“No way. If you’re going to eat carbs, then you’d better flaunt them and enjoy every damn bite,” Cherylynn said, adding scrambled eggs and bacon to her plate.
“This is going to be a weird day, isn’t it?”
“Oh yeah, it absolutely is, honey. But what’s life without a little bit of weird?”
“Got it. Embrace the weird. I’m not putting my croissant back though.”
“Don’t you dare. Enjoy every last crumb of it.”
Chapter 12
“A sand castle? Really?” Avery whispered.
Cherylynn kept a bright smile on her face while she spoke through her teeth. “A friggin’ sand castle.”
“How is this a challenge?” Avery wondered and then closed her mouth when Jack, the announcer, began talking again.
“That’s right, ladies. We’re keeping it easygoing and fun today with the simple challenge of building a sandcastle. You’ll be separated into four groups of four, and will have to work together to build a castle. Each team will get one tool to use. That’s all!”
“And does the best sand castle win?” Mindy asked, tugging on one of her pigtails and sending a flirtatious look at the camera.
“Beckett will be judging this round,” Jack said, sweeping a hand out to motion for Beckett to step forward from the sideline. The women broke into applause at his arrival and Avery did her best to look like she gave a shit about him.
“That smile’s a little scary, hon,” Cherylynn whispered.
“I’ll tone it down,” Avery said, and dialed back the manic look a bit.
Beckett looked at ease today, in long board shorts, no shirt, and a hat promoting his surf camp. He smiled widely for the ladies and more than one of them cooed in response. Despite the ridiculousness of it all, Avery had to admit – he had some swagger to him.
“Good morning, ladies! I’m excited to get down and dirty in the sand with you today.”
Gross, Avery thought, then gave herself a mental pat on the back for not saying that thought out loud. Jack ushered the group down to the sandy expanse of beach, and Avery took a moment to just breathe and take in the sights around her. She was a long way from home, and they certainly didn’t have pretty palm trees and shockingly turquoise water like this in her neck of the woods. Feeling the warm sand under her toes, she lifted her face to the sun and enjoyed the kiss of the breeze on her cheeks for a moment. Though she loved her job, it was nice to not be staring at a computer screen right now. Returning to the moment, she opened her eyes and fell in line as the group came to a stop in the hardpacked sand by the water. Grateful for her sunglasses and copious amounts of sunscreen, she bit back a smile as more than one girl wiped sweat from her face.
“We’ll just split you up where you’re standing,” Jack said, and Avery was glad to have stopped next to Cherylynn and Mindy. Lisette rounded out their group, and they smiled at each other as though to say, ‘We’re all just friends here having a little frolic on the beach.’ “And here are each of your tools.”
Avery raised an eyebrow as Jack handed out a single hand shovel to one group, a pail to another, and a mini rake to the third. Their own group, the fourth, received a turret-shaped bucket. Then, smiling, he stepped back. Beckett could barely conceal his amusement as all the women looked sadly at their little tools and realized they’d have to use their hands to build something.
“Ready? Set? Go!”
Squeals erupted as each team dove into the sand and began to plan. The arguments started instantly, and the cameras circled like vultures.
“What are we supposed to do with just this little turret?” Lisette pouted, kneeling prettily in the sand. Avery wanted to high-five her for knowing the word, but kept that particular impulse to herself.
“Use it to dig,” Cherylynn said. She grabbed it from her hands, and began scooping buckets of sand out to form a pile.
“But what kind of castle are we making?”
“A pretty one?” Cherylynn suggested as she dumped more sand in a pile.
“A lumpy pile of sand hardly looks pretty,” Lisette pointed out, her mouth in a perpetual pout and eyes scanning for the cameras. When her face changed to a soft and dreamy smile, Avery knew that Beckett must be approaching.
“Ladies, how’s it going over here?” Beckett crouched next to Avery, his muscled thigh casually brushing hers, and Avery reminded herself to play nice.
