Chapter 6 #2
Russ cleared his throat. “Hey, everyone, I’ve got a special treat for you all tonight,” he said, his voice sounding amused. “You’ll all want to head to the stern. ”
“What’s the stern?” Tessa whispered.
“The back,” said Avery, grinning.
The group began to gather as the underwater lights clicked on, casting an eerie green glow beneath the hull. Within seconds, a dozen sleek shadows circled in and out of view. Dorsal fins became evident only a couple of yards from the boat. Some closer than that.
Tessa gasped. She grabbed Avery’s hand and stood up for a better look. Avery rose to her feet.
The guys gathered, leaning over the rail, murmuring in awe.
“Dude,” breathed Kyle. “That is the coolest thing…”
Tessa’s eyes had gone wide. She looked up and caught Russ’s gaze, and he smiled back in satisfaction.
“What… are they?” she sputtered, thinking it felt like maybe a scene from the French Polynesian version of the movie Jaws was about to take place.
“Blacktip reef sharks,” Russ said coolly. “Common in these waters. Not aggressive. They're mostly just looking for mollusks and crab from the reef.”
“They’re beautiful,” Jenna said as she and Marin came down from the upper deck.
“Do they come out like this every night?” Kyle asked, moving closer to the edge as the sharks circled in.
“Pretty much,” Russ replied. “They hunt in groups. But you won’t see them unless you know when to look. The lights draw them in.”
The water shimmered with movement. Nate leaned in a little too closely for Tessa’s liking, his beer gripped in one hand .
“Better watch it, buddy,” warned Drew, but he looked just as transfixed. “Might lose a hand if you’re not careful there.”
Russ laughed. “Nah, he’ll be fine, but don’t fall in. Please.”
Tessa smiled and caught Russ’ gaze, sure that neither he, nor Malik, would want to play lifeguard right now. Russ shot her a grin.
Marin moved a little closer to the edge and put her arms around Kyle, who was squatting down for a closer look.
“They’re not going to fling themselves up onto the boat, are they?” she asked, smiling.
Russ chuckled. “Nope, nothing like that.”
Jules came out for a look and stood next to Jenna, chatting.
Tessa downed the last few swigs of her rum drink and swallowed, watching in awe. Okay, so this was amazing. She should probably relax now. If Russ said they were safe on the boat, then they were safe.
Malik walked over and shined a powerful flashlight at the water so the guys at the edge could get a better look.
The sharks glided smoothly around them, breaking the surface occasionally.
Russ strolled over and stood between Avery and Tessa, and Tessa felt her skin warming. “So, what do you think?” he said.
Avery wiggled a brow. “Well, I think this is what you call a night show. Huh, Captain?”
He smiled. “Best one around. ”
Tessa watched the water quietly. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Except at an aquarium, of course.”
“Most people haven’t,” said Russ. “That’s why it never gets old.
” She felt his eyes on her for a few moments.
It was so cool he’d shown this to them, although she might never go in the water again now that she saw how many sharks were out there.
But she grinned at him, and their eyes met for a long moment.
As if he wanted to make sure she was enjoying it.
She was.
Her pulse skittered.
He broke his gaze, probably before Avery could notice, and looked back at the water, then excused himself and strolled toward Jules and Jenna.
Avery wandered over to Nate, who’d squatted down and was dangling a few fingers in the water now. “Nate, don’t…” she whined. “Come on… please.”
Tessa smiled and shook her head. Adventurous to a fault, Nate was always up to something, it seemed.
Tessa turned and joined Jenna, Jules, and Russ as they chatted.
Then the water shifted again, and they all heard a soft splash. Tessa’s heart raced again.
A massive shape glided alongside the boat—wide and graceful, with long, dark wings trailing through the water like silk.
“Oh!” said Tessa, stunned. “Is that...?”
“A manta ray,” Russ said, a smile creeping into his voice as he made sure everyone noticed the creature’s appearance. “Right on cue.” He grinned from ear to ear as if he’d planned this. She grinned back at him for a long second before fixing her eyes on the water.
The group glued their gazes to the sea as the ray circled once, slowly, splashed gently at the surface, then vanished into the darkness.
Tessa turned to him, eyes wide. “That was incredible.”
He nodded. “I was hoping one of them would make an appearance. They’re gentle giants, but hard to spot unless you know where to be. It’s one of the highlights of this region.”
The ocean shimmered below them, mysterious and alive, as they stood side by side in the quiet night.
She looked back down at the water, then up at him.
“Thanks for this,” she breathed.
Talk about bucket list. She’d have to add this to her list just to be able to cross it off. Because this was something she’d never forget.
He held her gaze for a moment, and she felt like her heart was skating on thin ice.
“I’m so glad you all liked it,” he said.