Page 14 of Ruin

I paused, my heart beating faster in my chest than it was a second ago.

“I am sorry to pry,” he said gently, as if he could sense my unease. “I can imagine you are on high alert, traveling alone in a foreign country. But the rooms split off around the courtyard so unless you like to wander in circles, a room number is necessary.”

I took a deep breath to steady myself, responding dryly, “Villa Twelve.”

I’m not sure why this man has me so nervous today.

Maybe it’s what Jennifer said about women going missing?

“Right this way,” he said, extending his arm to the left and using his right hand to take the handle of my suitcase. “May I?”

I hesitated before handing him my suitcase, adjusting my black cotton dress with my now-free hands. A small sense of relief washed over me as he took the burden.

We walked down the corridor in silence, passing through the garden that lay at the heart of the property. The sunlight made the roses in the garden appear even more vibrant, their shades of red, pink, yellow, and white illuminated as it began to peek through the terracotta-colored tile rooftops lining the open garden courtyard.

As we reached Villa Twelve, his demeanor was unflappable. “Here we are,” he said, a note of satisfaction in his voice.

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice quieter now. I approached the door and, on autopilot, placed the room key against the magnetic lock.

He moved quickly, opening the door with ease before I could stop him. “After you,” he said, his voice a little too smooth.

I stepped inside, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions that the day had brought. Jennifer Mora, missing women, the unexpected extension of my stay, the encounter with the unnamed man—everything seemed to blend in a disorienting haze.

Maybe I’m jetlagged? Or hungover?

As I stepped into the suite, I couldn’t help but let out a breathless, “Wow.”

Before me was the most elegant, luxurious hotel room I had ever set foot in. I breathed in the subtle scent of wood and rose as my eyes locked on the bed. Before me, the massive, pristine, impossibly soft queen bed sat along the far wall—the crisp white linens and an overfilled down comforter beckoning me.

I wandered around the space, my fingers brushing lightly over the sumptuous fabrics and polished surfaces. Meanwhile, the unnamed stranger rolled my suitcase across the gleaming marble floor, guiding it to the far corner of the room. With a flick, he drew back the sheer curtains that framed a breathtaking view of the garden.

Without thinking, I fell back onto the bed, stretching out with a sigh of pure contentment. The down comforter enveloped me, drawing me deeper into its inviting depths. I kicked off my shoes and heard them clatter onto the polished floor as my body sank into the sea of pillows and luxurious blankets.

He stood silently at the foot of the bed; his gaze fixed on me with an intensity I couldn’t quite place. There was something restrained about him. Fascination in his eyes, tension in his jaw, his stance just a little too still, as if holding back from something he wanted. One eyebrow raised as he crossed his arms over his chest and scanned my body from the tips of my toes to the top of my head, a look of satisfaction forming on his face.

I looked up at him, still marveling at the room’s opulence, but trying desperately to get control over the unfolding events. “I’m sorry, this room is amazing. It’s honestly the nicest room I’ve ever been in.” I practically gushed as I reached for the comforter, feeling it pull me into its embrace.

His eyes met mine as they reflected a mixture of curiosity and something deeper. His smooth voice filled the space around me. “I am pleased that you like it, Claire.”

I paused, bringing myself up onto my elbows, before speaking. “You know. I feel so stupid. I never got your name last night. Unless you told me, and I just had too much wine.”

“It is Arik. Spelled A-R-I-K,” he said, breaking the spell of tension between us.

“Wow. That’s so unique,” I said with a gentle smile, the memory of me thinking about him as I fell asleep last night flooded my mind.

Now the unnamed man finally had a name.

Arik.

Antonio was gone for the weekend. My stay and food were paid for. I had gone through a soul-crushing breakup just a month before, and I deserved to enjoy myself. Maybe get Alex out of my system? Maybe find the strength to move on?

Stay in my room and watch Netflix for the next two days, or…

I remembered the feeling in my chest when he was pressed against me in the darkness of the winery last night.

“The bed is amazing, you know,” I said with a flirtatious glint in my eye, hoping he would notice my invitation.

“Oh, really?” Arik’s smirk widened as he gently bit his lip as if were trying to hide it from me. “I have not tried the beds since they renovated a few years back.”