Falling for You (8 page)

“And for the record,” Chip continued, stealing Cassidy’s attention back, “we had no prior knowledge of this either. We’re just as surprised by this as you are. I assure you this was not a stunt set up by us. Now, does anyone have any questions?”

“Why did they break up?” Savanna asked.

“I don’t think we need to discuss that right now. If you have questions you’d like to ask about their relationship, I suggested you ask Cassidy or Brad directly. However, I sincerely hope we can simply put this behind us.”

“I think it’s fine Cassidy’s still here,” Zoe said. “I mean, Brad didn’t want her the first time around, so I doubt he’ll want her a second time. She wasn’t a threat, anyway.”

“Thanks, Zoe. Why don’t you tell us how you really feel?” Cassidy asked. “Hey, while we’re getting things out in the open, maybe we should also talk about how Zoe’s a reality TV celebrity already.”

“We know,” Lauren said. The other girls nodded, unconcerned.

Cassidy stared at them, shocked. And annoyed. Had she been living in a hole for the last six months? How was she the only one who didn’t know about Zoe until now? “And we’re okay with this? We don’t think this is a huge advantage to her?”

“I have a lot of advantages over you. Being on TV before is only one of them. So really, why worry about it?” Zoe asked, looking at her as if Cassidy was a sad, lost puppy. “Feeling a little jealous, honey?”

Great. Now I’m the jealous, bitter girl.

“Nope.” Cassidy laughed weakly. “Have any tips for us?” She didn’t want tips, but she didn’t want to be seen as jealous either.

“We’re done for tonight,” Susan the PA said, stepping in to finish for Chip who’d already walked away. “The show airs tomorrow evening, then America gets a few hours to call in their votes. The next day we find out who stays and who goes home. Any questions?”

The girls remained silent.

“Get some sleep and enjoy your day off tomorrow.” Susan eyed Evan, almost glaring at him before turning and wandering away, leaving the girls on their own to deal with the aftermath of Brad’s decision and the news of his previous relationship with Cassidy.

Odd. What the heck did Evan do to piss off the PA?

Cassidy’s gaze flickered from Susan to Evan. Funny, he didn’t seem surprised by her attitude. What was going on between them?

• • •

Evan leaned back against the half wall separating the pool from the rest of the grounds. He panned his camera around the pool and chairs, taking in a general overview of the area.

The girls were enjoying their day off sunbathing by the pool. Everywhere he turned, women in bikinis lounged, sipping fruity drinks and cooling off in the pool.

Life is good.

He had followed Cassidy downstairs about an hour earlier. She’d eaten lunch with the other girls, chatting casually about Brad and the experience as everyone else speculated about which girl they believed America would choose to stay.

“Seriously, I don’t know why his decision was so difficult,” Zoe had said, her usual tone of superiority and disinterest hanging in the air. She poured two packets of sugar into her iced tea and stirred.

Cassidy whispered into Paige’s ear so quietly Evan could barely hear her through the mic. “How is she so skinny with so much sugar? I’m gonna gain a pound watching her drink that. Stupid Zoe and her stupid high metabolism.”

Zoe sipped her drink and leaned back in her chair. “Only one girl can win in the end — me. So really, the sooner he gets rid of the rest of you, the better.”

“I like the girls here,” Savanna said. “None of y’all really deserve to go home. It’s the worst part of the show.”

“That’s a Miss America answer if I ever heard one.” Zoe rolled her eyes at Savanna. “Leave the pageant days behind and grow a personality already.”

“Once a pageant queen, always a pageant queen.” Savanna smiled a huge bright white, perfect-teeth smile at Zoe.

“I think all of the girls are sweet and pretty, but not every girl is going to be a match for every guy,” Cassidy said. “If Brad isn’t interested in them for some reason, then I guess it’s better they go home before their hearts get broken.”

“Really, Cassidy? You’re so sweet.” Zoe smirked. “Is your heart going to break when you get sent home? Oh wait, your heart’s already been broken by Brad, hasn’t it?”

“Who said I’m going home?” Evan heard the annoyance filling Cassidy’s voice. “It’s a little early to tell who’ll be the final two, don’t you think?”

