Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 41935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
I keep my expression neutral, not letting my relief show.
“I shouldn’t even shower before this date,” she says. “I should just make him inhale my funk all night long.”
“That’s one approach.”
She sighs dramatically. “I’d have to smell myself all night long, though. I’ll shower, but I’m not wearing perfume and I want you to find me something super unflattering from the wardrobe department.”
“Um, a bedsheet is flattering on you.”
“True. But you know what I’m saying. Find something that doesn’t show any cleavage. We’re going mini golfing.”
I fight a smile. She’s going to hate that.
“Don’t you dare laugh.” She scowls. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this stupid show. Touching a sweaty golf club someone else just used when we could be on a yacht in France.”
“I’ll make sure the production people have a new golf club for you.”
“Fine. I’m taking a shower.”
I close the door to her room, waiting until I’m halfway down the hallway to laugh. She’ll have to pretend she’s having fun for hours, which won’t be hard for an actor. And I get the evening off.
Which I deserve. And I’m going to enjoy it.
Dinner at the house that night is a taco bar. I load up two soft shells with meat, cheese and toppings, adding chips with queso and salsa on the side. I’m sitting on one of the patios with dinner, a glass of wine and a book when a deep voice says, “May I join you?”
It’s Dalton, and there’s a gleam in his eye. I nod, excited and anxious at the same time.
He leaves an empty seat between us, setting down a plate overflowing with tacos and a glass of iced tea.
“Sweet or unsweet?” I ask him.
“You mean me or the tea?”
A smile tugs on my lips. “The tea.”
“Unsweet.”
“What is it with you and sweets? I hear you had trouble finding ice cream today.”
He shrugs. “I choked. Could’ve been out on a one-on-one tonight, but I had no idea where to look for strawberry ice cream.”
My heart leaps. His tone confirms what I already suspected; he deliberately lost today so he could be here. No matter how much I tell myself to stop playing this dangerous game with him, I can’t.
It feels too good. It’s been so long since I did something just for me. Years. And even then, it was never anything like this. Being with Dalton is heady and indulgent. There’s a buzz between us that makes my skin heat and my heart pound.
Some of the other contestants are swimming, yelling as they splash water on each other and line up bottles and cups to make a swim-up bar.
“You feel like taking a walk?” Dalton asks me.
I look away. “Yeah, but I don’t think we should.”
“Yeah, guess not.” He stands up, and I get a sinking sensation when I realize he’s leaving.
“I need to return an email from my agent and I have to do it from my laptop because of security.” He glances over his shoulder, making sure no one is close enough to hear him. “So if I happen to come by your room around eight, will you be there?”
I should say no, but I don’t even consider it. Instead I just nod, not trusting my voice.
His gaze darkens slightly, raking over me like a long, sensual stroke. He picks up his plate and glass from the table, then comes over and takes mine, too.
“See you soon,” he murmurs, his lips hardly moving.
I’m so worried about giving away my excitement that I force my mind onto something bland. My grandma used to knit hats. I make a mental inventory of every hat she knitted for me and Will. My favorite one was pink and purple with a giant fuzzy ball on top. He didn’t have a favorite; he pretended to love the hats in front of her and then pulled them off and stuffed them into his pockets before anyone at school could see them.
Okay, that helped. I sigh heavily, feigning boredom, and scroll on my phone. Inside, I’m doing jumping jacks, though.
I got all of Farrah’s spa treatments today. I’m fully polished, waxed and moisturized. Even if Dalton just wants to hang out and talk, I at least smell nice.
My heart is galloping at full speed, though, because I’m hoping he wants more than that.
I know I do.
fourteen
Dalton
My mind was not on that email to my agent. I had to read what he wrote three times just to make sure I knew what he was saying before I responded.
It was an endorsement deal offer for deodorant. I told him to negotiate the best terms and I’ll do it if he thinks I should. Why not? Endorsing not smelling bad is a safe bet.
Speaking of...I sniff my pits one more time as I pretend to sit casually in the great room, looking at my phone. There are two entrances to the staff hallway Alice’s room is in--one through the kitchen and one from the outside of the house.