take a sip and he did the same.

She turned back to face the water, feeling his gaze on her face.

They both stood there in comfortable silence and watched the still water, sipping from their coconuts. The sun climbed higher, casting golden light across the gentle waves.

"Do you want a tour around the island and maybe a visit to town? I could show you around." He broke the silence after a while.

Marissa looked up at him and saw how his eyes travelled thoughtfully over his face.

When he said he liked her, did he actually mean that? Her heart flipped wildly as she thought about it.

"You don't mind? I haven't gotten round to going through the map the resort provided." She could feel her face heating up, but it wasn't from the sun.

"Thank goodness you have a walking map right here." Lazar growled in a laughing tone, which got Marissa smiling.

She took the last sip. "Alright then, I would like a tour of the island first."

"What about now?"

"Now?"

Lazar nodded. Marissa looked up at him, catching the glints that flashed across his eyes.

He was reading her and that made her heart beat faster. In that moment, she knew she shouldn't go anywhere with him for her own sanity. The soft rumble in the water heightened her senses as they gazed at each other.

He was eating her up with his eyes, she could clearly tell. His gazed dropped to her lips, then dropped lower to that unmistakable arch in her neck. She noticed the red lights in the darkness of his hair and grey strands scattered across his hair and beards.

The atmosphere that changed between them grew abruptly, unsettling her.

She moistened her lips-and regretted it immediately- as his eyes touched them, whilst moving up to hold her gaze.

"Now." She whispered.

His voice was husky, heavy with the scent of suppressed desire. "Okay."

She took a deep, shuddering breath as he deftly took the coconut from her, feeling how his fingers grazed hers lightly. It shot sparks of electricity down her spine, making her flush all over.

He started walking away from her. Marissa stood there and stared at his retreating figure.

Everything about him screamed trouble and-

She couldn't bring herself to think further. I shouldn't be thinking of another man this way! She scolded herself.

Lazar must have noticed she wasn't following him because he halted and turned to her.

"You're coming?"

Running a trembling hand over the front of her gown, she straightened herself.

Nodding, she breathed in the softly scented fresh air and dragged her feet towards where he waited for her.

But really, what's the worst that could happen?