Here at Sol Y Estrellas, we have a strict couples-only policy. No singles, friend groups, or kids are allowed. This creates a romantic atmosphere where you and your loved one can enjoy tailored activities, candlelight dinners, and spacious suites specially made for couples. Whether you’re going on a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, or just enjoying a quick getaway with your spouse, Sol Y Estrellas is the place for you.
Kendra’s heart sank. At the time, the resort’s couples-only policy had seemed perfect. She and Aaron would have time together without loud college students on a break. Now, though, it was a huge problem, because Kendra was no longer in a couple. They weren’t going to let her into the resort by herself, and she was going to be stranded in Mexico with nowhere to stay. She’d probably have to fly right back to LA…
Kendra took a deep breath. She could fix this. If she couldn’t get around the resort’s no-couples policy on her own, she’d just have to enlist some help. Help in the form of someone who’d be willing to pretend to be the other half of a couple so that they’d let her in the resort. But where was she going to find someone who could pose as her spouse? Sliding off her headphones, she looked around.
Kendra glanced at the man in what was supposed to have been Aaron’s seat. He was staring at an article about Dubai, though he didn’t appear to be reading it. His brow was furrowed, and he looked none too pleased.
No. Not him.She didn’t want to have anything to do with this rude man. Even if she also couldn’t help noticing that he was quite handsome.
Kendra looked around at the other passengers, but almost everyone seemed to be in a couple or traveling with a larger group. Anyway, how was she going to start this conversation?Hey, want to go on my honeymoon with me?Kendra shuddered just thinking about it.
She bit her lip, tapping her foot against the floor, as her gaze drifted back to the rude man. She didn’t want to put up with him, but maybe it would be worth it so that she could get into the resort. Anyway, she’d already made a bad impression on him, so it couldn’t get worse if she made a wild request. There was nothing to lose. And he’d probably go for it; a free vacation at a luxurious resort was a good deal.
“Excuse me.” Kendra tapped his arm. The man looked at her, folding his magazine closed.
“Let me guess. You want to fight over custody of the armrest,” he said.
Kendra stifled a groan. Maybe she should just give up here and now. “No, no.” She managed a friendly smile — or as friendly as possible given the situation. “I wanted to ask what brings you to Mexico.”
The man hesitated before shaking his head and turning another page in the in-flight magazine. “It’s complicated. But vacation, I guess.”
“Okay!” Kendra took a breath. “Well, then, I might have a good deal for you.”
“I’m not buying a timeshare or anything.” He turned away.
“I wasn’t trying to sell you a timeshare,” Kendra snapped. She took another breath to calm herself. “But I am in a bit of a unique situation. See?—”
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Their flight attendant appeared with the drinks cart, smiling at them both.
“Ginger ale, please,” Kendra requested. She smiled, but internally she urged the flight attendant to keep moving.
“I’ll have wine.”
The flight attendant handed over their drinks, along with the obligatory small packets of pretzels, and moved on. Kendra’s seatmate tore open his pretzel bag and popped one into his mouth.
“As I was saying,” Kendra continued, “I’m in a unique situation. You see, I was meant to be traveling with…” It was too hard to say “my husband.” She really didn’t want to explain what hadhappened with Aaron. Not to this rude man. Not to anyone, really. “Someone. But at the last minute, he wasn’t able to make it.”
“Hmm.” The man said, eating another pretzel. The response made Kendra’s eyes narrow, but she thought of the infinity pool overlooking the ocean and unlimited margaritas and pushed on.
“And I’ve just realized that the resort where we were supposed to stay has a couples-only policy, so they won’t let me in by myself.”
This got the man’s attention. He glanced at her, his blue eyes narrowed. “And what would you likemeto do about that?”
“Come to the resort with me,” Kendra suggested, wincing internally. “Pretend that we’re a couple. I’m not any more excited about it than you are, but if you do this, I can promise you a free two-week vacation at a five-star resort. And once we’re checked in, we don’t have to speak to each other.”In fact, I’d prefer it if we didn’t speak to each other.Kendra didn’t add the last part. She was trying to be diplomatic.
The man didn’t reply right away. He ate another pretzel while Kendra nervously crinkled her own pretzel bag between her fingers. Then he looked at her, a small smile curling the edges of his mouth.
“Are you really asking me to go on a vacation with you? After we’ve had one unpleasant interaction and nothing else?”
Kendra flushed. “Believe me, if there was another option, I wouldn’t have asked.”
“Why isn’t there another option?” the man pressed. “Surely the resort can’t be that strict about the policy.”
“They are,” Kendra said. “It’s their biggest point of pride. You know, because if it’s only couples, there are no wild groups of friends or loud children or anything like that.” She rolled her eyes to show that she thought it was a silly policy, even though it had seemed romantic to her back when she and Aaron had picked the hotel.
“You could go somewhere else.”
Kendra sighed. “Listen, I’m asking for your help, but you can just say no.”