“Maybe for you, but I already know I’ll be there. The only question is which poor girl will make it to the end only to leave in tears during the live finale.” Zoe examined her perfectly polished nails.

Cassidy crossed her arms. “We’ll have to wait and see what kind of girl Brad decides he wants.”

“Poor Cassidy. It must be killing you to wonder if Brad wants you back or not.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I? Isn’t that answer enough for you?”

“True, but how long until he tires of you and dumps you again … like last time?” Zoe smiled wickedly. “He did dump you last time, didn’t he?”

Cassidy glared at Zoe before leaving the table. Evan would have liked to know the answer to that question, too, but he’d have to wait until she decided to share that information with someone.

After the lunch drama, he’d followed Cassidy out to the pool to join the rest of the group. She’d worn a simple pink sundress all morning and he’d been intrigued all morning about what hid under that dress. Now it appeared he would finally find out.

Evan focused his camera as Cassidy and Paige walked around to the far side of the pool to a couple of empty lounge chairs. Cassidy set down the bag she carried with her and pulled out a trashy celebrity magazine and a pair of sunglasses. With her back turned to him, she pulled up the hem of her dress, slipped it over her head in one smooth motion, and let it fall into the bag beside the chair.

Evan had never been one for bold bright colors, but today, hot pink was his new favorite. He could stare at hot pink all day.

As Cassidy got comfortable on the lounge chair, Evan couldn’t help but stare. Her hot pink bikini wasn’t skimpy like some of the other suits the girls were wearing. It covered more than enough of her ample breasts, maybe even too much, and the bottoms tied at the curve of her hips.

I love my job.

Evan leaned against the wall thankful he didn’t have to move again immediately. Seeing Cassidy in her swimsuit caused all the blood to rush away from his brain, invading other regions of his body instead. A few minutes against the wall should be all he needed to let things settle down.

Leaning is good. Focus on something else. Ah, lovely day today. So sunny and bright. Birds, flowers, pink flowers, pink bikinis covering soft ivory skin glistening in the sun. Damn it.

Evan remembered the feel of her skin beneath his hand a few nights ago. He longed to feel it again, but he couldn’t. That wouldn’t be good for his job.

Watching from a distance and suffering in silence was his only option. He worried tonight’s dreams would be filled with hot pink bikinis falling to the floor — and tomorrow morning would start with a cold shower.

Evan shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts of Cassidy. She was off limits, and nothing he could do or say would change that. He needed to be smart and not let himself get carried away by his thoughts of her.

We work together. No more touching her hair or arms or anywhere else. No more getting too close in the moment. And hopefully it’ll rain for the next month so there’ll be no more bikinis.

Movement near Cassidy caught his attention. Paige sat on the edge of her chair and grabbed a bottle of sunscreen as Cassidy rolled over onto her stomach. Cassidy swept her hair off her back and shoulders, and turned her face toward Evan. She shrieked as Paige squirted cold lotion onto her sun-warmed skin, and laughed as Paige rubbed it on her back.

You’ve got to be kidding me. And there’s another shower. Tonight. Before bed.
Good thing cold-water showers were plentiful in a mansion full of women.

I’m going to get frostbite.

Evan held his camera still and closed his eyes. Maybe if he held them closed long enough, the sun would fade away and they’d be able to go back into the house and get her out of that bikini. Well, she’d get out of the bikini.

He’d be in the hall thinking about her getting out of that bikini.

• • •

The day had been longer than feared, followed by a restless night of dreams. He had no idea his mind could be so creative with ways to remove a little pink bikini. Who needs hands when you have teeth? In his dreams, he would sweep her into his arms, kissing her, tasting her … touching her. Every dream ended with him startling awake. He either woke fearing they’d been caught by Chip and his career was over, or worse — remembering the pain on his brother’s face the day he lost Melissa.

Evan couldn’t risk the same fate. He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t think of Cassidy that way. She was his assignment. She was a risk too big to take. And she could still have feelings for her ex, douche bag Brad. Or was Chip right when he said the past was in the past?

