Matchmaker

by Lauren Landish

  It’s no big deal for me. I’ve done it thousand times before. I just go over to the fence and flex my glutes in a way I know makes my ass look good on camera. This should really only take a few minutes, but they keep having to adjust some of the other dudes’ poses.

  While I’m waiting, I feel a tingle on the back of my neck. Glancing back, I catch Emily staring straight at my ass. The corners of my lips curl up as I lift an eyebrow at her. She doesn’t even realize I see her at first, but then she blushes when she realizes she’s caught. She looks so damn gorgeous in her cowgirl gear.

  She’s wearing tight blue jeans that hug her curves, showcasing her ass and thighs. Her hair is loose and flowing in beautiful shimmery waves with height at the crown of her head. For a moment, all I can think about is her hugging my hips with those thighs as I tangle my hands in her hair. Mmm, ride me, cowgirl.

  I start moving toward her, my legs seeming to move of their own volition.

  Unluckily for her, she gets pulled away by one of the makeup crew. I think his name is Brad. He’s whispering something in Emily’s ear, but I see her shooting glances my way.

  We wrap up the shoot and start the horse training as a group. With so many of us, it takes forever, and almost an hour later, we’ve been fully versed on mounting, dismounting, sitting properly on our horses, and guiding them with the reins. I feel like I’ve got a bit of an advantage. It can’t be a lot different from riding a Harley, can it?

  We all ride along, Emily in the front just behind the lead horse. One by one, each suitor rotates riding next to her, getting a few moments to chat and make an impression. I can’t wait until she narrows us down so I can get some real time with her. I’m just biding my time, being patient, knowing I’ll shine when I get my chance.

  When it’s my turn, I ride forward and lock eyes with her. “See something you like back there?” I ask playfully. “I could arrange a private viewing.”

  Emily blushes, but she doesn’t look away, nodding while laughing. “I sure did. Brad and I were just talking about Carlos’s ass.”

  I chuckle. We both know she’s full of shit. “Uh-huh. You’re a terrible liar.”

  Emily laughs, lowering her head. “All right, you got me. Maybe I was checking out your—ahem—assets.” Without letting go of the reins, she teases me by lifting both hands in front of her like she’s squeezing melons, and I imagine her squeezing me like that . . . as I pump into her.

  My jeans suddenly feel tight as I reply, “It’s like that, huh? Take a squeeze anytime you like.”

  Her blush deepens as I hold her gaze steady for a moment. “You look pretty comfortable riding. Have you been around horses before?”

  I can tell she thought I was going to make a dirty joke about her riding me or something, and I admit it did cross my mind. But there’s a fine line between flirty and crude, and something tells me Emily is a good girl and might run from anything too over the top. I don’t want to push too far, too soon. I’d like to get to know her before she gets the wrong impression of me. Gotta take it slow and easy so she doesn’t startle, just like these horses.

  She ducks her head and the sunlight hits her face in a way that looks like she has a halo. God, she’s fucking beautiful. “Yeah, I used to ride at summer camp as a counselor. I helped the kids get over their fear of horses. I’d take them up trails and then we would find clearings to ride in.”

  “That sounds like fun. I bet you’re everyone’s favorite camp counselor,” I say sincerely.

  She looks at me, surprised, and eyes me for a moment like she’s trying to figure out whether I’m playing her. “Most folks think I’m crazy for being around kids all day like that. I do admit, teenagers can be like demons from hell sometimes, but they’re not all like that.” A soft smile appears on her face. “Most are looking for validation in some way, attention, and they want to be listened to. I love to be the one to do that for them.”

  The emotion in her words pulls at my heartstrings. I can tell she’s not just saying it for the cameras. She really does love what she does.

  “You make me wish I had you as a counselor when I went to summer camp,” I say. “And I’m not saying that because you look good in a pair of jeans, although you most definitely do. All the counselors I had just wanted me to sit down, shut up, and finger paint.”

