Taking the Heat (9 page)

‘I'm not exactly alone, you crazy stalker.'

‘I'm not really here.'

‘Yes, you are!'

‘Just ignore me.'

‘Then stop talking!'

‘Okay, okay, take it from when you sat down. You're all alone …'

‘I'm all alone,' I muttered.

‘No, you're not,' said a shadow, moving across the sand towards me.

Chapter 9

‘Chris …' My throat swelled and the words caught inside me, sounding thick. He looked smoking hot as usual, in his midnight blue shirt. Unbuttoned, it framed his sculpted chest and stomach, which called to me like a siren song. His strong brow was lowered and intense and I waited for him to speak next.

For a moment, the only sound between us was the
shhh
of the waves. Then he said, ‘Why are you out here?'

‘Just building mood with the cameraman, you know how it is.'

‘Are you okay?'

His gentle question broke me. ‘I saw Babette between your thighs,' I said, hotly.

‘I saw Henry leaving your room. And you were wearing a towel.'

‘Robe.'

‘Still.'

‘So, what? Are you playing up with Babette as revenge?'

‘Of course not.' He dropped to his knees in the soft grains, face stricken. ‘I just meant, I was talking to Babette, for the same reason you were speaking to Henry. We're on an island full of interesting people from around the world—it would be weird if we all didn't talk to each other.'

‘Oh,' I said, feeling petty and jealous.

‘What did Henry want, anyway?' Chris asked carefully, just a hint of envy in his voice.

Smiling, I guessed that Chris wasn't quite as relaxed about my socialising as he was trying to be. ‘He came to speak to me.'

‘About?'

‘You, actually.'

He tilted his head in confusion. ‘Really?'

‘He thinks you're too intense when it comes to me.'

‘What do you think?'

His pale eyes, shining in the dim moonlight, were too much for me. I pushed out of the swing and turned away from him. ‘I don't know.'

‘That's not an answer,' he said, from close behind me.

‘I don't know! I literally
don't know
, okay? You are too intense … but that's how I feel about you, too. And I don't know what that means!'

I covered my face with my hands, unable to meet his gaze. Emotion raged, while I fought to stay rational.

‘Tara … look at me.'

‘No.'

‘Tara … please.'

I moved my hands and met his almost hypnotic gaze. As he spoke, he walked towards me and, trying to keep the distance, I stepped back.

‘I don't know what it means either, but I feel it too. I need you to give us a chance. Let yourself fall a little.'

My back hit a palm tree. Unable to move, my voice trembled as he kept closing the distance between us. ‘How can I let myself fall in a place like this? This isn't real life, nothing is what it seems to be, and at the end of it, I'll have to sleep with someone else!'

‘I know,' he said, his body so close to mine that I could feel the heat from his skin and the magnetic pull between us tugged at me painfully. ‘I wanted you to know, I don't care what you do with Henry, or with anyone else. Well, I don't love it, but you don't need my permission or judgement about anything that happens while we're here. If you go in that fantasy cabin once, or a dozen times, it won't make a difference to me. I know you need your million dollars to help your sister. I would never try to mess with that.'

His scent filled my head and I closed my eye, dizzy with his nearness. ‘I don't
want
to go in the fantasy cabin.'

‘I know.'

‘I don't want to sleep with anyone.'

‘Really?' he said, his voice filled with humour.

‘Maybe just this one guy …'

He growled in desire. ‘Oh, yes?'

I couldn't resist. ‘Yeah, his name is Beau. I just love cowboys!' Giggling, I ducked under his arm and sprinted off, back along the beach to the party.

‘Oi! Back here, you!' I could hear him slashing through the sand behind me, and gleefully, I ran faster, loving the chase under the stars.

A piece of driftwood appeared in front of me and I leapt over it, landing heavily. Falling onto my hands, I rolled onto my back as Chris ran up. I was caught.

I shrieked happily as Chris fell forward towards me, his hands hitting the sand on either side of my body. He was suspended above me, his face close to me, close enough for me to lift my head an inch and meet his lips.

‘Hi,' he said, blazing blue eyes locked on me.

‘Strike one?' I said, questioning, begging.

