Love Dive (Book #1)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting delicate stripes across the rumpled sheets. Mary snuggled deeper into John's embrace, a contented sigh escaping her lips. John, already half awake, smiled down at her. Her hair, a riot of sunshine curls, fanned across the pillow next to him.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he murmured, brushing a stray curl from her forehead.

Mary yawned, stretching luxuriously. "Morning," she mumbled, blinking sleepily at him. Her voice held the remnants of a dream, soft and melodic.

They lay in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the rare luxury of a morning without rushing. The weekend had been a whirlwind of laughter, shared meals, and stolen moments like this. Now, reality loomed large.

John stirred, the weight of responsibility settling on him. "I have that big client meeting this morning," he said reluctantly.

Mary pouted playfully, burying her face in his chest. "Do you have to go?"

John chuckled. "Unfortunately, yes. But I promise I'll make it up to you tonight. How about dinner at your favorite place?"

Mary peeked up at him, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "That depends. Are you offering to cook breakfast too?"

John groaned good-naturedly. "Alright, alright. You win. Pancakes sound good?"

The next hour unfolded in a flurry of activity. John, surprisingly adept in the kitchen, whipped up a batch of fluffy pancakes while Mary set the table. They ate, laughing and sharing stories, savoring the stolen moments before the day demanded their attention.

As John finished his coffee, a hint of regret lingered in his eyes. "I really need to get going," he said, rising from the table.

Mary walked over to him, her arms reaching out for a hug. "Go win over your clients, Mr. CEO," she said, her voice teasing but laced with a touch of sadness.

John held her close, his touch lingering. "I'll be thinking of you," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

Reluctantly, John pulled away, grabbing his briefcase. At the doorway, he turned back, a playful glint in his eyes. "And hey, those pancakes were pretty good. Maybe you should consider a career change."

Mary laughed, swatting him playfully with a dishtowel. "Don't get too cocky, Mr. Bigshot. Your days of enjoying free breakfasts might be numbered."

John winked. "Challenge accepted, Chef Rose." And with that, he was gone, leaving the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air, a bittersweet reminder of their stolen morning together.

John's car pulled away from the curb, the tires crunching on the gravel driveway. Mary watched him go from the window, a small smile playing on her lips. The house felt strangely quiet after his departure, the silence broken only by the rhythmic hum of the refrigerator.

With a sigh, Mary turned away from the window and stretched, her arms reaching for the ceiling. Stretching always felt good, especially after a lazy morning spent in John's arms. A familiar melody drifted from the living room – the sweet, nostalgic tune of "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes.

Mary smiled. It was their song. The one that played softly in the background during their first kiss, a hesitant touch that blossomed into something more. Padding into the living room, she turned up the volume, letting the gentle melody fill the space.

Picking up a fallen throw pillow, Rose began tidying up the living room, the remnants of their breakfast scattered on the coffee table. As she worked, she hummed along to the song, her voice a soft counterpoint to the Chordettes' harmonies.