Pick Me (Reality TV Romance)

by Mason, Kristine

  “Believe it or not, even us hicks have technology.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “No worries, I know you didn’t. I never did have a chance to ask you where you were from, and don’t tell me Dallas, because I know a Midwestern accent when I hear one.”

  He never had the chance because when they had been in Denver, they’d skipped the “getting to know you stuff” and dove right into sex.

  “Chicago.”

  He glanced at her again. “Well, Sunny Springs is far cry from the Chicago or Dallas, but I’m betting what you see ahead won’t have you missing those bright lights and all that concrete.” He shifted his gaze back to the dirt road and nodded. “Look, there she is.”

  Valentina caught her breath, and for the first time since leaving her parents’ small bungalow when she’d left for college, she had an overwhelming sense of coming home. Stone pillars, with iron gates shaped into the image of running broncos, led to a beautiful, large colonial home with a three car garage. Huge oak trees shaded the winding driveway, while horses either ran or grazed in the pasture. The view of the lake flanking one side of the property was breathtaking. She could image her and Colt taking a picnic basket filled with wine and munchies, and watching the sunset there, while the horses softly neighed nearby, and the night creatures began to awaken and stir. As they made love on a blanket, the evening sky would be riddled with stars, not clouded by smoke from a processing plant or outshined by the city lights.

  As quickly as the image ran through her mind, she shoved it away. Dating Colt was a job. A means to an end. Four weeks, that was all she’d have to endure. Four weeks of dating him and two other guys, oh God, on camera, then she was free to go—with a signed contract guaranteeing a raise, a promotion, and the chance to have Derek seriously consider one of the screenplays she’d pitched to him.

  She stopped craning her neck at the lake as Colt drove closer to the house. Near the three car garage sat what appeared to be some sort of souped up golf cart with tires like a four wheeler and a cargo hold in the back end. “What is that thing?” she asked, hoping she’d have an opportunity to ride in it. The four wheeler looked like fun, and she would love to use it to explore Colt’s property.

  “It’s the Ranger I’d told you about last night,” Colt said as he parked the truck. “I asked my brother, Ruger, to stop by, bring it out from the barn, and make sure she was gassed up.”

  “Ruger? You mean like the gun?” she asked, then grinned.

  His cheeks reddened, and she melted. There was something about seeing her rugged, badass cowboy blush that did a number on her. Not that he was hers, but damn, maybe in another lifetime.

  “Yep, my dad had a thing for guns, and named all us kids after a firearm.”

  “Us kids, how many are in your family?”

  “I’ve got an older brother, Win, named after the Winchester rifle, then there’s me, Ruger, then Barrett, and finally my sister, Remy.”

  “Let me guess, her full name is Remington.”

  He winked. “That’s right. Hell, when we were growing up, we even had a couple dogs named Smith and Wesson.”

  Laughing she shifted in her seat and caught his teasing gaze. “Liar.”

  “I wish I was. You could say my dad was a bit fanatical. Hang tight,” he said as he climbed out of his seat. He ran around the front of the truck, then opened her door. “Let me help you.”

  She was grateful for his assistance. Not only wouldn’t she break her neck trying to exit his gigantic truck, but it gave her a chance to touch him again. An excuse to allow him to touch her, despite the rules she’d laid out last night.

  Touch her, he did. Lifting her by the waist, rather than taking her hand, he pulled her from her seat and swung her around. Instead of setting her to the gravel, he held her against him for a second, then slowly slid her body down the length of his.

  By the time her hiking boots touched the ground, her nipples were hard. Thankfully, her knees didn’t give way. The man had that much of an effect on her, especially with his big hands still holding her waist, a few calloused fingers brushing the skin exposed by the slight rise of her tank top.

  Needing a distraction, a way to put some distance between them before she threw her career away and took him against the truck, she opened her mouth to thank him, but he beat her to the punch. “So now you know about my name, I’ve been wondering about yours. I know you’re Italian,” he said, and ran a finger along a few curls that couldn’t be tamed by the flat iron, while he kept his other hand secured around her waist. “Is Valentina a family name or were you born on Valentine’s Day?” As he asked, he brushed loose tendrils away from her cheek. His closeness, his gentle caress had her heart racing and her body ready to explode with irrational need.

