Page 40

LILA

M orning light spilled through Lila's cottage windows, casting golden patterns that danced across the rumpled sheets. She hadn't slept in her own bed. The night with Serena still lingered on her skin—phantom touches, whispered words, and the sweet ache of newfound intimacy.

She'd slipped away just before dawn, reluctantly extracting herself from Serena's sleeping form. Not because she wanted to leave, but because she needed time to prepare for today's excursion. The hidden lagoon was too special to visit unprepared.

Lila moved around her cottage with focused energy, gathering equipment for their adventure.

She placed snorkeling masks into a mesh bag, checking the straps and making sure the glass was clean and unscratched.

Two sets of fins followed, along with a waterproof camera she rarely used but wanted to have today.

Some experiences deserved to be captured.

The excitement bubbling in her chest felt different than her usual pre-session anticipation. This wasn't just another wellness activity with a client. This was sharing a piece of her island with someone who had started to matter more than professional boundaries should allow.

"Focus on today," she reminded herself, tucking a beach blanket into her oversized tote. "Just today."

But focusing proved difficult when memories of the night before kept surfacing—Serena's surprisingly gentle hands, the vulnerability in those usually sharp blue eyes, the way her commanding voice had softened to whispers and gasps.

The powerful woman had revealed another self entirely in the darkness of her villa, and Lila couldn't stop thinking about it.

She added a small picnic to her preparations: local fruits, fresh bread from the resort kitchen, a thermos of chilled water infused with cucumber and mint. Simple pleasures that Serena probably rarely took time to enjoy.

The thought made Lila pause as she wrapped mango slices in wax paper. Was she falling into old patterns? Creating experiences to please someone else at the expense of her own needs?

"No," she said aloud to her empty cottage. "This is different."

And it was. With Sophie, Lila had diminished herself, constantly adjusting to accommodate another's priorities. With Serena, she felt... expanded. More aware, more present, more herself.

Dangerous thoughts for a relationship with a built-in expiration date.

Her phone chimed with a text from Serena: Morning. Still on for our "adventure?” The quotation marks reek of corporate skepticism, I know.

The self-awareness in that last line made Lila smile. She typed back: Absolutely. Meet at the eastern pavilion in 30 minutes. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes.

Serena's reply came seconds later: Should I be worried?

Only if you're afraid of experiencing something beautiful.

There was a longer pause before Serena's response: With you, I'm starting to think that's a risk worth taking.

Lila read the message twice as warmth spread through her chest. She set the phone down before she could overthink her reply, returning to her preparations with renewed purpose.

At her dresser, she slipped into her favorite swimsuit—a simple turquoise one-piece that complemented her eyes and could handle actual swimming, not just looking good poolside. Over it, she pulled on loose linen shorts and a light top that would protect her shoulders from the morning sun.

As she packed sunscreen and towels, Lila couldn't ignore the happiness humming through her veins. It had been a long time since she'd felt this particular blend of excitement and contentment—the particular magic of new connection, of possibilities unfolding.

But beneath the happiness ran a ribbon of caution. Nine days. That's all they had left. Nine days before Serena returned to her Manhattan empire, to board meetings and crisis management and the high-powered life that had defined her for decades.

Nine days wasn't a future. It was a moment, a beautiful, temporary moment.

"Enough," Lila told her reflection in the small mirror by the door. "Be here now."

She'd learned that lesson the hard way after Sophie, that living in anticipation of future disappointment only robbed the present of its joy. Whatever happened when Serena left, these days they shared were real. They mattered.

With that thought firmly in mind, Lila hoisted her loaded beach bag and headed out into the golden morning.

Birds called from flowering trees, and the distant sound of waves provided a constant backdrop to the island symphony.

The air smelled of salt and tropical blooms, familiar scents that never failed to center her.

She took the garden path toward the eastern pavilion, her steps light despite the weight of her bag. Around her, the resort was coming to life. Staff members moved purposefully between buildings as early-rising guests headed to breakfast or morning activities.

