Page 21 of Meet Me in Tahiti

“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 earas 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.

Chapter

Seven

The upper deckof theLatitudewas quiet now, save for the occasional laughter floating up from the lounge below. Russ leaned against the railing, beer bottle in hand, the glass chilled with condensation, the sea a soft hush in the background. The boat was still, anchored in the calm bay, and the stars were out in full force.

He liked this time of night. When the guests had settled, the work was done, and the ocean felt like it belonged just to him.

Footsteps padded softly up the steps behind him.

Tessa’s voice came out quietly. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Russ turned, his heart doing that reckless lurch it had taken to doing around her.

She was barefoot, of course, a tank top revealing slightly pink shoulders, but after all the fun they’d had teasing her about her fair skin, she was actuallytanning, and it gave her an alluring, vibrant glow. His pulse quickened.

Her hair was a little windblown. She walked toward the railing like she’d done it a hundred times before. He smiled at the difference only a few days had made.

“Still up?” he asked.

“Just wanted to look at the stars before bed,” she said. “Didn’t know I’d have company.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” he said, his lip curling on one side, although the chance of seeing her up here had crossed his mind. It might be why he’d stayed out so long, waiting to see if she’d show tonight.

She stepped up beside him, folding her arms on the railing. They both looked out in silence for a moment. The water below shimmered faintly. He’d turned off the green underwater lights over an hour ago.

“You weren’t kidding about the stars out here,” she said.

“Best show on the islands,” he replied.

“Besides the sharks,” she added with a sly grin, and he chuckled.

“That’s right.”

He was glad they’d all liked it so much. When both the sharks, or even just a ray, showed up, it always wowed the guests. And he had to admit, he’d really wanted to see her reaction to it. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

They stood side by side, their shoulders not quite touching, a quiet comfort between them. The hush of the waves, the faint music still drifting up from the lower deck, the clink of ice from someone’s glass below—it all made the moment feel suspended, like they were floating above it.

---