Chapter 9 #2
The words melted his heart. He softened and gently pulled some wind-blown hair from her face.
“Yes, you do.” He kept his gaze on her. “I’ll tell you what,” he said.
“I’ll keep helping you find things you love out here so you won’t have to keep making hard choices.
Like today at the pearl farm. You liked that, right? ”
She nodded. “I loved it.”
He beamed. “That’s my new mission, then.”
Her lips parted. “Okay, I’m in.”
Encouraged, he squeezed her hand again.
She sounded more confident. “How about you?” she asked. “You said you were trying to figure out what’s next in your life. Are you getting closer to deciding?”
He exhaled slowly, heart thudding. “Yeah.” If only she knew how often it had crossed his mind this week, since meeting her… “I think so.” Or, at least, he wished so.
She tipped her head and looked up at him through her long, dark lashes. “Since you’re from Florida… do you think you’ll ever move back?”
He hesitated, struck by how much he wanted to give her a real answer. By how consumed he was with the fact that she wanted to know. By how she kept guessing what was on his mind before he could even tell her. How did she understand him so well? They’d only known each other for four days.
He wanted to tell her, to bring her in on his potential plan. “Can you keep a secret?” he asked, smiling just a little.
She nodded with interest.
“I applied for a job in Miami about a month ago,” he said. “Charter company that takes people down through the Keys and around the Gulf, up the coast, too. If it works out, I can start planning to move back after my contract here ends in three months.”
Her face lit up. “Really? That’s amazing!”
He smiled, warmed by her excitement. “Still haven’t heard yet, though. Starting to think I might never hear from them,” he said despondently. “But you’re right—I’m sure there are plenty of other opportunities. I just…” He shrugged. “It’d be nice if something fell into place quickly.” Easily.
Tessa laughed softly. “That would be fantastic, if you get it.”
He searched her face, his heart racing. “Hey, so… if I ever do move back… could I look you up sometime?”
Her smile came softly, gently, sincerely, as her eyes locked on him. “I’d love that.”
Emotion swelled in his chest. He took her other hand, needing the contact, needing to anchor himself, somehow.
She stepped in closer, gazing up at him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist to warm her again.
“You know,” she said, “I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you this week. And I need to ask you something, straight out, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, his brow tightening. “What is it?”
She hesitated a moment, looking back out at the sea, then asked. “Are you… single?”
He could see her cheeks blushing.
His heart warmed. He took her chin gently in his hand and directed her gaze to him. “Do you think I’d be standing here with you if I weren’t?” He grinned, remembering their talk at the market. “Oh, that’s right. You thought I was a skirt chaser. A playboy.”
Another smile grew across her face. “Yeah, I did.”
“Well, I’m not either of those. And no, I’m not seeing anyone.”
That smile of hers was infectious. “Okay, good,” she said, looking satisfied.
He swallowed, his own confidence growing now. So yeah, she was as interested in him as he was in her. This was enough proof for him.
Something broke the surface of the water below, then disappeared, breaking his train of thought. He swallowed back the twinge of guilt in his throat. He really shouldn’t be standing here with her, even if he was single. He shouldn’t be doing this. Any of this.
But who was he hurting by falling for this woman? There might be a future here. They both felt it. And he hadn’t thought this way about anyone in… a very long time.
A lot could change in his life if he wanted it to. Especially if he had a future with her. He wasn’t looking for a simple fling. That wouldn’t be worth risking his position here. He’d never done this before with a passenger.
This, on the other hand, could be worth it, since he’d thought so much about leaving, anyway.
She stared up at him with those luminous eyes of hers. It felt as though she could see straight inside of him—who he really was. Not just what he did for a living.
He pushed away another few strands of hair that the wind had blown across her face. He wanted to kiss her. So badly. But should he? Because that would be crossing a line.
He leaned in closer, pulling her in tightly now, his arms still wrapped around her waist.
Those lips, glossy, full, and pink. They were driving him to distraction. He felt her arms encircle his waist.
But he couldn’t do anything else without telling her. He spat out the words before he lost his will. “Listen, Tessa… I can’t… I can’t date passengers. It’s against company policy. Strictly forbidden. I could lose my job.”
Her expression fell suddenly, her smile fading into something pained, and he felt her arms loosening around him. She released a heavy sigh. “Oh, Russ… I was afraid of that.”
Still, there was more to be said. She meant more to him than that. He spoke softly. “But, see, the problem is, I can’t get you out of my mind.”
Because who would know if he kissed her? No one. They were alone. Everyone had gone to bed. No one had to know .
But he had to know. He had to know if there was something real between them, and he would know… even if it were just one kiss.
He studied her face. “Can I kiss you, anyway? Now that you know this?” He hoped he didn’t sound as though he was begging, because he almost felt like he was.
She stared up at him. “But… I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Her features filled with yearning, her eyes on his mouth. Then her nod came, slow and certain. She wanted this as much as he did. He could see it in her eyes.
He lowered his head and slowly met her mouth. Gently at first. Tasting, exploring her lips. She responded with the same sort of soft, gentle kisses.
But soon, he wanted more.
Because yes, the feelings were all there between them. He could feel the fireworks on the verge of explosion in his chest. The intensity. The wanting. Exactly as he’d imagined. He kissed her more firmly, and she returned his affection with faster, deeper kisses.
His heart pounded as his arms tugged her in closer.
But finally, he pulled back. He had to stop, before stopping became even more difficult.
Yes, it was all there for them. Everything. He let out a heavy breath. Now, only time would tell if they had a future together.
Still, he wanted one.
He wrapped his arms around her again and pulled her in for a hug, wrestling with the emotions in his chest .
Finally, she drew back and gazed up at him. “I should go. I don’t want to do anything to put your job at risk.”
Even at a time like this, she was still trying to be considerate. His heart softened. “About that, Tess’. We can’t let on… about this. To anyone.”
She nodded firmly, as if she expected him to say that. “I know.”
“But maybe we can meet here again tomorrow night?” he said. He knew he was pushing the limits, but they only had so much time together before her trip was over. He needed more time alone with her, where he wouldn’t be pretending that she was just another passenger.
Another nod came from Tessa. “Definitely.”
He squeezed her hand once more, then touched her cheek.
At the top of the stairs, she turned and smiled back at him, zipping her lips—then cast him a gentle but even sad smile before she disappeared down the steps into the night.
A jumbled mix of all those emotions, too, Russell stayed there, staring out at the dark water. Was it wrong that he felt more hopeful than he’d been in a very long time?