Matchmaker

by Lauren Landish

  McKayla nods. “I’ll let Emily know when she comes in to get her makeup cleaned off after the group date. But I have to warn you. If she’s not interested, you’re on your own, buddy.”

  I flash a wolf-like grin of confidence. “She’s interested,” I say.

  At least that’s what I have to tell myself.

  I nod my head at them as I prepare to leave. “Thanks, ladies,” I say before quickly adding, “And, uh, gentleman. Sorry, Brad, no offense.”

  Brad laughs, waving me off with a wink. “None taken. I’m more of a lady than Pinky Pie Hooker over here could ever think of being.”

  With a wink, it’s all set. Just hours and hours to go until show time.

  Chapter 14

  Emily

  “So, what are those kids you babysit like?” Lee asks me as we go over a bump in the road and I nearly fall into his lap. “From what I could tell before, they seem like a big part of your life.”

  It’s barely an hour after the football game ended and I’m already loaded up in a large SUV with three guys, still feeling nervous about the bungee jumping.

  “Oh,” I say, feeling my worries slip away at the mention of Mindy and Oliver’s kids. I even forget the camera that’s sitting right in our face. “They’re absolutely wonderful! The boy is just like his father, smart and practical. The girl is just like her mother, funny and sassy! And their baby . . . he’s got the world’s softest little tummy and still loves to cuddle. Together, they can be quite the handful, but I wouldn’t trade being with them for the world.”

  Lee grins, leaning forward. “You really have a strong bond with them, don’t you?”

  I nod. “I do. They’re like a second family to me, the little brothers and sister I never had. We do a lot together.” I start talking all about my past with them, telling funny stories about things they’ve said and how smart they are.

  As we pull into the lot, I suddenly realize that I’ve monopolized the conversation this entire time.

  “I’m sorry.” I blush, feeling ashamed for gushing so much when I was just thinking Lee did the same thing before. “I didn’t mean to go on and on.”

  “Shh,” Lee says softly, placing a finger to my lips. “Don’t do that. Your face lights up when you talk about them and it only makes you more beautiful. You’ll be a great mother one day.”

  I can’t help the smile that forms on my face at his compliment, even if the touching on the lips was a little awkward in front of everyone. Despite my reservations about Lee, I’m really flattered. But as I glance around, I see Cody and Carlos smirking at each other with a hint of eyeroll. Are they jealous that Lee is so sweet?

  I can sense that something is off between the three of them, but I decide to just roll with it since I’m not sure what it is. I’m only getting glimpses into what these guys are like. And it’s possible they just don’t like each other because of the unusual situation we’re all in. I’m sure the competition stuff is hard for them to handle and still be friendly with each other.

  We climb out of the SUV, heading in for the lesson before we can jump. Turns out, Cody was right. He’s both too tall and too heavy for the bungees they have for this jump. Carlos teases him a little bit, but Cody takes it in stride saying he was just along to spend time with me anyway.

  Cody takes my hand. “You cheered for us this morning, so I’ll cheer for you this afternoon. It’d be my honor,” he says, ducking down like he’s bowing, which puts his face roughly at my level. He lifts his eyes to mine. “As long as you scream my name on the way down.”

  I laugh. Cheeky, but polite about it.

  I like him, just enough sarcasm to keep me paying attention without being cruel.

  Meanwhile, Lee says he hasn’t been bungee jumping before, but he seems to be comfortable with the whole setup. Although I’m sure he’d never show any sign that he was nervous. But it still puts me at ease that he’s so confident with something that is quickly turning my knees to jelly. We line up on the bridgeway, the coolness of the height sinking into my bones as a slight breeze makes my eyes water. Or maybe I’m crying in fright . . . I’m not sure.

  Lee makes his way over to me. “Kiss for luck?” he asks with a boyish grin.

  I hesitate for a moment, Hayden flashing before my eyes, but then I remember the rules of the show and what Meredith expects from me.

  Just give him an innocent peck.