  She sent him a wry smile, while battling with the urge to draw his firm, sexy lips closer to hers. “Cliché, but true. I’m a Valentine’s baby.”

  One rough thumb stroked her cheek, while the other, her hip. She fought to control her breathing, to not allow him to know how bad she had it for him. Otherwise, Pick Me was doomed before it even had a chance to air—so was her career. But instead of pulling away, she stood there. Loving every wrong moment. Because it felt so right.

  “What’s your full name, Valentina?” he asked, and drew closer. Close enough to catch his scent. Male, pure and simple.

  Eyes half closed and staring at his mouth she said, “Valentina Maria Teresa Bonasera.”

  His lips tilted in a sexy crooked smile. “That’s a mighty big name for a little thing like you. But I’m thinking it suits you. You’re larger than life, despite your pint size.” He grinned then grew serious and stepped back, releasing his hold on her. “Colt Walker,” he said as he took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips.

  She clenched her thighs to stop the throbbing between them, but it didn’t work. The man was everything she wanted—charming, fun, intelligent and hot as hell.

  “C’mon, let me show you what I’ve planned for today.” Still holding her hand, Colt led her to the Ranger. “Seeing as how you’d expressed an interest in guns, I had Ruger bring some of his, and gather mine so that you’d have an opportunity for some real target practice.”

  Adrenaline, along with something more, rushed through her as she eyed the weapons. While the guns weren’t an elaborate bouquet of flowers, they were better. Colt had taken into consideration her interest and went out of his way to make sure she’d have a bang up good time.

  “Thanks. Wow.” She ran her hands along some of the carefully packed weapons, then stumbled on one in particular. “Is this a...” Heat rose to her cheeks, and she went back to being unable to complete a sentence.

  Colt brushed his thigh against her rear as he leaned over the backend of the Ranger. “Yeah, that’s the twelve gauge pump shotgun,” he said.

  For a split second, she was tempted to grind her bottom against his thigh, but Colt’s cell phone rang. “Hello,” he said, and stepped away. “No kidding, tough luck...Okay, I’ll tell her.” He slipped his cell phone back into his pocket. “That was Danny. The van broke down about forty miles outside of Dallas.”

  Damn, she’d known it was a mistake to not wait for them. But Danny had insisted they head to Colt’s ranch while they dropped by the studio to pick up Jonas. “Are they sending another van? The temperature is supposed to hit the low ninety’s today. Plus, I don’t think Danny liked how things went this morning. I’m sure he’d want to take extra footage...” She trailed off, stopping herself from revealing the ins and outs of the show’s business. After all, she was playing the role of a school teacher.

  “Another van’s on its way, but Danny said it won’t be there for at least a couple of hours.”

  Nudging the gravel with her hiking boot, she kept her eyes on the ground. Considering they were stranded forty miles from Colt’s ranch, by the time the new van arrived, and the crew transferred the equipment, then traveled the remaining distance, they wouldn’t be ther
e for another three, maybe four hours. Which meant she would be stuck with Colt. Alone.

  She didn’t trust herself.

  When she’d first met him, his teasing blue eyes and crooked grin had caught her attention, and his hard body and skillful mouth had kept her more than sexually satisfied. But his charm, his sense of humor, and his laid back attitude had made her fall for him. But she’d overcome those emotions he’d evoked that blistery night six months ago. Even last night she’d assured herself that she could handle being near him. But now?

  There was something about seeing where someone lives. While she hadn’t been inside the house yet, the rolling pasture, the rugged landscape, the barn, the stable and horses suited Colt. He seemed more in his element here than he would in Dallas, which also made her once again question his true occupation. Honestly, she could care less if he was a rancher or a sports agent. She’d take him either way.

  Did she really just think that? God, she needed to get a grip on reality. Colt wasn’t hers for the taking.

