Page 67 of Glamour & Gumballs

His lips curved upward slightly. It was another one of those quick, sexy as hell smiles. The ones he reserved just for me. “Maybe.”

“Definitely.” I pushed away from him. “Not all of the guys will work with him to keep you in the game.”

“No. Travis and Ian would fight like hell to get rid of me if they knew. And if the two of them wanted me out, Colt would vote with them, and get someone else on his side. He respects me, but we’re not friends.”

“That’s risky,” I said, shaking my head. “Too risky. We need to wash up and go back. We need?—”

“We need to keep our distance from each other like we were doing,” Rhett said. “I’ll do what I can to win the rest of the challenges, in case Colt decides to speak up. We’ll stay away from each other outside of sleeping, just to be safe. There are only a few days left. We can do this.”

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I believed him. Not entirely, at least.

And while I didn’t believe him completely, I hoped like hell that he was right.

Because I couldn’t mate with any of the other guys. Not anymore. Not when I wanted Rhett the way I did.

fifteen

ERIN

Just like he promised, Rhett won the next challenge. The reward was another boat ride. Because Kyle went with us, I spent the whole trip curled against Rhett’s side. We didn’t talk much—the wind was too loud to have a real conversation.

Ian was gone when we got back from our reward.

The air on the island seemed more tense, but the rain stopped, at least.

Though I caught Colt glaring at me a few times, I tried not to let it get to my head.

Three uncomfortable days later, Rhett won the next challenge too. Kyle took second, so the three of us were off together again.

The reward was a flight to a beautiful lookout point at the top of a mountain, where we had a picnic dinner. After we were done eating, Kyle made up an excuse about going for a walk and made himself scarce, leaving me alone with Rhett.

“So,” Rhett said, as I stared out at the islands and ocean on the horizon.

“So.”

He set his hand on my thigh, and I couldn’t help but look at him.

“I want to kiss you,” he said. “But you seem mad at me.”

I scowled. “I’m not mad. I’m just…”

Terrified you’ll lose the next challenge.

Worried I’m going to get stuck with Colt, who clearly hates me.

Afraid I’ll end up married to Kyle when I want you.

“Nervous,” I finally said.

Rhett’s expression told me he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t say anything to argue.

Instead, he lifted me off the picnic blanket and set me on his lap, so I was straddling him.

My body warmed when I felt his erection against me. “There are cameras,” I said.

“Everyone behind them knows exactly who you belong to.” He slid a hand over my hip. “They’ll delete the footage.”

“Rhett,” I warned, though whatever I’d been about to say disappeared from my mind when his hand slid over my face, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear.

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