“Good morning, Beckett. Did you have fun last night?”
“I did, thanks for asking. I missed you though.” Beckett gave her a long look out of his cool blue eyes, and Avery couldn’t help but feel that the move was a practiced one.
“I’m sorry. Jet lag and all…” Avery shrugged, breaking their look and studying the increasingly large pile of sand that Cherylynn was building. “What’s the plan, Cherylynn?”
“I’m trying to make a big hole so we can have a moat,” Cherylynn supplied.
“Why do we need a moat?” Mindy asked, her eyes on Beckett.
“Every castle needs a moat,” Beckett said, and Avery watched a flash of annoyance cross Mindy’s face.
“Of course, duh. Let’s build a moat!” Mindy said, faking cheer.
“That’s what I’m doing,” Cherylynn bit out.
Avery pressed her lips together to hide her smile.
“Well, my moat is going to be better.”
“Says who? You aren’t even doing anything. You’re just sitting there.”
“Well, you have the only tool.”
“You have hands, don’t you?”
“It’s not like they’ll do much. We need more tools.”
“Maybe we could ask the other team if we can use their shovel?” Lisette offered, having moved around the pit to crouch by Beckett. She’d already placed her hand on his knee and Beckett was drinking in the view down her barely-there bikini top.
“Yeah, like anyone’s going to agree to give up their tools. This is a competition, remember?” Mindy grimaced, her hands deep in the sand. Every time she pulled a handful out, she looked in dismay at her manicure and shot daggers with her eyes at Cherylynn.
Avery had a pretty good idea where this was going. She’d seen it more than enough times onsite at her projects – without anyone giving clear direction, everything fell into chaos. Which was likely what the producers wanted, Avery thought.
She glanced around for Roman. Not finding him right away, she tuned into the arguments erupting on all sides of her while the cameras circled gleefully. A bead of sweat trickled down her back and she wanted nothing more than to be away from all these increasingly angry women.
Standing up, she put her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene. None of the groups had gotten much further than the others, and it reminded Avery of a bunch of toddlers about to have a meltdown in the sandbox. Before anyone could throw their toys and have a tantrum, Avery surprised everyone by clapping her hands loudly. Ignoring the cameras that swung towards her, she stepped into the middle of the group.
“Hi everyone! Listen… this is all kind of a mess. We all have tools the other groups need to build their castles. Since Jack didn’t state that each group had to make their own castle, I vote we all work together to build one big castle. What does everyone think about that?”
Cheers greeted her and Avery found herself grinning back, and falling naturally into her project manager role.
“Okay, let’s make this easier. Who wants to collect shells?” A few hands shot up from the group. “Great, you all go over there and start collecting shells.”
“I like to dig,” Cherylynn offered, gesturing at the large pile of sand by her side as evidence.
“Great. Diggers over here.”
“What about rocks? Or sea grasses for the garden?” Lisette offered.
“Fabulous. Interior designers – over here.” Avery motioned for the women to form groups.
“Structural design?” Avery asked hopefully, and was surprised to see two hands raised. “Great, with me. Let’s build the prettie
st sandcastle this island has seen!”
Everyone whooped and ran off in their groups, and what had been almost pandemonium moments before turned into cheerful chatter as each woman found her happy place on the sand.
Turning, Avery caught Roman smiling at her from where he leaned on a palm tree in the distance. Biting back a smile, as she knew she wasn’t supposed to acknowledge him, she crouched in the sand near Cherylynn’s moat. If it felt nice to see Roman’s smile of approval, Avery wasn’t going to admit it to herself. Nope, not in the slightest did it matter what that man thought of her.
“Nicely done.” Beckett ran a hand down her back stopping it just at her waist as he crouched next to her. “I like a woman who knows how to take charge.”
Annoyed that he was touching her without permission, but knowing the cameras were on her and she couldn’t just shrug him off, Avery shifted gently, reaching for a stick one of the women had brought over and moving herself out of his range.
