Four Keeps

“Any other aspirations?” When I frown and narrow my eyes at him, he quickly adds, “I mean, I wondered if you were also an actress or model?”

I shake my head, but am glad to understand why he asked. Plenty of women who come on this show seem to have grander goals for fame, as do many of the men. “Nope. I like being a hairstylist. How about you?”

His grin returns. “Do I like being a hairstylist?” he asks, purposely misunderstanding my question.

I give his arm a playful punch, and find out that his biceps are indeed as solid as they look. “Are you an actor or a model?”

“Why, you flatter me, Olivia.” He holds a hand to his chest in a big display of modesty. “No, I’m happy being on my ranch, and there’s nothing glamorous about my life.”

“Tell me what it’s like,” I say, and he does. He talks easily about what his daily life involves, and it’s clear how much he loves his work. Hearing him describe the wide open land he lives on makes me hope I’ll get a chance to see it.

Caleb is asking me about my town when bike builder Xavier appears. I haven’t talked to him yet today, and there’s a flutter in my chest at the sight of his dark good looks.

“Mind if I steal her?” he asks Caleb.

When Caleb looks to me, I nod. “I’ll talk to you more later,” I tell him. The rancher stands and shakes hands with Xavier, a gesture that impresses me.

When we’re alone – not counting the cameras and crew – Xavier holds out his arms to me. “Can I get a hug?”

Hmmm. A bad boy who likes hugs? “Absolutely.” I stand and step into his embrace, his warm, hard body wrapping around me, our bare skin touching for not nearly long enough.

“How are you?” he asks, as we take a seat on the bench.

“I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m hanging in there.” I tilt my head and wait for him to elaborate. “This isn’t really my thing.” He waves his hand in the air vaguely, and I’m not sure if he’s referring to the pool party or the show as a whole. He lets the hand come to rest on my knee, and my pussy gives a little throb in response.

“Why didn’t you get in the pool earlier?”

His gaze dips down to my chest before returning to my eyes. “I had more fun watching.”

“It would’ve been fun to play in the water with you.” I let my own eyes roam his torso, from his pebbled ab muscles, past his broad pecs, and up to his strong shoulders.

“I’m not much of a water person,” he explains.

“No? What do you like?”

“I like to dance.” He makes the words sound so impossibly sexy that I salivate.

“Is that right?”

His dark eyes turn playful just before he stands and extends a hand. I quickly rise to meet him, having already had a flash fantasy about dancing with this sexy man. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me close, giving me another chance to inhale his delicious clean scent. With our mostly-bare bodies pressed together, he starts to swivel his hips and I damn near have an orgasm right in front of the cameras.

He moves his body so well that I can’t help but think of other ways his body could move against mine, but then I scold myself, because Xavier is only here because Natalie wanted me to keep him.

At the moment – my soft curves pressed into his hard angles – I’m feeling grateful to Natalie, but I can’t let myself get worked up over this man.

He spins me out away from him, and I instantly miss his nearness, but then he brings me close again and tips me backward into a graceful dip, so smooth you’d think we’d done this before. He leans over me, his face inches from mine, and like last night at the commitment ceremony, he hovers close, and I hold my breath in anticipation of what might come next.

Just when I’m sure he’s going to kiss me, he straightens, lifting me upright. Then he bends down to kiss … my hand. Not what I was hoping for, but electric nonetheless.

“Thank you for the dance,” he says gallantly. “You’re very good.”

I’m not sure I even did anything, and it was all over so quickly. These brief visits with the men are getting frustrating, and the three men I just talked to – James, Caleb, and Xavier – have all left me wanting more from them.

Maybe the hardest part of being on this show will be finding men I’m willing to send home. What if I like them all?

8

Is any of this really real?

Gerard is waiting to talk with me next, but I ask the producers for a short break. They give me directions on where to find the closest bathroom, and I slip into the house, happy for a few moments alone to collect my thoughts.