Gathering every ounce of resolve I can muster, I step away just as Nikolai and Dwight crest a nearby hill. We continue through the highlands, fastening our platonic coworker facades into place. But an unspoken understanding hangs in the space between us, heavy and undeniable…

This just went way past any bet.

When I step off our coach bus at the Tortoise Breeding Center back in downtown Puerto Ayora, the afternoon sun sears my eyes, making me squint.

Graeme’s earlier confession swirls in my brain alongside the jumbled feelings of my own heart. Since the highlands this morning, we haven’t exchanged much more than loaded glances. At lunch I got roped into a conversation with some of the passengers, and he was already sitting with Gustavo on the bus when we all boarded at the restaurant.

I need to focus on my proposal, but I can’t. I need to talk to someone. I need to talk to Walsh. I look around—she’s standing by the bus, texting.

“Hey.” I nudge her, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. I frown. “Are you okay?”

Slipping her phone into her back pocket, she waves me off. “Of course.”

“You’re not. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

I brace my hands on my hips. “Who is Bad News Bears? Is it Miles, that bartender who gave you his number a couple weeks ago?”

She makes an exasperated sound. “You’re like a dog with a bone. No, he’s just some guy I met. Super hot.”

“But?”

She rolls her eyes. “You know the type. Emotionally unavailable. Flaky. But did I mention super hot?”

I’m not buying it. The way she’s looking away and shifting her weight—it’s like that time she borrowed Mom’s car and brought it back with “just a scratch.” And the scratch ended up being the bumper dangling half off.

“Walsh—”

“Excuse me, Henley Evans?” A petite woman wearing a red Seaquest Adventures polo taps me on the shoulder.

“Oh, Analisa, hi.” After the highlands, I’d completely forgotten about our appointment. “Thanks for meeting with me.”

“Of course, it is my pleasure.” Her Spanish-accented voice is as warm as a sunbeam. Her dark hair swishes around her chin and she stretches up to give me an air kiss on the cheek. “I was delighted to hear that one of our marketing managers is visiting.” She peers behind me. “And you must be Graeme. I received your email last night.”

My mouth falls open as Graeme steps even with me.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he says. Analisa air kisses him on the cheek, too.

Wait a second. It was my idea to contact Analisa. My meeting. A tick starts in my jaw and I curl and uncurl my toes inside my shoes.

Graeme’s smile falters when he catches my expression.