“Hey.” Evan deflected the pillow with his arm. “What’s that for?”
“It’s for being such a cocky jerk and thinking my humiliation is hilarious.”
“Cassy, I didn’t mean to be a cocky jerk — ouch, name calling hurts, by the way. It’s not very nice to call me names. I think you need to be a little less serious and laugh at yourself a little more. It’s really not worth trying to destroy the props over.”
“I’m not destroying the props. It’s a throw pillow — I threw it. It’s not my fault your annoying face got in the way.”
Annoyingly cute. How is that possible?
Cassidy stormed passed Evan and out the door.
“Wait up. Where’re you going?” Evan called, chasing after her.
She didn’t glance back. “I’m going to my room, so you don’t have to follow me with your camera.”
Cassidy limped up the stairs as fast as her foot would let her, trying to escape Evan and his stupid smiling face. She fumbled with the lock to her door. Frustrated, she jammed the key in again but still the door wouldn’t budge.
“Come on.” She fiddled with the lock again. Why won’t you ever work, damn it?
“Let me help you,” Evan said quietly behind her. He took the key from her hand and slowly, purposefully slid it into the lock, twisting the handle and pushing it open.
Cassidy stared straight ahead at the door, refusing to acknowledge his help. When the door opened she pushed past it into the room.
Cassidy heard the door click closed behind her, followed by silence — glorious, laughter-free silence. If there was one thing she hated more than anything else, it was being laughed at — and horses. They were on her shit list now, too. Defeated, she sat on the edge of the bed and put her head in her hands, the tension from the day aching in her neck and shoulders.
“You know, I wasn’t really laughing at you.” Evan’s quiet voice spoke from inside her room. “I thought I was laughing with you.”
“Oh great, you’re still here. I thought I made it clear your filming services weren’t needed for the rest of the night.”
“Good, because I left my camera in the interview room.”
“Evan, please go. I can’t deal with this anymore today. I’m exhausted and sore and I really need to get some sleep.”
“I’ll leave you alone, but not until you let me apologize.”
“Apologize for what? I was under the distinct impression you didn’t do anything wrong when you spent the entire interview laughing at my expense.”
“I don’t exactly feel like I was wrong, but you do and I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to make you upset.” He threw another cute smile her direction like he was trying to charm his way out of being in trouble.
No way, Cameraman McCutiepants. There’s no way you can win me over that easily. You need more than a nice smile to get your ass out of this fire.
“Enough already, Evan.” She sprang from the bed, charging at him. “If you were really sorry, you’d wipe that annoying smile off your face. You’re still laughing at me even now when you claim to be apologizing.”
“Cassy, come on. Let me talk for a minute.”
My name is Cassidy.
“You think you’re so cool, hiding behind your camera. But how would you like it if every little thing you did,” she said, poking him in the chest with her finger, “was on film for everyone in the world to see?”
She poked him a few more times as she spoke. “Huh? How would you like that? Would you still think everything was so funny if you were the one people talked about and laughed at?”
“Cassy, stop poking me.” Evan caught her hand and held it against his chest.
Evan’s heart raced under her hand. Her heart picked up its pace to match. His hand was warm on top of hers. The heat spread quickly up her arm, dampening the angry fire inside her and replacing it with a different kind of flame, one burning even hotter. She stared into his eyes, almost forgetting her anger and annoyance.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have been laughing at you. It’s not as funny when you’re the one in front of the camera.”
Cassidy held his gaze. She could see in his eyes he meant every word.
“I couldn’t help but laugh. Watching you just be you, almost like the camera wasn’t even there, was great. You’re a funny girl despite all that sarcasm and tough New Yorker attitude you try to conjure. I’m sorry if I find it amusing that you’re a magnet for trouble, but you make it so damn easy.”
Cassidy held her breath, not sure if she was still mad at him. He certainly didn’t seem like a cocky jerk anymore. Not when he was holding her hand to his chest and staring at her with intensity she’d only seen in movies.
“I laughed because it was safer than my gut reaction.”
“What do you mean? What’s your gut reaction?” she whispered.
Evan’s face hovered only a few inches away. He tilted her chin toward him with his free hand and held her there, his mouth nearly touching hers as he spoke.
“In the barn when you were pressed up against me, and on the trail when you were covered in dirt from falling, and in the interview room when you were throwing pillows at me, and here, now … my gut reaction has always been the overwhelming and undeniable urge to kiss you.”
“It was only one pillow,” she said breathless, barely able to respond.
He wants to kiss me? Ohmygod, ohmygod. Enough chitchat — do it.
Evan squeezed her hand once then let it go. It fell to her side, limp and useless.
“But I can’t let that happen, Cassy. I can’t kiss you. I won’t. I can’t stay here — not alone with you like this.”
Cassidy watched, too dumbfounded to respond, as he reached the door in two quick strides, disappearing into the hall. She stood frozen unable to do anything but stare. Wait, why can’t he kiss me?