  Oh yes he is, that inner bachelorette playing the game reminded her. You could have him and all the other perks Derek offered you.

  No, she inwardly argued, then gave herself a mental shake. She was standing on Colt’s driveway, staring at either guns or gravel, trying hard to fight the needs raging through her body and arguing with her own TV created bachelorette. Damn, she needed a distraction before she truly turned into the next Sybil.

  “So what do you want to do in the meantime?” she asked, then immediately regretted speaking. The voices in her head sounded better than her own. The way she’d asked the question came out huskier than she’d intended. She could only imagine the double meaning Colt might take from the innocent question.

  With her cheeks burning with embarrassment, she blurted, “I meant...I mean, I didn’t, I...” Releasing a deep breath before she rambled any further, she jumped when he caught her chin.

  Colt resisted rubbing his thumb along her lower lip. He knew she fought for the same control he did. Her dark eyes mirrored the same burning desire coursing through his body. The longing, the knowledge of what they’d shared...what they could share.

  While sex might have been on the forefront of his mind when he’d first met her, as he’d held her, talked to her, he’d realized she was different, special. She’d done what no other woman had—made him want more than just sex. She’d made him realize that maybe it was time to settle down with one woman. He hadn’t necessarily expected that one woman would be Valentina. She’d been a one-night stand.

  A one-night stand that had turned into an obsession, he reminded himself.

  After Denver, he’d enlisted the help of his brother Win, a Texas Ranger, to pull some strings and see if he could find her. His brother had obliged, thankfully without questioning him too much, because quite frankly, he didn’t think he had the right answers. Or maybe they were answers he hadn’t wanted to admit aloud. Regardless, Win did his best to help him, he even had his buddy, a renowned sketch artist with the Texas Rangers, let Colt describe every beautiful detail of Valentina’s face.

  The portrait had captured every nuance, every detail, and had several of Win’s counterparts drooling. But, it had all been in vain. What was he going to do, plaster her likeness on telephone poles across the Midwest? Her subtle accent had been his only lead, and that was a mighty big territory to cover. So, he’d kept the sketch hidden in his office drawer, and the memories of her locked in the dark recesses of his mind.

  Shrugging, and trying to act casual, he motioned to the Ranger loaded with enough weapons to take over a small city. “No sense on wasting all this. What do you say we get some target practice in before the cameras arrive?” he asked, hoping to set her at ease. Valentina wanted to continue to play the role of Pick Me’s Bachelorette, and while he still didn’t understand why, when they could quietly date without an audience, he respected her decision, even if he didn’t like it.

  She released a deep breath, and flashed him a smile. “I’d like that,” she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

  *

  Colt secured the target in place, then jogged back to where he’d left Valentina and the Ranger. As he approached, he slowed his steps, wondering how he was going to make it through the next four weeks without touching her the way he wanted. Last night hadn’t been enough. While he’d loved caressing her, kissing her, feeling her heat and wetness coat his fingers as he’d made her come apart, he’d wanted so badly to have her fully naked. Beneath him, on top of him.

  Now, they were alone in the woods. His property extended nearly four hundred acres and his nearest neighbors were his brothers. They wouldn’t run into a soul out here. Shit, maybe he should have taken her back into town for lunch. Just being near Valentina pushed the boundaries of his willpower and made him want to throw every last shred of his conscience prodding chivalry in the trash. Even the brief touch they’d shared as he’d helped her from the truck weighed heavy on his mind. How soft her skin was, how good she smelled, how perfect she fit his body.

  “Are we ready to lock and load?” she asked with a wink and a grin.

  He was locked and loaded all right. The sight of her wearing the tan cowboy hat he’d loaned her, the way her tight tank top curved around her breasts and clung along her flat stomach triggered an instant reaction from his cock. He’d been sporting a semi-erection since seeing her last night, but now his dick was on the verge of splitting his zipper.

  “Yep, we’re all set.” Unable to help himself, he drew closer. “You look cute in this,” he said, and gave her hat a tap.

  Blushing, she held his gaze, then for a split second, shifted her eyes to his mouth, then his groin before looking over his shoulder. “Thanks. It does make me feel kinda like a cowgirl. Maybe I’ll have to buy a new pair of boots to finish the image.”

