Page 14 of Meet Me in Tahiti
“About another hour,” he said, offering a smile.
“Thanks.” She nodded, turning and heading for the narrow stairwell that led to the main deck below.
Chapter
Five
By the timethey reached the port village at Raiatea, theLatitudewas trailing salt spray and a few drowsy passengers who had yet to recover from the long sea crossing. Tessa felt great, though, and donned the wide straw hat she’d brought along with a soft pink sundress that reached just above her knees, her wedge sandals on her feet once they’d hit the dock. The humidity hadn’t done her any favors, but the hat certainly helped.
Outside, the village bustled with a kind of effortless charm under the afternoon sun—pastel buildings, wooden docks lined with small fishing boats, and the scent of grilled fruit and roasted coffee wafting from open-air cafes.
This was certainly Tessa’s speed. No threatening sea creatures. Only shopping and food and culture. She couldn’t wait to soak it up.
The group began to split up. Marin and Kyle wandered off toward a row of boutiques, hand in hand. Avery and Nate, always looking for somethingadventurous, were already talking about finding a scooter rental.
Jenna stopped and turned to wait for Tessa to catch up. “Hey, you want to come with us?” she said.
“Yeah, Tess, come on,” offered Drew. “It’ll be fun.” The open market stood straight ahead, beckoning. Drew smiled politely and gestured toward a shop with colorful beach wraps hanging from the doorway. Then he grabbed Jenna’s hand sweetly and kissed her on the lips.
Suddenly, a wave of doubt washed over Tessa. She adjusted the long strap of her purse over her shoulder. She was probably going to feel like a third wheel to any of these couples, no matter how much they loved her.
They were here to connect with each other, not just as a group. She ought to let them have some time alone. This was their vacation, too, and strolling these tropical village streets was like a page off of the ultimate guide to romantic escapes.
“Sure, thanks,” she said casually, as if it were nothing, “I’ll join you in that shop, but I’m going to take my time with those beach wraps and catch up with you guys later,” she lied, following them toward the shop Drew had mentioned. “I mean—it's shopping. What’s not to like?”
Jenna smiled. She seemed to believe Tessa was truly interested in shopping on her own. “Okay, if you say so.” They all stopped to browse the beachwear store. Soon, Jenna and Drew moved on, checking on her first, but she assured them again that she’d be fine. “I’ll seeyou guys back at the boat in a couple of hours if I don’t run into you. Go! Have fun.”
Of course, shewantedto have someone to walk around with, but not if it meant piggybacking on someone else’s potentially very romantic port-strolling date.
She’d be fine. This was just shopping, after all. What nearly thirty-year-old woman on holiday didn’t love that? She owed the girls their alone-time.
A couple of minutes later, she walked out of the shop and glanced around. Where to go next? Rows of counters full of handcrafted artwork gleamed from a large, open-air building ahead.
“Hey there,” a familiar voice called from behind.
She stopped and turned around, her brow lifting at the familiar face. Captain Russ was walking up from the pier, a cloth tote slung over one shoulder.
He smiled, catching her eye. “Thought you all would’ve disappeared into the crowd by now.”
First of all, how did the man manage to look so good? His tanned forearms and muscular biceps under a soft blue polo made her nearly blush. The fishing hat he wore today, probably just to protect his face from the blazing midday sun, made him look even more approachable. Good thing she was wearing sunglasses, or he’d have caught her staring.
She tore her gaze away from his broad chest and brought it up to meet his stunning blue eyes. “Well, the rest of them wandered off. I was kind of hanging back until they left. My girls need some time alone with their guys. Romantic vacation, you know…” She pointed to herself, faking a wide grin. “Third wheel, tag-along.”
He scoffed. “Hardly.” Then he shot her that Hollywood smile he’d apparently perfected without realizing it. “But I get it.” His gentle tone warmed her heart. He was out here alone, too. He probably did get it better than anyone.
“So, you want a shopping buddy, then?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. Her heart bumped.
She hesitated, then nodded gratefully. “I would love a shopping buddy.”
Tessa fell into step beside Russ as they walked the village road. The shops were bright and breezy, open to the warm air. Friendly faces lit up everywhere, welcoming them in. He pointed out a few places she wouldn’t have noticed and explained a few Polynesian words she’d never have known had she been here alone. “This is so cool,” she said absently. “How’d you learn all this stuff?”
“You just get to know it when you’re around it every day,” he said. “I live on this island, by the way. On the other side, though. A long way from here.”
Tessa nodded with interest. “Really?” This guy was full of surprises. They chatted a little more about his current apartment and a couple of other places he’d called home on the islands since he’d been here.
Strings of woven hats hung like streamers across the entrances. Handmade jewelry glittered from tables shaded with vibrant awnings. “Your friends wouldn’t have ditched you if you’d asked, you know,” Russ said gently.
Tessa grinned. “Do you read minds now?” How had he guessed at what she’d been thinking earlier? She sighed. “And I know, but I’d rather be alone than get on my best friends’ and their highly smitten boyfriends’ and husband’s nerves. Don’t want to wear out the third-wheel welcome, after all.”
