Page 67 of The Billionaire Love Match

NINETEEN

Just get through it. This is the last one.

Casey repeated this mantra to herself all through the final live viewing of the show. She finally got to see why Kendall chose to go home—to secure one-on-one time with Colt, she would have had to give a speech. Apparently her fear was public speaking, and it was stronger than whatever she felt for Colt. Casey felt immensely sad for Kendall, not because she’d lost the chance to be with Colt, but because she understood the humiliation of facing your fear with an audience. Kendall didn’t just look disappointed; she’d looked ashamed. It made Casey furious with the show.

Tessa had to hold snakes. For ten minutes she’d sat stark-still in a chair while three or four different kinds of snakes crawled over her shoulders and in her lap and over her head. She’d kept her eyes closed and her mouth tightly shut, like she was afraid one might try to go inside.

As for Casey’s time with Lucas, most of their dialogue was edited out, and that portion of the show featured lots of dramatic music that showed the two of them talking from afar. A zoomed in shot of when he kissed her hand in the limo, which cut away before Casey had snatched her hand back. Then it ended with Lucas coming into the bathroom after her. Though from a distance it looked more like she had been waiting for him, inviting him in.

And then they had edited her conversation on the phone with Amanda to make it sound like she was just after book reviews and sales. They’d sliced and diced that audio perfectly.

The anger came off Casey in waves. She wished she could have a few minutes with the person in charge of the show’s editing. A few minutes was all she’d need.

Chris Haversham called Casey up to the hot seat first and went right for the gut. “Beyond just being a swoon-worthy kiss, it raised some questions about you and some of the things you said in your interviews.”

Casey’s head snapped up. She knew suddenly exactly where he was going with this. But they wouldn’t. Surely they wouldn’t do it.

“No,” she whispered and looked directly at Colt, pleading with her eyes.

“Let’s take a look at one of your interviews.”

The screen came up and Casey ground her teeth together to keep them from chattering. Every part of her body seemed to be reacting to the sight of herself on screen, no makeup and a ponytail in one of the interview rooms from before she was picked for the show. Back when she thought it was a matchmaking show, meant to help her find the perfect man to marry. The questions had been brutal. And she had been brutally honest.

“How important is the physical part of the relationship to you?” A voice from someone off camera asked.

On screen, Casey giggled. “I mean, it will be important. One day.”

“Could you elaborate? How much do you value the sexual aspect of your relationships?”

“I wouldn’t know,” on-screen Casey said.

Off screen, Casey had her head bowed. They had done these questions at the last part of a long day. She remembered being tired. Her exact answers she couldn’t recall. But the next one she knew for sure.

She had to look up and watched Colt watching the screen. His jaw was clenched and it was clear that his emotions were fraying.

“How many sexual partners have you had?”

“None.”

“Zero? And you’re twenty-four?”

“That’s right. I’ve been...waiting. For a committed relationship. Marriage. The right person.”

Colt turned to her then and she could see how much he wanted to step across the few steps between them. She saw protectiveness in his face as his jaw clenched and unclenched. Protectiveness and something like respect. He didn’t think she was an idiot.

“Casey,” Chris said as the clip disappeared. “That’s a big claim to make. Very unusual in today’s culture. The question I think that people have is, with the passion you clearly have with Colt and with the things we’ve seen and heard on-screen with your ex, was this just an act for the show?”

Casey’s mouth dropped open as Colt jumped up out of his seat and into Haversham’s face. And then it was like the Jerry Springer show with production and crew pulling Colt back.

Casey sat still, hands folded in her lap, head down. She didn’t know how she could possibly be more ashamed than she was right now. Her whole intimate life laid bare. For...what?

For Colt. Whatever her reasons for coming on the show and whatever her hesitations, she knew in that instant as she was publicly humiliated yet again that Colt was worth whatever the cost. Because she loved him. Crazy as it might sound, she felt it in her bones and knew it in her heart. She loved Colt.

When the crew had gotten Colt back in his seat, looking like he might jump back up any moment, Chris turned to her again, waiting for her answer.

“Chris,” she said with a sigh. “Frankly, I don’t care what you or the viewers think about me. I’ve never realized how much is fake in these reality shows. You conveniently left out the fact that Lucas physically assaulted me in the bathroom. It should be public record that he was arrested and I pressed charges. Google it. I hope to file a restraining order this week.”

Chris’ mouth dropped open, but so did Colt’s. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said to Colt. “I didn’t want to ruin our date. It’s okay now.”

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