Four Keeps

“Don’t you think we should get to know each other better first?”

“We can do both.” He doesn’t try to kiss me again, but his hand stays around my waist, his fingers caressing the bare skin above my hip. “What would you like to know about me?”

“What’s your life like?”

He laughs. “That’s quite a broad question.”

“I mean your day-to-day life. Take me through a day in the life of James.”

Still keeping me tucked against him, he starts to talk. “I get up early and go to the gym. I usually work out for about an hour, then I grab a protein shake and head to work.”

“Are you right in the city? What’s your home like, and your commute?”

He nods. “I’m in the city, in a condo. Thirty-first floor. There’s a gym in my building, and I can walk to work, but I usually grab a cab in the morning and walk home at night.”

I picture this, and contrast it with my small-town island life, where I can walk to the beach but have to drive everywhere else. His office is probably in a skyscraper, and I work in a little salon suite cutting hair.

James pushes a strand of hair away from my eyes. “What are you thinking? You’re somewhere else.”

“Our lives are so different. Do you like living in the city?”

His eyes search mine as he answers. “It suits me. I love the energy there.”

He’d probably be bored out of his mind on Four Points Island, and I’m not sure I’d like the hectic pace of living in Manhattan. So many people with so little space.

He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip and a corresponding bolt of heat runs up my spine. “We can worry about logistics later. Let’s just get to know each other and have fun.”

I love that he seems to know exactly what I’m thinking, and he’s right. At this early stage, I’m not sure it would make sense for me to send someone home because our lives don’t seem to fit together. Maybe if we like each other, we can make it work, and so far, I really like James.

Footsteps approach, making me realize that I’d completely forgotten about the cameramen surrounding us. Being able to lose track of the fact that I’m filming a reality show is probably an excellent gauge of my interest in the man I’ve been talking to.

I’d like to spend more time with James, but rancher Caleb is here now, being urged by a producer to interrupt us.

“I’ll see you later,” James promises. He releases me, but not before giving me another kiss, one more passionate than the tentative kisses a few moments ago. I’m glad I’m sitting down, because he leaves me feeling a bit off balance.

Before I have time to regroup, Caleb is in front of me. “I brought this for you.” He’s holding a drink that looks just like the one I had earlier. “The bartender told me this is what you were drinking.”

“Thank you.” I accept the drink gratefully, and when he doesn’t immediately sit, I pat the empty space next to me. The smooth muscles of his chest look so good that I almost drool a little as he sits.

“How are you? Are you having a good time?” he asks.

“I’m surrounded by a dozen men,” I say lightly. “What’s not to like?”

He looks thoughtful. “I’ve tried to imagine myself in your position, and sure, it might be fun having dozens of women here for me, but I think it would be hard too.”

As I sip from the sweet drink, I raise my brows, inquiringly.

“It seems like it would be difficult to keep everyone straight, and especially hard having to send people home,” he says.

Despite his rock hard body, Caleb seems to have a tender heart, and I imagine it would be really hard for him to eliminate women if he were starring on this show. “Last night wasn’t too bad,” I say, “but I’m sure it will soon get much more difficult to send men home after I get to know them better.”

He nods. “I’m curious. What made you want to come on the show?”

I’ve answered this question in several interviews, and I give Caleb the same answer, because it’s the truth. “I’ve always been a fan of the show, and I’m at a point where I’m looking for love and not finding it, so I thought I’d give this a try. Honestly, I never thought I’d be selected.”

He gives me an appraising look. “Why wouldn’t they choose you? You’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you. You’re not so bad looking yourself.”

He makes a goofy face and we both erupt in laughter. Here’s another guy who can easily make me forget about the cameras. When we calm down, he says, “So you’re a hairdresser?”

I nod and take another sip of the drink.