Page 47 of Natural Temptation

"I'm so sorry, Mer."

She shrugs one shoulder. "I know it sounds horrible, but I was...relieved when he died. I quit my second job and stuck with my bank teller position. Then I started going to group grief therapy. That's how I met Zara, Maya, and Lila. They lost their husbands too."

"It's great that you found friends like those ladies. They're amazing, just like you."

We fall asleep in each other's arms, hardly noticing the storm anymore. And when we wake in the morning, it seems like a new day, not just because the cyclone is gone but also because of our conversation last night.The morning sun streams through the windows. Meredith is still nestled in my arms, her warm breath tickling my neck. For a moment, I allow myself to savor this perfect stillness, to imagine waking up like this every morning.

I know this woman. I love this woman. Nothing else matters.

But duty calls. I carefully extricate myself from Meredith's embrace, planting a soft kiss on her forehead before slipping out of bed. She stirs slightly but doesn't wake.

Outside, the storm has left its mark—fallen palm fronds litter the beach, and the usually pristine sand is strewn with debris. There might be more debris in other parts of the island, but I have a feeling the resort will recover quickly. I make my way to the main building, surveying the grounds as I go. A few lounge chairs overturned, some downed trees, and scattered debris.

But now it's time to check to do a thorough, island-wide inspection. I leave a note for Meredith and then head out.

Chapter Fifteen

Meredith

The scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I scan the bustling dining hall, my heart doing a little flip-flop with every new face. No sign of Ryan yet.Damn. Where is that man? I might have a heart attack waiting for him to appear. When I spot a familiar trio weaving through the tables, I start toward my friends.

"Have you fallen asleep in your chair?" Zara teases, waving a piece of toast in front of my face. "Are you planning on eating that fruit salad or just rearranging it artfully?"

I blink several times, realizing I've been pushing pineapple chunks around on my plate for the last five minutes. "Sorry, I guess I'm just...trying to grasp the fact that we all survived a cyclone."

The aftermath of last night's storm is evident in the slightly disheveled appearance of our fellow guests, but there's an unmistakable buzz of energy in the air. We survived, and now we're ready to pitch in with the cleanup.

"I still can't believe we slept through most of it," Zara muses, her curls wild from the humidity. "You missed out on charades last night, though I don't blame you for preferring to hide out with the studly Ryan."

For some reason, I feel the need to brag about my honey. "He was a Navy SEAL, you know. Ryan can cope with any disaster."

"Wow, Mer. You bagged a twelve-point buck."

"You hate hunting."

Zara shrugs. "Ken loved it, though. And he made the best venison stew."

Luckily, I'm spared from any deer hunting stories when Emilio's enthusiastic wave catches my eye. He, Marley, and Rene make their way over to us.

"Ladies!" Emilio exclaims. "We can't thank you enough for rallying the troops this morning and for enlisting other guests to help with meal prep. Your enthusiasm and ingenuity were a godsend."

Marley nods, her ponytail bobbing. "Seriously, you're like guest relations superstars. Maybe we should hire you all."

The idea sends a little thrill through me. Could I really stay here? My eyes drift to the dining hall entrance again, hoping to catch a glimpse of sandy blond hair and those beautiful hazel eyes. But I still can't find Ryan in the crowd.

"Oi, Meredith," Rene's voice snaps me back to attention. "You looking for someone in particular, love?"

Rather than admitting I'm searching for Ryan, I change the subject. "So, what's the game plan for cleanup?"

While Emilio outlines the day's tasks, I find myself torn between excitement for the group effort and a gnawing anxiety about my rapidly dwindling time on Heirani Motu. The thought of saying goodbye to this paradise—and to Ryan—makes my chest ache.

"You all right, Mer?" Zara whispers, giving my hand a light squeeze. "You look a million miles away."

"Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss all of this," I admit, my gaze sweeping over the dining hall and the staff who've become like family.

"You know, I was thinking of organizing a beach cleanup later," Marley says. "Maybe we could make it fun, like a treasure hunt?"

"Ooh, I like it!" Maya nods approvingly. "What sort of treasures will we be hunting for? Rene's flip-flops?"

---