No, she wasn’t going to think about the one who got away. She was looking for a partner who would allow her to show off her acting chops, nothing else. Still, she stole one more glance at Mr. Aviator Sunglasses as he climbed into the limo. What a fine ass that man had.
“All right, ladies,” one of the producers called out. “It’s time to go!”
Imani headed for the pink limo that was taking the contestants to the resort. Just as she suspected, when she got into the limo, it was full of Barbie dolls—busty, blond, tanned, and half dressed. She made a mental note to tell Edward that she didn’t appreciate being the token black woman on the show.
“Hi,” a Latina said, when she climbed in and sat beside Imani.
“Hello,” Imani replied. No one else in the car had spoken to her, not that it mattered. She was there for one reason and making friends wasn’t it.
“I’m Lucy Chavez,” she said. “Isn’t this exciting?”
“Thrilling,” Imani replied sarcastically.
“I hope I meet someone really nice,” she said. Her eyes sparkled with hope.
“You’re serious?” Imani asked incredulously.
Lucy nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve been trying to meet someone at home in San Diego, but I haven’t had any luck. I was so happy the show called me.”
Imani held back a sarcastic comment. Another contestant, who introduced herself as Marilyn Tanner, smiled at Lucy. “Dating is so hard. That’s why I jumped at the chance to meet someone who actually wants to get married. And from what I saw out there, those guys are gorgeous. I just hope America gets it right and pairs me with someone tall and sexy. I did see a few toads out there, but that’s life.”
The two women turned to Imani. Their eyes seemed to urge her to tell a sappy story about wanting to get married. But Imani only offered them a silent smile, because inside she was simply laughing at the fact that they thought true love was a made for TV competition.
Lucy finally asked the question. “So, Imani, why are you here?”
“For the fame and the money,” she said bluntly. “Do any of you actually think a relationship formed on TV in front of a live audience is going to last?”
The collective gasp in the car was more than enough to make Imani wish she had kept her mouth closed. She had given those eleven women ammunition to use against her. Now, she was going to have to watch herself even more if she didn’t want to get booted from the show before securing a chunk of prize money or a great movie script. After her outburst, everyone was silent the rest of the way to the Blue Diamond Resort. Imani avoided eye contact with the others, but she could feel their daggerlike stares stabbing her. Great job, Imani, she thought woefully. You should have just painted a bull’s-eye on your back.
The pink limo pulled up to the breathtaking resort, and moments later the black limo followed. The doors on both cars opened. Imani wondered if Mr. Aviator Sunglasses had taken his shades off yet, but she forced that thought out of her mind as Lucy and the other women hopped out of the car as fast as greased lightning. Each one of them made a fuss over their hair and pulled at their clothing for maximum cleavage exposure.
Imani decided to play it cool as she scoped out the crop of desperados. The dark tint on the limo’s windows made it practically impossible to get a good look at the men. Reluctantly, she got out of the car. After all, she did need to make it look good.
“All right, who came to win? I need to avoid you if you’re looking for a wife,” she mumbled as she gave the male contestants a closer inspection than she had at the airport. She’d almost forgotten about Mr. Aviator Sunglasses until she saw him without the mirrored shades covering his eyes. Her heart fluttered when she recognized his bewitching green eyes. It was him—the doctor from New York. Their eyes met and for a moment, Imani forgot about the other women jostling for position and partners. She’d nearly forgotten that she was in Hawaii to film this ridiculous show, and felt like she was there only to meet him.
“Wow, look at green eyes over there,” Lucy said to Imani, loud enough for everyone around to hear her. “If America loves Jesus, they will pair us up.”
Not if I can help it, Imani thought as she and the doctor locked eyes. Either he was remembering her or Lucy’s extreme cleavage drew him in their direction. Imani prayed that he wasn’t coming to fawn over those mounds of silicone that Lucy claimed were breasts.
When he stood in front of Imani, all she could think about was his hot hands touching her when she’d fallen. Had he introduced himself that day? She couldn’t remember his name, if he had introduced himself—but those eyes were unforgettable.