  Hiding my anxiety, I smile, raising to my toes to kiss Lee’s cheek, but he turns at the last moment, catching my lips and holding me in a seemingly deep kiss while he presses his hand to the back of my head.

  Caught by surprise, I feel myself pulled into his chest, realizing the camera is right there, almost in the kiss with us.

  Lee smiles down at me, running a thumb across my bottom lip. My lips tingle, and I look up at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

  He stage-whispers in my ear, “I think I’m buzzing more from you than I will be from this jump.” And with a full-wide smile, he lets the instructors lock him into the harness, hooking the bungee to him. He steps up to the edge, and with a countdown of 3, 2, 1 . . . he’s gone with a joyous yell.

  Feeling sick, I peer over the edge, following the line of the red bungee to see him swinging far below the bridge, and I can hear him screaming, “Yeah! Whoo!” with his fist pumping in the air.

  I smile. He survived and seemed to have fun. I can do this too, right?

  Carlos is up next, and after a pleasant kiss to each cheek, his jump goes just as well, although he seems to be screaming in Spanish on the way down. Not sure what he said, I overhear Meredith telling Nate to make a note for subtitles and bleeping for his scene. Carlos is smiling though, and he flashes me a thumbs-up.

  Now it’s my turn.

  I stand on the edge, strapped into the harness and attached to the bungee, looking over the edge of the bridge to the river slowly running below and the trees along the riverbank. It’s a beautiful view and I think I’d be just fine to stay here and enjoy it.

  Cody comes up next to me when he sees me frozen. “You got this,” he says.

  I look at him with wide eyes, nodding. “I don’t know,” I whisper. “It’d be nice to just hang up here.”

  “You can if you want,” Cody says softly, reassuringly. “You don’t have to jumps if you don’t want to. And yeah, I’d enjoy hanging out with you while they reel those two up. But consider this . . . when are you going to get a chance to do it again? If you step down, that fear is just going to grow. But right now, you’re already here, strapped in safe and sound on a perfect fucking day. Take a big breath and jump, enjoy this moment of your life, and inspire all the other folks on the other side of that camera to tackle their fears. But most of all? Inspire yourself to do it . . . bungee jumping and whatever else scares the shit out you. Do it. Chase those nervous butterflies because that means you’re challenging yourself and growing.”

  I stare at him slack-jawed. It’s by far the most words he’s said while on the show, and here I was this whole time thinking he was a giant airhead. “You’re pretty good at pep talks,” I say. “Experience with that, I take it?”

  Cody nods. “I’ve given more than a few when I played ball, and I’ve heard some that have inspired greatness. Em . . . you’re gonna do this and do great.”

  “Hurry up!” Meredith yells, uncaring how scared I am of jumping off this bridge and landing flat as a fucking pancake.

  “Looks like that’s your cue,” Cody says as I bite my lower lip. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to throw you off.”

  With a smack on the ass that somehow feels more friendly than sexy, I turn to the wind.

  I can do this.

  From far away, I hear the countdown . . . 3, 2, 1 . . . and I’m flying! The trees suddenly look more vivid, the river looks faster, and the wind is howling through my hair as I plunge down below, screaming my lungs out. The rebound hits and suddenly, I’m on the way back up before floating weightless for a second and dropping again, the process repeat
ed four times before I settle down at the bottom of my cord.

  When it’s over, I’m shaking like a leaf, adrenaline rushing through my blood. It was absolutely awesome and the scariest thing I’ve ever done at the same time.

  They wind me back up, and when my feet touch down on the bridge, Cody is whooping with me, grabbing me in a big bear hug that lifts my feet a foot off the ground as he jumps around with me.

  I’m laughing, delighted at his reaction.

  After a few more yells, he sets me down and looks me in the eye. “Hey, I forgot to get my good luck kiss!”

  I look back at him and he lowers way down, giving me a warm kiss that makes me smile. He pulls back with a smack and grins. “And don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t yell my name. Guess I’ll have to make you yell it another time.” He winks at me, letting me know that he’s joking . . . a little.

