Page 64 of Meet Me in Tahiti

“I messed everything up,” she whispered. He heard the pain in her voice.

Russ turned to face her, jaw clenched, heart still thrumming from the crash of adrenaline. “No, you didn’t, baby. You didn’t.”

“Yes, I did.” Her voice cracked. “You could lose your job now, because of me.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice but not softening his resolve. “Listen to me. This isn’t your fault, Tessa.”

“But I kissed you first. I made you come out here. I?—”

She was spiraling. He could see it. He took her face, gently, in both hands, and tried to stop the flood of guilt. “Tess’. Look at me.”

He met her eyes reluctantly, slowly, seeing her lashes damp, catching the faint glimmer of moonlight. His chest felt tight.

“I knew the rules. I made the choice. I’m the captain here.” His voice was low but steady, though he felt a faint tremor beneath the surface, like the echo of distant thunder beyond the beach. “This was my call, and I would make it again. This is on me, and I’ll take care of it. You don’t have to worry about any of it. Do you understand me?”

“But—” she protested, her voice soft, catching. The humid air pressed in around him, wrapping him in a suffocating warmth.

“I’ll fix it,” he said. His voice didn’t waver. He didn’t know exactly how yet, but he meant it. For her, he’d figure it out. Hewouldfix this.

She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded, barely.

Russ bent and kissed her—slow and sure, grounding her, grounding himself. Reminding her what she meant to him, despite the fact that they’d be endingthis tomorrow when she left. Because this didn’t change anything between them. She still meant so much to him.

But why—oh, why did she have to leave tomorrow?

Her arms came around him, pulling him close like she didn’t want to let go. He held her there for a long time, then pressed a kiss to the side of her head, breathing her in, letting her warmth and sadness and strength settle into his bones.

Then he pulled back, slowly.

“We need to head back.” He wasn’t looking forward to the looks or the judgment or the worry he’d find on the faces of the various people out there, but he might as well not make the situation any worse. If Walker didn’t spread this around, he might have a fighting chance at saving his dignity. His livelihood. He needed to show the man he wasn’t afraid. Wasn’t ashamed.

Tessa nodded again, lips pressed together, this time in certainty. She was strong, and she was there for him.

He took her hand, linked his fingers firmly with hers. Stopped and gazed at her. “We’ll be fine, okay? I promise.”

She searched his face before she nodded. “Okay.”

Together, they stepped out of the shadows beneath the towering palms, walking toward the bar where tiki torches still flickered and music still drifted on the breeze as if nothing had happened.

But as soon as they were in view of the tables and the dance floor and all the people they both knew, Russ dropped her hand, letting his own fall to his side as if they’d done nothing but taken an evening stroll.

He couldn’t touch her again—not here. He didn’treach for her. Didn’t let his eyes linger longer than what was strictly professional.

But when he glanced toward the far table, where Walker now sat with a group of other captains, their eyes met for a long moment.

What was the man going to do with the knowledge he’d just acquired? Russ’ gut still swarmed with worry.

Tessa smoothedher skirt and took one steadying breath.

She was done crying. Done shaking. She’d cried into his chest like the world was ending, and maybe a part of it was—but he’d held her strong and steady. Told her he’d fix it. That it wasn’t her fault.

But it was bigger than her now. Bigger than a kiss among the trees. Bigger than butterflies and stars and moonlight. He could lose his job. He was willing to face that for her, and the least she could do was not make it any harder.

So she held her chin a little higher as she walked back across the sand, forced a nonchalant smile, letting the sound of the music and laughter fill her ears as the firelight pulled her back in. A beachside party in paradise. Her thirtieth birthday.

She was going to remember this night for the rest of her life. No matter what happened. She glanced at Russ as he walked off. He glanced back, and she gave him a nod—she’d be okay.

The girls were on the dance floor again, movingunder the lantern lights like nothing had changed, the air thick with the scent of salt, rum, and coconut. As Tessa reached them, Jenna glanced up and immediately grinned.

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