Page 78 of Meet Me in Tahiti

Someone.

Yes, the next six days of the charter loomed endlessly, especially when he stood here on the top deck where he and Tessa had gotten to know each other all those nights under the stars. And here at the bridge, where she’d stood by him so many times, wanting to know everything she could about sailing and about him. His lip curled at the memory. What was she doing now?

Malik stepped up beside him, carrying two bottledwaters, and handed one over. “Smooth run today,” he said, leaning on the railing. “Not bad for a guy who forgot how to drive a boat.”

Russ smirked. “Please. I was born on a boat.”

Malik took a swig and squinted out at the horizon. “Guests are happy. Crew’s tight. Weather’s good. So why do you still look like someone stole your dog?”

Russ didn’t answer right away. Just watched the sun glint off the bow as the boat cut a clean line through the waves.

Finally, he said, “Ever make a decision you thought was the right one… only to regret it every day after?”

Malik raised a brow. “We talking about a job or a woman?”

Russ gave him a look.

“Ah.” Malik nodded slowly. “Yeah. Thought so.”

He sighed. It hadn’t been easy not contacting her. Keeping his resolve that a clean break was the only way to handle it. But he’d kept it. For better or for worse. And most of the time, it was… for worse.

Splitting may have seemed like the right decision at the time, but he couldn’t get used to the idea that she’d never be a part of his life again. The days felt longer without her, the nights lonely, everyday activities, in paradise though he was, had lost their appeal. It seemed like he might never be able to shake his bachelor status because no one else could possibly appeal to him after her.

And he’d never had these kinds of regrets before. Sure, he’d only known Tessa a little over a week. But she’d opened her heart to him, with no strings attached,with no expectations, without fear. That kind of thing was as rare as the particular type of black pearl, known only to French Polynesian waters, that he’d taken her to see.

She’d said he made her brave, but he knew, without a doubt, that she was already brave before she met him.

And he needed someone like that, someone who wasn’t afraid to just dive in and fall in love. Live life to the fullest, even if it scared you. Because that was how he functioned. That was one of the reasons their chemistry had been off the hook.

He sighed and shook off the thoughts for the hundredth time that week.

At least he’d kept himself busy trying to figure out his next move, since he’d certainly had the time. The past month had been spent sending resumes to one job opening after another.

All of them were located in the United States, the majority, with luxury charter companies in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, but a few of his resumes had gone to Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts when he’d become desperate. He’d only heard from six of them, had interviewed twice, and had been turned down both times. It was a competitive field, with loads of qualified candidates around the world who’d do anything for such a position.

It was no wonder he’d had so little luck. He’d even started applying for first-mate positions and for different kinds of operations, like fishing and cargo fleets in the States. But he hadn’t heard from any of those yet, either.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. They were close enough to land that he still had a few bars of service. It was probably a crew update or another announcement from the main office.

But he kept his eyes on the water as the boat approached another vessel. He nudged the wheel slightly to port, adjusting their course as the catamaran met a light crosswind. The sun was sinking lower behind him, casting long shadows across the deck.

He saw his guests give a friendly wave to the other boat, and a few passengers on board the other boat waved back.

His whole decision to leave home and move half a world away had been impromptu five years ago, unplanned. He’d taken the first job as far away from Florida as he could get.

His family had even called it reckless at the time. Couldn’t believe he’d done it. But this time, it wouldn’t be unplanned, wouldn’t be spontaneous. It might look as though it was, from the outside—especially since a woman was involved, again—but the truth was, the desire to move back had been brewing for over a year.

His eyes flicked down to the console as he scanned the navigation panel—battery status, depth, wind angle. Everything read steady and smooth.

It felt like he’d tried it all, seen it all. And he could’ve kept going through the motions, except that Tessa had left such a deep hole in his heart. She’d created an emptiness that wasn’t there before, and he wasn’t sure what to do with it.

Safely past the other vessel, he retrieved the phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen.

It was a text.

From Walker. Of all people.

Got that Florida contact for you that I mentioned a while back. Guy’s name is Ben Harwell—runs a fleet out of Biscayne. One of his older captains is stepping down end of September, retiring. Might be worth your time to check it out. I can put in a good word for you. You want the number?

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