Page 58 of The Billionaire Love Match

“Only to be with Colt.”

“Colt, right. That’s the guy I caught you with in the bathroom a few weeks ago, right?” He made tsk-tsk noises and wagged a finger at her. “Bad girl. Getting a sample before the show even aired.”

Casey’s mind raced. They had kept that secret. Would it matter to the show? They couldn’t kick her off with one week left, could they?

“It wasn’t like that. And anyway, I don’t need to talk to you about it. About anything, really. Other than to say that I want you to leave me alone. I mean it. This is the last time I want to see you. Ever. Don’t come by my place, don’t come to my work.”

He put on a face of mock hurt. “It sounds like you’re breaking up with me.”

“I did break up with you. Months ago. It’s over. You just don’t seem to get that.”

His eyes narrowed and he scooted closer.

The limo came to an abrupt stop and Casey grabbed the side of the car. The door by Lucas opened and a figure blocked all the sun getting in. Casey breathed out relief. It was Colt’s bodyguard. He muscled his way in, somehow closing the door behind him and sat right between Casey and Lucas.

She could have cried. Casey bit her lip and smiled at him. His face was impassive but she thought she caught a quick nod.

“Hey, man, I was—”

The bodyguard slowly turned his head to look full at Lucas’ face. And in true bully fashion, he backed down.

The ride was silent the rest of the way. They ended up in the bar of a restaurant. The bar was roped off just for them and a few cameras were already there.

“Whiskey, rocks,” Lucas said as soon as he sat down on a stool.

Casey wanted to stand, feeling safer if she could run. But this made Lucas tower over her so she sat. “Diet Coke,” she said.

The bodyguard gave them a little more space, but stood just a few feet away. He wore dark glasses so Casey couldn’t see his eyes, but they were trained on Lucas.

He glanced to the bodyguard, then to Casey. “So, you’re after his money? It’s a good scheme.”

“No scheme. I didn’t even know about his money when I signed on for the show.” She took a sip of her Diet Coke. Cool as a cucumber. She could do this for an hour. Or less if they started the clock in the limo.

“Sure,” he said. “Just make sure you get me my cut at the end.”

“There’s no cut. No deal. No scheme. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Heat flushed at her neck. She knew what he was doing. The cameras were rolling, taking all this in. How would they spin this in the episode?

“It won’t work,” she said, looking at Lucas full on for the first time since the pool. “Your lies—everything. It’s so clear who you are. I don’t know how I didn’t see it right away. Or how I even spent more than one hour with you. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he said, ordering another whiskey and throwing it back before she even reached the end of the bar to turn toward the bathrooms.

Inside the one-person room, Casey leaned against the closed door, put her face in her hands and lost it, the tears she had held in for so many weeks coming hot and fast. She slid down the door to the tile floor, cold against her bare legs. Her whole body shook.

She needed to pull it together. This would be over soon and she could be with Colt. Just get through it.

Back at the bar, Casey could tell by the loose-limbed ease Lucas sat on his stool that he’d finished his last drink he ordered, maybe two more.

“You making phone calls to your boyfriend?” he said.

“Just freshening up.”

“You don’t look fresh,” Lucas said. “You look pretty worn down and used to me.”

“Another Diet Coke?” Casey said to the bartender.

“Worried about your weight? I like ‘em thick. Even if your billionaire boy toy doesn’t.”

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