  Emily blushes and laughs, and I admire how sexy she looks sitting on the horse. She’s a natural. “Well, since we’re practically the same age, that’d be a little hard. But there you have it. It’s therapeutic for me, and it’s what led to my being a nanny. I can’t wait until the day I have one of my own.”

  As she talks about children, her eyes alight with passion, I’m moved. She’s more than beautiful on the outside. She’s angelic inside too. “I can tell you enjoy what you do. The kids are lucky to have you because that love and patience is a rare combination. The world could use a few more people like you,” I say truthfully.

  Emily stares at me slack-jawed, but before she can respond, I hear Meredith yell, “Next! Let’s move it along!”

  Gritting my teeth, I curse the woman in my mind so my chest mic doesn’t pick it up. Meredith always seems to interrupt just when things are getting good.

  Brushing away my irritation, I dip my chin, tip my imaginary hat, and smile. “I enjoyed the ride, Miss Emily, and I look forward to our next conversation. And no, I’m not saying it because of the game.”

  Emily’s responding smile is like a ray of sunshine.

  After the rest of the guys have had their time, we stop for a picnic lunch on a patchwork of blankets spread across the grass. Some of the guys are cautiously hanging around the edges, but there’s a large majority trying to get Emily’s attention without being overbearing. It reminds me that this, regardless of the connection I feel between Emily and me, is part of a game, and I have to be willing to play.

  Lee somehow snakes his way to her side and I’m forced to listen to them talk. He’s saying all the right things, but my bullshit radar won’t stop going off. It’s more than just what he’s saying when we’re off camera. There’s just a sense of oiliness about him. If I found out he read a book entitled What to Say so Girls Will Fuck You, I wouldn’t be surprised. The way he talks sounds that practiced, like this is a stunt he pulls in bars every weekend. He probably doesn’t respect Emily or any woman.

  Seeing Emily laugh at something he says makes me grit my teeth. It irritates me that she doesn’t seem to see what I see. Or maybe she does and is just playing nice for the camera, but she’s keeping him around for a reason. I’ve never been a man to get jealous, but I can’t stand the sight of the two of them together.

  Chill, I tell myself. His fake ass charm is going to become evident soon enough. If she doesn’t see Lee’s true colors yet, she will eventually.

  After lunch, we head back to the barn and see the TV screen and button setup. Meredith orders us all around it.

  “It’s time to announce who the lucky winner is for the date with Emily,” she says, smiling naughtily, which heightens the anticipation. “Private time in the hot tub!”

  There’s a murmur of excitement around and Emily blushes furiously. My heart is pounding like an iron fist in my chest at the thought of one of these assholes getting half naked with her.

  Looking around, there’s one I don’t want her with more than the others. Lee’s confident grin as Emily walks over to the screen rubs me the wrong way. No way this fucker gets chosen again.

  “Start it,” Emily says. Her chest is heaving with anticipation, but I don’t know if it’s because she’s nervous or if it’s because she’s looking forward to being with one of us in the hot tub.

  Names begin to flash across the screen, all ten this time, decreasing my odds. I watch with bated breath. It has to be me.

  Time seems to slow to a standstill as I watch Emily reach out and press the button. At that moment, I close my eyes for a second and then open them a second later.

  My name is on the screen and Emily is smili
ng a mega-watt smile right at me.

  Chapter 10

  Emily

  Confessional

  “How do I look?” I ask Brad, who’s eyeing me from the side. He’s just finished doing a little touchup.

  “Fierce, bitch! Fierce!”

  “We record in ten seconds,” says Joe behind his camera.

  I quickly rearrange my outfit and clear my throat.

  Joe raises his hand out to me. “3-2-1-and go!”

  I smile at the camera as if I’m reminiscing about the date from heaven as I speak.

  “So, my date with Lee went really well, better than I expected. We had some good conversation and he seems like a passionate guy . . . and he capped it all off with that kiss. Like, I’ve never been kissed like that before.

  Besides that, the horseback riding was fun. I’m glad I got to talk to each guy for a few minutes alone to get to know them. The one who stood out the most for me was Hayden, though. I just love his personality! I’ve never been around a guy that hot, with his whole bad boy vibe, but he can actually carry on a conversation that’s genuine. And when he’s talking to me, it’s like he’s lasered in on me and I can feel it in my bones. I want to find out more about him next time I get the chance.”

