Chapter 15
I leave the house and walk around the property, calling the restaurant to have dinner delivered at eight. After making sure everything’s secure—cameras and electric fence on—I head back inside. Lola’s sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Good thing you’re back,” she says.
“Why, did you miss me?” I ask with a smile.
“Give me a break, Lorenzo. This house freaks me out.”
I let out a relaxed laugh.
“Scared of the house? I have to admit, you’re the first person who’s ever been scared of this place.”
“I can see everything outside.”
“Relax, no one can see in from out there.”
“I noticed. But it’s weird being able to see outside like this.”
“You’ll get used to it. I’m gonna take a shower—feel free to turn on the TV, make yourself at home.”
“Thanks.”
I go into the bathroom and turn on the shower. The hot water falling on my back relaxes me, but I’m worried about bedtime.
There’s no other bed, no couch, nothing.
I’ll have to sleep next to Lola and exercise a level of self-control I’m not used to.
Just knowing she’s on the other side of that door is enough to get me worked up, but I hold back—it wouldn’t be right to take care of myself with her out there.
I finish my shower and come out wrapped in a towel.
She jumps, covering her eyes with her hands.
“Lorenzo…”
“Sorry, Lola, I forgot to grab my clothes. Let me just get them real quick and I’ll get dressed in the bathroom.”
“You better.”
“Afraid you won’t be able to resist?”
“Stop being so full of yourself—you’re not irresistible.”
She says that, but her eyes tell a different story.
She covered them at first, then dropped her hands and now watches me grab my clothes, biting her lip.
I’m starting to think this desire goes both ways.
I head back to the bathroom, get dressed, and come out wearing just my pajama pants.
She brings her thumb to her mouth, biting her nail.
I pretend not to notice her watching me, all flustered.
“Want to watch something specific?”
“No.”
“I like watching fights. Want to watch with me?”
She gives me a dismissive look.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Only after you watch a series or a romance trilogy with me.”
“Deal,” I tell her, dead serious.
“Really?”
“Yeah, but you’re not the type to fall asleep in the middle of a movie, are you?”
“Depends.”
“Then let’s pick a romance series we can watch while we’re here.”
I scroll through the options and we settle on one about a couple who fall in love, get separated, and eventually find their way back to each other.
We start watching, sitting side by side. By the time dinner arrives, we’re already lying next to each other.
“Let’s eat, then we’ll keep watching.”
And that’s what we do—eat dinner while chatting, then go back to the movie. She comments excitedly on everything happening on screen. Then suddenly I notice she’s gone quiet. I glance over and she’s fast asleep, looking beautiful.
I turn off the TV, adjust her pillow, pull a blanket over her, and lie down quietly, gazing at the beautiful, innocent face beside me. That flutter in my chest I haven’t felt in ages is back, along with butterflies in my stomach.
The next morning, I wake up early to find the temptation that is Lola wrapped around me. I take a deep breath, gently shift her to the side, and get up. I order breakfast, and while I’m setting the table, she appears in the kitchen.
“Good morning.”
“Hey, sleep well?” I smile at her.
“Yeah.” She crosses her arms.
“So what did you think of the ending?” I tease, since she fell asleep before it was over.
She smiles.
“Sorry, I was tired.”
“Some movie buddy you are.” I set the cups on the table.
“I promise I’ll try harder next time.” She tucks her hair behind her ear.
“I’ll hold you to that. Come on, sit down and have some breakfast.” I pull out the chair.
She sits down and we start eating. When we finish, I ask her,
“Want to go to the beach?”
“Yeah.” She gets up and puts her cup in the sink.
“Go get dressed then.”
Soon we’re heading to the beach, walking down a stone path that cuts through the trees in a different direction from where we arrived yesterday.
I’m carrying a bag with our stuff. I grab a cap and put it on her head.
“Put this on, the sun's already hot.”
Lola adjusts the cap on her head and pauses to watch the birds perched in pairs on a branch.
“Look over there, Lorenzo, they’re so beautiful.”
“They’re a little couple, see?” I joke.
We keep walking and soon reach the beach. We sit under a beach umbrella I brought along and watch the waves.
“What a beautiful place, Lorenzo,” she says excitedly.
“It really is, isn’t it?”
We spend the morning at the beach and head back to the house. After lunch, Lola goes to take a nap and I go read some paperwork from the organization.