Page 21 of Taking the Heat

‘Thank you,’ he said, eyes on me.

The camera crew were practically wetting themselves with glee. ‘Tara, Henry, can we please set up on the balcony inside? The light is much better out there.’

‘Sure!’ I said with forced brightness. ‘Come on in, everybody.’

Inside my room, the crew scattered, delightedly playing with booms and reflectors. Someone had left the air-conditioning running at arctic temperatures, and I shuddered in my swimsuit and hopelessly thin cover-up. I grabbed a cotton bathrobe from the cupboard and slipped into it gratefully.

Henry stood awkwardly by the door, his eyes darting around nervously. ‘Oh.Oh.Do you want me to step out while you change?’

I smiled at his embarrassment.How on earth will this quaint, old-worldly gentleman survive his time here on the island?I wondered. ‘It’s fine, Henry, it’s just a robe. Come on, let’s sit outside.’

I dropped into the plush bamboo lounge and patted the cushion next to me. Henry eased down, pulling the creases from his pants, as if he wore a tuxedo rather than board shorts. I’ve only heard of the term ‘English rose’ in relation to women before, but it suits Henry rather well too. His sandy hair, porcelain skin and brushed pink cheeks combine perfectly with his brown eyes. He really is divine to look at.

‘So, Tara, I suppose you’re wondering what on earth I’m doing here, yes?’

‘I like you, Henry,’ I said, because I do. ‘I don’t mind if you drop by.’

His already sun-kissed skin glowed an even brighter red. ‘Gosh. Thank you for saying so. You see, I find that I like you too. Rather a lot, considering it’s only been a day. I really just wanted to check in on you, after the trouble at the challenge today.’

‘Trouble?’ I said, searching my mind. ‘Oh, you mean Clara. Don’t worry about her; she didn’t hurt me and that’s just who she is. Although, I wish she’d justaskme to move next time …’

‘No, not the Japanese girl,’ he said, painfully uncomfortable. ‘The … the, you know … the kiss.’

‘Oh … that.’ That wasn’t just trouble—that was crazy and wonderful and hot and unbearable and amazing. And definitely not something I wanted to discuss with Henry. If I’ve learned anything from watchingThe Bachelorette, it’s that you have to keep all your relationships separate.

Henry was still stammering through his piece. ‘It’s not that I don’t like Chris, you see. It’s only that I don’t think he’d be very good for you. He seems rather intense when it comes to you. The way he looks at you, it’s like you’re the only girl in the world, as if he wants to drag you back to his cave or something.’

God help me, I shivered at the volley of images: Chris throwing me over his shoulder, carrying me away, tossing me onto a bed somewhere, pinning my hands over my head, forcing his lips to mine …

‘So, I hope this isn’t too forward, but I just thought you should know.’ He leaned forward, earnestly. He was so wretchedly adorable that I wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t need to know that my body cried out for Chris like a One Direction fan in the front row, or that I was considering jumping Chris if the opportunity allowed.

Henry also didn’t need to know that I had no intention of letting myself fall for Chris. I could never trust him with my heart. I just want to be near him, with him, on him as much as possible while we’re here on the island.

All of that makes me sound like a truly awful excuse for a human being. I’m sorry, world, but I can’t help how I feel. Tell me you’ve never used someone for their body, or guarded your heart against someone you know will only hurt you, and you can throw the first stone.

My biggest priority, as it was with Meghan, was to make Henry feel understood. ‘Thank you, Henry. I really appreciate you bringing this to me.’

His features grew bright with relief. ‘You’re so welcome, my lady.’

We rose and walked to the door. ‘Will you save me a dance at the party tonight?’ he asked, his fair eyebrows high.

‘Of course! God knows how we’re supposed to dance when nobody is allowed to touch, but we’ll make it work.’

Drained, I opened the door, and in lieu of kissing him on the cheek, blew him a kiss as he walked out.

Laughingly, he caught my kiss in his hand and tucked it in his pocket. ‘For later,’ he explained, walking away down the eastern walkway.

Movement on the north walkway caught my eye. Chris stood there, watching Henry depart with coldness in his eyes.

‘Chris?’ I called. ‘Chris, wait!’

He was gone. Again. Thoroughly irritable, I had no intention of streaking after him in my robe and bare feet.Just you wait, coffee boy. You and I will be having words at the party, oh yes …

Turning back inside, I collided with the cameraman, who had crept up close behind me. ‘Out. Now.’

‘But can we just ask a few questions about—’

‘Guys, I’m sure you’re all lovely and I know you’re only doing your jobs. But if you don’t leave now, I will be forced to do something crazy.’

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