Love Elimination (26 page)

Tyson Westwood walked far enough down the corridor that they were out of earshot from even the most sensitive microphones used on
Love Elimination
. Then he turned and waited. They’d been on such great terms since Luke’s accident. In less than five minutes, all that goodwill washed away.

‘Spit it out.’ His father crossed his arms.

‘Spit what out?’

‘Whatever vile things you have to say. Hurry up about it. Becca and I have lunch reservations.’

The simple statement set off an explosion in Luke’s stomach. What self-respecting woman allowed herself to be called ‘Becca’? It was a name appropriate only for three-year-olds and tweens on the Disney Channel.

‘You’ve finally decided to replace Mum—and you chose a gold digger younger than your own son,’ Luke growled.

‘Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. It’s not like that.’

‘Then explain it to me. What’s it like?’

‘I’m going to ask her to marry me.’

Luke felt his face go slack. ‘Is she even old enough to consent to that?’

‘Enough, Luke.’ His father’s voice was dangerously quiet.

‘You know marrying her doesn’t mean she isn’t a gold digger, right? It means she’s succeeded. She’s got her hands on your millions and a sure bestseller for her tell-all biography after the quickie divorce.’

‘Luke—’

‘When were you going to tell me about your child bride?’ Luke kept going, ignoring the flash in his father’s eyes. ‘Or was I going to find out in my morning paper?’

‘I knew you’d react like a child. Becca is not going to replace your mother.’

‘I’d hope not. It’s kind of weird to have a stepmother younger than you are—and after so many years.’ Luke knew he sounded like a brat. He couldn’t help it. ‘How old is she? Twenty-one? Twenty-two? Tell me, am I getting warmer?’

Just when Luke expected his father to blow up, either throwing a punch or cutting him off from the family fortune, Tyson looked over Luke’s shoulder.

‘Anna. May we help you?’

Luke twisted so fast his spine cracked. There she stood, looking more than a little flushed.

‘I—I was just trying to find the bathroom,’ Anna stuttered. When neither of them spoke, she pointed down the corridor. ‘It’s this way, isn’t it?’

‘Yes. Here, I’ll escort you. Luke should be getting back to the other women.’ To Luke’s utter shock, Anna shuffled around Luke and towards his father. ‘Luke, I’ll speak with you later. Please tell Becca that I will meet her in the lobby.’

* * *

Tyson Westwood exuded power. It wasn’t hard to imagine him disciplining his son, even a son who was twenty-seven years old and had a successful career. At first they walked in silence, Anna slowing her pace to Tyson’s. He seemed in no hurry to guide her to the bathroom and rush back to his young girlfriend, if that’s what she was.

‘My son is concerned that I’m dating a gold digger.’

Anna blinked. What was she supposed to say? Luke had only said what the rest of them were thinking. The man was fierce and imposing, but he was no oil painting—it was obvious that Luke’s good looks must have come from his mother—and was more than twice the age of his girlfriend.

‘It’s something we’ll always have to deal with. Many women have chased Luke for his money or fame over the years. That’s why he agreed to the show when I suggested it. The women here were all looking for love, not pursuing a gold medallist they spotted in a gossip rag. They’ve gone through multiple rounds of interviews and none of them knew Luke was going to be on the show before filming started,’ he continued. ‘All except you, the sister of the producer.’

He obviously wasn’t asking. He knew exactly who she was and why she was really there, even if he was wrong about her knowing who Luke was. Kate didn’t share production secrets with her sister. But Tyson didn’t seem like the type to accept excuses, so Anna kept her mouth firmly shut.

‘And yet our last-minute fill-in is in the final three. You’ve been on more single dates than any of the other women and the betting odds are the highest in your favour. More than that, people want you to win. You’re popular.’

Since he still hadn’t asked her a question, Anna remained silent. She schooled her face to remain neutral.

‘So what I want to know is: are you interested in my son’s money, so he can finance your little café?’

‘No!’

‘Then what are you still doing on the show?’

‘Luke hasn’t sent me home yet.’ Her heart hammered in her chest. She wasn’t going to be there in the finale. Why couldn’t Tyson—who knew why she joined the show and who her sister was—see that she just wanted to leave?

