Page 33 of Meet Me in Tahiti

“Yes, please.” Marin grinned.

“One night,” Jenna said. “That’s all I’d need. Champagne. Bubble bath. Zero interruptions. And Drew.”

They all laughed. “Funny how Drew came last on your list,” teased Avery.

Jenna laughed, blushing. “I saved the best for last.”

They all laughed again.

Tessa gazed at the villas with a dreamy look she couldn’t help. All she could think about was sitting in one of those rooms with Russ. Just the two of them. The curtains pulled open to the stars.

“Hey,” said Marin, nudging her lightly. “On that note, what’s up with Captain Hotstuff and you?”

Tessa blinked and felt her cheeks warming. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Jenna said, lowering her camera. “You two have been circling each other like dolphins for days.”

Tessa looked around, subtly. No Jules. No Malik. Russ was up at the helm, but he couldn’t have heard them.

She dropped her voice anyway. “Nothing’s going on. I mean, yes, I like him. He’s super sweet. But it’s just a crush. I know I’m only here for a week, so I’m keeping my hands to myself. Heart safe.”

The other girls exchanged looks.

“You sure about that?” Marin asked doubtfully.

“Positive,” Tessa said with a convincing nod.

She hated lying to her best friends. But if she told them the truth, they’d start whispering and giggling and asking questions when they thought no one was listening, and it wouldn’t take long before someone overheard.

And Russ’s job? His career? They were both on the line. He’d told her that himself. She’d promised.

So, she smiled and sipped her coffee and let her friends believe the lie.

“I’m good,” she said again. “It’s just a little harmless flirting. That’s it.”

They seemed to buy it, for now, and went back to enjoying the view.

She turned back to face the island, heart full and aching all at once. She’d tell them everything the minute they were on the plane. And that was only in a few days.

For now, she had a promise to keep.

And a man worth keeping it for.

Russ setthe anchor and shut off the engine, stretching slightly as the catamaran settled into place in the calm blue water. The sun was blazing overhead, casting heat off the deck, but the breeze carried just enough coolness to keep it from becoming uncomfortable. He and Malik had brought in the sails already, and he was ready for a short break.

He wandered around the boat with a mug of coffee in hand, doing his usual rounds. He’d already seen the girls out on the bow in bikinis and sun hats. He’d left them to it, not wanting to intrude, but he hadn’t missed a peek at the way Tessa’s curves filled out her suit so perfectly. He smiled and moved on.

Out back, the guys were deep in the middle of a poker game. Someone tossed a joke about how Kyle was about to lose again.

“Captain!” Drew called when he saw him. “You in?”

Russ laughed. “Only if you want me to win.”

They groaned in good humor and waved him off. He shook his head and kept walking, a smile tugging at his lips that he couldn’t seem to shake. He stopped next to chat with Malik, who was gathering fins and masks and snorkels from below for the afternoon’s excursion.

Russ hadn’t slept much last night. Not because of the usual watch shifts or anchor noise.

Because ofher.

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