Penelope and Calais...those two answered the questions, but they hadn't said much. The only thing that stuck in Jason's mind from those two interviews was the one point they'd both made: neither of them knew him well enough to say whether he was marriage material for them.
More time. He needed more time. Watching the videos was one thing, but he needed to spend more time with all of them before he made up his mind. If he had to make a decision now, he'd pick Melissa, but only because he didn't know the other girls as well.
"It's Melissa," Paige said.
Jason realised he hadn't heard a word she'd said up until she mentioned Melissa's name. "What?"
Irritation crossed Paige's face as she evidently came to the same realisation. "I said one of the girls got hurt. She had to be airlifted to hospital in Perth. Melissa."
No. That couldn't be right. "How?" he demanded.
Paige held up the hard disk. "That's what I'm here to see." She plugged in the USB.
Melissa. Gone. "So is she coming back?" Jason asked while they waited for the files to load.
Paige shook her head. "She had a really bad allergic reaction. They're keeping her in for a few days for observation." She summoned a smile. "At least you won't have to worry about doing another elimination this week."
"Yeah, but..." He hadn't intended to send Melissa home. He wanted her to stay. Now, more than ever, he needed to get acquainted with the other girls.
"This is raw footage from the camera at the top of the hill. I was at the bottom, so I didn't see," Paige warned, her hand hovering over the mouse.
Jason nodded. Most of the other stuff he'd seen hadn't been edited, either, or at least he didn't think so. Of course, Paige could have held back some of the footage, if she hadn't wanted him to see it, but he didn't think she'd be that manipulative. At least, the girl he'd known six years ago wouldn't have been. Surely Paige couldn't have changed that much in six years. He knew he hadn't. Well, aside from more time in the gym and all that experience in the bedroom, and wherever else girls had wanted him. And the romance research in the resort library...nah, he hadn't changed. Not really.
The video began to play and Jason listened intently to Paige's shouted instructions to the contestants. "Flower arranging and running sprints?" he asked. "Chess not exciting enough for you?"
Paige hushed him, her eyes on the screen.
The footage faded to black, then cut in to a different scene. The glass vases grouped around the twisted tree looked like some sort of backdrop for a photo shoot. One of those fashion ones with weird clothes no one would wear unless the apocalypse had truly come and they had nothing else. No half-starved models today, though.
The camera panned to the camp at the bottom of the hill, where Paige stood. Two figures raced across the kitchen veranda, each carrying an armload of flowers. The girls pelted up the hill, neck and neck, and Jason recognised Melissa and Penelope. Two vases got flowers before the girls pivoted and dashed for the bathroom. They disappeared from view for a few seconds before Melissa emerged alone, her legs pumping furiously to carry her up the hill. She poured her clamshell of water into her vase, then went back for more.
Penelope ambled into sight, arms outstretched like a zombie. Jason laughed out loud when he recognised the arrangement of shells balanced along her arms. She wasn't just a good cook – she'd served at banquets, too. Steadily, she ascended the hill with her burden, skilfully tipping the contents into her vase. It might not be chess, but strategy seemed to be important in this particular competition. Jason only wished Paige had found a way to include the mud wrestling. After all, she'd incorporated everything else.
Jason grew bored, watching the endless relay of women and water, until one of the girls didn't return to the bottom of the hill. Lorelei waited for the other girls to go down, while she plucked at the hem of her shorts. When she was alone, she crouched between the cameraman and the vases, hiding two of them from sight. The lens panned to follow the rest of the girls labouring up the hill, but a triumphant shout brought Lorelei into focus, holding a filled vase above her head.
Penelope's shells dropped to the sand as she lowered her arms, before charging right for Lorelei. Screeching something unintelligible, Penelope punched Lorelei in the face and they both went down, the vase emptying over them both.
Jason got his mud wrestling as the two girls rolled around in the damp sand, screeching and slapping and pulling each other's hair.
A scream from out of the field of view made the cameraman jump, the footage jerking up with him, before he zoomed in on Melissa. She mumbled something about a bee before the video ended abruptly.
Paige pounded her fist into the table. "Damn it! There's nothing!"
