Page 43 of The Billionaire Love Match

“To...”

Colt could not think of one single thing he could say. Becca, thankfully, had more than enough.

“To the first of many adventures together.”

She clinked her glass to his and then leaned in for a kiss. Colt lifted the water to his lips. Looking hurt briefly, she drank down her full glass of champagne and stood. “What next?”

“We aren’t diving—it’s too rough and the visibility is poor. Not a great day for open ocean swimming either.” He was hoping for a recurrence of the storm from earlier so they’d have to return to the marina.

“I can think of a few things,” Becca said. She put her glass down and leaned forward.

Colt stood and the closest cameraman had to back up not to cut his head off in the shot. Becca grabbed his hand.

“Colty, I’m cold. Sit with me.”

He coughed to cover a laugh. “You could put your clothes back on,” he said. Despite the wind and chill in the air, she had on only her very tiny swimsuit. She tugged on his hand again. He could see goosebumps on her arms and for a moment felt a flash of sympathy for her.

What makes someone so desperate for love or companionship? For Becca, probably it was money or fame she was after, but Colt felt sad thinking of this humiliating display she was putting on. Especially considering he had no future plans with her. Something he would have told her in the real world, outside of the cameras and the confines of his contract.

“Hang on—I’ll be right back.”

Colt shook off her hand and ducked down below. The cameras struggled to follow. There were a few cast members down below, setting up a meal in the galley. “Hey—got a blanket down here?”

He returned to Becca a moment later. “You brought a blanket for us to snuggle!”

“Stand up for a sec?”

She stood and he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, trying to convey gentleness and kindness without touching her too much.

“I’m not cold,” he said, gesturing to his wet suit. “But this should help you.”

“You’re so nice,” she said.

“I don’t feel nice.”

“What do you mean?”

Colt hitched a leg up on the seat, making a more permanent barrier in case she tried to climb into his lap again. “This just feels...wrong. Dating a bunch of women at the same time. It’s not fair to you.”

This was the wrong thing to say, as Becca now looked more desperate than ever. Colt wondered what his mother would do in editing if he simply started being brutally honest. He’d find out.

“Look, Becca—I think you are a beautiful woman.” He searched for a more-than-skin-deep compliment. “You always bring enthusiasm and cheer to every situation.”

“It’s like you know me! I was captain of the cheerleading team.”

He chuckled. “No surprise there. Here’s the thing, though—I don’t feel the kind of connection that I think you want. That you deserve. And it’s not something that I see changing.”

Tears were quick to form in her eyes. “Did you bring me out here alone to break up with me?”

“Believe me, this is not something I planned. I just don’t want to string you along. Or anyone else. I just don’t think that people are meant to play this kind of game. Not with other people.”

“So why are you doing it?” She didn’t hide the bitterness in her voice. It didn’t sound like her and he felt sorry that he’d put out the light that he just complimented her on.

“Going into this, I didn’t realize what it would be like. And I feel like I should have taken that responsibility more seriously. Will you forgive me? My last intention was to hurt anyone.”

Becca studied his face for a minute, then nodded. She didn’t hide her disappointment, but also didn’t make a pouty face or try to convince him. The bitterness, too, seemed gone. She looked out over the ocean. Colt noticed for the first time that her eyes were the color of the Pacific. A gorgeous color some other guy could admire.

“It’s too bad,” she said. “Even when you’re breaking up with me, you’re nicer than any of the guys I’ve dated in LA.”

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