Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
The sun had dipped behind the horizon, and the soft hum of dinner chatter and music had faded into nothing more than moonlight now, as Tessa climbed the stairs to the upper deck. The stars were out again, the sky wide and velvet-dark, the water below shimmering faintly.
Russ was already there, leaning on the railing, the silhouette of his frame lit by the glow of the deck lights. He turned when she reached the top step and smiled—slow, warm, real. Like she was the one thing he’d been waiting for all day. Her heart thudded.
Those precious few minutes at the plantation still sent shivers down the length of her spine, although they’d also chatted over dinner. He’d sat across from her and the conversation between them, as well as among the group, had never slowed.
But the moments they’d spent alone today—the way he’d grabbed her hand and taken her away. Secretive and alone. It was… delicious. And it was still leaving her breathless.
Her cheeks were probably rosy now, and it wasn’t from the sunshine.
“Hey,” she said softly. He was the one thing she’d been waiting for all day.
“Hey,” he replied, his gaze on her.
She stepped in close and let his arms encircle her. He kissed her gently. “How are you?” he said. His tone was gentle and warm, and it made her heart melt all over again.
“I’m great.” She let out a long breath. So much had happened today. How could she have fallen so hard for a guy in just five days? They had only three days left, but she was trying not to focus on the number. “We had such a great day today. Thank you for taking us to do all of these things.”
“Just doing my job,” he said modestly. “And, remember, I told you I’d find you some things you’d love here.”
She nodded. “And you have.” She trusted him completely now.
He’d done nothing this week but introduce her to new and wonderful things and rescue her when she’d gotten in over her head, all with kindness and consideration.
A pleasant sigh escaped her. “I’m still thinking about the eagle rays, actually,” she murmured.
He nodded. “You were incredible out there today. I’m proud of you.”
She smiled. “Thanks. You know, I feel like I’m officially ready to turn thirty now. ”
He laughed gently. “I think you passed the test. You’ve come a long way this week.”
He shifted slightly and reached into his pocket. “I almost forgot,” he said. “I got you something. Kind of an early birthday present. It’s not much, but... I wanted you to have it.”
She stared, struck by the gesture.
He handed her a small, folded cloth pouch. She opened it slowly, and inside were three coordinated shell necklaces, white and yellow, delicate but clearly hand-strung. Traditional Polynesian leis, but the kind meant to last.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she lifted them. “Russ... they’re beautiful.”
He placed them around her neck. “I thought they’d be something to remember me by, when you’re back home. And this place, of course…”
The thought of leaving him stung. She furrowed her brow as her gaze dropped to the floor.
She felt his hand on her chin as he lifted her head gently. “I didn’t mean to make you sad. I swear.”
She laughed softly. “It’s okay. I just… I love them.” It was so sweet. But it made her ache to think about going home when this vacation was over. Would they be over, too? Would this whole thing be out of their control?
They stood in quiet affection for a moment, forehead to forehead, her fingers still fixed on the necklaces like the precious reminders they were.
She pulled back and looked up at him, determined to focus on the time they still had together, because who knew what would happen when she left here? Their future was so uncertain.
Still, they had tonight. They had now .
“So how was your day?” she said before the worry came back. “I wish you could’ve joined us for the tour. It was so amazing. I missed you there.” She grinned. “And thanks again for the save. That guy really wouldn’t leave me alone.”
He chuckled, then gave her a knowing look. He’d enjoyed the secret kisses as much as she had—she knew that. “Any time.” He exhaled. “About that…”
She studied his face, her brow tightening. “What?”
He paused. “When I came to pick you up today at the plantation—when I saw those guys talking to you and the others at the rum bar... I hate to admit it, but I was… jealous.”
She blinked and reached gently for his arms. “You were?” This was hard to believe. “Why?”
He looked at her, more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him.
“Because I realized you’re going to be leaving soon.
And once you’re back in Miami, you’re going to be hit on by guys left and right.
I won’t be there to put my arm around you, or walk you home, or kiss you goodnight, or anything.
” He paused again. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not a good look.
I’m not really the jealous type. That’s why it caught me so off-guard. ”
She reached up and kissed his lips once, gently. “Don’t be sorry. I wasn’t interested in those guys, Russ. Honestly, all I could think about the whole time he was talking to me was how much I wished I was standing there with you. And I’m afraid… that’s how it’s going to be when I go home.”