"I don't know," Jason drawled, grinning. "That was a pretty solid jab from Penelope. I wouldn't have pegged her as a fighter, but it looks like she's had some practice. And you said mud wrestling wasn't a good idea."
"It wasn't," she replied through gritted teeth. "Because of those two, we don't have anything from before the bee sting. Not even the bloody bee. The other camera got plenty of footage on the first aid and stuff, but not the initial injury. I interviewed the girls afterwards, but none of them saw it, either. They kept saying how shocked and upset they were at Melissa getting hurt. Well, except for Penelope. She blamed the whole thing on the other girl. Lorelei. The one who won."
"The one who cheated, you mean," Jason said.
"That's what Penelope said, but Lorelei denies it. She said she thought the vase was hers and while she might have mixed them up at first, she's adamant that she didn't that time."
"And which one would you believe?" Jason asked.
He knew his answer. Lorelei had already lied on tape about having sex with him. At least, he was pretty sure it was a lie. Surely he'd recognise her if he'd had her before. He might not remember every girl's name, but he remembered faces. And voices. But he didn't know hers.
Penelope, now that was different. He knew he'd seen her before. Fairly certain he'd slept with her before. She was the only one who hadn't looked surprised when Paige had introduced him as their rock star bachelor. But the way her body reacted when he touched her...no, she wasn't hiding secrets like Lorelei was.
Paige shrugged. "Does it really matter? You're going to go on dates with the girls anyway, and we don't have time to film it all again. Lorelei's the winner, and if we cut that fight scene, her triumph will flow nicely into your date with her in two days' time. You two will take a helicopter to Woody Creek Pearl Farm, cruise the creek and the farm until sunset, maybe spot the local crocodile, Nigel, then have a seafood banquet specially prepared for you by the chef at their restaurant. They promised you'd get to open some of their pearl oysters and keep anything you find inside, too, so I'm not surprised she picked that one. She could be wearing a million dollar pearl to your wedding, if you're lucky."
Jason doubted it. He'd spent enough time talking to the pearl farmers. They wouldn't open the top grade oysters for tourists. They'd be lucky to get jewellery quality pearls at all. But let the girl believe what she liked. Not like she was particularly truthful in what she told everyone else.
That nagging doubt wouldn't leave him alone. Time. He needed more time to get to know her, to get to know all of them better.
"What's on for tomorrow, then?" he asked.
"I have paperwork to fill out for the studio," Paige said sourly. "So we don't get sued for negligence. As if we could keep bees out of an outdoor bush site. But the corporate types in Sydney don't see it that way."
"You have fun with your paperwork, then. I think I'll charter a plane and head inland." Jason felt a grin lifting his lips. He had the perfect spot in mind.
"What? Where? Who with?" Paige demanded.
"Dunno. I figure I'll make it a surprise tomorrow when I tell the girls." He strode out, his mind whirling with ideas.
"Make sure you take one of my cameramen with you! You can't have them all, you know! You have to pick one. Not even you get to have
a harem!" Paige called after him. "And don't forget your date with Calais this afternoon!"
Jason's grin widened. He never forgot a date.
FORTY-FIVE
Since Calais got back to camp after her date with Jay, she hadn't stopped smiling. It was getting on Penny's nerves.
To make matters worse, Lorelei strutted around the place like someone had crowned her queen. Penny's punch hadn't broken her nose, though it had split open Penny's knuckles, so Penny had come out of the fight with more injuries than the bitch who started it.
It figured. The universe didn't like her much.
So when a jet boat roared into the cove, and Penny heard Jay shout a cheery good morning, she didn't rise from her seat by the darkened fire pit.
"Perfect day for a trip up north. You want to come with me?"
Penny lifted her eyes to Jay's face. Yes, he was talking to her. Her heart swelled. Maybe something could go right today. "I'd love to," she breathed.
"Where are the others?" Jay asked.
Penny shrugged. "After breakfast, Lorelei went to put her makeup on. That usually takes half the morning. And Calais...I think she went for a walk up to the old pearling camp."
