Page 52 of The Final Rose

I asked Maverick to arrive early because I thought it would be nice to have a day before a camera is mounted on our faces. But after the ride, my mood plummeted. Maverick feels the change, but in the true fashion of his character, doesn't apologize for his words.

There’s nothing to be sorry about, anyway. He’s right. I signed up for this. I have a contract withThe Final Rose,and they have a job to do. I can’t simply walk away after a kiss with the producer.

I’ll need to select one of the girls. I’ll need to stay put and have more dates with each one of them and then announce my winner.

First, I think strategically. I can select one of them, end my contract, and break up straight away. I convince myself of that plan for about half an hour until it unravels in front of my eyes.

I care about them. They are kind and real. They are here because they believe we can build something together and I can’t say yes one day and dump them the next. It’s just not right.

Not when the last episode usually announces the winner, and the couple always shares a kiss.

For this to work, I’d need to tell them it’s only for the show. But unfortunately, I can’t trust any of them. They are nice enough, but this secret isn't just mine. I have Callie to think about.

The second hiccup of my plan is the fact that Callie will be still employed by the network even once my season is finished.

I can’t date her without them knowing.

It’s the middle of the night and I’m in bed with an arm over my face but ever so awake. I was so wrapped up in the kiss that I didn’t think about what this really meant.

There’s no way around it. Not if I want to protect Callie.

Of course, I don’t want to break the contract or hurt the girls, but it’s all about Callie for me.

By half past two, I’m thinking, how long did she know? When we got so close in the first weeks and everything came into a perfect lock, she stepped away. It was too early in the game for me to put a finger on it, but Callie built a wall between us and as much as I tried, until the flight over, I couldn’t get past it.

She knew it.

She knew if given time, we would get involved. If given the opportunity, we’d kiss.

Something stirs inside of me and I’m on my feet. A hot curl at the base of my spine spreads. I let out a growl from the back of my throat. I’ve been working on reasons why I shouldn’t ever touch her, but knowing she felt this pull from the beginning is doing serious things to me.

I race downstairs in search of water. In an hour, I know the crew will start setting up, always an ungodly early start. But I can’t think that much ahead.

My head is with her, in our kiss, and the doomed feeling flees and it’s replaced by something stronger.

I reach the kitchen and open the fridge for a bottle of water. I’m draining the bottle when the backdoor opens and I hear a gasp.

She doesn’t have time to retrieve. I turn my head quickly, catching Callie coming in with a ridiculous amount of covering; jacket, scarf, hat, you name it; she has it on. I drop the bottle on the marble island and advance at her. I see her gulping and widening her eyes. She steps back.

“What were you doing out there?”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Close the door. You’re letting the heat out.”

She blows a breath like I’m the biggest inconvenience of her life and I can’t even blame her.

As she latches the door closed, I step closer. When she turns, I’m stalking her.

“Go to sleep, Sebastian.”

I ignore her request. “Where did you go?”

“I was working,” she tells me, looking down and stepping to the side to evade me.

I follow her and press. “I thought I was your job.”

Her eyes blast to mine, giving me the reaction I wanted. I’m a bastard for wanting a reaction from her, but I’m standing here trembling to touch her. My hands close in a fist because I don’t trust myself.

---