Lily's Fire (Paperback)

Pages : 306
ISBN : 9780995748101
Weight : 296g
Dimensions : 203 x 17 x 127 mm

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- Sexual awakening
- Holiday romance
- Destiny
- Starting over

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Denpasar Airport. Local time is two thirty-five P.M. The temperature is twenty-eight degrees, and it's a beautiful sunny day. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the red light has been turned off."
Lily woke up startled by the captain's announcement. 'Have we already landed?' It seemed like only ten minutes ago since she had cried herself to sleep for the second time during the journey. She stretched in the comfortable business class seat, wondering when the headache would kick in. Her mouth felt dry, and her eyes heavy. There were several bottles of water left in her mini bar, and she downed two of them, hoping they would hydrate her enough to get her through customs without falling over. She tried to stand up, still hazy from the Valium in her system. "I'm okay," she told herself, looking for her purse in the overhead compartment. She studied her fellow passengers leaving the cabin: loved-up couples, locals, holidaymakers, and business travelers. 'What am I doing here?'
Suddenly, it seemed more enticing to go back to sleep in the warm comfort of her cocoon chair and spend two weeks on a plane than to venture into Bali by herself.
The air was warm and humid when she entered the gated arrivals area, and Lily tried to focus through the noise and the chaos. Drivers and tour guides were lined up on both sides, welcoming their guests. She spotted an older man holding a sign for the White Resort and waved at him. He wore white linen pants, a white shirt, and brown leather sandals. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing tattooed arms.
"I'm Ketut," he said with a friendly smile, then took the suitcases from Lily. "Welcome to Bali." He stacked her luggage onto a trolley, then looked over her shoulder and hesitated.
"And where is Mr Banks?"
"Mr Banks is not coming," Lily answered with a sneer. She immediately felt sorry when she looked into his kind eyes.
He nodded. "Very well. Then how I may address you?"
"Lily. Just Lily is fine," she said and tried to force a smile.
The heat from the burning sun hit her hard as she followed Ketut to his car. She hadn't expected the sun to be so violently bright. It had been raining for weeks in London, with dreary mornings and starless nights, and although sweat was dripping down Lily's back, the change of weather felt good on her skin.
Lily snuggled up on the back seat of the air-conditioned Mercedes and opened the window. As they drove out of Denpasar, the busy roads turned into smaller, bumpier ones, and they passed through villages where life seemed to be at a slower pace. The lush and tropical backdrop of the rainforest was vividly green, and there was a hint of recent rainfall in the air. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of barbeque and spices from the roadside restaurants.
Lily hadn't eaten much since she'd left London, and she suddenly felt hungry for the first time in weeks. At least she wouldn't have to watch her waistline. Lily considered herself a good-looking woman, but the recent weight loss had done her no favors. Despite the delicate features of her face, characterized by long, brown hair, large brown eyes, and slightly pouty lips, the toll of her recent lifestyle and inadequate nutrition was evident. Dark bags, swollen from crying, marred the area beneath her eyes, while her cheeks, now subtly sunken, betrayed the wear and tear of her heartache.
They navigated a winding mountain road, embraced by lush vegetation and flanked by majestic mountains and hills. Ketut skillfully guided the vehicle, attentively steering clear of scattered rocks across the asphalt. Negotiating a sharp turn, they descended a picturesque hillside.
"Here we go, Lily. Welcome to paradise," he said.
Blinded by the sun, Lily squinted as the coast revealed itself. Before her, a pristine white sandy beach and crystal-clear blue ocean materialized, and despite her weary state, the breathtaking beauty of the scene made her smile.
The main reception area, decorated in various shades of white, was minimalist, open, and tasteful. Accessible by four bridges, it rose from a large pond filled with water lilies and koi carp. The reception desk was a rectangular piece of white concrete with lush flower arrangements, facing a seating area with hand-carved wooden furniture.
Ketut left her waiting there while he talked to the general manager, and Lily understood the dilemma they were discussing.
"Don't worry about the room," she told them. "Mr. Banks is not with me, but I'll take the flowers, the Champagne, and the welcome lunch. There's no need to change anything in the accommodation. And thank you, Ketut. You've been very thoughtful."
The manager, a tall, handsome man with boyish dimples, seemed relieved.
"Well, in that case, welcome to the White Resort, Miss Taylor," he said, glancing at her name in the passport she'd handed over. "Maya will take you to your villa. If you require anything at all during your stay, please let her or one of the other staff members know, and we'll make it happen."
A young woman dressed in traditional Balinese attire directed the bellboy to transport Lily's luggage and guided the way along a meandering limestone path nestled within the lush greenery. The thick lawn beckoned, enticing Lily to finally shed her shoes and relish the inviting texture beneath her feet. Enclosed by floral hedges and swaying palm trees, the villa exuded an atmosphere of seclusion and tranquility and already felt like a sanctuary.
Her home for the coming weeks was an entirely white, open-plan bungalow with a large veranda that overlooked the beach and the ocean. Potted palm trees and a white parasol partially shaded two twin sunloungers and a small dining table.
Inside, a tall bunch of pink lilies decorated the dining table, and pink rose petals formed a heart shape on the bed. Next to the bed was an ice-filled cooler with her favorite Champagne, accompanied by two crystal flutes and a large bowl of fresh fruit. Lily tried not to think about the petals as she walked straight to the bottle and opened it. Ignoring the flutes, she poured a generous amount into a large burgundy glass from the dining table. Maya didn't flinch and smiled politely as she made her way back outside.
"Please dial nine if you need anything else, Miss Taylor. A late lunch will be served on your veranda in twenty minutes."
"Actually, Maya, can I buy cigarettes here?"
Maya nodded. "We can arrange that for you."
"Great. Could I have two packs of anything menthol, please?"
Lily changed from her skinny jeans and t-shirt into a black bikini and dropped down on the sun lounger, which could easily have passed for a twin bed. She placed the bottle next to her in the bucket and let the afternoon sun warm her. It was quiet. There were only twenty villas in the resort, ensuring privacy and peace for their guests. They operated a strict no-kids policy, and the only sounds she could hear came from the waves and the sea breeze brushing through the palm trees above her. When she closed her eyes, her mind drifted back to the man she had left behind, and rage welled up inside her. Her anger weighed on her stomach like a rock that grew heavier the more she thought about him. Lily had never been cheated on before. Or not that she knew of, anyway. She always thought it was one of those things that would never happen to her, that she was too smart to be with a man who would mess around behind her back.
"Here you go, Miss Taylor."
A bellboy appeared at her side carrying a silver tray with two packs of cigarettes, an ashtray, and a lighter. Lily studied the boxes with horrific pictures of rotten teeth and corpses before opening one. Then she lit her first cigarette in six years and took a deep drag.
"Fuck you, Edo," she said.