Marcus appeared around a corner, pausing mid-stride when he spotted her. His eyes took in her loaded bag and the unmistakable glow she knew she was failing to hide.

"Well, well," he said, falling into step beside her. "Someone looks like they had an interesting night."

"Good morning to you too," Lila replied, neither confirming nor denying his implication.

"You missed staff dinner," he continued, his tone casual though his eyes were anything but. "I dropped by your cottage around nine. Nobody home."

"I was busy."

"I bet you were." He glanced sideways at her, his expression mixing concern with reluctant amusement. "Just tell me you're being careful."

The question held layers of meaning. Careful with her heart. Careful with her job. Careful with the inevitable goodbye looming just days away.

"As careful as it's possible to be," Lila said honestly. "But some things are worth the risk."

Marcus sighed, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "At least you're going in with your eyes open."

"Wide open," she confirmed. "We've been completely honest with each other. No false promises, no pretending this is something it can't be."

"Is that enough for you?"

The question hit closer to home than she wanted to admit. Was it enough to have this intense connection that came with a preset ending? To experience something real knowing it would slip through her fingers like island sand?

"It has to be," she said finally. "It's what's possible right now."

They'd reached the junction where the path split toward the eastern pavilion. Marcus stopped, his expression softening. "Just remember that the job title isn't the only difference between you two."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning she lives in a world where everything has a strategic purpose. Where connections are leveraged and relationships are assets." His eyes held genuine concern. "Even if she doesn't mean to, she might see this differently than you do."

"You don't know her," Lila said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.

"True." He held up his hands in surrender. "And I hope I'm wrong. Just... keep that shell Tomasi gave you close, yeah? The one with the healed crack."

The reference to her own healing journey wasn't lost on Lila. She softened, recognizing the worry behind his meddling. "I appreciate you looking out for me. Really. But I need to follow this wherever it leads."

"I know you do." He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "That's who you are. Just know I've got ice cream and a shoulder ready when you need them."

"Let's hope for the best outcome," Lila said, managing a smile.

"Always." He glanced at his watch. "I've got a meditation group in five. Try not to break any hearts today—yours included."

As he walked away, Lila took a deep breath, centering herself in the moment rather than the anxieties Marcus had stirred up. Yes, there were risks. Yes, there were differences between her world and Serena's. But beneath job titles and life circumstances, they'd found a connection that felt genuine.

She continued toward the eastern pavilion where Serena would be waiting. Whatever came next—joy or heartbreak—she would face it fully present, fully herself.

Serena was already waiting at the eastern pavilion, wearing designer shorts and a simple white linen blouse.

Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail—more relaxed than her usual perfect styling, yet still elegant.

She looked up from her phone as Lila approached, her expression softening in a way that made Lila's heart skip.

"Good morning," Serena said, slipping her phone into her pocket with uncharacteristic quickness. Progress.

"Morning," Lila replied, trying not to stare at the woman who'd been naked in her arms just hours ago. "Sleep well?"

"Better than I have in years," Serena admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Though admittedly not for very long."

The shared memory of why they'd gotten so little sleep hung between them, charged and sweet.

"Ready for today?" Lila gestured to the path ahead. "It's a bit of a hike, but worth it."

"I'm intrigued to see what you have to show me."

They set off down a narrow path that wound away from the manicured resort grounds, heading inland rather than toward the coast. Dense vegetation crowded the trail on both sides, creating a green tunnel dappled with morning sunlight.

"We're heading to the secret lagoon," Lila explained as they walked. "It's connected to the ocean through underwater caves, but it’s completely hidden from the beach. Most guests never see it."

"I'm honored," Serena said, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "Though I'm beginning to understand why they don't see it. Not exactly accessible."

"The best places rarely are."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the path gradually ascending toward the island's central hills. Lila found herself hyperaware of Serena's proximity in the subtle scent of her expensive perfume and the occasional brush of their arms as the path narrowed.