"I'm back! I'm here!" Calais came barrelling down the track, breathless and grinning. "I saw the boat arrive. Is your business at the resort finished for a while? Are you staying with us in the camp again?" So much for the shy girl she'd been. Had Jay popped her cherry last night?
Jay winked. "Maybe. But right now, I have a helicopter waiting on the landing pad at the pearl farm, packed with a picnic lunch, ready for adventure. Are you up for it?"
"Absolutely!" Calais beamed.
"Where's the other girl?" Jay asked.
Calais' face fell. "Lorelei? She's in the bathroom. I'll go get her, if you want."
"Tell her she has five minutes to get in the boat with Baz and the rest of us, or we'll leave her behind," Jay advised.
Calais nodded and trudged to the bathroom.
A cameraman stuck his head out of the crew cabin. "Paige will kill me if I don't come along. All dates have to be recorded." He grabbed his gear and lugged it to the fire pit, where he stood beside Penny, expectantly.
So not just a private adventure for two. All four of them, complete with the fucking photographer.
The universe could go fuck itself. Up the arse with a cactus.
FORTY-SIX
Crammed into a tiny cabin, being heartily sick into a bag whenever the pilot felt the need to fly them through another tight turn, Penny wished she'd stayed back in camp. She hated flying and helicopters were the worst.
Still, she had to admit, the view wasn't too bad out the front window. A multi-layered waterfall trickled from the river at the top of the cliff, through a bunch of tiered lakes to where the river twisted away, far below. If only the river didn't resemble pea soup. Penny's stomach rebelled at the thought of food, so she hunched over a fresh bag.
Good thing, too, as the helicopter spiralled down to land.
Penny was the first out of the helicopter, not stopping until she was more than a dozen metres from those deadly rotors. She wondered if there was any other way to get home. She'd gladly sit here and wait for it. Anything not to have to get back into that helicopter again.
"Can we swim here?" Calais asked eagerly, looking from Jay to the pilot.
Jay nodded. "Sure. There are crocodiles in the river at the bottom, but until they work out how to fly or swim up a cliff, it's safe above the last set of falls."
"Come on." Calais waved to Penny. "Come peek over the lip of the falls with me."
Helicopters and now heights? Penny had had her fill of frightening things. She shook her head.
Calais lowered her voice. "You got some sick on you in the helicopter. At least come to the river to wash it off."
Penny examined her shirt, then eyed the river. "It's green."
"So are you. Come on, it'll help. I promise. You'll feel much better if you just wash your face. You don't have to drink it."
Sighing, Penny followed Calais to the river, where she made a show of splashing plenty of water on her face, neck and her manky shirt. She was surprised to find it did make her feel better. Refreshed, even.
Calais laughed. "See? I told you. Now come check out the view."
"Shouldn't we keep close to the helicopter, so we don't get lost?" Penny suggested, edging away from the cliff even as Calais splashed toward it.
"Wait until Lorelei's discovered we're too far from civilisation for her heels to be any use," Calais said. "And Jay and the pilot have unpacked our picnic. Don't forget that."
Penny would happily have forgotten. She wouldn't be hungry until the helicopter had flown her home. But she'd spent enough time catering for this lot, with little thanks for her labours. Except from Jay, of course. Let someone else do the work for once.
So she stayed by the river, watching Calais admiring the view, until she heard Jay calling their names.
Lorelei was perched on a picnic blanket, frothing champagne glass in hand. She shot a sour glance at the returned explorers. She'd evidently wanted Jay to herself.
Well, tough titties, bitch, Penny thought. She wouldn't let Lorelei get her claws into Jay.
The others had lunch while Penny looked on, sipping a drink in the shade, as far from the food as possible.
When Jay insisted he was going for a swim, Lorelei leaped to her feet, clapping her hands. Penny and Calais exchanged glances and moved to join them. Instead of leading the way to the river, though, Jay chose a track at the other end of the clearing. One which led steeply downhill.
With a, "Ladies first," Jay let Lorelei lead the way down, assuring them they couldn't get lost because the track didn't branch off until the bottom, which was the river, anyway. Calais, then Penny followed, with Jay bringing up the rear.
