Page 43 of Natural Temptation

As we approach the main resort building, our steps slow. I know we need to part ways, but every fiber of my being rebels against the idea. Ryan's hand tightens on mine for a brief moment before he lets go.

"I need some time to think," he tells me, his voice husky with emotion. "We both do. After all, I'm only the interim general manager. We shouldn't make plans, not yet."

"You're right," I say, my voice tight. "We'll figure this out, Ryan. Together or...whatever comes next."

He gives me one last look, a mix of tenderness and torment, before turning away. I watch him go, his lean figure disappearing around the corner of the building. The sudden absence of his warmth leaves me feeling adrift.

Sighing, I make my way to the dining hall, my appetite gone but knowing I should at least make an appearance. Myfriends wave me over, their smiles faltering as they take in my demeanor.

"Mer, what's wrong?" Lila asks with concern etching her features.

I shrug, attempting to seem nonchalant. "Just...a lot on my mind."

My friends exchange glances as if a silent conversation has passed between them. Then Zara stands up. "That's it. We're having an emergency miniten match. Right now."

Before I can protest, they're pulling me toward the beach. While we set up the net, I can't help but scan the beach, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ryan. But he's nowhere to be seen, and the pit in my stomach grows.

"Serve's up!" Lila calls out, snapping me back to the present.

I throw myself into the game, grateful for the distraction. But even as I laugh and dive for the ball, I can't shake the feeling that something monumental is shifting. The paradise around me—the swaying palms, the pristine sand, the crystal-clear water—seems to mock my inner turmoil with its serenity.

By the time the match is over, the sun is setting in earnest. But I can't get excited about the beautiful sunset. As the last rays disappear beneath the horizon, I wonder if Ryan and I will find our way back to each other, or if this magical interlude is destined to remain just that—a beautiful, fleeting moment in time. After a restless night's sleep, filled with dreams of Ryan, I can't take it anymore. The suspense is killing me, and I need to talk to him.

My friends and I are sitting at a table on the auxiliary patio, sipping cocktails that have cute little umbrellas.

I jump out of my chair. "Sorry, girls. I've got to...check on something."

Before they can respond, I'm dashing across the patio, my feet carrying me swiftly toward the main resort building. Myheart pounds as I push through the doors, making a beeline for Ryan's office. When I finally reach his door, I'm panting. I knock, but there's no answer. Pushing the open, I find the room empty.

"Looking for Ryan?" Emilio's voice startles me.

I whirl around. "Yes, have you seen him?"

"He's up on the mountain," Emilio announces. "ATV broke down. Guests can't go zip-lining."

"Thanks!" I call over my shoulder, already halfway down the hall.

Although the hike up the steep mountain trail is grueling, my determination propels me onward. When I finally spot Ryan, he's bent over the ATV, tools scattered around him. He looks up, his eyes widening as they meet mine. Sweat glistens on his brow, and a smudge of grease marks his chiseled jaw. He's shed his shirt, and his chest rises and falls with every breath.

"Meredith? I didn't expect to see you out here."

I shrug. "Been looking for you everywhere. The beach, the dining hall, even your bungalow. I was starting to think you'd vanished into thin air." I pause, trying to gauge his reaction. "It was Emilio who finally pointed me in the right direction."

"Just finished," he pronounces, patting the ATV. "Should be good to go now."

I watch as he explains the repairs to the waiting guests, his voice steady and authoritative. Once they've zoomed off toward the zip-line, he turns back to me and wipes his hands on a rag, the muscles in his arms flexing with the motion.

"You hiked all the way up here?" he asks, a note of surprise, maybe even concern, in his voice.

"It wasn't that difficult," I say with a shrug, though my voice is quavering slightly. "Have you, um, reached a decision yet? About us?"

He doesn't respond immediately, and the silence stretches between us like a chasm.

Finally, I can't bear it any longer. "Remember that time we tried to catch fireflies behind the waterfall?" I blurt out, trying to inject some levity into the moment. "I've never seen anyone look so ridiculous covered in mud."

A ghost of a smile flickers across Ryan's face. "I get what you're doing, Mer."

I hold my breath, waiting for him to tell me more. The silence stretches on and on while the sounds of the jungle—chirping insects, distant bird calls, the rustle of leaves in the breeze—fill in the gap. When he takes a step closer, for a moment, I think he's going to pull me into his arms. Instead, he reaches for his shirt and slips it on, his movements slow and deliberate.

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