“Really?” His lip curled up on one side.
She nodded. She couldn’t believe a guy as amazing as Russ could be worried he wasn’t first on someone’s list.
He reached down and kissed her softly. “Thanks for saying that. Anyway, it made me realize how much you mean to me, Tess’. How this whole thing isn’t just a game for me. How much I want this to work for us—somehow.”
She gazed up at him, her heart filling with hope. “Have you heard about the job in Florida yet?”
He shook his head.
She would not focus on the uncertainty. “You’ll get it. I know it. And then we’ll figure it out. Alright?”
He softened again. “Yeah, alright.”
He pulled her close again, held her tightly in a hug, and then kissed her. This time, with long, tender, slow kisses—everything they hadn’t been able to say in the daylight, pressed into a single breath of moonlit longing.
She melted against him, her fingers curling into the back of his shirt.
But a few seconds later, Tessa heard something. Footsteps… on the stairs?
She pulled back to listen. Her stomach did an uncomfortable little flip. Someone was definitely coming up.
She stepped away quickly, straightening her hair just as Jules appeared at the top of the deck, her eyes immediately catching on them.
Jules froze as if she hadn’t expected to see anyone there, let alone the captain standing so close to one of the female passengers. Finally, she spoke, her voice a little too nonchalant, perhaps trying to play off her embarrassment? “Uh, hey, guys.” Tessa could hear the awkward tone of her voice.
Russell cleared his throat. Apparently, he hadn’t been able to clear his head enough to speak first. “Hey, Jules. Can’t sleep?”
Jules’ brow was furrowed slightly, her long black braid pulled over one shoulder. But Tessa wasn’t sure if she’d seen anything. “No, I, uh, I think I left my book up here somewhere, after dinner.”
“Oh, okay,” said Russ, almost too helpfully, as he began to look for the book under the dark sky, lit only by moonlight.
Jules said nothing else, but soon she found the book between two of the lounge chair cushions. “Here it is. Sorry to bother you. Uh, goodnight, you two.”
Her voice seeped with concern, but Tessa breathed a small sigh of relief as she turned and disappeared down the stairs without another word.
Tessa looked at Russ, her stomach still tied in knots. She whispered. “Do you think she saw us…?”
Had she seen them kissing? Was Russ going to pay for this little tryst? Had they been discovered?
Russ let out a heavy breath.
It was hard to tell.
It was midday Friday by the time the Latitude was anchored in the luminous lagoon just outside of Bora Bora, the water so clear and vivid it looked like someone had dialed up the saturation on a postcard. Russ studied the view as he tied up one of the sails.
Palm-fringed islets dotted the horizon, and the towering green peaks of the main island rose like a jungle backdrop on steroids.
The group was taking it easy—sunbathing, floating in the inner tubes, splashing around off the back of the boat. Music drifted through the speakers. Someone had made frozen coconut drinks, and the mood was as light as the breeze.
Russ had spent most of the morning keeping busy with boat maintenance, diving in for a swim to cool off, chatting here and there.
He was doing his best to stay low profile after last night’s near-miss.
He was also doing his best not to pay too much attention to Tessa, at least not any more attention than he paid to the other guests.
Jules had said nothing since walking in on him and Tessa on the upper deck. But he couldn’t help wondering what she saw. And what she might say. To Malik. To anyone.
Russ listened to the group chatting, as everyone else had taken their turn on the two paddleboards that the catamaran carried. The couples had gone in pairs. A few had already paddled back, laughing and tired and ready for some shade .
It was finally Tessa’s turn, and she’d already told Russ today that she’d never gone paddle boarding before.
“I’ll take you, Tess’,” Kyle offered, but it sounded like he was only doing it because Marin had just nudged him.
Tessa smiled politely, but Russ could see the discomfort on her face. Kyle looked exhausted, his tanned shoulders now a shade of pink in the sun.
“Better slap on some more sunscreen, then,” Drew said. “Your back’s fried, man.”
Kyle glanced at his arms and winced. “Yeah, okay. Maybe I’d better sit this one out, Tess’.”
“I’ll take her,” said Avery.
Drew gave her a dubious look. “Honey, if Tessa’s never done this before, she probably needs someone who can teach her how to do it correctly.” His voice wasn’t unkind, but he was right. “No offense.”