Chapter Thirty

Ben

When we returned to the resort, Tessa thanked me profusely and hugged me. Actually hugged me. It was quick, but it was still a hug. Then she excused herself to shower the horsy smell away and get ready for tonight—the big dinner with all of the attendees present is tonight.

From what I understand, the women had the same meal that we had last night—jerk chicken with all the sides. Tonight, the entrée is curried goat.

Yeah, goat.

With sides of rice and kidney beans cooked in coconut milk, callaloo—which looks like spinach and is sautéed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and Scotch Bonnet peppers—and fried cornmeal dumplings that are called “festival” on the printed menu.

“Goat, Ben?” Braden says to me, holding out the menu while he takes a sip of bourbon. “Really?”

I grin. “When in Rome…”

He simply chuckles and walks away to join Skye, who’s with Betsy and Daniela.

Tessa stands by herself, nursing a sparkling water. She’s wearing a different black dress tonight and looks even sexier than last night.

Something is still eating at her. It could be the same trauma she’s been struggling with, but I have a feeling it’s something else. Something different.

Or I may be completely wrong. As much as I want to know Tessa, I really don’t. At least not yet.

I approach her. “Hey.”

“Hi, Ben. I can’t thank you enough for today. First the cold plunge, and especially the horseback riding. It was all so… Just thank you.”

“My pleasure.” I resist the urge to touch her. “You doing okay?”

She takes a sip of water. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

I shrug. “Just making sure.”

“I got back to my suite after our excursion and found a string of texts from Skye. She wanted me to go for a massage with her.”

“Sorry you missed it.” I stretch my arms over my head.

“Don’t be. I’m not.”

I rub the back of my neck. I’m a little stiff from the horseback ride. “I haven’t had time to get a massage here.”

“Didn’t you say you have a full-time massage therapist at home?”

I take a sip of bourbon. “Yeah.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re so not the diva type.”

I laugh, then. Erupt into laughter, actually. “You know so little about me, Tessa, but you’re right. I’m not a diva. But do you know why I keep a full-time trainer and massage therapist at my home?”

“Because your life is so stressful?” she says, her tone a bit sardonic.

Oh, she has no idea. But that’s not the answer I’m going for. I got over apologizing for my good fortune years ago. So I shake my head. “Because I can.”

That actually gets a smile out of her. “I’ve had more massages this weekend than I’ve had in the last year.”

“You only had one massage in the last year?”

“Yeah. I won a raffle at work—my old work—for a massage and facial. It was heavenly.”

“Tell you what,” I say. “You can come to my place whenever you want and I’ll make sure you get a massage.”

She shakes her head. “Right.”

I gently touch her shoulder. “You’re going to find, Tessa, that I never say anything I don’t mean.”

She cocks her head, this time not smiling. “So you were serious when you said you wanted to kiss me?”

Is she kidding? “Of course I was serious. I still am. But I won’t until I’m certain you’re ready for it.”

She tilts her chin up slightly, moves a step closer. “What if I tell you I’m ready for it now?”

My cock reacts—whether to her nearness or to her words, I’m not sure. Probably both.

Her lips are pink and shiny and slightly parted. I could so easily slide my own over them, touch my tongue lightly to hers.

I lean toward her, licking my own bottom lip.

This is it. I’m going to kiss her. I’m going to kiss Tessa’s beautiful lips.

Her eyelids slide closed, and—

“Dinner is served!” Braden’s voice booms over a microphone.

Tessa’s eyes shoot open, and I jerk backward.

Talk about killing the moment.

But it wasn’t the right moment, anyway. The right moment will be when Tessa and I are alone somewhere. Maybe tonight under the moonlight on the beach as the waves crash to the shore.

I ache to grab her hand, but before I can, she walks past me and heads to the table under the cabana.

She and I are seated next to each other.

“Excited about the goat?” I ask.

“Not even slightly.”

Our appetizers are already in front of us—Jamaican patties. They look kind of like small turnovers, and they’re filled with ground beef and spices. They’re savory and delicious. The servers fill up wine and water glasses as chatter ensues among the party.

When the servers arrive with domed dinner plates, I inhale. The curried goat has a sharp and spicy aroma, and I find myself looking forward to trying it.

Just as Tessa’s plate arrives and the server removes the dome, her phone vibrates between us on the table.

