Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
Russ climbed the gangplank and stepped back onto the Latitude with the quiet, familiar thud of deckwood beneath his feet.
He set the full tote bag on the floor plus a box of fruit he’d decided to grab for Jules.
The extra supplies always helped, especially when the guests wanted to prepare their fruity tropical drinks all week, like this group seemed fond of doing.
The sun was beginning its slow descent behind the mountains of Raiatea, casting golden light across the harbor, painting the water in streaks of amber and rose.
He should have felt relaxed after a shore break. Energized, even.
But instead, his chest felt tight.
Spending that hour with Tessa had been... easy. Too easy.
It had felt almost like a date.
Laughing with her over gelato. Wandering through the crowded market, stopping to listen to street musicians. It had felt like slipping into something warm and familiar—comfortable and new all at once.
And that was the problem.
What was he doing?
What was he thinking?
He’d told himself it was just about making her feel included. Keeping a guest from feeling awkward. She was solo on a couples’ trip, after all. It was a kind gesture, nothing more.
But it hadn’t stayed there.
The way her smile tilted when she said something clever. The light in her eyes when she caught him looking. The way she listened—really listened—when he spoke.
He shook his head and stepped onto the aft deck where Jules was slicing citrus at the galley counter.
“Back in one piece?” she asked without looking up.
“More or less,” he muttered, moving toward the stern. “Got the vegetables you asked for and some more fresh fruit.”
“Thanks, boss.”
Upstairs, Malik was rinsing the salt off the deck railings with a hose. Russ grabbed a cleaning towel and started drying the upper deck benches beside him.
“Rough landing back into reality?” Malik asked, grinning.
“Something like that.”
“You run into any of them onshore?”
“Yeah,” said Russ.
“Oh, yeah? Which ones?”
“Just Tessa. ”
“Just Tessa, huh?” Malik was a good friend, but he didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. “She was alone, so I kept her company for a bit.”
Malik gave him a questionable glance. “Company?” He looked into the distance as he rinsed. “She’s a looker, that one.”
Russ blew a breath from his nose. Didn’t he know it? It turned out she was also very interesting and great at pleasant conversation. “Her friends ditched her. I couldn’t leave her out there alone all afternoon.”
Malik looked like he wasn’t falling for it. “Just couldn’t?” He grinned.
“What?” Russ said defensively.
“I’ve seen that look before, Capt’n. But not on board.” He lowered a brow. “Better watch yourself.”
Russ snorted, playing it off. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Malik.” Why did he feel so defensive all of a sudden?
“Didn’t say I did, boss.” Malik went back to spraying the hose. “Just saying, better tread carefully.”
Russ snorted again. He didn’t need to be reminded.
“Don’t worry. I will.” He worked in silence for a while, wiping down the cushions on the top deck, spraying the stainless railings with a glass cleaner, checking the gear bins, anything to keep his hands busy.
Anything to keep his mind from circling the drain of that conversation—that hour—that woman.
It had been more than just a favor, and he knew it. She’d kept him company.
But this was his job. His livelihood. His reputation.
If things ever went sideways—like, if a guest ever complained that he’d made an unwelcome advance, or took something the wrong way—he could lose everything.
Or, if nothing went sideways but someone reported inappropriate behavior, he could still lose everything.
And if he ever started up a relationship with a passenger, well, that was uncharted territory. No man’s land. Strictly off-limits.
Worse, Malik and Jules stood to lose their jobs as well, if they knew about any inappropriate behavior and didn’t speak up. The company had policies in place for a reason. Russ had better be careful.
He was the captain. They all looked up to him. And he wasn’t here to make romantic connections with the guests.
But a friendship of sorts had already started to blossom with Tessa. What was so terrible about a friendship? It wouldn’t impair his judgment or put anyone at risk of harm. He wouldn’t behave unprofessionally, either.
But the way his heart raced when she smiled at him like he mattered? He hadn’t felt that in—years. Was that such a sin? The thoughts swirled in his head.
He tossed the damp towel into the laundry bin with a sigh and made his way down to the galley, where Jules had begun prepping appetizers for dinner.
“Need help?” he asked, grabbing a small cutting board. He’d better keep busy because his thoughts might be heading into dangerous territory if he didn’t turn them off.
She handed him a bowl of pineapple and a sharp knife without a word. “Just don’t overthink the chunks.”
Too late.