‘And why is that?’

‘I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.’

‘Are you in love with him?’

Anna hesitated. ‘No.’

It wouldn’t matter to Tyson Westwood how she felt. A man like that only cared about consequences and results, and Anna would not be the woman at his Christmas table that year or any other. She and Luke couldn’t be together. They were from different worlds and they wanted different things. Talking to Luke’s father only made that clearer. Luke was part of a world of much younger women, Rolex watches and seeing your life play out in trashy magazines.

Tyson Westwood didn’t seem to believe her when she said she didn’t love his son, if his critical stare was anything to go by. But he stopped and indicated a discreet door. Only then did Anna remember why she was walking with the media mogul in the first place.

‘It was a pleasure to meet you.’ He offered his hand and they shook once more. Anna bit her lip and escaped into the bathroom, desperately hoping she would be alone once she was inside. She couldn’t take any more questions today.

‘So that’s it? We flew out for a photo shoot and some interviews, and now we have to leave?’ Jessica gestured at the airport through the window. They’d stayed overnight in a Sydney hotel with individual rooms, restricted swipe-card access, and none of the drama from their last trip to Japan.

Their vehicle pulled up against the kerb and Anna got out first, almost ploughing straight into Luke as she did so. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

‘Luke!’

‘Just who I was looking for.’ He smiled and Anna’s heart constricted. ‘Where are you going? We have a date planned.’

His facial hair was longer today, like he’d skipped shaving that morning. It kicked Anna’s desire into overdrive. ‘We do?’ she stammered.

‘Of bloody course,’ Liu Kun muttered, just loud enough for Anna to hear.

Luke pushed her suitcase back into the boot of the limousine before helping the driver to lift Jessica’s and Liu Kun’s luggage onto the sidewalk. He guided Anna back into the limousine and it pulled away once again. Behind them, the cameras circled around the two contestants who had been unceremoniously dumped.

‘Where are we going?’

‘I loved being in the snow with you. Showing you that part of my life.’ Luke’s eyes flashed towards the camera attached to the ceiling of the limousine. ‘So I thought, maybe you’d like to show me the places that are important to you?’

It was overcooked, so Anna knew it was meant for the cameras and not her. This was part of the act. Anna played along, turning her head until her lips were centimetres from Luke’s.

‘Okay, well then I guess I’m the navigator,’ she said, using her best husky voice.

‘So, where are we going?’ Unlike her feeble attempt, Luke could do sexy. His tone had her insides melting.

‘Um.’ Words caught in her throat. It was hard to think when Luke’s aftershave overwhelmed her senses. Warmth radiated from his body. He was intoxicating.

‘What would you like to do first?’ Luke spoke in hushed tones and inched closer. Anna glanced at the delectable man across from her. What would he taste like if she kissed him right now?

Whatever she was going to say flew from her mind as Luke shuffled across the seat. This time it was Anna who initiated the kiss. It was what she wanted so she gave herself permission to be reckless. She shoved her lips against his, parting them with her tongue. Urgency gave way to a burning within her. Luke brushed the hair from her face and deepened the kiss. It was slow and deliberate. All her tension melted away.

The limousine jolted as it hit a speed bump. Already off-balance, Anna pitched forwards. Luke cupped his hand around Anna’s head as they fell in a tangled mess to the floor.

‘Ow!’ she cried, even as she laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. She climbed back onto the seat and pulled Luke in to continue a kiss that she felt to her core.

‘No, don’t stop,’ Anna whispered as Luke pulled away. She tugged on his gorgeous hair.

‘We’re on camera, Anna,’ he whispered so quickly she had to strain to make out the words.

‘Aren’t we supposed to be pretending that we’re not?’

‘You don’t want your personal life on national television.’

They spoke quietly, with their lips pressed against each other’s skin. If the microphones were picking up their conversation, hopefully it wouldn’t be usable. Not that her hopes had held true in the past.

The limousine screen rolled down and the driver tilted his head back. ‘Where am I taking you, folks?’