Lorelei might not be wearing heels, but her rhinestone-encrusted thongs weren't the most practical shoes for hiking. They slowed her down considerably as she slipped, slid and squawked all the way down the track. Penny would have given her a push so she'd break her silly neck at any one of a dozen points, but Calais was more patient. Or maybe she didn't think she was strong enough to push Lorelei over.
Lorelei's thongs slapped down on wet rock. "It's the bottom of the waterfall!" she exclaimed, loud enough for them all to hear.
When they all stood at the bottom together, Jay strode past them toward the sheer cliff. "The best swimming hole's up here." He began to climb.
Penny couldn't help but stare. Sure, she knew Jay had a sexy body, but the way he worked those muscles, hauling himself from handhold to handhold, using just his bulging biceps. Or whatever those arm muscles were called.
"Watch out below!" Jay dropped his sneakers, socks and shirt over the cliff, and Calais rushed to save them before they ended up in the river. Next, he whipped off his shorts and they fluttered down, too. "It's just us here, and the water's warm. Come up for a skinnydip. First one to reach my pool can have me." He disappeared from view.
Calais settled on the rock beside Jay's things. "I'm fine here, thanks."
"More fool you, then!" Lorelei cried, clawing her way up to a ledge a third of the way up the cliff.
Swimming naked in a slimy, green river with who knew what in it? Not to mention the cameraman still at the top of the falls, where he could be watching and recording everything. Penny wanted Jay, but not like that. However, if Lorelei wanted to fall and break her neck, all by herself, Penny wanted a front row seat. Decision made, Penny took a seat beside Calais.
"Anyone coming, or am I swimming up here by myself again?" Jay called. He stood on the ledge, proud and jutting and just as big as Penny remembered.
"Oh God!" Calais squeezed her eyes shut.
Lorelei squealed in delight. "Holy shit, it's huge, Jay. I'm coming!" She scrabbled at the edge and rolled her body over the top. With a cry of triumph, she peeled off her clothes and piled them on the cliff edge, setting her candy-pink g-string in pride of p
lace on top. She disappeared from sight, but unfortunately, they could still hear her, loud and clear.
"Will it fit?" Lorelei cried.
Penny wanted to vomit again.
"For someone who's supposedly had so much sex with Jay, she sounded really surprised to see all of him," Calais remarked.
Penny paused. "You mean, you think she was lying about all the things she'd done with him?" It figured. Lying, cheating bitch.
"Oh yes. I find it hard to believe a word she says sometimes I mean, her career as an international model? I never heard of her. And all the famous people she said she knows? Jay doesn't know her, either. I asked. He said he'd never met her before the speed dating session at the resort."
Penny snorted. "So that's what you two were doing last night? You spent your whole date with Jay discussing her?" She couldn't bring herself to name the bitch.
Calais blushed. "No, though we did spend a lot of it talking. He's so nice, and so easy to talk to. I never intended to tell him half of what I did, but it just sort of came out. About life on my family's farm, and my sister..." She laughed shakily. "I never talk about her. Not to anyone. It still hurts too much. But with Jay, it was so easy. And he understood, like he knew what it was like to lose someone so close to you. The worry when you don't hear from them, the slow decline until...they're gone."
"Cancer?" Penny asked.
Calais shook her head. "She was in an abusive relationship, and she died. Suicide, they told me, but from what I saw of the boyfriend, I'm not sure. Either he drove her to it or he did it. I remember when they met. She adored him. Wouldn't hear a word said wrong about him. And now I'll never know what she thought of him at the end. She didn't even leave a note. Not for me, not for anyone."
"That...must be hard," Penny managed to say. What did you say to someone who'd lost someone to suicide, or maybe murder? Everything she thought of sounded so trite.
"It was. It still is. Especially wishing there was something I could have done to save her. But she wouldn't let me. She loved him too much, and it killed her." Calais' laughter turned bitter. "They say love hurts, but not that it kills. When people talk about how powerful it is, they don't say how it can destroy. Like a force of nature. Like this river must be when it floods in the wet season."
The Rock Star Wants a Wife Page 12
