Page 31 of Meet Me in Tahiti
He searched her face, his heart racing. “Hey, so… if I ever do move back… could I look you up sometime?”
Her smile came softly, gently, sincerely, as her eyes locked on him. “I’d love that.”
Emotion swelled in his chest. He took her other hand, needing the contact, needing to anchor himself, somehow.
She stepped in closer, gazing up at him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist to warm her again.
“You know,” she said, “I’ve really enjoyed spendingtime with you this week. And I need to ask you something, straight out, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, his brow tightening. “What is it?”
She hesitated a moment, looking back out at the sea, then asked. “Are you… single?”
He could see her cheeks blushing.
His heart warmed. He took her chin gently in his hand and directed her gaze to him. “Do you think I’d be standing here with you if I weren’t?” He grinned, remembering their talk at the market. “Oh, that’s right. You thought I was a skirt chaser. A playboy.”
Another smile grew across her face. “Yeah, I did.”
“Well, I’m not either of those. And no, I’m not seeing anyone.”
That smile of hers was infectious. “Okay, good,” she said, looking satisfied.
He swallowed, his own confidence growing now. So yeah, she was as interested in him as he was in her. This was enough proof for him.
Something broke the surface of the water below, then disappeared, breaking his train of thought. He swallowed back the twinge of guilt in his throat. He really shouldn’t be standing here with her, even if hewassingle. He shouldn’t be doing this. Any of this.
But who was he hurting by falling for this woman? There might be a future here. They both felt it. And he hadn’t thought this way about anyone in… a very long time.
A lot could change in his life if he wanted it to. Especially if he had a future with her. He wasn’t looking for a simple fling.Thatwouldn’t be worthrisking his position here. He’d never done this before with a passenger.
This,on the other hand,could be worth it, since he’d thought so much about leaving, anyway.
She stared up at him with those luminous eyes of hers. It felt as though she could see straight inside of him—who he really was. Not just what he did for a living.
He pushed away another few strands of hair that the wind had blown across her face. He wanted to kiss her. So badly. But should he? Because that would be crossing a line.
He leaned in closer, pulling her in tightly now, his arms still wrapped around her waist.
Those lips, glossy, full, and pink. They were driving him to distraction. He felt her arms encircle his waist.
But he couldn’t do anything else without telling her. He spat out the words before he lost his will. “Listen, Tessa… I can’t… I can’t date passengers. It’s against company policy. Strictly forbidden. I could lose my job.”
Her expression fell suddenly, her smile fading into something pained, and he felt her arms loosening around him. She released a heavy sigh. “Oh, Russ… I was afraid of that.”
Still, there was more to be said. She meant more to him than that. He spoke softly. “But, see, the problem is, I can’t get you out of my mind.”
Because who would know if he kissed her? No one. They were alone. Everyone had gone to bed. No one had to know.
Buthehad to know. He had to know if there was something real between them, and hewouldknow… even if it were just one kiss.
He studied her face. “Can I kiss you, anyway? Now that you know this?” He hoped he didn’t sound as though he was begging, because he almost felt like he was.
She stared up at him. “But… I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Her features filled with yearning, her eyes on his mouth. Then her nod came, slow and certain. She wanted this as much as he did. He could see it in her eyes.
He lowered his head and slowly met her mouth. Gently at first. Tasting, exploring her lips. She responded with the same sort of soft, gentle kisses.