“Hello,” he said, looking directly at Imani, and she could barely keep the coolness in her voice when she replied.
Lucy quickly hopped into the conversation, nearly pushing Imani to the ground with her hips. “I’m Lucy,” she said with her hand extended. He took her hand and shook it, but his eyes never left Imani’s face.
“Nice to meet you,” he said to Lucy, then he smiled at Imani. “Nice to see you again. How’s the knee?”
“Great,” she said. “I have to say, I’m surprised to see you here.”
He shrugged, dropping Lucy’s hand. “Thought I’d give it a try so that I could raise money for the clinic,” he replied. Obviously, Lucy felt ignored and stormed off. “What’s your name?”
“Imani. And you are?”
“Raymond.”
“Nice to officially meet you,” she said.
“Now, what is a beautiful woman like you doing here looking for a husband? I’m sure you have no problem finding a man.” He folded his arms and Imani’s mouth watered as she watched his muscles flex. She wanted those arms around her, wanted to feel his warmth and have those lips pressed against hers. They would make a perfect picture on the cover of Us Weekly or Essence magazine.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied with a smile. “I was just thinking about how we had to come all the way to Hawaii to get a proper introduction.”
“Funny how life works out sometimes,” he said with a laugh. Then he did it, he reached out and took her hand in his.
Her skin was soft, Raymond thought as he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Their eyes locked and he was transfixed by her quiet beauty, her smooth caramel brown skin and elegant brown eyes. Her hair, pushed behind her ears, looked real. But being that she was from New York, it could be a weave. Either way, he wanted those silky strands against his cheek after he tasted her lips, wrapped her legs around his waist and dove into her wetness and made her scream his name. “I wonder if they’re filming us now,” Raymond whispered.
“Oh, God,” Imani exclaimed, “I hope not.” She fussed over her hair and ran her tongue across her lips. “I’m so not camera-ready right now.”
Raymond shrugged as he watched her smooth her dress. “You look good to me,” he said with a smile. “So, what do you do?”
“I’m an actress,” she replied proudly. “I’m hoping this show will give me some great exposure.”
“Broadway?” Raymond’s mind immediately flashed to Imani in a sequin leotard and a pair of sky-high heels showing off those long, curvy legs. He loved her legs.
“I’ve done a few commercial spots and a movie. Have you ever seen Fearless Diva?”
He narrowed his eyes at her as he recalled that horrible movie with the sexy star. “Wow, that was you in that movie?”
“You saw it?” she asked with a smile.
“Yeah, and if you weren’t so cute, I’d ask you for my ten-fifty back. That movie was horrible.”
“Excuse me?” she said, narrowing her eyes into little slits.
“You can’t be proud of that movie,” he said with a laugh. “What were you thinking when you read that script? Cult following? I laughed a lot, but I don’t think some of the things I laughed at were supposed to be funny.”
The evil look Imani gave him made Raymond shiver in the tropical heat. “You’re going to stand there
and insult my craft? I worked hard on that movie and it’s not my fault that you can’t appreciate a movie that thought outside the box.”
“The box of good taste.”
“And what have you done?”
“Saved a couple lives, opened a clinic, and wasted my money on a damned sorry movie.”
“I would say that it was nice to meet you, but that would be a lie,” Imani said, then stormed off. Though she was angry, the sway of her hips, with a little extra ummph, still had Raymond mesmerized.
Chapter 6
Producer Tres Ellis watched Imani and Raymond interact on closed circuit TV. She took a pull of her clove cigarette. “I see stars being born,” she whispered as she exhaled a puff of smoke. Tres could see the attraction that both parties were trying to deny. Raymond looked as if he wanted to kiss Imani, then tell her off. And Imani looked at Raymond with a gleam in her eyes that screamed “make love to me.” Tres had seen this on other shows and she was happy to have it on hers.
