Lights, Camera, Lies

I nodded, smiling, as if he had said something amusing.

“Exactly,” he grinned.

Stepping carefully over the cables, away from the bright lights, I found a chair in a far corner. I wasn’t exactly relieved to know I had already been chosen for the contest, now that I knew the whole thing was a bit sketchy.

I didn’t like that they were lying slightly about voting, that there weren’t any other candidates. When I’d first arrived, Darlene assured me that there was a publicity campaign already in place that would ensure a huge online audience who would vote for the best liars.

There were so many parts of this that I wasn’t comfortable with, but I was here now and I had no choice. I was using my reading week to focus on this show. It was the only thing I could think of where I could get a decent chunk of money for a few day’s work, while hopefully still having some free time to study.

I couldn’t handle any more hours at the coffee shop, and really didn’t want to go back to cleaning at the sports bar.

Forcing myself not to chew on my fingernails, I heard someone walking down the hall towards me, around the corner ahead.

“Thanks so much, Taylor. I can’t believe you’re actually doing this.” It sounded like Gary, the twitchy man who had first let me in the back door of this weird building, and had checked my ID to confirm that I was over nineteen.

“Only if I’m partnered with Alice,” a deep, raspy voice replied.

The heavy footsteps came closer and as they came around the corner, my breath caught in my th

roat. Beside Gary was a massive man who looked a bit dangerous. Like maybe he was once in a bike gang or something. He was dressed plainly, in dark pants and a button down shirt that looked quietly expensive.

He turned to survey the room, and I caught a glimpse of soft, warm brown eyes. They didn’t quite match his rugged face, which made him unusually beautiful.

He looked over to Darrell, who was speaking with four people who were talking animatedly, as if they were making plans on how to win. They were already clearly divided into two couples.

Which meant that if this gruff mountain of a man was going to be on the show, he really was going to be my partner, and we would pretend to be lovers.

2

_____

Taylor

Over the years I’d heard people go on and on about the lengths they would go to for family. It never resonated with me. Without siblings, the only family I had were my two strange cousins, and I wasn’t close with Gary and Darlene anymore.

So when Gary called this morning, begging for me to drop by Grandpa’s old TV station, I almost hung up on him. Then I remembered that I wanted to take a closer look at this crazy old property, so what the hell.

From the dilapidated control room, I watched Alice’s screen test. It was obvious that she wasn’t really comfortable in front of the cameras, but was forcing herself to do it.

I needed to know why the gorgeous, sweet girl with the lustrous auburn hair and killer curves was going to put herself through this.

Something in the way she moved, her little fingers twitching as she tugged nervously at her skirt, made my heart beat faster for the first time in years.

I actually found myself having to adjust my snug pants. That rarely happened. I’d given up on women for a long time, but Alice’s sweet smile was sparking brand new emotions inside me.

Looking around the room, I couldn’t find her anywhere. “Where is she?” I growled at Gary. “I’m only doing this stupid thing because…” I turned to see Alice sitting practically behind us.

Instantly I pressed my face into a big smile. “This lovely girl here needs a fake husband.”

I don’t know why that word popped into my mouth. It would have been much easier to play a couple who were just dating.

Gary was occasionally a bit slow, but this time he seemed to catch what was going on. “Alice Miller, this is Taylor Wellington. He’s going to be your partner for the show.”

She stood up quickly, barely coming to my shoulder as she shook my hand politely. Her little fingers were chilly, which I found oddly upsetting.

“You’re cold. Do you need a sweater? A blanket?”

“No, thank you,” she laughed lightly. “ I’m always a bit cold , especially when I’m nervous.”