Page 26 of The Billionaire Love Match

“Good or bad ‘oh’?”

“Definitely good.”

“It was Colt’s request for you,” Mark said. Then he squeezed her arm before disappearing. “Here he comes.”

Casey wished that she could wipe the goofy grin off her face as Colt walked toward her, but he had one just like it. Other than the cameras and the production people surrounding them, it was great to see him. When he was ten feet away, she couldn’t help herself and bounded over the last few steps to throw herself into a hug.

“So you’re a hugger,” he said, taking a few steps back trying to steady himself. “A full contact hugger.”

She laughed. “Guilty. Well, only with people I really like,” she said, pulling back to look at him.

It was so hard to look at him this close and not reach up to stroke the stubble that shadowed his cheeks. The pull of attraction was so strong that Casey took a step back. He sensed it too and held out his hand.

“How about a walk, Boots? If you aren’t tired after all that volleyball.”

“Ha. I think I’m tired of volleyball, but I’m not sure that I did enough out there to count as exercise. Sports aren’t quite my thing.”

“So what exactly is your thing?” he asked.

They began to walk along the shoreline. Pretending the cameras weren’t there was hard when there were so many of them. Plus in the public space, Casey kept feeling like her eyes were darting back and forth from Colt to the people that were following them down the beach, trying to get close, filming on their phones. A few called out to Colt, probably hoping for a wave and a photograph. Colt noticed Casey glancing over and met her eyes. “Hey—it’s just me. Okay? For now, they aren’t even here.”

“Now that sounds like an ideal date. For someday,” she said. She gave him a sideways glance, just enough to meet his eyes and see the smile there.

“Someday,” he said. “Soon.” And then, leaning a little closer and speaking a little softer, he said, “That’s a promise.”

Her goofy smile felt even goofier and she felt the clutch of hope and excitement in her chest.

****

COLT HAD TO WORK TOkeep his composure as he walked along with Casey’s hand in his. The urge was, of course, to take off with her, outrunning the cameras and the guys with their boom stand mics overhead. To have just one moment that was real. Or to stop right there and wrap her up in his arms, pressing his lips to hers. Everything in him felt lit up and blazing to be near her.

But he had requested a low-key one-on-one with Casey because he wanted conversation. Even with the cameras. He didn’t question their chemistry. He questioned if it was possible to be falling for her as hard and fast as he was. It felt wild and irrational. Conversation might level it out and help him see more clearly.

For a few moments they walked in silence. It wasn’t exactly awkward, but the air felt heavy with unsaid things and with the weight of the small crowd of strangers watching their every move. He squeezed her hand, tapping out H-I and she smiled.

“What was it like growing up here?” she asked. “Did you spend lots of time at the beach?”

“I did. I’m a total stereotype. I surfed, with the long floppy hair and all the things that go along with it.”

“I can’t see you with surfer hair.” She mussed his hair and almost automatically he smoothed it back in place. “See? Mr. Casual.”

“What?”

“Ohhhh. Well. Before I knew who—um. When we first met, that’s how I thought of you. Mr. Casual. You looked so...polished. Kind of put together in a way that nothing could touch you.”

Colt felt uncomfortable, even as he knew that this was a perfectly fitting nickname for him. “Is that a good or bad thing? Do you like Mr. Casual?”

She smiled. “I like Colt. When you put your guard down. You seem more YOU when you aren’t so, um...”

“Fake.”

“I didn’t say that, Colt.” She looked at him with serious eyes.

“No, it’s okay. I said it. And it’s true. Growing up the way I did, you learn to put on a face. You’re always in the spotlight. I do it without noticing when there are cameras around or I’m in public at events and things.”

“There are cameras right now, but Mr. Casual isn’t around.” Her tone was light and flirty.

He smiled at her without fully turning his head. “Well, something more important must be making me take down that guard.”

---