Darren had asked a worker to get her the damn champagne before entering into his own room.
He was slightly infuriated, maybe more uncomfortable by the fact that she held something that powerful over him, but he knew he could get himself out of it in the long run.
It was also, yet, another reminder to not allow himself to be vulnerable and land in situations where he would need desperate help.
Especially from someone who wasn't an ally at the time, and still wasn't one right now.
Meanwhile, the outside was waiting for them.
The dawn had bled into a perfect, sun-drenched afternoon at Serenity Cove. A profound, luxurious silence hung over the resort, broken only by the rhythmic crash of waves against the cliffs and the whisper of a warm breeze through the palm fronds.
It was the calm before the storm— a storm of laughter, splashing, and the intricate, high-stakes dance of attraction Darren had orchestrated.