“I kind of fall into it by default. Someone has to oversee things on my projects.”
“What do you do?”
“Environmental engineer,” Avery said and caught his look of surprise.
“I’m an architect,” said one of the women who had come to join Avery.
“And I’m a carpenter,” the other woman said, and Avery couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out at Beckett’s look of surprise.
“Looks like I have my dream team,” Avery said. Then, turning to the two women and neatly cutting Beckett out, she bent and began to draw in the sand with her stick. “Now, how many levels do we want on this castle? And should there be a drawbridge?”
It might not have been the prettiest sandcastle ever made, but by the time they were done with it, the entire group had done something they were proud of. Cherylynn shocked Avery by almost barreling her over with an effusive hug.
“It’s beautiful! I’m so glad you took charge.”
“He didn’t say we had to make separate castles.” Nonetheless, Avery felt her cheeks heat at the praise.
“I know! I didn’t even think about it. But look – it’s so pretty! There’s shells in the courtyard, and seagrass bridges, and the moat looks amazing! I’m so proud of us.” Cherylynn bounced on her heels, and the rest of the group all came over to hug Avery.
By the time they had finished, Avery was shocked to realize that tears threatened. She didn’t even want to be a part of this group – so why did it matter if they approved of her?
Avery thought of her sister, and how’d she spent much of her life letting Ruby steamroll her. Maybe she was just always seeking approval. The problem was, the only person she really wanted approval from was herself.
“Congratulations, ladies!” Jack strolled up, and even though he put a smile on for the camera, Avery could tell he was annoyed that they had succeeded in their challenge. It would make for better TV if they’d fallen apart, but Avery was proud they hadn’t all stooped that low. She could only imagine it would get worse as the stakes got higher, but for Round One, winning this challenge as a group actually felt quite good. “You’ve made a lovely castle and you are all winners!”
The group cheered, but Avery waited for the other shoe to drop.
“So, this particular challenge was about compromise and working together. These traits are incredibly valuable in a relationship. Beckett was making his marks as he toured around, and each of you have been scored on those traits today. We’ll start our elimination now.”
The man really enjoyed his power trip, Avery thought as she watched a sliver of glee pass over Jack’s face before he schooled his expression. Ignoring him, she turned to Cherylynn.
“What happens when you get eliminated?”
“I think you just full on leave. Like today. Pack your bag, go to the airport.”
“What if there isn’t a flight out?” Avery asked, wondering just how many flights arrived at this little island on a daily basis.
“I’m sure they’d put you up somewhere. But no more filming.”
“Jeez, that’s got to be weird. What an awkward situation this is,” Avery muttered, and looked for Roman in the crowd. He stood in the background, consulting a clipboard. He looked good today, wearing loose board shorts, a faded grey t-shirt, and aviators shading his eyes. She wanted to see his eyes again, Avery realized. She swung her attention back to Jack.
“Now, ladies, this first challenge is a tough one – unfortunately, four of you will be out.”
A gasp went through the group and Avery felt the mood shift from one of cohesion to one of suspicion. Nobody wanted to be the first to go, and the careful alliances they’d built during their team project disintegrated at their feet.
“Beckett… if you’d like?” Jack stood back and gestured to Beckett, who stepped forward with his most disarming smile on his face.
Clapping his hands together and shrugging sheepishly, he kicked at the sand a little, looking down and biting his lip before leveling his gaze on them. Everything about his demeanor felt practiced to Avery, and she wondered if he’d received training for this role or he was just used to putting on a show.
“Ladies, honestly, this is a tough one. Picking four of you to go when I’ve barely had a chance to get to know you is… rough, to say the least. But those are the rules and I must abide by them. Please know, I’m only picking based on what I saw in the challenge. Being a team player is really important to me and I want to be with someone who I can work together with. It’s not easy running my camp, and I need people who can help me in that endeavor, not hinder me.”
