Four Keeps

Camera operators are dotted around the patio, trying to be unobtrusive. Their bulky equipment catches my eye first, but as soon as the men come into focus, I have no problem ignoring the presence of the cameras.

Suddenly, I feel like a kid in a candy store, my mouth watering for all of the sweet things in front of me. This is a moment I dreamed about when I applied for the show – a dozen hot men, wearing hardly anything, all here for me.

One of the Brads is sitting poolside, his golden head of hair glowing in the sun. Surprisingly, the other Brad is standing next to him again, so I head for them first, just as I did last night.

They don’t see me approach, but other men do and shout out greetings and cheers. I wave and call out hellos. The men all look so different wearing swim trunks rather than the street clothes or work uniforms they wore for introductions.

I know this show never disappoints on the level of physical attractiveness of the men they bring on, but wow. There are tight abs, broad chests, and well-developed biceps as far as the eye can see.

Lawyer Brad gives me a hug. “I like your sarong,” he says as he pulls back.

“My …?” His compliment is so unexpected that it takes me a moment to connect the word to the item. “Thank you,” I say finally. “I like your swim trunks.”

I use the remark as an excuse to let my eyes travel south, down past the washboard ripples of Brad’s core, to his ocean blue ombre shorts, and the muscular thighs below. It definitely looks like he’s a member of a health club as well as the bar association.

Lifeguard Brad is standing now, coming in for his own hug. “How are you today?” he asks.

“I was tired until I got here,” I confess.

“Ready to have fun, eh?”

“Brad is originally from Canada,” Lawyer Brad says, in reference to Lifeguard Brad’s use of “eh.”

“Yeah, it was too cold up there, so I came down to live by the beach. Do you want something to drink, Olivia?”

“That would be great. Something sweet?”

“I’ll be right back,” he says, heading toward a bar on the far corner of the patio.

“What’s your last name?” I ask the lawyer. “I want to be able to keep you both straight in my head.”

“Martinez,” he says. “I guess I’ll be Brad M., and he’s Brad B.” He tilts his head in the direction the lifeguard went. “His last name is Baker.”

Talking to the men in pairs and little groups yesterday definitely seems to have started a friendship for these two. It’s nice to see that they get along so well. The producers may want there to be drama between the men, but I’d like to do what I can to keep it at a minimum.

Just as Brad B. returns and I’m thanking him for the orange fruit-filled drink he’s brought for me, rancher Caleb approaches. “Olivia, how are you?” He moves to pull me into a hug but stops short of contact. “Oops, I’m still wet from the pool.”

“I don’t mind. Come on in.” I spread my arms wide and he steps in, enveloping me in a damp but friendly embrace. It’s obvious Caleb spends a lot of time outdoors. He has a beautiful golden tan and a body that looks like it does a lot of hard labor.

As we pull apart, I notice a tattoo on his right shoulder. “What’s this?” With a hand on his upper arm, I turn him so I can get a better view of the detailed depiction of a fierce-looking dragon. “I love this,” I say, smiling up at him. “Why a dragon?”

He shrugs. “I’ve always been fascinated with them.”

In my brief interactions with Caleb, he’s seemed like a cuddly sweetheart. The dragon tattoo makes me wonder what might be beneath his surface.

“How about you? Do you have any body art?” The rancher’s eyes scan my body and the heat in his gaze feels brighter than the sun.

“Maybe.” I draw out the word as I turn side to side, teasingly. I do have a small tattoo, a flower on my inner hip. It’s hidden by both my bikini bottom and the sarong, but if Caleb continues to keep giving me all the good vibes, I might like to show it to him someday.

I’m noticing for the first time how blue his eyes are, when a hand grabs my wrist and spins me around. I nearly stumble but an arm slides around my waist and keeps me steady.

6

Ready to jump in

“Hey, babe, it’s about time you got here.” Johnny is the one holding me, his hip pressed against mine, the dampness from his body seeping into my skin.

The nearness of him makes me feel off balance in more ways than one, but I do my best to hide it. “Did you miss me?”