Page 37 of The Billionaire Love Match

TWELVE

The group date hada bit of delay because of the rain. The producers told the women to wear swimsuits with something comfortable on top.

This was a confusing term. Casey put on jeans, her Vans, and a fitted graphic tee that read Give Me Coffee Or Give Me Death. Staci wore yoga pants and one of those tops with the back all cut out and tied together. A pink bikini was visible underneath. Becca had on skinny jeans that looked like they would need a surgical team to remove and a crop top. The other girl, whose name escaped Casey, had on a long boho kind of skirt and a tank top.

A white van picked them up in the mansion driveway. No one talked on the ride over. Things were more intense on week two. Seeing women go home had that impact. Thirty minutes and some LA traffic later, they pulled up in front of a low concrete and glass building. Casey’s stomach dropped.

The sign sported blue waves and the name UNDER, nothing else. She hadn’t told Colt yet that she hated water. That the moments in the pool before he pulled her out were completely terrifying until he pulled her safely to the side. His kiss took the edge off, but her body had been coursing with adrenaline already before his lips touched hers. Adrenaline stayed. But fear had melted into desire.

She shook her head. No reason to panic yet. It could be anything.

Walking inside, she connected with the reason to panic. She was greeted with the sight of two enormous pools behind a glass partition. Scuba gear lined the walls. Her breathing immediately hitched and she worked to control her face as Colt walked out in a wetsuit.

Colt in a wetsuit did funny things to her chest. Already she’d been struggling to breathe.

It just a guy. With a body.

All the things she knew to be true- beauty’s on the inside, it’s the heart that matters, look for good character not just looks—did nothing to keep her eyes from staring at the part of his toned chest revealed by the partially unzipped wet suit.

Get. A. Grip.

At least the panic had subsided for a moment. Colt smiled at each of the women. Casey struggled to smile normally. She felt like her face landed somewhere between a grimace and a leer.

“It’s good to see you ladies. Today we’re going to do one of my favorite activities. We are going to learn to dive.”

The other girls clapped and squealed. Casey tried to swallow.

“We’ll spend some time with the instructors learning the ropes. And I’ll be here as well, giving you tips and pointers. Then we’ll have a small dive in the pool. But there’s a bonus.”

He grinned. And Casey felt the effects of that smile in the roots of her hair. If the bonus included anything to do with him, she was all over it.

“The instructors will pick one woman who handles this the best to get a diving session with me later today at the beach.”

Casey’s stomach felt like it was lined suddenly with concrete. She wrapped her arms around herself, the disappointment both heavy and sharp.

“Has anyone dived before?”

Becca and the other one raised their hands. “Just snorkel,” said the third.

Colt looked to Casey. She shook her head slightly and something flashed briefly behind his eyes. Too quick to catch.

“Best of luck to you, and let’s get started.”

There were a few other guys in wet suits that flitted between the women, helping them to gear up while the ever-present cameras tried to get the best angles.

“I’m Ty,” a dirty blond surfer type knelt before Casey. “So this is your first time?”

“Yep.”

“Great. You’re going to really enjoy it. Anything I need to know before we get started.”

Casey couldn’t look in his friendly blue eyes. “I’m terrified,” she whispered.

“Of diving? We can help with that. I’ll walk you through everything really slowly—”

She shook her head and looked up at him. “Of being under water.”

He rocked back on his heels. “Oh.”

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