01

##Chapter 1

Diana Markovic

I felt the tremor of the plane taking off and leaving Australia and everything I lived there behind . I just wanted to forget about Jeremy and his crooked family. I was returning to California, my real home, where I've always lived like a princess in my parents' house, with all the love in the world and, of course, luxury.

I looked at my iPhone and saw dozens of calls and messages from him, I ignored them all feeling the anger rise inside me. A few minutes later I ended up falling into a deep nap when I suddenly felt a violent tremor rock my body making me wake up with a revolting jolt, along with screams of fear.

Still stunned I looked around and noticed the plane declining, through the windows I saw the sky very cloudy and a heavy rain was falling. I started to get terrified and it was inevitable at the moment not to think a lot of negative things. After everything I had planned for my life, I was going to die in a plane crash!

Did I deserve so many bad things?

I closed my eyes and started to cry, I wouldn't scream, it wouldn't do any good. So I just cried softly and asked God for forgiveness for my sins.

And then suddenly I heard the voice of the stewardess saying that the emergency landing was successful and that everyone should get off the plane. It was just an emergency landing and I thought the plane was going down. Good thing I didn't scream.

I finally released the air that was trapped inside me at the moment I thought was my death. I unfastened my seat belt and got off the plane with my bag glued to me, outside there were already some people under a roof trying to escape the heavy rain.

- What happened? I asked anyone who could answer me.

— A sudden storm ruined the flight. It was not possible to continue the trip, the risk of falling would be seventy-nine percent, so they decided to make an emergency landing here in this place that I have no idea what it is or where it is. - a woman replied wiping drops of water from her face.

This all while I was sleeping?

"What a piece of crap!" — I murmured low — And now?

- Now I do not know. He shrugged .

Then I saw the flight attendants approaching along with the pilot and co-pilot, they gathered close to us looking ready to give some news.

“I call everyone's attention to this brief warning: a major storm has approached in the sky across Australia from the north coast. That's why our flight had to be landed with an emergency to avoid tragedies or other inconveniences. This region is known for being a Viking area, it is a very reserved village that contains only one lodging that fits twenty people. Considering that there are thirty-five on this plane, I was informed that they are very welcoming here and will provide shelter for those who cannot find accommodation during the entire time we will need to wait for the order to take off again. Thanks in advance for everyone's attention. he concluded . All around I could hear irritated sighs, curses and crying.

I dropped my weight onto my shoulders and huffed off looking for cell signal to notify my parents, but to no avail. That really sucked! I just hoped that the next day, still in the morning, everything would be resolved and the storm would pass. I wouldn't despair just yet, and if I had to sleep with a little discomfort just once, I could handle it.

While I was trying to make my cell phone work in that backwater, many had run and secured their places in the lodging. I put a coat on my head and ran towards the rustic wooden place a few meters ahead.

“I'm sorry, but all the rooms have been taken just now. the young receptionist said as I approached.

"And what shall I do then?" Where do I go? I whispered wanting to cry in frustration.

“We just referred people who ran out of rooms, families who always welcome tourists into their homes. I'll get an address and a pointer for you.

It felt like the weight of all the disappointments was just starting to hit me now. I really wanted to cry hiding inside somewhere alone.

— Is there a restaurant here? I asked as she dug into a drawer. My stomach was clenching with hunger.

“Yes, there is, right there in the back. — he pointed and handed me a small paper with an address — The families used to installing tourists are all full too, but here is the house of a more reserved person, a little difficult to deal with but with a good heart. I'm sure it won't let you down.

-- Thanks. I took the paper and headed towards the restaurant.

The menu was already exposed for anyone who wanted to see it on the wall. There wasn't a salad or anything that went along with my diet at that place. What would I eat? God! Where did I go?!

I kept looking for almost ten minutes when I saw a woman's plate, full of macaroni with what I thought was white sauce and melted cheese on top. I couldn't eat that, I'd put on pounds if I did. Just looking at it seemed to have gained a few grams.

