Page 48 of The Billionaire Love Match

P-L-E-A-S-E

“As difficult as this is, I want to be here. For Colt. Not for any other reason.”

“But if it’s too hard, you can walk out right now.”

“It’s worth it to stay. Even if I don’t win.”

Casey didn’t realize her mistake at first, confused by the gasp in the audience and from the women behind her.

If I don’t win. She had made the mistake of talking about this show about love as though it were a game. Even though it was a game and everyone knew they were competing. You couldn’t say that though. It had to be real.

“Is this about winning to you?” Chris said. His voice was the pinnacle of self-righteousness. “Are the other women right that you aren’t here for the right reasons?”

“That came out wrong,” Casey said. Even to her own ears, she sounded like she was justifying. “I meant win Colt’s heart.”

Casey didn’t need to look to see the heads shaking and the whispers. She closed her eyes. Not sure whether he was looking or not, she tapped out a message over and over to Colt on her leg.

S-O-R-R-Y S-O-R-R-Y S-O-R-R-Y

“Colt, you and Casey had intense chemistry that first week. Does it concern you that you haven’t had a chance to connect this week? Along with all of the other concerns we’ve brought up tonight.”

“No.”

Casey stopped tapping and looked up at Colt. He was staring earnestly at her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

“This is reality television. It’s not reality. This week I’ve seen that more than ever. I don’t think that everything we see up there or even hear in this room comes close to the truth. I didn’t get time with Casey this week, no. And frankly, it was disappointing.”

“What about what all the other women have said? At some point, you have to question when so many people say the same thing, right?”

“In this situation, no. I don’t know the motivations for people to be here. And they aren’t seeing the full picture either. This isn’t how we all normally live and I’m seeing firsthand how shows like this make it too easy to be someone else. I want to be myself as much as possible from here on out. Even if that’s hard. Even if in editing, that gets lost. Which is why I need to do this.”

He stood and with two swift steps, crossed over to the chair where Casey sat. Taking her hands, he knelt so they were eye to eye.

Chris Haversham sputtered but the sound faded. The whispers buzzing through the audience disappeared as Casey looked into Colt’s eyes. There was nothing else. Just her and Colt.

“I know I’m not supposed to do this now, but I am. Casey, will you stay?”

There was only one answer and she was nodding before her rational brain could catch up to her moments-ago-stone heart.

“Colt—” Chris Haversham started, but Colt just held up a hand to his face.

“I’ll stay,” Casey said.

With no warning, Colt had her face in his hands and his lips on hers. It didn’t have the passion of their other kisses, but even a kiss like this one, tender and quick, had a depth to it that spoke volumes to Casey. It was its own kind of code, sending a message, even as he pulled away before the audience lost it anymore with their mix of shouts, claps, and boos. His kiss said so much more, enough to keep Casey there. To help her trust. In his kiss, she felt this invisible rhythm, assuring her: This is real.

And even as she felt the reassurance from his touch, her stomach churned with dread of what else would come.

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