Page 44 of Natural Temptation

My attempt at deflection has crumbled. I'd promised myself no more hiding, no more running from my feelings. Time to live up to that vow.

I stand up straighter. "I need to know what you want, Ryan. Are we a couple or not? We both said the L word."

He just watches me, impassive.

Now it's time to make one last confession, to be sure he understands my limitations. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I need to say next. "I was tossing and turning all night, worrying about how you might react to my bombshell. It's something I should've told your much earlier, but I was...afraid. I need you to understand something. I can't have children. And you're young, Ryan. You probably want a family of your own someday. And I—I don't want to hold you back from that."

The words hang in the air between us, heavy with the weight of possibility and heartache.

My pulse pounds as I watch Ryan's face, searching for any sign of his thoughts. He moves one step closer, his body brushing against mine, and I can feel the warmth radiating from his body.

"Meredith, I—" he starts, then stops. His hand reaches for mine, and I feel a surge of hope.

But before he can finish, a shrill ring cuts through the air. Ryan's phone. He hesitates, then pulls it out with an apologetic glance.

"Emilio?" he answers. "What? Slow down."

I watch as Ryan's expression shifts from confusion to concern. "The tropical cyclone? How soon?"

My stomach drops. A cyclone is actually coming? Here? I knew it was a nebulous possibility, but now it seems to be a reality. The idyllic paradise of Heirani Motu suddenly feels fragile.

Ryan ends the call and looks at me, sighing as he wipes a hand over his mouth. "Meredith, I'm sorry."

"I know," I interrupt, forcing a smile. "Duty calls, right?"

He nods, and for a moment, we just stare at each other. The air between us is electric, charged with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. I want to throw myself into his arms, to tell him to forget about the storm and just be with me. But I can't. That's not who Ryan is, and it's not who I am either.

"Go," I murmur. "Everyone's counting on you. We can finish our conversation late."

Ryan hesitates, then turns to leave. I watch him walk away, his shoulders tense but his head held high. As he disappears around the corner, I can't shake the feeling that I've just lost something precious. I shake my head, trying to clear the melancholy thoughts.

"Get it together, woman. He's got a job to do, and he can't hold your hand while he's doing that."

I pull in a deep breath and blow it out, then I turn and head in the opposite direction, determined to find my friends and warn them about the incoming storm. But even as I pick up mypace, I can't quite silence the little voice in my head that wonders if this interruption has changed things between Ryan and me.

While I make my way down the mountain trail, a breeze picks up, and I experience a pang of anxiety. The cyclone clearly hasn't come close to Heirani Motu yet. But I've never been through a storm like this before, and I wish I had Ryan at my side, holding me close and murmuring that everything will be okay. The once-serene jungle now feels ominous. My mind races, torn between worry about the impending cyclone and the unfinished conversation with Ryan.

I spot Zara and the others still on the miniten court, laughing as they pack up the net and the thugs. Their carefree mood feels jarring against my internal turmoil.

"Girls!" I call out, jogging toward them. "We need to get ready. There's a cyclone coming."

Their smiles crumble as they notice my serious expression.

"Are you sure?" Lila asks, her eyes wide with concern.

"Ryan just got the call," I inform her. "We should head back to our rooms to wait for instructions. Why don't we all hang out in Zara's suite until then? The more the merrier, right?"

My best friends agree with my plan, and we watch silly Australian comedies on TV while we wait for the hammer to drop.

And I pray the cyclone misses the island.

Chapter Fourteen

Ryan

The papers on my desk blur into a sea of meaningless words as Meredith's face shimmers in my mind. Her amber eyes, her sexy smile, the way she throws her head back when she laughs. God, I want to find her right now, pull her into my arms, and kiss her until we're both out of breath. But I can't. There's no time for romantic daydreams when a cyclone might be barreling toward us.

I rub my eyes, then return to studying the weather radar, refreshing it for the hundredth time today. The swirling mass of angry red and orange images on the screen seems to be veering away from Heirani Motu, but I know how quickly these storms can change course. The island's last close call happened during the resort's opening, back when James Bythesea was general manager and Holly wasn't his wife yet. The island got lucky back then. I pray we'll be as fortunate this time.

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