Kelly's Jellyfish Romance (Romantic Short Stories) by Kristina Belle

Chapter 1
     
    Kelly Brennen feels alive again. She digs all ten toes deep
into the powdery white sand of the Mexican beach while gazing at the blue-green
sparkling waters. The soothing sound of waves lapping against the shore is
magical. For the first time in weeks Kelly feels relaxed and glad to be alive.
After all the troubles of the last few months an escape to a tropical paradise
is the perfect way to unwind. Kelly takes a deep breath of salty sea air. 
She’s gradually finding her way back to normalcy and picking up the pieces of
her life.
    Looking at the incoming tide, Kelly thinks no one can blame
her for wanting to get away for a while to recharge batteries. She really feels
she deserves it. What a year 2012 has been. One she would like to forget. In
March Kelly's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her father, older
brother, and younger sister were traumatized. The entire family was terrified
her mother wouldn’t make it. And her mother is only 53. No one expected this
tragedy to occur. Until recently her mother was the picture of perfect health.
Luckily modern technology, her mother’s untiring fighting spirit, and an
excellent chemotherapist came through. After months of treatment and trauma the
cancer was solidly in remission. It was an exhausting painful ordeal for
everyone.
    As if that hadn't been stressful enough, Kelly returned home
at ten o’clock one night after taking her mother to a chemo session and then visiting
with the family to find her apartment totally trashed.  Thieves broke in,
tore the place apart, and took many of her valuables, including a diamond
necklace that’s a treasured family heirloom. It had been in the family for
three generations. She still felt sick over the loss. Police investigated,
filed their report, but had recovered nothing.
    Another shock came only a week later when she discovers her
ex-boyfriend of three years, the man she thought she loved and couldn’t live
without, ran off to Las Vegas with Tina Raines, one of her best high school
friends. While in high school they always had each other’s back. Losing her
boyfriend was bad enough and made her ill but the icing on the cake is her
former love and Tina got married. What a bummer. She really thought she had a
future with that man. Now she was concerned about her judgment.
    When her best friend Lola suggested a girl's week at a beach
in Mexico, Kelly jumped at the chance to bury her troubles, get out of Boston
for a week, and hopefully have some fun. She thought the combination of sand,
surf, and half naked men would do the trick to lift her spirits. She planned to
drink a few margaritas too. So far in the first two days of the vacation all
she accomplished was sun burning her nose and back of her neck while watching a
boat load of happy honeymooners at the resort. Some of them were painful to
watch, practically making love on the beach, when they had perfectly good
rooms.
    Margaritas helped kill some of the pain but drinking alone or
only with Lola left her feeling depressed. She craved male company but all the
decent looking men at the resort seemed to be attached. Lola neglected to
mention the all-inclusive hotel they are vacationing at is a romantic couple's
resort. Not exactly the perfect setting to forget about your disappointment and
heartache. It’s especially tough when your only love turns out to be a
miserable cheating bastard.

Chapter 2
     
    A deep masculine voice interrupts her thoughts. A few beach
chairs to her right, a shirtless handsome blonde man in swim trunks is ordering
a margarita from the cabana waiter. He has a golden tan and is wearing designer
sunglasses. Much to Kelly’s surprise, he is alone. Maybe his wife or girlfriend
is feeling ill or they’re out shopping. Kelly discreetly sneaks a peek at his
left hand. There is no tell-tale golden band or white stripe around his finger.
 Letting her gaze travel slowly from his finger, up his toned arm, to his
masculine chest, Kelly notes to