  After catching the hungry look in her eyes, he instantly pictured her straddling his hips while wearing nothing but a pair of cowboy boots as she rode him. Man, he really should have taken her into town for lunch, or maybe even to Red’s. He wasn’t likely to sport an erection surrounded by stuffed, dead animals.

  Stepping away from the Ranger, she spun around in her hiking boots. “It’s so peaceful here compared to Chicago. Oh my gosh, and that Ranger of yours is so much fun.”

  He’d loved the way she had laughed and playfully shrieked as he’d taken the Ranger over the rough terrain through the backwoods of his property. Unless they’d grown up on a ranch, most women didn’t appreciate four wheeling through the woods. Her willingness to try new things, and the trust she’d placed in him as he’d tackled the bumpy, narrow path made that small, soft spot he’d held for her grow. “If you think the Ranger is fun, you should try riding around my property on horseback.”

  “Let’s not get crazy,” she said with a smile. “Baby steps.”

  “Well, the horse would complete the cowgirl image, and besides there are some places you can’t take the Ranger or would want to go on foot, and I can’t think of anything sturdier to ride than one of my horses.”

  She dropped her eyes to his groin again, her tongue darting across her lower lip. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” she said, her voice low, husky and setting his balls on fire.

  Sucking in a breath, and needing a distraction, he grabbed a .22 caliber pistol. “Why don’t we start with this,” he said, and loaded the gun.

  He caught her strawberry scent as she moved alongside him and her nearness caused him to fumble one of the bullets. “Perfect, I can definitely shoot one of these,” she said with confidence.

  “How is it that you know about guns?”

  “My dad and all four of my older brothers are Chicago cops. I’ve been around guns all my life. Oh, wait, is that a .44 Magnum?” she asked, and reached into the trunk of the Ranger. Her breast brushed his arm and he worried he’d drop the loaded pistol and shoot off his foot if he didn’t put some distance between them.

  “Yep, ever shoot one?”
>
  “No, my dad wouldn’t let me and threatened my brothers if they let me near one.”

  “Well, seeing as how they’re not here,” he said with a shrug, then passed her the .22. “Have at it with this one while I load the Magnum.”

  Her eyes glittered with excitement as she took the weapon. “Thanks. Should I stand here?” she asked and took position about fifty feet away from the target.

  “That seems good enough.”

  Before turning toward the target, she flashed him a smile. With her arms now raised, gun pointed directly ahead, and legs slightly spread, she looked like a pro. Anxious to see how good of a shot she was, he stopped loading the Magnum and stared—mostly at her shapely ass—until she fired a round.

  “Holy...you just hit the bull’s eye,” he shouted, as the echo from the gun reverberated off the trees.

  “Lucky shot,” she said without turning. “I haven’t practiced in over a year.”

  Lucky my ass, Colt thought, especially after she shot the next five rounds either dead center or slightly skewed. After she released the last bullet, she stood for a moment, the smoking gun steady in her small hands. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything sexier than Valentina naked until he’d seen her standing in the woods firing a pistol like a professional marksman.

  She finally turned, her face glowed with a serene satisfaction, and a small smile played across her lush lips. “I’m ready for round two, if you are.”

  His cock twitched at the memory of her saying those same words after they’d made love for the first time back in Denver. While willing his dick to behave, he nodded. “Here let me have that,” he said and took the .22, then placed it in the trunk of the Ranger. “Now, you’re a great shot with the .22, but the .44 packs a lot more punch and has a wicked kick back.”

  “Which is why my dad didn’t want me firing one,” she said wryly.

  “That’s what I’m guessing, so let’s try this.” It pained him to do so, because touching her without really touching her made him plain miserable. He wanted to hold her, love her body like he’d done in Denver. But he forced himself to focus—on her, on what they were supposed to be doing. He covered his hands over her grip around the barrel of the Magnum, and stood behind her. Her back brushed his chest, her bottom nestled against his groin. His very erect groin.