“It’s my sister,” she says with a huff. “Why would she be calling me here? She knows—” Then her eyes widen. “Excuse me, please. I should take this.”

“You want me to come with you?” I ask.

She shakes her head as she rises, already putting the phone to her ear. She disappears into the hotel.

Worry gnaws at me, but I take a bite of the curried goat anyway once everyone is served.

It’s…good, actually—the goat has been slow cooked and is incredibly tender. Garlic, onion, and coconut are all apparent in the flavor. It’s similar to beef, but with an added gaminess.

Minutes pass. My plate is half empty, and Tessa hasn’t returned.

Skye, who’s seated on my other side, touches my arm. “Where’s Tessa?”

“She got a phone call from her sister.”

“Eva? That’s strange.” She rises. “I’m going to check this out.”

I finish my curried goat and a glass of Malbec, and they still haven’t returned. I steal a glance at Braden.

He gives me a slight nod.

That’s my cue to go see what’s going on. He’s the host of tonight’s shindig, so he can’t very well leave. Though he’d leave in a minute if Skye were the problem.

Skye and Tessa are nowhere to be found, so I head up to Tessa’s room across the hall from mine.

I knock.

No response.

I knock again. “Tessa? Skye?”

The door opens, just a crack, and Skye stands there. “I need to go talk to Braden. Can you stay with Tessa, please?”

“Of course. What’s going on?”

Skye wipes a tear from her eye. “Tessa’s dad had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital, and it doesn’t look good.”

My heart plummets to my stomach. “Oh my God.”

“We need to get her back home to Boston as soon as we can. So I need Braden to get the jet—”

“Skye, I’m on it.” I grab my phone. “The jet is here, so we should be able to get out right away.”

“The problem is,” Skye says, “if they take Tessa back tonight, will they be able to get back here in time to take to fly us all back tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. I guess you could all leave later in the day. I’ll see if I can find a commercial flight for Tessa, but that will only work if it leaves within the next couple hours. I’ll go with her. Tell Braden to get the driver ready.”

But as I check my airline apps, I find there are no commercial flights available at this time of night to fly from Montego Bay to Boston.

“Damn it.”

“What?” Skye asks.

“Nothing available. We’re going to have to use the jet if we want to get her back as soon as we can.”

Skye nods. “I’ll tell Braden. If we have to leave later tomorrow or stay another day… That’s fine for Braden and me, but what about the others?” She sighs.

“Captain Rogers can get the jet right back in the air as soon as Tessa and I land,” I say.

“What about FAA hours?” she asks. “The flight from Montego Bay to Boston can take up to five hours. The captain will max out.”

“The co-pilot can fly back.”

“Yeah, but both of them will still need a break for twenty-four hours before—”

“Skye, we’ll work it out.” I grab her shoulders. “We have other pilots. We can fly someone down here tomorrow morning, and you’ll get out in time. Please. This won’t be an issue.”

“You’re right, of course. I’m just…” She rubs her temples. “This is just the worst. It’s the last thing Tessa needs right now. She loves her family.”

“I know. Where is she?”

“In the bedroom. She’s…not in a good place, Ben.”

“Which is why I’m flying back with her. She shouldn’t be alone.”

“Are you sure?” Skye asks.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I say.

Skye leads me out of the sitting area and into the hallway. “Go tell Braden what’s going on, and I’ll stay here and help Tessa get packed. Do you need to pack?”

“All I need is my wallet and my phone,” I say. “But I’ll grab a few things quickly, and then I’ll go see Bray.”

Skye nods again, and I leave, heading into my own suite across the hall.

I travel light anyway, so it doesn’t take me long to grab all my stuff and throw it in my suitcase. Once I’m ready, I leave the suitcase outside my door and go back to the dinner, where I grab Braden and pull him aside.

“Fuck,” he says after I give him the lowdown. “Just what she doesn’t need right now.”

“I know. But we got through the bachelor and bachelorette parties. You and Skye can stay and enjoy yourselves. I’ll take care of the pilot situation. And Tessa.”

“Yeah, sure.” He gives me a quick hug. “Thanks, bro. I owe you one.”

Except my brother owes me nothing. Because it’s becoming increasingly clear to me that I would do just about anything for Tessa Logan.