  I sigh as if I’m talking about my Prince Charming rather than a contestant on Matchmaker.

  “I don’t know if it’s too early in the competition to be catching feelings for someone, but I definitely feel like I have a connection with Hayden. And the sound of his voice whenever he says my name . . .” I close my eyes and let out a little girly squeal. “He’s just like . . . walking sex on a stick.”

  “I can do this,” I tell myself, running my hands down my sides and examining my body. “He’s hot, sexy, and he actually likes me. Who cares what anyone else thinks, viewers at home or otherwise?”

  I’m feeling pretty good, considering I’m about to go on national television in a fucking barely there bikini. Fuck it, I’m lying. I’m nervous as hell for two reasons. One, because viewers will see all of my body, and two, I’m about to get into the hot tub with the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen. It feels strange to think this, considering how hot and sexy so many of the guys are. Lee’s close, too, and the way he kisses . . . wow. But Hayden has some type of raw magnetism that pulls me in.

  Before changing, McKayla curled my hair into some amazing mermaid waves and Brad added a hint of turquoise right at the outer corners of my eyes.

  For the swimsuit, it’s a white bikini encrusted with silver sparkles from some corporate sponsor of the show. I asked about it being sheer when it gets wet, but Meredith assured me that if there was even a hint of nip, they’d edit it out.

  At least it’s covering me and doing some flattering things for my curves.

  “Action!” Meredith yells, ripping me out of my reverie.

  From my hiding place off camera, I take a calming breath, standing tall to walk onto the mansion’s patio, and I nearly gasp at the lovely twinkle lights hanging above like a private sky of stars. The crew has gone into great detail to make the setting as romantic as possible, even setting up a line of rose petals leading to the tub and beautiful thick candles on small tables nearby.

  Hayden is standing by the hot tub, looking like he just stepped out of a gym, in simple black board shorts and his rock-hard abs on display. I watch as his eyes nearly devour me as he looks me up and down, but I gotta admit that I’m looking him up and down the same way.

  In that moment, I feel sexy, wanted. Something I never feel because I’ve always been too busy with helping children to nurture my love life. And God, am I turned on by Hayden’s hot body.

  But I try not to let it show, even as a wide smile takes over my face like a giddy schoolgirl. Despite anything going on internally, I intend to flirt like no one’s business and give the viewers what they want. Sexy, flirty times.

  And is he who I want? Abso-fucking-lutely.

  I place my hands on my hips, swishing back and forth a little as I throw his earlier words back at him. “See anything you like?”

  Hayden swallows thickly, his eyes glued to my body, giving me a surge of confidence. “Fuck, yes, I do.”

  I place two fingers to my lips, looking mildly alarmed. “Can we swear like that on this show?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care. They can edit it out.” His voice is low, almost feral, and it sends sparks down to my nether regions. “C’mere, Emily, let me see you closer.”

  It’s not a request but an order, and I react without even thinking, moving toward him as if he’s put me under a spell. He starts walking toward me too, and we meet in the middle. He grasps my hands, holding them out wide, and turning me around to get a good look at my figure.

  A low whistle of appreciation escapes his lips. “Emily, you look stunning. Like an angel in white, so I guess that makes me the devil in black?”

  “Stop it.” I blush, trying not to stare at his hard abs and barely resisting the urge to run my fingers down them. I swear it’s gotten super-hot all of a sudden, and I’m damn-near naked.

  “You started it.” He lets go of one hand, bringing his palm up to gently cup my cheek as he looks me in the eye. I think he’s about to kiss me, but then he whispers, “We getting in this hot tub or am I going to have a situation I’d rather not share on camera?”

  My cheeks burn all the hotter as he bites his lower lip. “Let’s do it.”

  Grinning, he leads me into the tub. The water is warm as I sink down and it sends my temperature up a notch. We sit side by side and he offers me a glass of champagne that’s conveniently waiting on a small table next to the hot tub.

