“HELLO, GORGEOUS.” Lyn appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a red dress that fit every curve with absolute perfection.
“Hi.” She smiled sheepishly as she started to descend down the stairs. I met her at the bottom and offered her my arm, which she immediately took.
We were headed to Broadway in Chicago to have dinner and see Les Misérables, my favorite musical. It had been years since I had gotten a chance to see it live. Movies never seemed to capture the same essence that live actors did, even when Hollywood threw their checkbook at them. I hoped Lyn could appreciate it, especially since she was hoping to become an actress.
Lyn was ravishing when she came down the stairs. It was hard not to look at her beautiful curves and think about taking her somewhere other than the theater. It had been so long since I held a woman in my arms that just walking beside her made me tingle a bit. I couldn’t help but wonder how she really felt about the show. She seemed so hesitant when Charles outlined what we were doing, but she did relent to giving it a try. It surprised me to say the least.
Seven Roses provided us with a car and a driver, so we climbed into the backseat where we found a bottle of champagne on ice and a few light snacks. I took my seat beside her and the driver started to pull away from the house and the other six guys who had come outside to see us off.
“Do you want some champagne?” I turned the bottle and looked at the label. “It’s an expensive brand.”
“I don’t think I want to start my night with champagne.” She shook her head back and forth. “If we’re not going to dinner, I could use a snack though.”
“Dinner is definitely up first.” I looked over to her and smiled. “The show is footing the bill, so I figured we should go for something expensive.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” She smiled and looked towards me. “I loved you the last time you were on Seven Roses. I was so angry when that girl chose someone else.”
“You saw what happened though. I didn’t have a chance. The other guys were filling Janie’s head with all kinds of stuff and it worked.” I let out a slight grunt and shook my head. “Water under the bridge now, because if I would have ended up with her, I wouldn’t be here with you.”
“I’m glad you are.” Lyn’s smile broadened and she scooted a little closer. “I would never throw away a chance at happiness because someone has a job that keeps them away—especially if the feelings are real.”
“Too bad you weren’t the contestant that season.” I reached down and took her hand in mine. “I might have found real happiness.”
“You don’t even know me.” She looked down at our hands as I interlocked our fingers. “I might be a train wreck that sends you running for your next mission with no plans to ever come back.”
“I doubt that.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’d always come running home if I knew you were waiting on me.”
I continued my shameless flirting as we arrived at the restaurant and ordered dinner. Over bites of steak and under the constant shadow of the camera crew, we discussed our lives. Lyn told me about growing up on the South Side of Chicago where every penny came at a cost. She told me about her dreams of becoming an actress and practicing lines from her favorite movies with her best friend Jessica. Jessica seemed to be the one that made it—or at least she had found more success earlier. I hadn’t seen Lyn’s appearance on the television show she mentioned, but I made it a point to find it when the night was over.
If our date had been typical, I would have considered it a budding success. We were actively engaged in good conversation. The cameras definitely didn’t create the most romantic mood, but I still found ways to casually touch her hand and show her I was interested with my body language. She seemed to reciprocate and I wished we didn’t have the cloud of the arrangement hanging over what was becoming a wonderful evening. When dinner was finally over, we walked towards the exit with the crew moving silently behind us.
“So where are you taking me now?” She looked over at me as she walked through the door I was holding open for her.
“Do you like Broadway?” I grinned and walked towards the car, taking her hand in mine as the driver opened the door.
“We’re going to New York?” Her eyebrows raised as we climbed into the car.
“No, Broadway in Chicago.” I chuckled and slid into the seat beside her.
“Yeah, what is playing there now anyway?” She leaned against my arm as the car started.
“Les Mis.” I squeezed her hand. “It’s my favorite.”
“I’ve only got to see it live once before—I’ve always wanted to see it again. Don’t even get me started on the movie version...” She shook her head back and forth.
“See, you get it too.” I smiled and nodded.
The producers had secured us tickets in the front row, so the camera crew was forced off to the side where they could only capture us with wide shots. It was the closest thing to privacy we would really have. Lyn seemed to be as interested in the show as I was and her eyes flickered when the action heated up. There was something gritty and real about Les Mis, with so many twists and turns that it captured my attention the first time I got to see it.
Lyn held my hand during the entire first half of the performance and when intermission came, we both needed to stretch our legs a little bit. We walked to the lobby which was bustling with activity. The camera crew was struggling to keep up with us, and I took advantage of the sea of people. I pulled Lyn into a hallway and wr
apped my arms around her waist. She locked eyes with me for a moment and then looked down. There was something happening between us and I wasn’t willing to let the moment pass, even if there was nothing but uncertainty in the future of the arrangement.
“I’m going to kiss you now.” I put my hand under her chin and lifted it, finding a smile waiting for me.
Chapter 7: Lyn
Why did the perfect date have to be shrouded in the arrangement Charles Montgomery laid on us? I knew Markus Cole was more than a tank with a gorgeous body, but I never expected to find out he had a softer side. He was more closed off when he was on the show before, keeping a lot of himself guarded. He seemed more open with me, willing to share things about himself that went deeper than the tough-guy exterior he showed the world. I also realized every guy back at the house was watching the date, which meant they could see every glance I shot him. They had to be picking up on my rapidly developing attraction to the Navy SEAL. When he pulled me into the hallway out of the view of the cameras, I couldn’t deny that it was exactly where I wanted to be. His words echoed in my ears before his lips found mine, but there wasn’t a hint of resistance in me.