It makes me want to delete every social media app I have so I don’t do something stupid when I’m drunk. Not that I plan on getting drunk. Or that I’ve been present on any of those sites lately. I pretty much dropped off the face of the earth after Wren broke up with me. I was too ashamed of what happened. Not that it was my fault, I know that now, but trying to realize that in the midst of all that was going on... yeah, that wasn’t my finest moment.
Checking the time, I realize I need to start getting ready for the meeting. The rules dictate that we come dressed in formal attire. I knew this before I arrived, hence the stilettos. I brought every single dress I own, six pairs of heels, and all the jewelry I had that hadn’t been given to me by Wren over the years.
Naomi also insisted I get my hair cut and colored before I left, so instead of sporting my normally dirty-blond hair, it’s now “golden honey” according to my stylist. It’s dark at the roots and seamlessly turns to golden blond at the ends that rest just below my shoulders.
I really like it, but I’m also afraid my natural color will be showing before the show is over if I stay until the end. If that’s the case, I’ll be calling Claudia for a favor. She said she’d get me anything I needed, and that might mean a trip to the salon, or at the very least, a hat.
After I’m dressed, my hair curled and pinned off to one side, I freshen my makeup and slip into heels. The same heels I wore when I arrived today. Classic black to go with the knee-length black and white dress I wore to my grandmother’s funeral two years ago. It’s a sexy but simple look.
There are voices outside filtering in through the windows as I get ready to walk out the door. Laughter floats on the breeze as I approach the mixed group, taking them in one at a time. They’re all gorgeous in different ways. Flawless skin, beautiful hair, perfectly perky breasts. They look like fashion models with their tight-fitting dresses and mile-high heels. I instantly feel out of place.
Plain.
Average.
I’m sure they don’t look like that all the time. It would take too much work. Even if they do, I can only hope their outward appearance isn’t a reflection of their personalities. The first word that comes to mind to describe them is fake.
Joining the group, they each introduce themselves to me. They seem nice enough, Courtney the most genuine. It’s not until we’re about to head toward the main house that I realize there’s only five of us when there should be six.
“Who’s missing?” I ask, looking from villa to villa.
I’m lucky enough to be on the end. The sidewalk separates the six little cottages, three on each side. As each of us points to our home away from home, I turn to face the villa next to mine, and walk to the door. It opens as I knock, a petite, brunette with glasses looking up at me. She can’t stand more than five foot tall and that’s in her heels.
“Hi, I’m Presley,” I say, reaching out to shake her hand. She stares at it, stunned, more than likely the way I reacted when Jace attempted to greet me. “We’re headed to the main house for the meeting and were wondering if you wanted to walk with us.”
Looking past me, her eyes grow wide as she takes in the other girls. I can almost feel the fear radiating off her, so I step in her line of sight and attempt to calm her the way I’ve seen Naomi calm her students. “Don’t worry about them. Stick with me and it’ll be fine.”
She seems hesitant but still follows me down the sidewalk, the click of her shoes louder than mine. As she slides up next to me, I look down to see they’re at least a size too big on her and instantly feel for the girl. If she’s this much of an introvert, why did she sign up for the show? How did she get selected?
Not that the process was hard. First was the application form. If you made it past that process, you sent in a video, and if they were interested, they came to meet you for an in-person interview. They asked the kind of questions no one wants to answer. I was honest with them from the start hoping I’d get marked off the list and be relieved of my verbal contract with Naomi.
No such luck.
So here I am, walking into the main house, into a room the size of my last apartment with a group of women that look like they should be walking down a runway. The guys are already here. Ed is talking with them on the opposite side of the room.
My gaze falls to Jace, and when he smiles, it catches the attention of the guy standing next to him, Gage. The one we saw earlier when we were at the pool. One by one they all stare in our direction, taking each of us in, head to toe.
They’re all easy on the eyes. Most are as tall as Jace if not a few inches taller, Gage being the shortest. Dressed in suits and ties, each has their own unique look. The man on Jace’s left fills his out nicely, his ocean-blue tie catching my attention, reminding me of the color of my own eyes. All are smiling in our direction, appreciating what they see. But Jace... his gaze is on me.
After arranging us on a platform, Ed begins his speech, the cameraman giving him a countdown when to begin.
“Welcome to Love or Lust. Over the next six weeks, these twelve lucky participants will get to know each other on a more personal level. Let’s meet them, shall we...”
He calls each of us by name, and we’re expected to smile and wave to the camera before sharing where we’re from. Of course, he calls my name first. I must have looked more shocked than excited because they ask me to do it again.
Fake smile in place this time, I nail my intro and Ed moves on to the rest of the contestants. Thankfully, I’m not the only one who screws up. Most everyone does a second take. It’s a good thing we weren’t live. That would have been a disaster.
Each week, the women will vote for the men they’d like to get to know better and the men will do the same for the women. The man and woman with the lowest number of votes will be sent home, having been voted off the show. Six weeks from now, the final four will have a choice to make. Will it be love, or is it just lust? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out!
It takes three takes for Ed to get it right, making me feel better about screwing up, but by the time he’s finished, I’m bored to death. I know this is part of the process, but if we have to do this every week, I’m going to fall asleep in my heels.
Following the taping, we’re individually called into a small room for solo interviews. After that, we’re allowed to socialize with the other participants, grab a drink or some food, but we’re not allowed to leave. Jace is the last to be interviewed, and once he returns, Ed calls for our attention.
“Okay, guys. Let me officially welcome each of you to the ranch. Isn’t this place beautiful?”
He receives only a few cheers, so he asks again, and we all cheer loudly to get him to move on.
“Tonight was a taped episode. Every other episode will be live, so please make sure you are prepared and act accordingly. You all have your schedule for this week. Please make sure you adhere to it and be on time. When you’re not scheduled to take part in something, your time is your own but remember the cameras are always rolling. Even if you don’t see a camera, there is one watching you if you’re on the property. Yes, that includes in your villas. Everywhere except the bathroom.
“This week is all about getting to know each other. Hanging out as a group. If you haven’t looked at your schedule yet, your first group activity is tomorrow night. You’ll be dining outside by the pool. Before and after dinner, you can do as you like, but you are not allowed to leave the grounds.”
He pauses, looking each of us in the eyes to make sure we understand. When he gets to me, I smile, but I don’t get one in return.
Really? Where the hell am I going to go anyway?
“Finally, next week and every week after, you’ll be given a form on your way in to place your votes. You’ll be expected to rate each person of the opposite sex. One to six the first week, one to five the second, and so on as people are sent home. The person in your number one spot should be who you want to stay the most. Who you want to get to know better. Who you connected with the most. The man and woman with the highest totals after voting is complete will go home. It’s like golf. The lower your score, the better. Does everyone understand how the process works?”
Again, he looks around, and everyone nods their head.
“Read through the material you were given carefully. Make sure you follow the rules. Most of all, have fun,” he says, finally an upbeat note in his tone. “And remember, the name of this show is Love or Lust. Don’t be afraid to experience both while you’re here.”