  “So, tell me more about yourself,” I say, fingering my glass and focusing my eyes on his handsome face. “I feel like you have a lot to tell.”

  Hayden takes a sip of his champagne and then sets it aside. “Hmm . . . where to start?” He scratches at his jaw, lost in thought, and I watch him over the rim of my champagne glass.

  Clearing his throat, he finally says, “Well, when I was younger, I thought I was the shit. I had everything going for me in high school—good grades, girls, and baseball talent scouts showing up at my door.” He lets out a mirthless chuckle, and I see a twinge of pain in his eye. “I even had a college scholarship to play at one of the big baseball universities. All things pointed to me making it to the big leagues.” He goes silent, a shadow passing over his face.

  I stare at him, on the edge of my seat. “And what happened?”

  Hayden sucks in a breath, and though he’s looking at me, his eyes are a little glassy, lost to the memory as he relives it. “It was the second round of the state playoffs, and we took the lead into the sixth inning. I was playing right field that game. Coach wanted me to rest for the state finals before pitching again. One of their batters tagged a low fastball, sending it long toward me. I went running for it and jumped to get the catch. Went over the wall and landed on my right shoulder.”

  I gasp, my stomach clenching. “You got hurt.”

  Hayden nods, looking vulnerable for the first time. “My rotator cuff, when I least expected it. I thought for sure, there was some way it would heal, even if most of them don’t fully, and I did everything I could to keep playing. I adjusted my throwing motion, rehabbed like a madman . . . anything I could do, I did. I knew how my parents were depending on me and how badly they wanted to see me achieve my dreams, but in the end, I had to give up the sport. It just wasn’t working.”

  Tears sting my eyes. “Oh . . . that’s so terrible. I’m sorry.”

  Hayden nods, clenching his jaw. “Shit happens. And I’m not going to lie, I was depressed for a while. But I’m over that now.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “Moved on to a new chapter of my life.”

  Though he’s trying to put up a bold front, I know Hayden is lying through his teeth. The injury still bothers him. Even now.

  Is that the reason he’s here? says a tiny voice of doubt at the back of my mind. Is he trying to regain some lost former glory? />
  I push away the troublesome thoughts and ask, “So how’s that chapter been? What do you do now?”

  Hayden grabs his glass of champagne and takes another sip. “My next career move came completely out of the blue. I was visiting campus to apply for financial aid when a modeling scout approached me. At first, I was like, dude, are you coming on to me? Because he would not stop going on about how beautiful I was and kept trying to touch my hair and squeeze my biceps. Not exactly the approach I was used to getting.”

  He pauses, and I laugh as I picture him strutting onto campus, a little down but hopeful to get to financial aid, encountering a random guy wanting to run his fingers through his hair.

  He continues, “Once I realized he was offering me a modeling job, I figured it was a scam hook for porn and he just needed some fresh young meat. Eventually, he convinced me he was legit, and now he’s my agent.”

  “Wow, so a model, huh?” I ask as I look him up and down with a grin. I motion toward his arm and tease, “May I?” He smiles and I give his arm a little squeeze like his agent wanted to. “Yep, I can see it. I’d buy whatever you were selling.”

  I’m pleasantly surprised when Hayden blushes. Maybe he’s not as cocky as he’d have me believe. “Thanks. It’s been a change, that’s for sure. Dad used to come to every single one of my games, even cried when my shoulder quit on me.” He chuckles. “He’s all right with my modeling, but he does like to give me shit about how he can’t understand who would pay to see my ugly mug.”

  I giggle. “Dad knows what’s up, right?”

  Hayden huffs, his cheeks turning light red. He must be getting more than a little hot. Part of me wonders if it’s partly due to being close to me, or due to the hot tub? “Right,” he agrees sarcastically.

  We fall into silence for a moment, the sound of the hot tub motor and rushing water filling our ears.

  “I’ve always dreamed of being a teacher,” I say, breaking the quiet. “It’s been the one goal I’ve been working toward before coming here.”