Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
My brows furrowed. “Already? How can they tell after a couple of hours? Half the women I didn’t even get to talk to at dinner. A particular few were hogging all my attention.”
Kipton chuckled as Jack looked back to the tablet. “Stormy seems to be the one everyone thinks is going to cause drama.”
“As well as Mollie,” Kipton added.
“What are they saying about Kipton?” I asked.
Her head jerked up. “Me?”
I laughed. “Yeah. I mean, you are the hot hostess, aren’t you?”
A soft shade of pink bloomed on her cheeks as she looked away.
“Lots of comments about Kipton,” Jack confirmed as his eyes swept over the screen. “Some even want her to be among the contestants. One person said…” Jack swiped the screen until he found what he was looking for. “Here it is. They said the two of you make, and I quote, ‘a darling couple.’”
I grinned. “That was probably my mother.”
Kipton let out a snort-laugh, then covered her mouth with her hand. I winked at her and grinned.
He smiled at us both. “We’re getting a lot of great comments about both you and Kipton. I think people will give their thoughts on the contestants as they each get more screen time and the audience can judge their characters.”
Kipton and I nodded.
“Jack, I do have to ask… Are any of them paid actresses?” Kipton asked.
He shook his head. “Not a one. We really want this to be exactly what we’re pitching. A social dating experiment. We’re getting to know these women right along with everyone else. The only thing we did was run background and criminal record checks on all of them.”
“That’s a relief to know,” Kipton said with a chuckle.
“You ran criminal checks?” I asked, surprised.
“Sure as shit did. Trust me,” he said. “You’ll thank us for it later.”
I was suddenly bone-weary tired. “Did you need me for anything else? I’m exhausted.”
He laughed and slapped me on the back. “You’re free to leave. Don’t forget, the crew will be at the ranch tomorrow morning, eight sharp.”
I nodded. “Hey, one more thing. Some of the girls got a little handsy under the table. One even grabbed my…” My voice trailed off as I looked at Kipton.
She raised her brows. “Your what?”
Clearing my throat, I didn’t finish, just looked back at Jack, who seemed highly amused.
“I’ll tell Joyce to have another chat with all twenty girls and make sure they know the rules. If they wanted that kind of show, they should have auditioned for a different one.”
I nodded, then looked at Kipton. “Were you going to drive home with me in the limo?”
It was obvious she was attempting to hold back a smile. She looked at Jack. “Everything set for tomorrow then?”
“Everything is set. We’ll see you both in the morning.”
“Let me grab my bag really quick,” she told me.
It was only then that I noticed someone next to me. Turning, I took a step back. “What are you doing?”
Paul peeked his head out from behind the camera. “My job.”
“You’re filming me now?”
He shrugged. “Yep. And in the limo, but once you get to your place, the camera turns off. Well…not really. Someone is always posted outside the house for when you leave.”
I exhaled and closed my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Kipton asked, returning.
Opening my eyes, I looked at Paul, then back to Kipton. “Nothing. Ready?”
She gave me a nod and we headed out through the country club. Everyone was staring at us as we walked. Who wouldn’t, when you have a freaking mini camera crew following your every move?
“Is this necessary?” I asked to no one in particular.
“Are you asking me?” Kipton asked.
“Yes! Why do they have to follow me literally at all times?”
“Well, the girls have cameras set up at their house to catch conversations. It seems only fair to follow you as well.”
I stopped and stared at her with what I was sure was a horrified expression. “What? That’s an invasion of privacy. They agreed to that?”
“Yes,” Kipton quickly said. “Not everywhere in the house, obviously. Only the common areas, like the kitchen, living room, places like that. They’re all aware of which rooms have cameras in them and which ones don’t. When they walk into a particular room, they know that anything they do or say could be used on the show.”
I sighed. “I should have told them no to any cameras outside of filming hours.”
“Then tell them no.”
Laughing without humor, I said, “I signed the contract already, Kip. I can’t change the rules now.”
“Okay, how about this. What if you let them install cameras in the guesthouse where you’re staying during filming. Same setup as the girls’ place. The kitchen, living room, areas you’re comfortable with…in exchange for no camera crew tailing you.”
When I stared at her like she’d lost her mind, she looked over to Paul and his assistant, Louie. “Would you rather have Paul and Louie following your every move? No offense, guys.”