Zack’s POV
I remember my grandma’s love story she always told me when I was a little kid and I still admire it to this day, hoping one day to have a similar story like hers.
It was one hot summer when grandma was on vacation with her family in Miami. She met my grandfather at the grocery store he worked at during summer break.
The moment her eyes fell on him, she felt an instant connection, like the two of them belong to each other.
It was love at first sight, and both of them knew that.
She spent the entire vacation with him until the day came when she was supposed to return to Spain.
But she didn’t. She stayed in Miami and married her soulmate.
My grandma gave up her life in Spain to stay with a stranger she only knew for a month. I just know the bond between them was strong enough to make her stay.
Well, unfortunately, I never had the love story I was dying to have.
I ended up having the wors
Zack’s POV “You need to sit down and have a drink before I tell you anything,” Luke mumbled. It could be bad news, or maybe Luke was just teasing me to test if I was really focused on work. I glanced at Riley, catching her staring at me. “Were you just staring at me?” I teased, and she scowled at me. “You’re just delusional,” she retorted. “Hello? Zack, what are you doing?” Luke’s voice croaked out, and I forgot he was on the line.8 “I’ll be back in five,” I told her before turning on my heels, walking straight to the shack bar. “Take your time. It’s not like I’ll miss you,” she sneered loud enough for me to hear. “I know that’s the opposite of what you want, princess,” I shouted over my shoulder. “Um… what’s happening, Zack?” Luke shouted, regaining my attention. Shit, I didn’t have the time to tell him about the rest of my day yesterday. He doesn’t know about Riley. I was dying to tell
Riley’s POV I smiled at the bartender as she placed the lemonade glass in front of me. “Add the bill to room 325,” Luciana told the bartender, who nodded and turned around to serve other customers. “Dinner is on me,” I chimed in and she threw me a warning glare, but I ignored her by taking the straw between my lips and taking a sip of the fresh lemonade. We took five minutes arguing about who would pay for the drinks and Luciana settled it with a game of rock, paper, and scissors. The winner pays. And I lost. “So, Riley, what made you come here?” She tried to open a conversation, and I didn’t mind it. It was better than spending time with Zack, who always made me horny. Even with the rules, I suggested making winning easier for me; I felt like I wanted to lose just to feel what’s sex was about with Zack. Can you blame me? He looks like a Greek god with his sculptured face and toned body. He corr
Zack’s POV“Why the rush?” Riley’s voice croaked out, and I glanced at her—picking the rest of her stuff.“I have some work at the RnB palace, so you have the entire suite for yourself.” I straightened my back—holding eye contact for a split of a second before she lowered her gaze to her stuff in my grasp.“That’s great, also thanks for watching my stuff,” she urged, her band reaching for her stuff, but I pulled them away—making her look up at me—her hazel-green eyes locked with mine.“It’s my pleasure, princess, and try not to have fun without…” I stopped in my sentence once I saw that familiar face in the corner of my eyes, Luciana.My lips parted as my eyes locked with Luciana’s. A sheepish smile plastered on my lips, pretending not to know who she was as she did the same.“I see you made a
Zack’s POV“How are you doing, Zack?” Lucy asked, worry seeping in her brown eyes, replacing what I thought was anger—why would she be worried?Two years passed with no contact—no texts, or calls, not even a single sign of her. She vanished… she vaporized into the thin air.“And why do you care?” I asked back, and she tore her gaze away, walking away from me, knowing I would follow her—and she was right, I followed her.“I always cared about you, Zazzy,” she answered, and I rolled my eyes at the nickname she gave me since we were kids.She glanced at me as a soft chuckle escaped her lips. “But… you left when I needed you, Luce,” my desperate voice stopped her, realizing I wasn’t following her anymore.“You don’t remember,” she murmured, turning around to face me. “You don’t remember coming to my place, asking for money?” I knitted my eyebrows, running through my memories for the last time I’d seen her. The distorted memory flashed in my hea
Riley’s POV It’s not too late to call our fun date off, right? I was staring at my reflection in the tall mirror—feeling hesitant about getting out of my nutshell. Yes, I got out of my cocoon when I planned this vacation, took a twelve hours plane trip, ending up sharing what I thought of as my dream suite with a cocky, sexy, annoying stranger. Getting into a crowded place was another step I needed to take. Luciana gave me this push, but now I was rethinking my quick decision. The quick decision landed me a date with my temporary roommate. I got dressed, did my makeup, and hair—this would be such a waste if I stayed in the room. I smoothed down the silky material of my spaghetti strap short red dress, trying to pull it a bit further down my thighs. My ringtone broke the silence, breaking the focus of covering my thighs. I looked over my shoulder at the still closed bathroom door. Who knew me
