Page 21 of The Billionaire Love Match

She stood and smiled at Colt, but he could see disappointment.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Colt said, standing up and brushing his fingers along her shoulder, even as Chris led her away.

“Me too,” she said, glancing back over her shoulder.

But she shouldn’t have looked back. Because as she did, she missed the first step down and fell into the pool, pulling Chris Haversham right in with her.

Someone screamed at the sound of the splash. Water droplets soaked Colt’s tux pants. Chris Haversham came up sputtering. His toupee floated away from the shiny globe of his head. Casey’s yellow dress was floating up around her. She struggled to swim to the side, looking panicked and sputtering. Wet hair plastered across her face.

Colt dove into the pool. If his mother wanted drama and something to talk about, she was going to get it.

He reached Casey. “I’ve got you,” Colt said, grabbing her around the waist. In a few powerful strokes, he had her at the side. Her feet still couldn’t touch, but he could. Her panicked look had faded into relief, but she was still breathing heavily.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome.”

Standing now, he wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her up. With his other, he pushed her wet bangs from her face. He loved the closeness of her and the feel of her in his arms.

“I hate swimming,” she said in a soft voice. “But we can do this anytime.”

That was all the invitation he needed. Still holding her above water, he pulled her to him in a kiss. It was the kind without thought and without bounds. All Colt knew was the softness of her lips and the feeling of being complete when they were locked together. The warmth of her body next to his.

There was nothing else in that moment, just the two of them. More than a great kiss, it was like there was something else, something deeper passing between them. Time slowed and sounds dulled until all Colt heard was the thrum of his own heartbeat in his ears.

And then they broke apart, breathless, and he remembered with sudden panic where they were.

Cameras were leaning in close to get the shot and the pool was filled with waves from the other women who had jumped in to join them in the pool. A crew member was helping fish Haversham out as he clung to his hairpiece.

Casey’s makeup was smudged under her eyes, hair plastered to the sides of her face. She still looked more gorgeous than any other woman he had laid eyes on. He felt serious suddenly. They had physical attraction, sure, chemistry off the charts. But there was something more here. He could sense it and he wanted that more than anything else. Never had Colt seriously thought about settling down with anyone. He mostly buried himself in work and trying to keep his mother from prying into his life. Casey had somehow unlocked something in him that he didn’t know was dormant there. He was hungry for more.

Colt smiled at Casey, wishing he could make everyone else disappear. But he knew the kiss had stretched on too long already. It had upset the balance and he could sense it. He grasped her by the hips and hoisted her up to the side of the pool. With a last look, he turned away from her, grinning now at the other women in the pool.

“Who’s ready to get this party started?” he asked. And as he stripped off his tux jacket, a cheer went up from the other women.

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“HOPE I GAVE YOU ENOUGHto work with,” Colt said to his mother as he stepped inside the production trailer in the mansion driveway. His soggy pants and shoes dripped, creating an instant puddle in the floor.

Her lips were a tight line. Still feeling giddy from the kiss he’d shared with Casey, he grinned and shook his wet hair at her, spraying her with droplets.

“Colt!” she squealed, and for a moment the tight mask she wore came down and her face softened. She giggled. His mother actually giggled.

Colt remembered what life had been like years before. He felt a brief flutter of hope that maybe one day, it could be that way again. Then recognition flashed in her eyes and his mother regained composure.

“This is a $3000 silk suit. I’d appreciate you not ruining it with chlorine. Speaking of which, the cost to replace all the mics ruined by the little pool stunt was no small thing.”

He hated seeing that switch flip in her. “So, did you get everything you wanted?”

His mother glanced over him, searching his face. “And then some. Tell me. I’m confused about something. You and Casey—your conversation seemed so awkward and stilted. Stiff. But then that kiss in the pool.” She shook her head. “It’s incongruent.”

“I guess we just have a physical attraction,” he said. “Nothing more.”

“Well, it was something. Quite enough to keep her on.”

“Good,” Colt said, grinning again. “Because I like kissing her.”

He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, though he felt somewhat relieved that his mother had thought their conversation was too awkward to believe he really liked Casey. She cocked her head and studying him.

“You’re acting different,” his mother said. “Normally you don’t...share with me. And you seem happy. Maybe this show will have more benefits than we thought.”

This was more of a conversation than he’d had with his mother in years. Maybe the show would have a greater impact than either of them thought.

Thinking of Casey, he sure hoped so.

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