Chapter 16

R ound two, over. Tonight, he went on a date with a lovely woman named Amy. We were staged at a hotel bar. Hotels are great because we can book a suite and film confessionals on-site. I'm in the room checking on equipment with camera operators, Lance and Derrick, and my production assistant, Rachel.

Rachel and Derrick are running out to grab the rest of us food. While we wait, Lance and I go through some of the recent footage on a laptop. "That was a great shot," he says, capturing Amy batting her eyes at him. I swallow, then nod. I am so fucking emotional today, which means my period will show up within the next twenty-four hours.

"We need to have dual-camera coverage. The last date with Candace was a bitch to film, especially when Sully walked off. It's too much to capture with one guy."

"We were limited that night due to permits, but I totally agree. We should have at least two to three going forward."

The shots are great. Captivating, even. So much that I can't tear my eyes away from him smiling and joking with the woman. It's only going to get worse. Both of our careers are riding on this show. It's only hitting me harder today because my hormones are out of whack. I need to pull it together, especially because Sully should be showing up any minute to get his confessional filmed.

"I'll have Rachel double-check our locations going forward," I say. "You handled it really well, though. Nice job."

"He stormed off, had to follow him."

"Shit, I missed that." Thanks, nausea . "Do you have any idea what he was mad about?"

"I think … you."

My cheeks feel like they're on fire. "What?"

The knock on the door interrupts us. I suck in a deep breath, and Lance shrugs. He pushes off the edge of the hotel desk he's been leaning on and opens the door. Sully walks in. I don't know if I'll get used to how massive he is walking through doorways. Or the smell of his cologne.

I paste on a smile.

"I gotta grab another mic from the van," Lance announces. "Be right back."

He couldn't have done that earlier?

"Okay!" I say, unaffected and not at all nervous about being left alone in a hotel room with Lee Sullivan. "We'll get you set up here." I adjust the angle of the chair. "We'll go through some more questions, just be honest and share your thoughts, no matter what they are." I flip on the lights and check the lighting and background, wanting a different angle than Amy. "We'll get started as soon as Lance returns."

Then I notice he has a couple water bottles. He hands one to me. "Drink this." It feels like a trap.

"Oh. No, thanks. I'm good. Got my coffee." I nod to the cup of cold coffee on the desk.

"I wasn't asking, Kendra." Excuse me? "Drink it. You're dehydrated."

I grab the laptop and sit on the edge of the bed, trying to look busy.

He steps between my legs and takes the laptop from me. His warm huge hand cups my cheek, and I can't bring myself to pull away. He swipes his thumb across my lips.

"Your lips are dry."

My gaze falls to his mouth, and my tongue betrays me by peeking out and lightly touching the tip of his thumb. He bites his lip, and I swear I hear a slight rumble in his chest.

"Do you want to kiss me?" I ask, then cringe at the impulsive thought that came out of my mouth. I can't even respect my own limits. Though, if he tried, I can say with certainty I wouldn't have the strength to stop him. It seems I can only hold boundaries when there's a screen between us. Because right now, all I can think about is if I was the last person he kissed?

He blows out a breath, staring into my eyes. After too long, he clears his throat and says, "Drink the water, Kendra."

I desperately want to be swallowed up by this hotel carpet. "Shit. I'm so embarrassed." I look away and place my laptop in front of me again, wanting to hide. As if this thin Airbook could somehow provide me any defense against him. "I don't know why I said that." I told him weneeded distance, then asked if he wanted to kiss me. What the fuck was I thinking? I wasn't! Of course he rejected me. I shouldn't be upset. No. No, actually, this is good. I'm glad he prevented it from going any further.

"Don't be. If I kissed you now, I wouldn't be able to stop."

He unscrews the cap on the water bottle and hands it to me. I take it from him and feel his eyes on me as I swallow every drop.