Zack’s POV I stared at Riley through the tinted glass, watching her smile as she went hard on the dance floor, dancing like there was no tomorrow—I tightened my grasp around the glass of champagne, noticing how the other men looked at her. Her dress wasn’t even helping to cover anything, and every time she rolled her hips, the silky material of the dress rode up more on her thighs. It only took her two shots to get that drunk and follow Lucy to the dance floor—getting out of her skin. “You look like you want to murder someone,” Javier’s sarcastic voice made me finally lift my gaze off her, looking at him as he peered through the tinted glass. “You didn’t mention Lucy was here?” He trailed off, moving his gaze to mine—trying to make sure I was okay, also waiting for me to open up. “We made up, and it turned out I was the wrong one…” I paused, turning my focus to Riley, who was still dancing with the same energetic
Riley’s POV “Stop, please,” I whimpered, the warm tears running down my cheeks as I felt Chris’s body pressed against mine. His hands were roaming my body while I was squirming, trying to free myself—he grabbed a fistful of my hair and a loud cry escaped my lips—his disgusting breath trickled down my neck as he whispered in my ear, “be a good girl, and listen to what I say.” His grasp tightened on my hair, forcing me to nod. I stopped resisting him—my helpless whimpers crackling through the air, but he never cared to stop. There was no use fighting him, anyway. No one would help me. “I told you, Riley, you’re mine,” he whispered in my ear, and I closed my eyes, feeling his breath still fanning over my neck—making me feel sick, disgusted at how close he was. I know it’s all fake, and this is a nightmare, but I couldn’t wake up. It even felt so real—the pain I felt was real. My fear of what Chris did was real, and I coul
Zack’s POV “Riley!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, about to grab her, but I was late as her body fell over the cliff—falling into the endless darkness. My eyes flew open and quickly fell on Riley, who was sleeping peacefully in my arms. Her head was on my chest, probably hearing how loud my heart was beating for her—she had one arm wrapped around me, her leg was between mine. A sigh escaped my lips, and I tightened my arms around her, inhaling her intimidating smell. She’s safe—I saved her yesterday, and she’s safe now. I kept chanting in my head as the memories from yesterday played again. I know if she woke up and realized I spent the night in her bed she would panic, but in my defense, I tried to leave after she fell asleep. She didn’t let me go as I thought she would. Instead, she tightened her arms around me and I fell asleep with her in my embrace. The most peaceful sleep I ever had until that ni
Riley's POVIf someone told me a week ago I would take a plane to Ibiza and then stay with a sexy playboy in a fancy hotel suite, agreeing to a stupid deal that a total stranger came up with just to prove to him that my heart isn't able to love again—I would've thought it was a joke.I'm mad at myself for agreeing because damn me and my stupid heart—I'm catching feelings… no I'm falling in love with that total stranger while I wanted to prove him the opposite.And it wasn't because he got me the extra cheesy burger I love or the homemade churros—well, food is typically the fastest way to a woman's heart, add a nice picnic spot preferably somewhere surrounded by nature, and voila you got yourself an instant crush.Zack was very aware of what he was doing, he was playing his cards right to gain my attention.Well… he did get my full attention. This might be my very first date after Chris and I know I should forget about him which I'm trying to do but it's a slow ongoing process.But th
Zack's POVI traced my lips with my fingers with a goofiest grin on my face as I stared at the ceiling, replaying the intense make out in my brain for the hundredth time.It wasn't like I haven't kissed someone before, but Riley was… she's special, and I'm falling hard for her."Zack," her soft voice crooked out, and I was pulled out of my thoughts—returning back to the silent room."Yes, Riles," I answered her, feeling my chest tighten with concern—it was as if I could feel what she was feeling now. Fear."Nevermind." She sounded hesitant, and it wasn't the answer I was expecting. I sat up and looked at the opaque splitterCan you sleep with me?" SheI thought spending time with Zack would be a living hell, or awkward as hell but here I was having dinner with him, enjoying the sunset, and talking wi
Riley's POVI thought spending time with Zack would be a living hell, or awkward as hell but here I was having dinner with him, enjoying the sunset, and talking with him—scratch that we were playing the twenty-question game to know each other well. It wasn't my idea, of course, but it was better than the dead-ass silence.We drifted into an entirely different conversation after he made a serious confusion."Pineapples don't belong on pizza," I argued as I stuffed my mouth with the mouthwatering extra cheesy burger—Zack gave me a dead-serious look, and I lowered the burger, eyeing him with disgust as I chewed on my food.He was serious about the pineapples on pizza."You could always give it a try," he needled, stretching a slice of his untouched pizza, and I eyed it with terror as if he was offering me a dead rat.A deep chuckle roared from his ch
