Page 48 of Natural Temptation

"No, no," Zara interjects. "This is a nudist resort. We should be searching for Ryan's lost shirt. Or maybe his boxers."

Zara winks at me.

And I nearly choke on my coffee in my attempt to stop myself from laughing. I earn concerned looks from the others. "Wrong pipe, that's all."

While the conversation flows around me, my friends share tales of hidden waterfalls and zip-line mishaps, I find my thoughts drifting. Where is Ryan? The dining hall feels emptier without his steady presence, his quiet strength. And I realize, with startling clarity, that I'm not ready for this adventure to end. I'm not ready to leave Heirani Motu—or Ryan. But how can I try to broach that subject if he won't even show his face? I know he must be swamped with the cleanup efforts, but still...

The second we step outside, I gasp. The lush paradise I've come to adore looks like it's been through a blender. Palm fronds litter the ground, and debris from the storm is scattered across the once-pristine beaches. But it's not as apocalyptic as I'd feared.

"Holy coconuts," I mutter, surveying the damage.

Emilio, ever the optimist, grins. "Don't worry. We've weathered worse. This? It's just nature's way of redecorating."

"Well then, let's hope Mother Nature's done with her extreme makeover."

The staff spring into action, directing us with practiced efficiency. I'm impressed by their calm demeanor as they orchestrate the cleanup, all the while ensuring everyone's safety.

"Underground power lines," Marley explains, noticing my puzzled look at the lack of fallen wires. "Clever design, eh? We're online again now, but the backup generator was a lifesaver during the storm."

As I bend to pick up a fallen branch, my mind wanders to Ryan yet again. But my musings end abruptly when there's a stir among the volunteers. Then I see a familiar figure emerging from the direction of the main building.

Ryan.

He's here, looking as gorgeous as ever, his lean body moving with purpose as he surveys the cleanup efforts. Our eyes lock for a moment, and he smiles and winks at me. Every fiber of my being wants to run to him, to throw my arms around him and never let go.

But I can't. Not here, not now.

Zara follows my gaze, her eyebrows shooting up. "No wonder you look like you're walking on air. Your soulmate just walked by."

"I don't believe in soulmates."

"Uh-huh, sure. Come on, girl, I want all the juicy details."

I laugh, and a weight seems to lift off my shoulders. "Later, I promise. Right now, I think I need to talk to him."

While Ryan directs the cleanup efforts, I fall a little more in love with him every minute. Maybe I do want to meet his family. But the one thing I'm certain of is that I want to stay here with Ryan, on this incredible island, forever.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage, and make my way over to Ryan. He's bent over a large fallen palm frond, muscles rippling as he lifts it with ease.

"Need a hand?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Ryan looks up, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Meredith. I was hoping I'd run into you."

"Well, here I am." I try to sound casual, but my pulse quickens. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me."

He straightens, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Never. I've just been swamped with the cleanup. But I'm glad you're here now."

There's an intensity in his gaze that makes my knees weak. I want to throw caution to the wind, to tell him what I want, but the words stick in my throat.

"Ryan, I don't..." My voice falters. The weight of the words I want to express feels too heavy.

He steps closer. "What's wrong, Mer?"

I take a deep breath and dive in headfirst. "I don't want to leave. I mean, I know I have to go home eventually, but...I'm not ready for this to end. For us to end."

Ryan's eyes widen, a mix of surprise and something else—hope, maybe?—flickering across his face. He glances around, then gently takes my elbow, guiding me away from the bustling cleanup efforts to a quieter spot near the tree line.

He keeps his hand on my arm. "I've been thinking about this too. About you. About us."

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