But I was so hungry...

Sure enough, I stared at the woman's plate without any disguise.

“That's a good call. a deep, husky voice said from behind me. "And I hope you ask soon. " I don't know if you know, but there are other people who want to choose what to eat too.

With the scare, my body ended up instinctively bumping into that of a girl who was passing by my side, spilling all her juices on the floor, consequently soiling the pants she was wearing.

- Crap! Are you blind? You'll have to buy me another juice! she screamed.

I opened my purse and took out ten dollars for her.

“If I'd chosen sooner, none of this would have happened. I heard the voice behind me again along with a laugh.

The accent seems to be Australian, only much stronger than usual.

"What are you laughing at, idiot?" This is your fault and I don't even know you... - I exclaimed before turning around angrily and looking at the owner of the voice for the first time, making me lose the rest of the sentence.

I froze.

Oh my God!

“No need to freak out, princess. And answering your question, I thought it was funny, hence the laugh. His lips curled into a mischievous smile.

I swallowed hard, losing all my pose as soon as I saw a sculpture in the shape of a man in front of me. The open lips forming an arrogant smile stamped on the handsome and masculine face, the blond hair and beard highlighting the beauty even more. He looked a lot like that famous actor, Charlie Hunnam. I didn't imagine finding a guy like that in that backwater. For God's sake, the place was in the middle of nowhere!



I cleared my throat, determined not to let him mock me.

“I can't find the humor. Oh, I know. It's because there's nothing funny here. I tried to look at him steadily.

"Are you always this sour?" You look defeated, princess. If it's for the girl's juice money, I'll pay for that crap. He held out his hand, handing me some bills of money and I cursed myself for feeling a shiver down my spine when his fingertip touched my hand.

Besides looking good, he smelled good. It was something incredible as a mixture of rustic and perfumed man. He looked like a caveman, only too handsome. The clothes were a little different from what I was used to seeing in the places I went, in fact everyone there dressed differently. Not ugly, just rustic and a little twentieth century going into the twenty-first.

My lips parted to curse him. I didn't need his money, I had plenty of that. But I got lost at the sight of him leaving the restaurant. What man! I could see all of him now walking outside, the body so big and athletic... This man looked beautiful, all big, all strong and delectable.

I had to blink countless times in search of my common sense and my dignity when I found myself excited by a small touch and half words from a man I had never seen in my life.

What was going on with me? Crap. I really needed to get laid again, I think it's been a long time since the last time because I didn't care if the man made fun of me seconds ago and I was practically panty wet just looking at him.

It shouldn't be happening, I should be mad at him for intruding where he doesn't belong and still be rude to me, however I could blame it on my neediness and the weird customs of Jeremy's crazy family that didn't allow premarital sex.

After choosing just one banana smoothie to fill my belly, I also ordered two packets of sweet popcorn to eat at night. Feeling tiredness hit, I took my bags on the plane and left dragging them throughout the small village with difficulty, stopping a thousand times to rest and asking for directions to the address that was given to me. At all times trying to forget my stress with that beautiful man.

On the way, I got a few different looks my way, some of curiosity and some of... Disapproval? Perhaps they looked at all tourists that way. I tried to ignore it and just focus on getting there. I really wanted to take off my high heels and take a relaxing bath, the next day I was sure there would be no more danger of a storm and I would go back to my house.

Finally, with the help of some inhabitants, I arrived at a small but very well-kept house – on the outside at least – a little far from the others, a fence separated it from the others, it was all made of gray stone with colonial roofs, very beautiful for lovers of rustic things like me. This little house seemed to be the most beautiful one so far in my eyes.

I opened the pen with difficulty, hurting my hand in the process. Filth! I walked up to the pure wood door and knocked three times. It wasn't long before the door opened, the sight of which makes me swallow hard. There he was, the idiot from the restaurant.