With only a moment of hesitation, Anna gave the address for her café. Then she leaned back, grinned and let her excitement build. This was it. She would be seeing the product of all those expensive bills and tedious building plans. Would it match her expectations? Or had Ben been too distracted by her Instagram and Twitter accounts to be renovating her business?

If she had to share this moment with someone, she was glad it was Luke. Whatever else they were, she hoped there was friendship between them. He would be happy for her and he certainly understood working hard towards a childhood dream. This time it would be her achieving everything she’d always wanted.

* * *

Just as Luke was ready for the show to end, it became all the more serious. He was running out of ways to answer their interview questions: Would you be willing to move for her? Are you falling in love with her? Why do you belong together? Each question was asked three times over. Once for each woman. It wasn’t just filming for
Love Elimination
. He had radio interviews scheduled almost every day in the lead-up to the finale.

He’d made his decision. There was no competition. Anna was the only one he wanted in his life after filming ended. He’d spent his time in the snow questioning his motives, over and over again. Did he only want her because she wasn’t interested in him? Was he that fickle? Or was it something more?

He loved her. It was that easy. She was beautiful inside and out. She made him smile and he couldn’t tear himself away when she was around. The way she kissed him, he was sure she felt the same. He just needed to convince her to give him a chance. There was about a week left of filming. Being in her world would be a great start.

‘What’s the first thing you’re going to cook in your new kitchen?’ he asked. He wanted to learn everything about her. Even when she was talking about food in a way that went over his head, he wanted to hear the sound of her voice.

‘A great, big celebratory cake.’

‘Number of layers?’

‘Six.’

‘Flavour?’

‘Whatever everyone wants. The top six flavours, as voted by guests invited to the pre-opening night party I’m going to throw.’

‘That sounds great. Will I be one of those guests?’ He was pushing the boundaries, but her hesitation was brief.

‘Of course. What flavour would you like?’

He loved her instant confirmation and imagined himself in her café on the night it opened. The happiness he saw in her now would be nothing compared to the night her dreams came true.

‘Hmm … I should choose something to stretch your skills,’ he said. ‘What about rockmelon flavoured?’

‘That’s so random. Do you even like rockmelon?’ It sounded like wind chimes.

‘No,’ Luke said. ‘But you should try it anyway. I would be incredibly impressed if you pulled it off.’ He smiled and stuck his tongue out, fully aware that he was acting like a teenage boy with a schoolyard crush. When he took her hand in his, it wasn’t because the cameras were rolling or because the producers told him to. Maybe he wasn’t ready for marriage and babies, but he was ready for Anna. He was ready to commit to a woman.

* * *

The car jolted as it pulled to a stop. It was like going to a fun fair with her family, anticipating the taste of fairy floss and the view from the top of the ferris wheel. Luke wrapped himself around her, embracing her from behind.

‘This is it,’ she heard herself murmuring. ‘This is really it.’

From the outside, her café didn’t look much different: it was still a brick building with a large bay window, although the fittings were either new or painted. Seeing that made it real. Her heart sat hard and heavy, concern wedged in her throat.

Without another word, she went to the door. Her hands shook and fumbled with the key that refused to fit into the lock. For a moment she panicked, thinking that Ben had changed the locks since she’d left to film
Love Elimination
. Luke took the key from her hands and guided it into the lock.

‘There you go.’ He left her to turn it.

And then she was inside.

The place wasn’t finished, but it was extremely close. The look-alike hardwood floors had been laid and the dents and cracks in the ceiling and walls had been patched up. A long counter and display cabinet were fitted on one side of the space. With a coat of paint, the tables and chairs Anna had her eye on, and some other accessories, the café would look exactly as she imagined it. The camera crew crowded in after Luke and the café felt no smaller. A sudden burst of happiness flooded through her. She’d found the perfect space and now it was even starting to look like it. It would only look better when it was filled with people, paying customers.

‘Just wait here a moment—Luke, Anna—while we set up the cameras,’ a cameraman commanded as his team spilled into the corners of the room.

Grabbing Luke’s hand, Anna rushed through to the kitchen. She needed to see it and she didn’t want the cameras capturing the moment. She also didn’t want to wait any longer for this moment.