Page 57 of Meet Me in Tahiti

Russ turned to face him, his interest rising.

“In fact,” Walker went on, “a good buddy of mine runs a charter outfit down in Biscayne. Real tight operation. I can give you his name, if you want.”

Russ felt the tension in his shoulders ease just a little. “Yeah? That’d be great. I’d appreciate that, Walker. Thanks.”

Walker nodded. “You’re a good man, Callen. And a great captain.” Walker slapped him on the back.

Russ smiled and relaxed. “Thank you, sir.”

The moment settled comfortably between them, filled with the quiet understanding of men who knew this life—and all the unpredictability that came along with it.

Russ sat back, watching the flames dance in the fire pit near the water. This could be helpful, and it meant there might still be a chance for him and Tessa, but he’d better not count his chickens before they hatched, because that was precisely how he’d gotten himself into this mess.

He glanced back toward the dance floor. She was still out there, laughing with the others, but he saw her glance around again—searching. Her gaze found him, and this time, when he smiled, it reached his eyes.

Would it be so bad if he spent a little time with her, after all? Because keeping his distance from her like this was torture. It wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

No, it wouldn’t.

Russ stood up, brushing the sand from his shorts. “Gonna go check in with the guys from our boat,” he said to Walker and Brooks. It wouldn’t raise anyeyebrows if he went to talk with the group for a while. And Tessa would probably come to him, then. He’d still need to play it safe, but at least he could check in with her, make sure she was having a good time. He wouldn’t want to ruin her night, as much as he needed to play it safe. “Catch you two later?”

Walker raised his bottle. “Go get ’em, Capt’n.”

Malik stood, too. “I’ll go with you. They’re probably starting to wonder what hole we fell into.”

The guys laughed, and Russ nodded, turning to wait for Malik.

The party was incredible.Warm tropical air—the perfect temperature. Soft sand beneath her feet. The pulse of upbeat music drifting through the palms. Tessa couldn’t imagine a more beautiful final night of the trip. Lanterns glowed from trees, fairy lights crisscrossed overhead, and the full moon hung low and golden over the ocean.

The laughter came easily as she danced with Marin, Jenna, and Avery, and the guys when they came out. It was magical. Something she’d remember forever.

But even as she spun beneath the swaying string lights, she kept looking toward the edges of the dance floor—searching for him.

Why was Russell still acting so distant from her?

Last night, at the dinner show, he’d danced with her in front of everyone. They’d laughed and talked. He’d even put his arms around her. It felt like they werealready halfway to forever. So why not tonight? This wasn’t some intimate dinner with eyes on them. It was a beach party. Loud. Distracting. Casual. They could’ve hung out. Danced. Laughed. Like everyone else.

She didn’t need him to slow dance with her. Didn’t need him to call her his girlfriend.

But she did need something—some signal they were still connected.

She scanned the crowd again. And then she saw him. He was sitting near the bar with Malik, leaning against a bench, half-talking to some men, perhaps another charter crew.

But Russ wasn’t smiling much. Not really. Just listening, mostly, and sipping his beer.

He looked up.

Their eyes met.

He smiled. But it was the kind of smile that only made her chest ache more.

He looked sad.

Was he thinking about tomorrow? About saying goodbye?

Because she was.

And staying so far apart here was wasting their last night together. She wanted to be close to him—just for a few moments. She had to know what was going on.

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