It was a perfect afternoon—warm sunlight kissing my skin, the gentle sound of water lapping against the pool’s edge, and the sweet scent of blooming jasmine in the air. My husband was at work, and I had the entire house to myself. I decided to take advantage of the privacy, slipping off my bikini top and stretching out on the lounge chair, basking in the sun.

I must have dozed off because I didn’t hear the doorbell or a knock. The next thing I knew, I heard a voice clearing behind me. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I turned quickly, clutching a towel to my chest, and found myself staring at a young man—tanned, fit, and visibly flustered.

“I—I’m sorry, ma’am,” he stammered, shifting uncomfortably. “I knocked, but no one answered. I was scheduled to clean the pool today.”

That’s when I remembered—we had hired a new pool guy. My cheeks burned, both from the sun and embarrassment. “Oh! I… I completely forgot,” I muttered, pulling the towel tighter around myself.

He avoided eye contact, focusing instead on his equipment. “I’ll, um… just get started.”

I nodded, quickly gathering my things and retreating inside, my heart still racing. From behind the glass door, I watched as he worked, pretending nothing had happened. But something had, and I had a feeling neither of us would forget that day anytime soon.