Chapter 4
1069 Words
As the first rays of the sun stretched across the horizon, Cali stirred in her bed, the soft glow slipping through the curtains. The pull of dawn was too irresistible to ignore, coaxing her from beneath the covers.
With quiet determination, she slipped out of bed, pulling on a light jacket. The cool morning breeze brushed her skin as she stepped outside, the world still quiet in the early hour. The villa overlooked the sandy shores, and she walked toward the water, drawn by the sky, now a canvas of soft pinks and golds.
Each footfall in the cool sand grounded her as she traced a path along the shoreline. This was her favorite time of day, the only time when everything felt like it might make sense. Cali had always been a sunrise chaser, and she’d chosen this villa for that reason alone. No matter how chaotic life got, the dawn offered her a fleeting moment of peace.
Just as she reached the water's edge, letting the waves tease her toes, a familiar voice shattered the stillness.
“Must say, you surprise me, princess. Didn't peg you for an early riser.”
Cali’s body tensed. She didn’t bother turning around. “You need to stop stalking me.”
A low chuckle came from behind her, rich with amusement. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but we're practically next-door neighbors. Inevitable run-ins are part of the deal."
Finally, she turned, and there he was, standing there with that cocky smirk. The kind of smirk that said he knew exactly what he was doing to her. He always lingered just long enough to get under her skin, like an itch she couldn’t scratch.
"Right. Well, if you don’t mind, you’re in my way." She tried to brush past him, but before she could take two steps, Chase stepped in front of her, blocking her path like a wall of muscle and bad intentions.
"What do you want?" she snapped, her tone colder than the morning breeze.
"Stay." The word slipped out, raw and unguarded, like he hadn’t meant to say it but couldn’t help himself.
“Excuse me?”
"Stay," he repeated, softer this time, as if he were asking for more than just her company. "Watch the sunrise with me."
She stared at him, searching for the usual game in his eyes, but found none. He was serious.
“Why?”
“Why not?” His smirk softened, slower now, with something darker beneath it. "I promise I’ll behave."
Her instincts screamed at her to walk away, but the way he stood there—so cocky yet vulnerable—made her pause. Against her better judgment, she nodded.
"Fine."
They sat on the sand, side by side, in a silence that wasn’t entirely comfortable but wasn’t unbearable either. The sun crept higher, casting a warm, golden glow over the ocean. It should’ve been peaceful, but with Chase sitting so close, the air between them crackled with tension.
“You don’t work here.”
Chase leaned back on his elbows, confidence radiating off him like heat. "Oh, but I do. Bartender at the Breeze Bar. Saw you make quite the splash yesterday."
Cali scoffed, her cheeks heating at the memory. "A bartender affording a villa here? Sure."
“Curious about me, princess?”
"Suspicious," she shot back, turning her face away to hide the blush creeping up her neck. "And stop calling me princess."
"What should I call you, then?" Chase's tone was teasing, but the heat in his gaze told a different story.
She bit her lip, still refusing to look at him. "What's your name?"
"Chase works just fine."
"Cali," she muttered, as if offering a concession. "Calista Hope."
For a moment, the silence stretched between them, but then his voice came, low and velvet-soft. “Calista…”
The way her name sounded on his lips made something twist deep inside her, a feeling she didn’t want to name. She hated how he made her feel too much, like her skin was too tight and her heart beat louder than it should.
Before she could stop herself, she felt his fingers brush a strand of hair behind her ear. It was such a simple gesture, yet it sent a spark shooting through her.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. “As much as I’d love to sit here all morning with you, I’ve got to get to work.”
“Right, the bar?” She tried to sound skeptical, but the words came out shakier than she intended.
“No joke.” He stood, offering his hand. “But before I go, there’s this café down the beach. Breakfast with your feet in the sand, local flavors. You’d like it.”
Her eyes darted to his hand. She knew better than to take it. Knew that if she did, there’d be no turning back. But she wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge. So she took it.
The moment their skin touched, a current passed between them. He pulled her up, but instead of letting go, he tugged her closer. Her hands landed on his chest, the warmth of his skin burning through the thin fabric of his shirt.
Chase didn’t let go. His hand rested lightly on her waist, his thumb brushing the sliver of skin between her jacket and shorts. He inched closer, his lips hovering near hers, their breath mingling in the space between them.
“You like playing with fire, don’t you, Calista?” His voice was low, dangerous, teasing.
She swallowed hard, locking her gaze with his. His eyes were dark, hungry, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her.
“But I get the feeling you’re a fan of getting burned,” he whispered, lips grazing her ear. “Bet you’d like it if I did.”
Her pulse quickened, and for a split second, she almost gave in. Almost leaned into him, craving the fire he promised. But she wasn’t going to let him win. Not this time.
"Keep dreaming," she muttered, shoving him back, her voice steady even as her heart raced.
Chase chuckled, deep and satisfied. “Oh, I will. And trust me, Calista, you’ll be in every single one.”
With that, he let go, leaving her standing there, heart pounding, as he walked away with that infuriating smirk still in place.
- Writer