Before I could do anything that might get us into trouble, a cultured voice called out. ‘Tara? Are you all right?'

Chris sighed and, resigned, pushed up to his feet. I sat up and dusted sand from my back, trying to still the buzzing heat in my core. ‘I'm fine, thanks Henry.'

He looked between the two of us, concerned. ‘Well, that's good then. I came to fetch you; Miles has another announcement.'

‘Cheers, mate,' said Chris jovially. He slapped Henry on the back. ‘Let's get back into it, hey?'

‘Yes. Lets.' Henry didn't even try to disguise his distaste for Chris, his face sour.

The two men flanked me for the walk back to the bonfire, and even though I'd sworn I wouldn't compare them, the proximity made it hard. Henry, with his gentlemanly ways and blond good looks, is everything my head has ever wanted. On the other side, my body wants Chris: wants his tongue, his lips, his hands, his abs, his arse …

My heart still hasn't made up its mind.

We made it back just in time to see Miles take the beach stage. ‘Contestants! Are you enjoying the party?'

Glasses were raised merrily as the others let out a cheer. The boys on either side of me stayed silent.

Miles' round face grinned at us. ‘Good! Now, tomorrow is a little different. It's time for a date! Over the coming weeks, you will have a nine one-on-one dates—one with each of your prospective fantasy cabin partners.'

Everyone looked around excitedly. My chest grew tight at the thought of solo time with both Henry and Chris.
Will getting to know them better make this easier or harder?

‘Gentlemen, you'll find a card in your room tonight. On it is the name of your first date tomorrow, and a list of options for you to choose from—activities, locations, dining. Ladies, you'll discover who your date is when they knock on your door, tomorrow morning at ten.

‘Contestants, should you choose to use your strikes tomorrow, bear in mind, you will have a total of five minutes before strike one crosses over into strike two. Choose wisely!

‘Until then … let the good times roll!'

Music burst from hidden speakers and a general happy noise filled the air. I slipped away from the boys, needing a little escape from the tension I sensed brewing between them. I plodded over to the log where Meghan and her Italian companion were sitting.

Meghan was still staring vacantly while the man talked at, rather than to, her.

‘… because, if a woman can't cook, she's not really a woman, no?' His rolling accent was gorgeous to listen to, but the words were slightly off-putting. ‘I come home from work, I want to find food on the table! After all, a woman is only as good in the
letto
as she is in the kitchen, no?'

‘No …' Meghan's voice was wispy and distant. Clearly, she wasn't listening. Across the fire, Babette and Callum were dancing provocatively without touching, his hands shadowing her curves, while she bent over and twerked in his direction.
Poor Meghan …

‘Ah!
Ciao, bella!
' Meghan's log-mate turned to me, and even though his classic European features were aesthetically appealing, I felt my skin crawl.

‘Hi. I'm Tara.'

‘I'm Dante, but you must have already guessed, no?'

‘No …?'

‘Because … I light an inferno in your
fica!'
He busted out laughing at his own cleverness, and I nodded politely.

‘Nice to meet you, Dante,' I said, rising, feeling the need to get as far away from the Italian stud as possible.

‘Until next time,
fighetta.
' He flashed his dark eyes at me, and I moved away quickly. Apparently, not every contestant on the island was instantly likable.

While the party raged around me, I felt my head swim. With the prospect of tomorrow's date looming, I decided to call it a night.

It's always been my go-to move to sneak out of parties. That way, whenever anyone says, ‘Hey! When did you leave last night?' I can say, ‘I was there until really late! Didn't you notice?'

Sneaking away from the beach quietly, I looked back just once, when I reached the stairs. Henry stood awkwardly by the bonfire, conversing with the twins.

Chris, of course, stood alone, with his eyes locked on me.

I waved tentatively, and then, too tired for anything more, fled along the walkway, back here to my room.

(So, Tara, who do you think will be your date tomorrow?)

I don't know. There's someone I hope is on the other side of the door, but we'll see.

(Who would you use a strike on?)

Ask me tomorrow.

***

Transcript of Tara M's video diary: Day 3

I was still in the make-up chair when a knock on the door had everyone in the room freeze. My team panicked.