Avery raised an eyebrow at this. He seemed to mention his camp as often as he could, which suggested to her that he was in this for publicity. He didn’t honestly think that these women would give up their jobs to come work at his camp, did he?
“That being said – and again, I hate having to do this – I’m eliminating Mindy, Cherylynn, Grace, and Delia.”
“No!” Avery gasped, while the other women all made similar shell-shocked responses.
“I… I was the one doing the work from the beginning.” Cherylynn clutched Avery’s hand.
“It must have been that little tiff you had with Mindy.”
“Then Mindy should go. She’s the one starting fights with everyone all the time,” Cherylynn said, and for the first time Avery saw her friend’s good spirits waver.
“Don’t worry – we can vote you back, remember? I’ll make this happen,” Avery promised.
Cherylynn squeezed her arm. “Do you think you can?”
“I’ll do my damnedest,” Avery said. “Because I certainly don’t think I’ll last here without you.”
Chapter 13
“I can’t be the first to go,” Cherylynn wailed. They were back in their rooms, having been given a break to prepare for their night ceremony. It seemed they were meant to spend some time discussing if they would vote for a woman to stay.
“I mean, technically you wouldn’t be the first, because there are four of you,” Avery supplied, then winced when Cherylynn shot her a glare. “Sorry, that was rude of me.”
“No, you’re right. But still, it stings.”
“What can I do to help? I don’t think I’ll last here without you, I really don’t,” Avery said, plopping onto her bed and throwing her hand over her forehead. Perhaps it was a bit dramatic, but she really needed Cherylynn to stay and be her sounding board.
“Can you go talk to the others and put a good word in for me?”
“Of course, I’ll go right now,” Avery said, getting back up. Impulsively, she bent and hugged Cherylynn. Avery wasn’t one for open displays of affection, but she had really taken a liking to Cherylynn. “It’ll be okay. If you get voted off, maybe I can volunteer my place instead. You want this more than I do.”
“That might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever offered to do for me.” Cherylynn blinked up at her and squeezed Avery’s hand. “But I couldn’t possibly accept that from you, hon. Sure, this stings a bit, but
it’s not the end of the world. I doubt I’ll win this; I just didn’t want to be the first to go. I’m made of tougher stuff than this. Just let me have a little cry, then I’ll kick the dirt off my boots and ride on.”
“That’s the spirit. Let me go talk to the others. I’ll try to get a read on what’s happening.”
“You go on without me…” Cherylynn gasped, grabbing at her throat and collapsing dramatically on her bed as Avery left the room, chuckling.
She followed the sound of voices coming from the lower floor. Descending the stairs, she stopped short to see Roman leaning in the doorway on his telephone.
“I love you,” Roman said into the phone. “You’re the best woman I know.” Hanging up, he turned and caught Avery’s look.
“Hello. How goes it today?” Roman asked, walking forward until he stood close to Avery – too close, in her opinion, for someone who was just professing his love to another woman.
“It goes. How’s your girlfriend?” Avery asked before she could stop herself. She immediately wanted to take the words back. She didn’t care if he had a girlfriend, a wife, or a harem of women. It was Beckett she was supposed to be focused on – not this cranky producer.
“Jealous?” A wide smile split Roman’s face and Avery imagined pushing him into the pool the next time he walked past it.
“Not in the slightest. Just making small talk. If you can ask invasive questions about my life, I don’t see why I can’t ask some about yours.”
“First, asking you questions is part of the deal you signed up for. Secondly, asking you if you believe in soulmates or follow a particular religion isn’t necessarily invasive. If I wanted to be invasive, I could ask you when was the last time a man made your legs shake from hours of loving your body.”
Heat flushed her cheeks, and Avery cursed her redhead’s skin while a long liquid pull heated her core.
“That’s really none of your business,” Avery said, sounding prim even to herself. She licked her suddenly dry lips.
A Good Chance (The Siren Island Series Book 3) Page 7