Riley's POVI thought spending time with Zack would be a living hell, or awkward as hell but here I was having dinner with him, enjoying the sunset, and talking with him—scratch that we were playing the twenty question game to know each other well. It wasn't my idea, of course, but it was better than the dead-ass silence.We drifted into an entirely different conversation after he made a serious confusion."Pineapples don't belong on pizza," I argued as I stuffed my mouth with the mouthwatering extra cheesy burger—Zack gave me a dead serious look, and I lowered the burger, eyeing him with disgust as I chewed on my food.He was serious about the pineapples on pizza."You could always give it a try," he needled, stretching a slice of his untouched pizza, and I eyed it with terror as if he was offering me a dead rat.A deep chuckle roared from his ch
"So, how did you meet my brother? Friends with benefits, or are you a gold digger?" He blurted, and I blinked at him, shaking my head as if I didn't hear what he said."Excuse me?" I was about to take my hand out of his grasp, but he tightened his grasp around my hand, pulling me towards him.I swear I could smell the intoxicating smell of his expensive cologne. My stomach tightened once his gaze sharpened at me. "You must've mistaken me for someone else," I don't know how I told him that without a shaky tone.I tried to pull my hand away, but it was a bad idea—he only tightened his hand, his fingers were digging into my skin."Zack doesn't do relationships, and you don't look like one of his junkie bozos, so maybe a gold digger," he opened his mouth again, flickering his greenish eyes between mine."Did Tony pay you to lure him, princess?" He asked in a
Riley's POV"Is the blindfold necessary?" I questioned as I stumbled on a rock in the way—it wasn't like I saw it with this thing covering my eyes. Zack was supposed to be my eyes since he was holding my hand, and his other hand was on my waist—guiding me to this stupid picnic date.Apparently, he was as blind as me."I told you I'm sorry, stop being such a brat," he retorted, and I stopped in my place—snapping my head to where his face was supposed to be—instantly feeling his warm minty breath on my face."Did you just call me a brat?" I heard his light chuckle—feeling a little huff of air on my face as he chuckled.The heat traveled to my cheeks—I was embarrassing myself. "You literally stumble on everything," he remarked, and his words refreshed my mind, playing every scenario I stumbled on something and fell on him.It
Riley's POV"Is the blindfold necessary?" I questioned as I stumbled on a rock in the way—it wasn't like I saw it with this thing covering my eyes. Zack was supposed to be my eyes since he was holding my hand, and his other hand was on my waist—guiding me to this stupid picnic date.Apparently, he was as blind as me."I told you I'm sorry, stop being such a brat," he retorted, and I stopped in my place—snapping my head to where his face was supposed to be—instantly feeling his warm minty breath on my face."Did you just call me a brat?" I heard his light chuckle—feeling a little huff of air on my face as he chuckled.The heat traveled to my cheeks—I was embarrassing myself. "You literally stumble on everything," he remarked, and his words refreshed my mind, playing every scenario I stumbled on something and fell on him.It
Zack's POV"So, where are we going exactly?" Riley's voice broke over the soft music playing. I glanced at her, holding my breath as I absorbed in her beauty.The way the air flowed through her hair, touching her skin softly—her hazel eyes were focused on the trees as we passed them in a blur.That dress hugged her body at the right places, and yellow was definitely her color—it made her look happy. Not for a long time because every once she sneaks a quick glance at her phone, then her face changes to a worried, distressed one."It won't be a surprise if I told you, cupcake." She looked at me with a frown."Monkey feathers. My name isn't this hard, I can even help you spell it out," she quipped, and I gave her an impressed side glance before focusing on the road—a sinister smirk tugged on my lips as the dirty comment popped up in my mind.
Riley's POV"So, any excuses for being late?" I snapped my gaze at him, crossing my arms against my chest.Instead, he eyed me from head to toes before finally meeting my gaze with his breathtaking smile. "You look incredible, yellow is definitely your color," he faltered, sticking his hand out for me."Are you silencing me with a compliment?" I snorted, and that stupid boyish grin grew on his face.Remember how you fell on this date. The voice in the back of my head tried to remind me that I got myself into this.I just placed my hand into his warm grasp—and that electric feeling traveled down my spine, waking up the butterflies. Yeah… that's the feeling I despise the most.Yet he made me somehow like it."Let's just end this thing," I said with sass in my tone—thanking god that my voice didn't crack.