  The drive back to the estate is full of laughter, everyone talking about their jumps and how their minds were racing with fear and excitement.

  When we get back, Meredith and the camera crew are waiting for us to step out of the SUV.

  “Okay, say your goodnights,” Meredith orders, “and then you’re done until early morning.” She looks at me pointedly. “Except you, Emily. I need a confession from you before you turn in.”

  The guys wait their turn to tell me goodnight, Carlos giving me a hug and a light kiss on the cheek and Cody picking me up in his strong arms to bring me to his level for a quick smattering of kisses, and then I’m alone with Lee.

  Of the three, Lee is the most aggressive, moving in close and crowding me up against the SUV.

  “I had a great time today, gorgeous,” he says, his voice a soft growl. “You were brave, jumping off the bridge. it looked like you were flying. It was so sexy to see you be such a badass.” He stares at me with such intensity, and I’m not sure what to make of it.

  Before I can reply, he kisses me passionately, his tongue slipping in to tangle with mine as he fists my hair in his hand, moving me where he wants me. I feel the length of his body against mine and feel his cock surging against my belly. He grinds against me for a moment, groaning, and it’s such a sudden onslaught that it takes me a moment to process.

  I push back against his chest lightly. “Lee . . . slow down.”

  Lee breaks the kiss, breathing heavily. “Sorry,” he rasps. “You just drive me crazy. I want you so much.”

  Off to the side, I hear Meredith furiously whisper to the cameraman, “Did you get that? Please tell me you got it!”

  “Of course I did.”

  I quell the irritation that surges in my stomach, hating that nothing is private. It’s been days, and it’s still hard getting used to the cameraman always being there. He’s just around so much that I sometimes forget he’s even there until afterward.

  I’m too preoccupied with my thoughts to reply to Lee, so he lays one more kiss, this time to my cheek, before pulling away and walking toward the house. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.”

  I stand there like a statute, feeling all sorts of emotions going through me.

  Holy shit. What just happened?

  Lee just overwhelms me and I don’t know how to feel about it.

  “Bungee jumping was amazing,” I say with a smile as I look into the camera. “I don’t think I could’ve done it without Cody. He really stepped up to cheer me on when I was terrified and doubting myself. He was such a good sport about not being able to jump himself, too.

  “Lee is . . . intense. I feel like he’s sweet, but when he kisses me . . .” I shake my head, momentarily at a loss for words. “It’s just powerful. The football game was awesome to watch. The kids were great, and I was sad there had to be a losing team, but it was really cool about the barbecue afterward. It seemed like there was some animosity between Hayden and Lee, but they’re both big personalities, so I guess that makes sense.”

  Meredith interrupts from the sidelines. “Hey, Emily, need a little more about how hot the guys looked playing football.”

  I tear my eyes from the camera. “What? What do you want me to say?”

  “Just play up the fuckable factor, m’kay?” Meredith demands. “That is, if any of them were. At least just say who caught your eye.”

  I let out a sigh before plastering a big, fake smile on my face. There was one person who stood out to me the most.

  Confessional, Take 2.

  “The football game was awesome to watch, and the guys all looked hot as hell,” I say, pretending to fan myself. “And they were amazing with the kids. I guess Hayden caught my eye the most out on the field. He seems to be a natural leader. After the game, he took his shirt off, and can you say abs? I caught a glimpse of his tattoos. I’d like to see those closer because I couldn’t really see them in the dark when we were in the hot tub. I’d like to find out the story on those.”

  As I talk about Hayden, I come alive, my words just coming out so easily they don’t even sound fake. Whenever this segment airs, there’s not going to be a single person watching who doesn’t believe my attraction to Hayden.

  When I’m done, I turn and flash a smile. “How’s that, Meredith?”

  Meredith smiles and nods her acceptance.

