Page 41 of Meet Me in Tahiti

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 wasmidday Friday by the time theLatitudewas 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.”

Avery shrugged but could hardly argue. She’d needed to be picked up twice in the dinghy by Malik when she’d drifted away in the current, which was no laughing matter in this area.

Tessa’s sigh made Russ wince, her patience obviously waning. How could they toss her around like this?

Talk about making someone feel like a third wheel. It was exactly what she’d stressed over earlier in the week. Russ had thought they were past this. “I’ll just go by myself,” said Tessa, trying to sound cheerful about it.

“No, Tessa, I’ll take you,” said Malik in a soft tone.They all knew Malik was an expert out there. He’d been the one to instruct the newbies.

But Russ didn’t like that idea, either. Malik had been running the dinghy nonstop all day, too, and had already hauled three people out of the current earlier. He looked beat.

This was ridiculous.

“I’ve got it,” Russ said smoothly, heading for the paddleboards. “I haven’t been out yet today.” He hadn’t wanted to offer only because he hadn’t wanted Jules or Malik to say something about why he shouldn’t. But he was over that now. Tessa’s feelings were more important.

Malik looked at him, clearly reading into it. “You sure, boss?”

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