Chapter 34

Michael nodded. “Yeah, I sent her to check if you needed anything. Didn’t take long before she was back.” Julian leaned against the couch, lost in thought. *** Next morning. Claire woke up extra early. Seeing Tessa still asleep, she grabbed a quick bite at the hotel restaurant. She’d had just a small piece of cake on the yacht last night and had been starving since 3 AM. With time to burn after eating, she wandered the hotel halls. The place had that vintage Southeast Asian vibe. Standing under tall palm trees, the rustling leaves whispering above, she closed her eyes and soaked in the sunlight scattered through the canopy. The morning breeze was soft, filled with the fresh scent of greenery. It made her feel alive, somehow reminding her that you don’t need a man or some grand romance to feel whole. Then footsteps—quick and steady—cut through the stillness. A shadow fell across her face, and the clean air now carried a sharp whiff of post-workout male energy. She opened her eyes. Right