Not My Romance

I love how mature and experienced and rugged he looks.

I bite my lip, warning myself to stop being silly.

The women, each and every one of them, are more beautiful and more accomplished and confident than I will ever be.

I was an idiot for letting my fantasies get carried away, to imagine that Kayden Kater could want me.

From now on, I promise myself, I’m going to focus on my work and nothing else.

Chapter Three

Kayden

Jack and I run around the track on my estate, both of us breathing steadily, our sneakers slapping against the ground. Floodlights illuminating us. The sun has long since set, but I needed to blow off some steam after the first shooting of CEOs in Love… not to mention a long day in the office. I can’t forget my responsibilities just because of my appearance on the show.

After the women introduced themselves, the show played some pre-recorded sections from the women’s hometowns, meaning there wasn’t much for me to do. But it still took a lot out of me, sitting there like a prized poodle with a forced smile on my face.

“So do any of them interest you?” Jack asks.

I want to tell him yes. As my right-hand man and main PR manager, it would make his life a lot easier if I’d taken a shine to one of them. It would mean he’d be able to start leaking some juicy tidbits to the press, heightening interest in the show.

But I’ve never lied to Jack, and I’m not going to start now.

“No.”

He groans. “Really? I love my wife more than anything, but even I have to admit there were some… interesting women.”

“Sure, they were interesting.” I pick up my pace a little, and Jack matches me. “I can see how other men might be attracted to them. But no. I felt nothing.”

“You’re going to have to fake it, then,” he says bluntly. “You did well, by the way. I don’t think anyone else noticed that you were grimacing more than smiling. All the celebrity networks are gushing about you. It’s becoming quite the TV event.”

“Is that a good or a bad thing?”

“It’s good… as long as you don’t do anything crazy.”

I chuckle, giving him a look. “Me, do anything crazy? Come on… where would you get that idea?”

He laughs gruffly. “I mean it, bro. You’re doing a great job. I know it’s going to be difficult to keep it up, but it’s only for two weeks.”

“The stock price has gone up, which is insane. I’m struggling to see how this connects.”

“It’s a sign that you’re willing to put the effort in and eat some humble pie. People respond well to that. And your appearance on the show has provoked a whole new interest in your sales platforms. That can’t hurt either. Just keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll be fine.”

I arrive at the show about ten minutes earlier the next evening. It’s our background in the Marines, Jack often jokes, making us incapable of ever being late.

I sit in the corner of the studio’s parking lot, hoping nobody notices me. I don’t want to go in there one second sooner than I have to.

I just hope the contestants aren’t here really looking for love. I know they’re probably not. They see this as a PR opportunity as much as I do, maybe as a platform to springboard into their own reality shows, to make a name for themselves. But if there’s a chance one of these women truly thinks I’m going to fall in love with her, she’s going to be disappointed. Even if I’m not interested in them, I’ve got no desire to hurt anyone.

My gaze moves idly over the parking lot, resting on a hunk of shit car with rusting fenders. It’s pulling into the spot opposite me when I see the driver.

My heart starts to hammer in my chest, big smashing reverberations. My hands ball into tight fists automatically and my balls ache, as if flooding with my seed, telling me to sprint across the lot and drag her from the car this second.

And then I’m out of the car, without even deciding to move, striding across the lot, my gaze fixed on her.

I can’t explain what’s happening here. It’s like a volcano has erupted inside of me, sending lava flowing through my veins, bubbling as though trying to make me explode.

She’s got long wavy brown hair, a little messy as it rests around her shoulders. As I approach, she climbs from the car, giving me a good look at her body. Even in the black pants and black long-sleeved top, she can’t hide her curves, her big juicy looking tits, and her wide hips and thick luxurious thighs that would drive any man wild…

No, not any man. Only me. This woman belongs to me.