Russ cut fruit while Jules plated shrimp skewers and arranged seaweed salad in little bamboo boats. The silence between them was comfortable—years of working together had trained them in that rhythm—but his thoughts were anything but calm.
He didn’t want to pull away from Tessa. And a little more pleasant conversation for a few more days was perfectly harmless, right?
She needed a plus-one at times, and if he were being completely honest, so did he. Just a platonic one. That was all.
But Malik was right to say something if he thought Russ might be crossing a boundary—if only as a reminder. He was just being a good employee. And he wasn’t wrong.
So…?
Fine. He’d stay friendly with Tessa, provide the plus-one when she needed it, but he’d keep his distance, too, so he didn’t give her the wrong idea. It would only be a friendship.
It would be fine.
“Tonight’s dinner is a local specialty, folks,” Jules said, smiling, as she placed the usual family-style setup on the dinner table that night as the sun went down over the horizon, turning the sky to pale shades of orange, yellow, and pink.
“This looks so good!” said Avery. Jenna and Drew nodded from across the table. Tessa passed the platters around, as Marin, seated next to her, handed them along, one by one.
“It’s raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk with diced vegetables,” Jules went on. She’d served it alongside grilled pineapple, taro root, and crispy fish fritters. Tessa’s mouth watered. Everything looked delicious. She filled her plate.
“You really outdid yourself here, Jules,” Kyle said, helping himself to a generous portion as soft music played through the outdoor speakers.
“Well, thanks, Kyle,” said Jules, beaming.
Tessa smiled. The mood was light, everyone laughing about the adventures they’d had onshore today and the sleepy sea crossing earlier.
Jenna made a joke about their collective nap being the most peaceful group activity yet. Kyle pretended to snore at the table.
Drew made a toast to another great day in Tahiti, throwing back another pull of his beer. Tessa laughed and toasted, though. They were guys, and these guys could get a little rowdy at times. Ethan certainly had done his share of the same when he’d hung out with them.
Her eyes drifted toward the galley, eager for a glimpse of a few good men who weren’t throwing back drinks like water and talking loudly over one another .
Where had their captain gone? Russ hadn’t joined them for dinner tonight.
He’d greeted everyone when the food was brought out, said a few polite words, then taken his plate to the upper deck where he and Malik and Jules sometimes sat to eat. He’d barely even looked at her since they’d returned from the market.
The dissonance made her stomach flip.
“So,” Marin whispered, leaning close, “where exactly were you this afternoon while the rest of us were souvenir shopping and sweating through our sandals?”
Tessa hesitated. She kept her voice down. “With Russ. We walked through the village together. Got gelato. Talked.”
The brows on Marin’s face lifted with interest. “Just the two of you?”
Tessa sipped from her drink and gave a small nod.
“And now he’s up there playing it cool,” Marin added, glancing toward the upper deck. “Interesting.”
“Maybe I misread it,” Tessa whispered. “Maybe it was just... being nice to the lonely guest.” But Tessa had asked him about that, and she was sure that wasn’t it. She’d actually thought he might’ve enjoyed hanging out with her. Like he’d needed the company as much as she had.
Marin gave her a look. “You really think he took you to a gelato stand and strolled through a market with you just because he felt sorry for you?”
Tessa shrugged. “No. I don’t.” She glanced inconspicuously at the upper deck, where she could see Malik, his back to them, laughing and talking, obviously with Russ.
“Okay, good, because I’m sure that wasn’t it. Doesn’t seem like the pity-favor type.” Marin straightened her shoulders. “But you said it yourself, girl, you’re not here for romance, are you? You’re here to enjoy yourself and remember who you are.”
Tessa nodded, thinking. Marin had a way of figuring out what Tessa needed to hear. “Exactly. You’re right. He’s just a really nice, outgoing person. And you’re right. I’m not here to date.”
Then a long gaze came from Marin. “Mmm hmm,” she said, not buying it.
Tessa smiled into her glass and shook her head. She wasn’t even buying it herself.
But one thing she did know for certain—her minus-one status on the trip was no longer bothering her.
Dinner ended, and the stars began to puncture the velvet sky.
Tessa looked up from conversation with Avery as Russ stepped down to the mid-deck and flipped a switch near the helm, then turned down the music.
She softened at the sight of him, glad to see he’d joined the group, at least for a bit.
He greeted her and Avery pleasantly. What was he up to?