‘He's early!'

‘No! These curlers can't come out for another ten minutes!'

‘Who is it?
Who is it?
'

‘Guys! Settle down!' I yelled over their fussing. ‘I'll just answer it and ask him to wait, okay?'

Pulling open the heavy wooden door, I was weirdly unsurprised to see Clara barge in, followed by a small camera crew. ‘Oh my fucking god. I need a fucking drink.'

‘Hi, Clara. Good to see you too.'

She made a beeline for the fridge and pulled out a beer. Collapsing into my couch, she pulled deeply on it, drinking a quarter of the bottle before she took a breath.

I sat back down, the makeup and hair people resuming their work. ‘Are you okay?'

‘Yes. No. I don't fucking know, okay?'

‘Okay.' I fell silent, and allowed her to speak next. The camera zoomed in on her elegant face, her glossy black hair caught up in a detailed braid, snaking down her back. In tiny denim shorts and a white bikini top, she was like a perfect doll—if dolls used language like a Scorsese character.

After another long swallow, she said, ‘I'm so fucking confused. Fucking Toshi. He spoke to me last night, and he's all fucking like, “I still love you, we are soul mates, I support you, I should have never left you”, blah, blah, fucking blah.'

I smiled at her reflection in the mirror in front of me. ‘Do you still have feelings for Toshi?'

‘Yeah. I think I still love him.' She smiled back, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. ‘I know we have these dates today, but I just want to see him tonight, and tell him.' Her eyes shone with emotion and she caught herself. ‘Fuck me! I sound like such a fucking girl!'

‘You are a girl,' I reminded her.

‘Don't I fucking know it?' she sighed, standing up and beckoning to the cameras. ‘Come on, pervs, we should get back.'

‘Bye Clara,' I called as she left without thanking me or saying goodbye. I wouldn't have expected otherwise. Despite her filthy mouth and brisk ways, there is something about that girl I really like.

A few minutes later, my hair bounced softly in blonde corkscrew curls, and my lips were bubble-gum pink. I shoehorned my way into white hotpants and tied up the blue checked blouse around my midriff. I raised an eyebrow at the tan cowboy boots beside the bed. Pulling them on, I couldn't help but grin. The pretty ornate pattern wound around the leather, tiny flowers and vines creating a feminine feel.

‘Okay, I'm ready,' I announced to the team. They boosted my ego with their cooing and compliments—which I needed as another knock sounded and I felt my nerves shatter.

On the other side of the door was Beau. I breathed a sigh of relief and said, ‘Hey there, cowboy!'

In his red shirt, fitted jeans and matching boots, Beau tipped his hat at me. ‘Howdee, ma'am! Are you ready for our date?'

‘Yes!' I replied, suddenly relaxed. I barely knew Beau, but he was the perfect Southern gentleman from what I'd seen. I was sure we'd have a good time.

‘Good to hear! I've been missing home these past days, and I wondered if you'd like to come riding with me?'

‘Sounds good!'

***

Half an hour later, we were sitting astride beautiful mahogany horses, walking gently along the beach. With their hooves in the shallows, the water splashed merrily below us, and the slightly cloudy day was the perfect temperature for a ride. A camera crew in a dune buggy kept pace with us, but we ignored them.

‘Oh … this is so nice,' I sighed, content. ‘Great choice, Beau.'

‘Why, thank you, ma'am,' he said. His perfect white teeth shone against his tanned skin. ‘At home, I'd never spend more than a day out of the saddle. I'm mighty glad you could share this with me.'

‘Me too. What's your home like?'

‘I own a ranch. Nothing too special, just a couple hundred acres. Most days, it's me and the cattle and my dog, Blue. I love it.' He looked across at me, embarrassed. ‘That probably sounds boring.'

‘Not at all. It sounds peaceful.'

‘It is. A fellow can breathe out there. It's been me and my papa, out there, working our land together for as long as I could lift a hay bale.'

His face clouded over, darkness flooding his features. ‘When my papa died last year, the bank told me he was behind in payments, a long way. The million dollars I win here will let me save my home. Then the only thing I have to worry about is finding the right lady to share my life with me.'