Page 9 of The Final Rose

“Tell me about her.”

“Mystery is romantic,” Callie argues.

“Give me one word.” I flash the smile again. The one that doesn’t work with her.

“One word about the girl? Just one?” she checks and I dip my chin.

Someone calls for Callie’s attention. A car stops at the corner and waits for the signal. She steps back, and I’m sure my request will be ignored. But at the last minute she whispers, “Southern belle.”

I meet Grace, the southern belle. Isla, the yoga instructor. Kirsten, the kindergarten teacher. I’m pleasant and try my best to engage and give them dashing smiles, but the truth is, I’m dizzy.

Each time a car rolls forward, a woman in a gorgeous gown emerges and the camera gets us at a good angle. I barely have time to say hello and soon she goes inside, so I can do it all again.

Their faces merge. I remember some, and a couple of names, but nothing grabs my attention besides Callie’s insights.

After Grace, I asked her once more for a tip as the second girl prepared to arrive. That’s when she said, “Vegan” and then I met Abby.

My memory is betraying me. I wish I had Maverick here. He’s great with faces and names. That’s why he’s always been the perfect companion to social functions, even though Mother hates it—thinks the press will assume I’m gay and interfere with her chances of finding me a proper match .

Maverick is a brilliant talker, he’s a people person. It’s easy to make conversation with him by my side, but now that I’m alone, I appreciate his talents even more.

Sweat covers my forehead, though the makeup crew keeps fussing over me. Nothing can hide that I stood under the sun in a suit for far too long.

I’m loosening up my tie when a huge bouquet approaches and comes up to my face. I grab it on instinct and Callie appears behind it.

“What’s this?” I want to know.

She shrugs. “It came for you. You're supposed to fall in lovehere, you know? You can’t have a shorty on the side.”

“Funny,” I reply and open the small envelope on top of the wildflowers.

What a star! I bet the whole lot fancies you after that dashing smile.

-Maverick

I throw my head back and laugh. Of course, Maverick would find a way to send something. I look at the flowers and recognize his taste. Something sophisticated and wild at the same time. I’m still smiling at the card when a tiny hand comes to my arm and pincheshard.

“Oi!”

“You don’t have a girlfriend or something, right?” she demands.

“What woman sends flowers to her boyfriend?” I ask, amused if anything.

“And do I know English dating rules?”

My lips curl into a smile. It’s easy to feel comfortable around Callie. That must be why she’s so successful at her job. Besides the rod up her arse when the cameras are rolling, she’s otherwise easygoing and friendly. We’ve only known each other for a couple of days, and she's already comfortable enough to hurt me.

“It’s from my friend Maverick,” I tell her, showing the card. “He likes to cause a commotion.”

Her eyes dart quickly to the words written, and then she looks at me. “So, the girls are supposed tofancyyou,” she says in a way like it’s a made-up word. I hold my laugh back again. “Because of your smile?”

“It’s proven to be effective.”

Callie’s hand goes to her waist as she watches me under an arched brow. Around us, the crew takes everything apart. The next segment is inside the mansion, where I’m supposed to say a few words to the girls and welcome them to their new home.

I should fix myself so I don’t look absolutely ghastly, but I’m here instead. Looking at Callie’s perfectly symmetrical face and those daring brown eyes.

“Give it to me,” she says, curling her finger in acome-at-memotion.

---