“Elliot,” she shouted. “See these two? I want a camera on them at all times. No matter what America says, they are going to be a couple on this show. I knew we had a strong cast on this show, but who knew the actress and the doctor would look so good together on camera? First thing in the morning have them in the interview room.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied as he turned to the monitor. “What’s so special about them, though?”
Tres smiled and blew out another puff of smoke. “They sizzle like bacon.”
For the next two hours, the contestants explored the resort, finding its treasures—such as the hot tub, a grotto with a pool built for four, and an indoor waterfall—and their rooms.
Imani prayed to everything holy that she would avoid Raymond. But every time she turned a corner, there he was. His eyes seemed to peer through her soul and she wanted to open it up to him—but he had insulted her craft and that was an unforgivable sin. Yes, her movie sucked and she’d heard people say worse things than he had about Fearless Diva, but she took it personally when Raymond said it. When Imani found the door to the room she claimed as her own, it seemed that fate was playing with her again, because Raymond was letting himself into the room across the hall from hers. He didn’t seem to notice her. She looked over her shoulder and drank in his delectable frame. She wondered how he would look in a tight pair of boxer briefs and no shirt. His skin damp from a shower. With arms like that, he could wrap them around her and pull her against his hard body and . . .
“Is there a problem?” Raymond asked, causing Imani to break her stare.
“What?”
“You’re staring at me.”
“I was not. You’re so conceited.”
Raymond smiled and walked into his room. Before he closed the door, he turned to Imani. “I’m locking my door, in case you have ideas about coming over here and kicking my ass because I didn’t like your movie.”
She sucked her teeth, then slammed her door behind her. Imani was embarrassed that he caught her staring, but she couldn’t help but smile. He wanted her and she wanted him. What am I going to do? she thought.
Raymond sat in his room, staring out the window. He watched the waves crash against the shore. Why was Imani this close to him? He closed his eyes and imagined being on the beach with her. Their bodies would be intertwined. Her hair wet and plastered to her face. Raymond could almost taste her tongue. Was her kiss as sweet as she was vicious? Raymond felt a fullness in his pants as he thought about lifting her bikini top. Her breasts would spill out like a Hawaiian waterfall. The ocean spray would give her nipples a salty taste as he took them into his mouth. Raymond shook his head. She’s not why you’re here. Ignore her and keep your eye on making money for the clinic, he thought.
Raymond knew that was going to be easier said than done. Knowing that Imani was across the hall was going to wear on him, drive him crazy and haunt his dreams. But, this was a TV show, Imani was an actress, he reminded himself. He couldn’t be sure that she wasn’t just here for the camera time and thought of everyone as a prop. Still, she was sexy as hell and there was no way he could deny that. Raymond told himself not to lose focus. He was on this show to raise money for his clinic. Falling for a moody actress was not a part of the plan. Why is she here anyway? Why isn’t she doing another movie?
Raymond had to admit, Imani was the only bright spot he recalled in that dismal comedy/drama that was Fearless Diva. He couldn’t even remember the plot. But he remembered Imani getting out of a hot tub in a pair of panties and no bra. She had the most perfect breasts he had ever seen. He wondered how much of that was studio magic and how much was actually her. Raymond wanted to walk across the hall and talk to her. But what would he say? He was the one who said he was locking his door to keep her away. “Open mouth, insert foot,” he mumbled as he walked over to the window and pulled the curtain back.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Raymond smiled, thinking that it was Imani. He bounded to the door, but paused for a few seconds before opening it. He didn’t want to look too excited to see the sexy siren.
However, when he opened the door, any excitement about seeing Imani faded when he found Lucy standing there with a smile on her face and a bottle of wine in her hand.
“Hi,” she said. “Earlier, we didn’t get a chance to talk or get introduced properly. Want to have a glass of wine and get to know each other?”
Raymond looked at the barely there pink bathing suit she wore and the sheer sarong wrapped around her shapely hips. Lucy had a nice body, but she was no Imani. Her curly black hair looked damp, as if she had just gotten out of the pool. Beads of water glistened on her brown shoulders. Sure, she only wanted to talk. He knew those signals and they had nothing to do with talking.
