Four Keeps

“Dreamed about you all night, sugar.” Behind him, a couple of guys whose names I can’t remember chuckle at how lewd he makes this sound.

“Is that right?” I step away to face him, putting some distance between us so that I can feel like I’m on stable ground. Standing a few feet away, I have a great view of Johnny’s body, all lean, hard muscle, the upper half of him a sinewy landscape of intricate ink. “Were they good dreams?”

“The dreams made it hard …” He pauses to run a hand down his tight abs to his even tighter swim trunks, drawing my eye to the sizable bulge outlined under the dark fabric. “Hard to sleep,” he finishes.

I’m suddenly very warm and flustered but I force a pleasant smile, knowing all the while that the producers will edit out what he’s just said. “You’d probably better keep those dreams family-friendly, tiger.”

Before I completely lose my bearings, I step past Johnny and head toward a group of men who’ve just gotten out of the pool. “How’s the water?” I ask as I approach them.

“Good. We were just coming to see you.” I recognize the face – it was the man who wore a chef’s hat yesterday – Gerard, I think. James is with him. I definitely remember James, the finance manager from New York who looked so good in a suit. He looks equally as good out of the suit – even better, actually, and I do love a man in a suit – with a strong, toned body and a broad chest that would be perfect for snuggling.

“You didn’t have to get out on my account. I was about to jump in.”

“Really?” Sean, the fisherman, is there too. Just like Natalie, all three men look mildly surprised that I intend to get in the water.

I set my drink on a nearby table, unwrap the sarong and drape it on a lounge chair. As I bend to undo the straps on my sandals, I’m aware of several sets of eyes on me. It’s only fair; I’ve been ogling all of their bodies since I arrived.

James takes my hand as I step out of the shoes and continues to hold it, leading me back toward the pool when I’m ready.

“Want to jump in with me?” I ask.

Again, he looks surprised but he’s quick to grin. “Absolutely.”

James grips my hand tightly as I count down from three. At one, we run the few steps back to the edge of the pool and jump in together. He keeps hold of me as we resurface, laughing.

“You didn’t tell me the water was cold!”

“I didn’t think it was that bad. I’m sorry. Here.” Moving behind me, he envelops me in his arms, his hard chest pressing against my back. He holds me for a moment before rubbing his hands up and down the sides of my arms. “Better?” he asks after a minute.

When I nod, he stops rubbing and again encircles me in his arms and pulls me close. “When they interview me later, I’ll say something about how I’m ready to jump in with both feet to find love.”

My head falls back as I laugh out loud. That’s exactly the kind of cheesy dialogue you always hear on For Keeps.

“I’ll tell them I’m ready to take the plunge,” he continues.

“They’ll love that. That’s perfect. And are you?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

He doesn’t hesitate. “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that.”

“How about you?” he asks.

I nod. “If I find the right person, definitely.” As we talk, he gently caresses my arms, still holding me in his embrace. I’m feeling much warmer now. I’m feeling perfect, actually.

“How is it that someone as beautiful as you is still single?” he asks.

I smile, but wonder if he’s laying it on too thick. This show is a competition of sorts, so it doesn’t pay to take your time, but are his lines a bit too perfect? “I’m not good at picking men,” I admit. “I tend to choose them for fun, not for long-term potential.”

“Hmmm. I don’t see why those two things can’t go hand-in-hand.” His green eyes sparkle as he looks down at me. His expression seems genuine and I’m starting to relax just as –

“Cannonball!” The word registers at the same time that a big splash covers both of us. I wipe the water from my eyes and watch for the guilty party to emerge.

I’m not surprised to see that it’s Johnny. I’m quickly learning that he’s not someone who’s content to stay in the background.

Looking past Johnny and his self-satisfied grin, I see that Gerard and Sean are also in the pool now, and they did so without making a big splash. Caleb slips in the water nearby and soon I’m surrounded by five men, all of them looking at me like I’m a tasty treat.