  Chapter 15

  Emily

  “Are you two out of your mind?” I say immediately to McKayla and Brad, shaking my head. We’re in my dressing room, and I haven’t even had a chance to get out of my clothes good before they tell me about Hayden’s plans to get me alone. I’m shocked, to say the least, but a part of me is more than a little intrigued. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “I hear what you’re saying,” Brad says, who’s wearing his blond hair in two tiny pigtails and has his eyes framed by dark eyeliner, “but your voice and your body language are saying something else entirely! It sounds more along the lines of I want to ride his big dick again.”

  “Stop that!” I snap, trying not to laugh. “I’m serious. I did no such thing!”

  Brad stops and gives me a look. “Okay, I’ll let that go. But please, don’t tell me you didn’t at least think about it.”

  McKayla, who's dressed in a purple dress with a white belt at the center, rolls her eyes as she tosses a bristle brush she was using to groom a wig to the side. “Enough, Brad, she’s right. Stop messing around.” She looks at me. “Look, Emily, I’m just the messenger. It’s your decision. You know better than me if he’s worth the risk.” She gives me a smirk that says he’s totally worth it, even if she doesn’t outright say it.

  McKayla and Brad just look at each other and smile, as if they know I’m going even before I do. “All right,” I say without even realizing it. “I’m going to go see him.”

  What did I just say?

  There are so many things wrong with sneaking around with Hayden without the cameras, the main one being violating my contract and putting the entire show into jeopardy.

  Not that I haven’t violated my contract already. Oh, God, what he did to me with just his hands. I can only imagine—

  I stop my thoughts. That’s not happening. We’re just going to talk. I swear, talk is all we’ll do.

  “Great!” McKayla chirps. “Now go get yourself a shower while we get ready, and then come back here so we can make you look like a princess deserving of her Prince Charming.”

  Thirty minutes later, I’m fresh and clean, dressed a lot differently than I have before as I furtively move through the halls. Mckayla wanted to have me all dolled up again, but I admitted that I wanted Hayden to like the real me, not just a fake TV version, so this is a bit of a test to see how he reacts to my more natural look. My hair and makeup are soft, like something I’d wear back home, and I borrowed a simple red cotton dress from wardrobe. It’s a little short but more sweet than slutty. Despite my anxiety, I feel an air of confidence about myself, recognizing that this is the most ‘me’ I’ve been in days.

  I turn a corner before doubt hits me like a freight train.

  “Should I really be d
oing this?” I mutter, pausing in the middle of a hallway somewhere near the back of the estate and peering back down the way I came. So far, I haven’t encountered any crew, but if they see me back here, I’m fucked. Sure, I look somewhat normal, but I’m not supposed to be in production areas.

  This is a dream come true, and I’m putting it all on the line just for a few minutes alone with a man I’ve talked to only a handful of times.

  But honey, those hands . . .

  I should turn around and head right back where I came from. But I’m not going to, and I know it. All it took was one thought of how he made me come. I still can’t believe I did that. It’s so not me, but it almost felt like we had a true connection. Although maybe it was just lust and nothing more.

  Ugh. But I seriously want to get to know him, dammit!

  I’m just confused. Lee turned my brain into mush with a kiss just a mere few hours ago. The way he looked at me sent me whirling, and the world still isn’t quite straight on its axis yet.

  Jesus, what the hell am I turning into?

  I usually kiss on the third date and am shy about doing anything more than that for ages. That is, with the few guys I’ve actually dated long enough to have sex with. Today, I went on a date with three guys and kissed all three of them. Now, I’m sneaking out to see a fourth, whom I’ve already let finger bang me.

  A part of me feels slutty, even if it was all part of the show. Well, at least the date with three men part. But I feel like meeting Hayden is what I want to do. It’s the most real thing about this entire show so far.

  I circle back, making sure I don’t encounter any crew. I walk out the side door off the den, stretching and breathing like I’m getting some fresh air while I look around, checking for witnesses.

  Seeing nobody, I quickly slip through the hedge, doing my best to not get tangled in the branches. I curse when a few scratch my flesh, but thankfully, they don’t break skin.