A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) Read Online Free

Bamboo trees are laid all around to complete the tropical atmosphere. There are three jacuzzis to choose from and a built-in tiki bar inside the pool. I see young women sitting in the water talking to the bartender who’s preparing them a drink.
    We lay on the long lounge chairs, now only concerned with relaxing. We coast on the ocean, clouds parading over our heads, and the refreshing breeze cools down our skin that’s warming under the sun. Regularly, a server offers to refill our drinks or hands us some absolutely tasty frozen snacks. Liv and I are literally living the dream. The everyday problems seem so far behind and completely non-existent! All this luxury is almost cruel.
     
    For dinner, we follow the recommendation of the receptionist and choose the Stardust, and the hostess leads us to our table. The room is gigantic; the roof is high, topped with a wide circle consisting of small pieces of colored crystal appearing as stained-glass, and is worthy of the greatest masterpieces. Small chandeliers are sprinkled here and there, only to glorify the impressive one in the center. The colors are a contrast of cream and dark brown, completing a both sophisticated and warm atmosphere. White tablecloths cover round tables of different sizes, framed with luxury padded chairs. Tissue napkins are folded over the plates in a form that I would need hours to reproduce. There are candelabras at the center of each table that are paired with lilac bouquets. In front of the room is a stage with a massive red curtain rising before the public.
    I'm a little disappointed when I receive my main course, though. Liv and I both ordered pasta, but we were expecting there to be more then just five pieces.
    “Were they short of pasta?” Liv quips.
    “Or they want us to keep room for dessert,” I add jokingly.
    “Do you realize that I can literally count the number of pasta pieces on my plate?”
    I start to laugh with her. It's simply so different from the restaurant where we work. Our portions are larger than life, and the customers never eat it all. We find in the end we had more than enough to be satisfied without being overly full. After our meal, I have just the room for the chocolate mousse they bring us.
    As soon as seven o'clock rings, the curtain opens and a musical show begins. I eat while watching the dancers in colorful costumes invade the stage. Suddenly, my whole body burns with a fire that is totally unknown to me. My gaze meets the stare of a man with piercing blue eyes sitting a few tables away from me. He is extremely attractive! He has a strong jaw, well-defined facial features, and full lips. His brown hair is soberly styled with pomade and he has slightly tanned skin. His dark gray suit makes him look older than he actually is, but I’d say he’s no more than thirty years old.
    I scrutinize him from head to toe and he doesn’t move. His smile stretches across his face and I can read in his eyes the satisfaction he feels that I've noticed him. I feel like he is undressing me with his eyes. I bite my bottom lip as if this gesture would prevent me from melting in my seat. I see the other women who accompany him and his friends, and I come back down to reality. I'm no match for him. It's unfair that he's so handsome and yet so unattainable!
    I can play the game of the rich girl as much as I want, but the fact remains that I'm far from being one. We don't come from the same world and I know too well what it costs to belong in that type of crowd. I'd better stay away from him if I don't want to burn myself.
    Liv and I aren't going to bed any time soon. We sit on the veranda of our room and drink our champagne with a stunning view of the ocean and sunrise.
     
    The next day, after having slept only a few hours, I'm awakened by a sweet warm breeze. I become aware of the softness of my sheets on my skin and I hold my pillow, stroking the fabric on my cheeks as I open my eyes. For a brief moment, I was afraid of waking up in