Page 4 of The No Falling Rule
This year, instead of staying home—sad and freezing—we decided to splurge on a holiday trip to the Caribbean. Our first vacation in years—and what happens the second we arrive? I fall into the pool with all my belongings. Perfect.
“Come on, Carly. You know I’m just joking,” I say, trying to stand. It takes a herculean effort, and I end up right back on my bum.
“Oh boy. What is it?” Carly jumps into action, looping an arm around my back and helping me up.
“Let’s get you changed, and then we can go see a doctor,” Carly says in that bossy big-sister tone she uses when she doesn’t want to argue.
“What? No? It’s just my back muscles. I don’t think we need a doctor. Maybe they’ve got some Tylenol around here?” I say, heading for a set of doors beyond the living area.
The moment I open one, my jaw hits the floor. A king-size bed is covered inbrand-newclothes.
“Carly?”
She’s at my side in an instant. “Umm, yeah,” she says, smirking. “Apparently, the guy who threw you into the pool is one of the owner’s sons.”
I blink at her, still processing.
“Yes. Mr. Grosso was so apologetic,” she continues. “He took me to customer service himself, made sure we got a free upgrade, and when an employee showed up with your dripping luggage, he insisted you get a whole new wardrobe—complimentary for your troubles.”
I turn in a slow circle, taking it all in. The pile of clothes practically calls my name. As a farrier, I don’t usually wear anything you’d call nice—I live in jeans and boots. Comfort is my middle name.
But then I notice gauzy curtains billowing in the breeze, the shimmer of waves just a hundred feet away, and I make a split-second decision. I dart straight toward the ocean.
The sand is warm beneath my feet. I close my eyes, lift my face to the sun, and stretch my arms wide.
“Ah, gracias vida,” I whisper, breathing in the salty air. Despite the earlier mishap, I can’t help but feel grateful to be here.
“Feeling better?” Carly asks,joining me.
“Yeah. I think I’m just going to take a quick shower, get into one of those fancy clothes I just got, and then take a nap.”
Carly hooks her arm through mine as we make our way back to the bungalow. “Something tells me you need your rest, little sis.”
I frown at her tone, and she chuckles.
“The guy who made you fall—”
I roll my eyes. “We need to give him a nickname. The fall guy isn’t it.”
Carly snorts. “What are you talking about? That’s perfect. Anyway, something tells me your fall guy isn’t done with you yet.”
I don’t understand what she means. Maybe I have a concussion? There’s no way a rich man like him would set his eyes on a small-town girl like me.
Although… If I'm being honest, the man is hot as hell. Those deep blue eyes, that straight nose I’ve always had a weakness for, a chiseled jaw framed by the most perfectly manicured beard I’ve ever seen. Add in the strong arms and broad chest, and—yeah—he probably looks like a full-course meal in swim trunks.
“Mia? Weren’t you going to shower?” Carly’s voice snaps me out of my daydream.
“Yes, yes. I was just… in my own head,” I say with a smile that fools no one.
She sighs, pulls out her phone, and flops down on my bed. “I think you’re more affected by the incident than you’re letting on. I’m going to stay here so I can hear you in case you need me.”
I huff dramatically as I make my way to the bathroom, but secretly, I love how protective she is.
Under the shower’s warm spray, I lather up and finally let the day wash off me. My mind drifts tohim—the ridiculously sexy man who decided to make me his problem.
Yes, I was definitely an inconvenience in his afternoon. I’m ninety-nine percent sure he didn’t mean to spook me—and God knows what I was thinking, walking straight into him like that.
Some might say my luck was shitty, but I’ve always believed everything happens for a reason. Maybe he’s the reason. Maybe he’s the fling Carly and I joked about on the flight here.