Chapter Thirteen
Cassidy hopped on her good foot from the bathroom trying to reach the phone before it stopped ringing. Be Evan, be Evan. She grabbed it on the fourth ring. “Hello,” she said louder than she’d meant to.
“Hello to you, too,” came Paige’s chipper voice. “Why are you yelling at the phone?”
“I’m not, sorry. I was in the bathroom when it started ringing and then I had to hop to get it before you hung up. I didn’t mean to yell.”
“That’s okay. Why were you hopping? Is your foot still bothering you?”
“It’s not as bad as it was, but I’m trying to rest it before the next challenge tomorrow.”
Cassidy flopped onto the bed and adjusted the towel wrapped around her. She eyed the cameras in the corners of the room. She didn’t need them getting a peek at any of her girly bits while she talked to Paige.
“So what’s with the late night phone call? I thought you’d be in bed getting your beauty rest by now.”
“I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking about the elimination ceremony. I don’t understand why he doesn’t like me. Am I ugly or not funny enough or something? He can’t possibly have wanted me to stay instead of Zoe. You know him better than anyone else, what do you think it is?”
She should’ve been there for Paige after the ceremony instead of going straight to her interview. It didn’t matter that America voted for her to stay, Brad had still put her up for the vote.
“I’m so sorry, Paige. You know Brad is a big huge jerk if he doesn’t like you,” Cassidy continued. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. It’s all him.”
“If there’s nothing wrong with me, then why did he choose me for the bottom three? There must be something I’m doing wrong.”
“Honestly, I can’t figure him out. He kissed Zoe in the barn then put her in the bottom two. I have no idea why he’s keeping me around at all. I suck at everything. And he’s already dumped me
once. You’ve been great at everything, and you’re funny and smart and so pretty.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think Brad feels that way.” Paige’s voice trembled.
“He doesn’t deserve you, anyway. Besides, if it’s not meant to be with you and Brad, then that means there’s someone else who’s totally awesome waiting for you.”
“A lot of good that does me right now.”
“Maybe seeing this show is how he finds you? You don’t know how all of this will turn out. But you can still enjoy the process while you’re here. It’s not so terrible trying new things and hanging out by the pool on our off days. It’s a hell of a lot better than working. And it’s even better now that Zoe’s gone. It’s going to be like paradise around here.”
“You’re right. I guess I should try and enjoy it while I can. I’ll probably be gone after the next elimination anyway.”
“It could just as easily be me who goes home next time.” Cassidy yawned. “I’m sorry, but I’m just so tired.”
“I need to go, too. Thanks for the chat, I feel a little better now. I should probably try to get some sleep.”
Cassidy laughed. “I need to rest up, since who the hell knows what I’ll be falling off of in the morning.”
Paige giggled. “Night, Cassidy.”
Cassidy hung up the phone, climbed into bed and turned off the light, casting one last glance at the door to Evan’s room. It had been a very interesting and intense day. She could only imagine what tomorrow would bring.
• • •
Evan woke to sunlight streaming in his windows. His tired eyes burned in the bright light.
All night he’d tried to sleep, but instead he’d tossed and turned. He’d been exhausted after the long day, but when it came to relaxing, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking. Thinking about Cassidy and the kiss he almost hadn’t been able to resist.
The urge to kiss her had been overwhelming, stronger than any desire he’d experienced before, and it’d been harder than he’d expected to walk out of her room when everything inside him yelled to stay.
How would he get through yet another competition with so little sleep and so much distraction? How would he possibly get through another day filming Cassidy without violating his work contract or his own personal vow to not get involved with anyone? At the maximum, he had another three weeks of filming left, and that was only if she made it to the finale. He could control himself for a few more weeks, couldn’t he?
After last night’s close call, and contemplating his every thought and feeling about her throughout the night, it was now completely obvious to him — he didn’t know how, but she made him feel something different — something he needed to explore further. But was he ready for that? Was he ready to risk getting involved with her, knowing the future was anything but predictable? Knowing how klutzy this girl was?
Dating her would definitely mean dealing with his fears of her getting hurt on a daily basis. And if she really did start to like the adventurous things in life like on the show, how would he cope? How would Carter and Annie cope?
No reason to worry about that yet.
They’d both get in a heap of trouble if anything happened while on the show. Susan would make sure of that. Hell, Susan would hand him over to Chip wrapped in a giant bow if she suspected he’d fooled around with Cassidy.
After the show was over, all bets were off and he wouldn’t have to worry about Susan or the production limitations. Hopefully by then Cassidy would have had her fill of adventuring, too. Then they might actually stand a chance together.
The clock on the bedside table said it was already half past nine. A few more minutes and Cassidy should be ready to head out to the competition.
He gathered up his gear and stood in the hall outside her door. He always liked this moment waiting to see Cassidy. He enjoyed letting himself imagine for a few moments what she might be wearing and how amazing she’d look in it.
Evan glanced at his watch. Quarter to ten already? What’re you doing in there?
Evan paced as the laughter of the other girls leaving the house drifted upstairs. Cassidy should be with them. What was taking her so long this morning?
