Page 32 of The Billionaire Love Match

“Let’s move to Colt,” Chris said.

Colt leaned back on the couch, crossing one leg over the other, the perfect Mr. Casual look. She hated seeing him disappear behind that mask.

“You dove to catch Casey when she fainted that first night. Let’s get a clip of that up there.”

Casey didn’t want to see that again, her dress flying up and Colt throwing himself down to catch her.

“Any gentleman would have done the same thing,” Colt said.

“But then you didn’t choose Casey. Tell us why.”

Yes, why, Colt?She hardened her gaze at him, hoping he remembered that he had promised her honesty.

He looked at her, not Chris Haversham when he answered. “Well, frankly, I was afraid for her. I thought maybe...this was too much for her. That she might get hurt coming on the show. And I felt like I should protect her from that.”

Protect her? From the hatred of women in the house she’d likely never see again? From public humiliation? His face looked earnest but she didn’t fully understand this answer. What could hurt more than not being picked to spend six weeks with him, albeit in this crazy dating show situation?

“But then you had a change of heart.”

Colt nodded. “We found out one of the women hadn’t been fully honest. So I sent her home. That left one more slot.” A grin swept over his face. “I knew immediately that it had to be Casey. I did feel a connection with her that night. Something that could be real. I thought maybe we could get to know each other in the process and see if there could be more.”

“What about protecting her? Did that somehow become less important?”

Colt chuckled. When he spoke, his voice sounded proud. “You’ve seen how she’s handled both you and me, Chris. I think Casey can take whatever gets thrown at her.”

Can I? Casey wondered. Because as her interview ended and they sent her back to her seat, she felt anxiety clawing at her.

There was the Colt who took off the mask and was real. Then there was Mr. Casual, who seemed just below the surface. Which was the real Colt? And even if the vulnerable one was the real one, could she ever trust a guy who switched parts so seamlessly?

She knew for her, everything was on the table. Too much. But if she wanted him, what choice did she have?

Casey hoped that he was right and that she was strong enough to handle whatever was thrown her way. Because if she put everything on the line and lost, Casey felt sure that it would shatter her to pieces.

---