Chapter 3
This right here was what I came here for. Relaxation filled me as I sighed in complete contentment. Currently, I was lying out in a cabana. I had the curtains drawn back so the sun could find me. My skin could use a bit of vitamin D.
The massage I got after breakfast had me feeling like I was floating on clouds. Okay, maybe the drinks had something to do with it. I was on my second one for the day and feeling really good. Not drunk, like yesterday, but good.
"You mind if I steal one of these towels, ma?"
The deep voice caused my eyes to pop open, and they landed on a sexy ass man.
It took me a moment to realize I had seen this fine specimen before.
Yesterday, at the bar. My eyes bounced around him, and I realized he seemed to be alone this time as well.
I wondered if he was here with his girl who just so happened to hate the sun or something, because there was no way this fine ass man was here by himself. Only I could be that pathetic, right?
I sat up and peered into his dark brown eyes. I had to clear my throat and glance away before I got too lost in them. My pointer finger lifted and aimed toward the towel hut. "Yeah, but for future reference, the towel hut is over there."
He chuckled and bobbed his head. "I been here enough times to know that, love. I also know that around certain times, they run out of towels like clockwork."
I wasn't sure if it was from the rum punch, his deep voice, or the fact that I tried to correct him on something, and he ended up correcting me, but whatever it was, my cheeks flushed, and my body got warm all over.
"In that case, help yourself," I replied, gesturing toward the stack of towels my cabana came with.
He grabbed one off the top and unfolded it. It was then I realized his body was wet. He must have just gotten out of the pool. "One day I'm a learn to get my ass up early and snag one of these cabanas. They always come with a ton of towels."
I nodded, still with a silly grin on my face as I gazed up at him. "Noted."
"First time here?"
I nodded again. "Day two. I don't really remember much from day one." I giggled.
He grinned and nodded his head toward the cup still in my hand. "Rum punch?"
"Guilty." I smiled back sheepishly.
He laughed, and I watched as his eyes closed slightly.
My eyes wanted so badly to travel down his body and look at his abs and catch sight of the print I just knew had to be in his swim trunks, but I refrained.
Best believe it took everything in me, though.
A bitch was about to rap Salt-N-Pepa while looking at him, 'Smooth black skin with a smile, bright as the sun, I wanna have some fun, come and give me some of that yum-yum chocolate chip, honey dip… '
"Aye, those mothafuckas will put you on your ass. That's what you was drinking yesterday?"
I giggled. "Guilty again. They're so good." As if to emphasize my point, I took a sip of the fruity drink.
"Yeah, they're good, aight. Just be careful with them," he advised.
"Trust me. I learned my lesson yesterday. Slow and steady with these babies." I paused for a second, not ready for our banter to end quite yet. "You come here often?"
It was a silly question. He had basically said as much, but again, I wanted to keep talking to this handsome stranger and pick his brain a little more. It wasn't like I had anything better to do. With my massage out of the way, I had nothing but time and opportunity at my fingertips.
"I do." He nodded. "I own some real estate here in Port Isle. Whenever I come, I stay here at The Maroon. It's like a home away from home."
I eyed him. I might be a boring lawyer now, but I grew up in the hood and could spot a hood nigga from a mile away.
Don't get me wrong. This man didn't scream hood, but he had that edge to him.
The fact that he owned real estate out here had my interest piqued, because I knew the houses out here had to be expensive.
"Why not stay at one of your properties?" My mind whirled with questions, and I grabbed the first one that came to mind to keep this conversation going.
He gestured toward the edge of the cabana. "Can I sit?"
Too eagerly, I nodded. I realized I must have looked thirsty as hell. I wasn't. I mean, it had been forever since I'd gotten some dick…
What the hell, Indira? Ain't nobody said anything about no damn dick!
The point was that I wasn't thirsty. At least, not in that way. I was thirsty for companionship and conversation that didn't center around the law.
"My properties are beautiful, but I love it here.
Nothing beats getting waited on, and the food here is fire.
I can't get these amenities if I stayed at one of my properties.
Besides, they're almost always occupied.
If natives aren't renting them to live in, then tourists are renting them out for Airbnbs.
"That’s actually really cool,” I complimented. I hesitated for a second before deciding to throw caution to the wind. “And you always travel alone?”
He looked me straight into my eyes and said, “Always. You?”
I shook my head and then immediately opened my mouth to explain. “I mean, no, because I never travel, period. Work has taken over my life.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a lawyer.”
There was that look that always flattered me. He looked really impressed, and I swore my cheeks flushed again.
“Word? How long you been doing that? What kind of law do you practice?”
I filled him in on the details of my job, and I learned that he owned several properties back in Florida, where he was from.
I couldn’t believe he was from Jacksonville as well, and that he currently lived there.
I also learned that he worked a lot, and if he hadn’t bought properties in different parts of the country, he wouldn’t ever travel either.
It felt so good talking to him, so I was a bit disappointed that he looked at his phone after talking for twenty minutes before standing up.
“I’m Azari, by the way. What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Indira.” My small hand fit perfectly into his.
“Indira.” He kissed the back of my hand. “I have to go show one of my properties to a potential renter, but I think I’ll see you around. Hard to miss such a pretty face.”
I grinned and avoided his eyes as I gushed over his compliment. “Thanks, Azari. It was nice meeting you.”
“Likewise,” he replied, and with a final heart-stopping, panty-dropping grin, he turned to leave.
I watched him leave the pool area with the towel he got from my cabana draped over his arm. Once he disappeared, I laid back and fanned myself, already knowing I needed to take my hot ass to the room and take a very cold shower.