Forcing a smile, he replied, “Why not? I have a wonderful view from my balcony. Come on in.”
“A bunch of us are swimming and hanging out. I was looking for you,” she said, not hiding her attraction as she followed him inside the room. “I’m glad you’re not in here with our resident actress.”
“You know, I’m a little tired. It was a long flight from New York, but thanks for thinking of me,” he said.
“You do have a great view,” she said as she joined him on the balcony. “The ocean is beautiful.” Lucy set the wine on the table and pulled her chair beside Raymond’s. He reached for the bottle and looked out at the ocean. He wondered if Imani enjoyed the water or if she was too vain to get her hair wet. Glancing over at Lucy, he decided that there was nothing wrong with spending time with a less dramatic woman. She was cute . . . but wait, what if she was actually seeking a man who wanted to marry someone he met on TV? He opened the bottle with the corkscrew Lucy handed him and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just thinking about how far people will go for love.”
She folded her arms and cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Just thinking out loud.”
“So, you don’t think the one for you is here?” Lucy asked. “I believe in love at first sight.”
Raymond gave her a sidelong glance and exhaled slowly. “Love at first sight is a myth,” he said. “Lust at first sight is more like it.” Imani immediately popped into his mind as he poured himself a glass of wine.
Lucy took the bottle from his hands and set it on the table. “So, what did you think when you saw me standing at your door? Love or lust?”
Neither, he thought as he stared at her. “Let me get back to you on that.”
Lucy wasn’t taking no for an answer as she rose to her feet and crossed over to him. Before Raymond could say a word, she’d perched herself on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist. Her grip was as tight as a vise. Raymond shifted, but Lucy wouldn’t let him go. “I think I feel lust,” she moaned.
“Lucy, come on,” he said as he finally pried her off him. “I’m not trying to be that guy.”
“What guy is that?”
she asked as she tried to press her lips against his.
“The reality show boy toy,” he replied, pushing her away. “Besides, if you’re looking for love, you’re going about it the wrong way.”
“Really? I don’t think you’re going to fall in love with me right away, but once we win the show, then we can go from there. I just want to give you a taste of what I have to offer.”
“I’ll pass,” he said as he turned toward the door. “I’m going to take a nap. Maybe we’ll see each other later.”
“Oh, we will see each other later,” Lucy said. “Are you sure I can’t join you for a nap?”
“I just want to sleep,” he said as he led her into the room and toward the door.
“All right, Dr. Raymond,” Lucy said, walking into the hallway. “Make sure you dream about me.”
Before he could respond, he saw Imani’s door open. She stepped out dressed in a white, red, and orange bikini with a sheer sarong wrapped around her waist and no shoes. Raymond looked down at her feet and realized that calling them perfect would be the understatement of the decade. Imani looked at Raymond and raised her eyebrow. Their eyes locked and he wanted to say something to her. But she turned away from him quickly.
Lucy seemed to notice their spark. “She’s just here for the money and fame,” she whispered to Raymond. “She told us that in the car.”
“I don’t doubt it,” he said, not taking his eyes off Imani as she sauntered down the hall without even looking back at Raymond. Her hips had a beat of their own. Why couldn’t she have been the one trying to kiss him? Turning to Lucy, he offered her a weak smile. “Thanks for the wine,” he said.
“Sure I can’t interest you in anything else?”
Raymond shook his head and reached for the doorknob. “Maybe we’ll see each other later,” he said. Lucy walked down the hall, putting an extra twist in her hips as she went. Raymond wasn’t watching, though. He shut the door behind him and strode across the room. His attention had turned to the island beauty he saw from his window. Imani. She was lounging on the beach, head back and eyes covered by a pair of diva sunglasses. Did she know that she was right underneath his window and giving him a show that he wouldn’t mind spending way more than ten dollars to see?
Too Hot for TV Page 6