He rapped on the door quietly, not wanting to startle her. A few moments passed but the door didn’t open. “Cassidy? You in there?” He knocked on it harder, then stopped for a minute and waited, listening for noise.
The lock on the door clicked and it opened a crack.
“What’s up, Evan?” Cassidy yawned. “Why are you beating up my door? What did it ever do to you?”
Evan pushed the door open gently. Cassidy wore a tank top with matching lace-trimmed shorts. Her hair stuck up on one side of her head in a mess of tangles, and pillow creases decorated her cheek.
Damn, Cassy’s hot. She even makes bed head sexy.
“Cassidy, why aren’t you ready? We have to go.”
Cassidy rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and glanced at the clock on the bedside table. She raked her hands through her hair as if trying to tame the craziness. “I can’t believe I slept through my alarm. I need a shower.”
“Make it a fast one. Everyone’s already leaving for the competition.” Evan paced around the room as Cassidy bolted into the bathroom, cursing loudly. “I’ll run down and get you some breakfast while you’re in the shower, okay?”
Evan ran down the stairs two at a time and went straight to the breads. The girl needed carbs to get going. He didn’t have time to make anything fancy. Grabbing a couple of chocolate croissants and a bottle of water, he sprinted back to her room, hoping she’d be out of the shower and dressed by now. He could only imagine how long it would take for her to do her hair and makeup. It was already after ten and Chip would be seriously pissed if they arrived too late.
Evan stood in the hall outside Cassidy’s room and dialed Chip. He picked up on the second ring.
“Evan, what can I do for you?”
“Hey, Chip. Cassidy’s had a few rough competitions and I think they finally caught up with her. She sort of slept in.”
Chip sighed. “We only have the facility for a few hours and we need her here before we can start filming.”
“I know. She’s getting ready now. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“We can’t have one girl holding up production like this. Light a fire under that girl’s ass and get here.” Chip hung up the phone without waiting for a response from Evan.
Not good.
Evan cracked open Cassidy’s door and called inside. “Can I come back in?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to finish my hair,” she called from inside the bathroom.
Evan walked into the bathroom. “Here. Chocolate croissants.”
Cassidy grabbed one and took a bite, chewed quickly, and took another. “Thanks,” she said with her mouth full. “These are my favorite.”
She looked great, as always. He was amazed she could look this good in fifteen minutes when it would take other women hours to accomplish the same effect. She had true natural beauty.
Cassidy pulled out a complicated, multi-strand necklace. She fumbled with it, trying to arrange the strands so they would hang perfectly around her neck. “Can you do this up for me?”
Evan tried to hold the two little clasps between his large fingers. He reached around Cassidy’s shoulders as she leaned in toward him and draped the necklace across the front of her throat. She tilted her head to the side so he could see the clasp of the necklace behind her neck.
Cassidy’s hair was still wet from the shower, but she’d pulled it back and rolled it up into a clip. The loose ends cascaded in waves to her shoulders.
As he leaned in to get a better angle on the necklace, the scent of strawberry shampoo greeted him. He hesitated with the clasps, taking a moment to inhale deeply, enjoying the intoxicati
ng, damn it — arousing — smell.
Evan slid the clasp together then laid the necklace carefully on her neck. Her skin was silky beneath his fingers as he traced the slope of her neck. His hand lingered on her neck as his thumb kneaded the warm untouched skin behind her ear.
Cassidy pulled back slightly, her eyes questioning him. He held his hand on the back of her neck, staring into those green eyes. The same eyes that had visited his dreams night after night for weeks. The urge he’d become so familiar with nagged at him again, begged him to take action.
Just one little kiss. There are no cameras in the bathroom to catch us …
He pulled Cassidy’s face to his, inching her lips closer. His breath grew heavy and deep as he paused, trying to fight the urge pounding deep in his chest. When he knew he couldn’t resist any longer, he brought his lips to hers, barely touching them, like a whisper on a breath.
Her lips were warmer and softer than he’d imagined in his best dream. His mouth lingered on hers, savoring the moment, finally giving in to the longing burning inside.
Cassidy responded against him, her mouth moving eagerly. She slid her hands up his chest and gripped his shirt in a fist, pulling him closer. Her lips parted, inviting him in.
With that, his final wall of resistance crumbled. The raw emotions of the last few weeks rushed forward like floodwaters over a broken dam. Wrapping his free arm around her waist, he pulled her body tight to his. He pressed his hand against the small of her back trying to get her even closer. He panicked for a moment when he felt her mic pack. Thank God they hadn’t started filming yet or else she’d have turned it on by now.
We’re good. Pay attention to the hot girl.
A small groan escaped his lips as he explored her mouth with his tongue. Time became instantly irrelevant. All that mattered was the touch and taste of Cassidy.
Chocolate and mint …
Their breath grew ragged. His hand tangled in her hair as he tilted her head to the side. His mouth left hers and traveled down the side of her neck leaving a trail of kisses behind.
Unscripted Love: The Complete Reality TV Romance Collection Page 12