He took a big gulp of steaming coffee. He didn’t have time to let it cool, but he also couldn’t function without it. Coffee was the one thing that he could always find anywhere in the world and the one thing he couldn’t go without. He took another gulp and peeked out the window to see clouds filling the sky.

Thank God for perfectly overcast, no-bikini-wearing days.

Grabbing his camera, he opened his door to find Cassidy leaning back against the opposite wall, sexy as all hell in a white see-through blouse and capris. He could see the silhouette of her shape through the thin material and her tight tank top left little to his imagination.

Damn, she’s hot.

“Hey, Cassidy.” He held his gaze at her eyes, refusing to glimpse anywhere that might lead to more dreams. “We’re getting a bit of a late start today, huh?” He checked his watch and saw it was after noon already.

How long was I in the shower this morning?

“Well, I didn’t want to sit around speculating on which poor girl is going home in tears today. I know that’s the only thing everyone will be able to talk about,” Cassidy said.

“Ready to join the others?” Evan asked.

“As ready as I’m going to be.”

• • •

Evan stood opposite Cassidy so he could get a good shot of her reaction as the ceremony began.

“Welcome back to
The One
. I’m Spencer Daley and we’re about to find out which lucky girl will get another chance at becoming The One. America, over 2 million of you voted last night.”

Spencer motioned for the bottom three girls to come up to the front. “Julia, Lauren, and Courtney, if you’ll please join me. Brad, before we find out who’s leaving us tonight, is there anything you’d like to say to these ladies?”

Brad sighed. “I just want to say it’s nothing personal. I think you are awesome girls. I wish you could stay longer. To the girl who stays, I’m looking forward to a second chance at getting to know you.”

Spencer held up two small white envelopes in his hand. “I have here the names of the two girls with the lowest votes. Brad, please pick an envelope and tell us the name of the first girl going home.”

Brad hesitated before choosing an envelope. “The first girl going home tonight is,” Brad paused momentarily while opening the envelope, “Courtney.”

Courtney covered her face in her hands when tears sprang to her eyes. Brad gave her a quick hug.

Cassidy’s expression changed from concern to sympathy. It was clear on her face that she was sorry to watch one of the girls getting so upset about leaving.

“Please take a moment to say goodbye,” Spencer said to Courtney. She walked around the small group hugging the women goodbye.

“Don’t worry about him, I’m sure someone else will want you,” Zoe whispered as they hugged for the camera. As Courtney moved on to the next girl, Zoe rolled her eyes at Savanna.

She really is a bitch. I’ll have to thank Chip for not sentencing me to weeks of following Zoe around. Her cameraman must have a never-ending headache.

Evan refocused on Cassidy as she hugged Courtney goodbye. “You’re better off without him,” Cassidy said quietly, but not too quietly for her mic to hear. “He doesn’t know what he’s missing. I bet you’ll have guys knocking down your door when you get home.”

“Thanks, Cassidy. Good luck.” Courtney finished her goodbyes and walked into the house to gather her things with her cameraman following closely behind.

Brad took the last envelope from Spencer and turned to face the two remaining girls. He slowly slid the card out and read it to himself. “Julia, I’m sorry, but you’re not The One.”

Lauren sighed with relief before giving Julia a hug goodbye and rejoining her fellow contestants.

Julia made the rounds as the girls hugged her. She gave one final wave before turning away from the group and walking back into the house.

“Congratulations, Lauren. Your journey continues.”

“That’s all for tonight. Please join us next time when we’ll see our ladies participate in their next challenge on
The One
.” Spencer smiled at the camera and waved.

“We’re clear,” Chip called from beside the camera. “Great job tonight, Spencer.”

“Excellent work these last few days, ladies,” Chip said. “Take tonight to rest and enjoy your evening. Tomorrow we’re filming your next interview, which you’ll do after every elimination ceremony. Then it’s right into the second challenge. I can’t tell you what you’ll be doing, but please dress casually for the event. Jeans or other long pants would be best.” Chip smiled and walked away with no further instructions or clues.

Evan wondered what surprise Chip had in store for them next. There was no doubt in his mind Chip wanted to get the girls into as many interesting situations as he could. But long pants could mean any number of things. He was just going to have to wait until tomorrow like everyone else.