Page 26 of Taking the Heat

I sat back down, the makeup and hair people resuming their work. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes. No. I don’t fucking know, okay?’

‘Okay.’ I fell silent, and allowed her to speak next. The camera zoomed in on her elegant face, her glossy black hair caught up in a detailed braid, snaking down her back. In tiny denim shorts and a white bikini top, she was like a perfect doll—if dolls used language like a Scorsese character.

After another long swallow, she said, ‘I’m so fucking confused. Fucking Toshi. He spoke to me last night, and he’s all fucking like, “I still love you, we are soul mates, I support you, I should have never left you”, blah, blah, fucking blah.’

I smiled at her reflection in the mirror in front of me. ‘Do you still have feelings for Toshi?’

‘Yeah. I think I still love him.’ She smiled back, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. ‘I know we have these dates today, but I just want to see him tonight, and tell him.’ Her eyes shone with emotion and she caught herself. ‘Fuck me! I sound like such a fucking girl!’

‘You are a girl,’ I reminded her.

‘Don’t I fucking know it?’ she sighed, standing up and beckoning to the cameras. ‘Come on, pervs, we should get back.’

‘Bye Clara,’ I called as she left without thanking me or saying goodbye. I wouldn’t have expected otherwise. Despite her filthy mouth and brisk ways, there is something about that girl I really like.

A few minutes later, my hair bounced softly in blonde corkscrew curls, and my lips were bubble-gum pink. I shoehorned my way into white hotpants and tied up the blue checked blouse around my midriff. I raised an eyebrow at the tan cowboy boots beside the bed. Pulling them on, I couldn’t help but grin. The pretty ornate pattern wound around the leather, tiny flowers and vines creating a feminine feel.

‘Okay, I’m ready,’ I announced to the team. They boosted my ego with their cooing and compliments—which I needed as another knock sounded and I felt my nerves shatter.

On the other side of the door was Beau. I breathed a sigh of relief and said, ‘Hey there, cowboy!’

In his red shirt, fitted jeans and matching boots, Beau tipped his hat at me. ‘Howdee, ma’am! Are you ready for our date?’

‘Yes!’ I replied, suddenly relaxed. I barely knew Beau, but he was the perfect Southern gentleman from what I’d seen. I was sure we’d have a good time.

‘Good to hear! I’ve been missing home these past days, and I wondered if you’d like to come riding with me?’

‘Sounds good!’

***

Half an hour later, we were sitting astride beautiful mahogany horses, walking gently along the beach. With their hooves in the shallows, the water splashed merrily below us, and the slightly cloudy day was the perfect temperature for a ride. A camera crew in a dune buggy kept pace with us, but we ignored them.

‘Oh … this is so nice,’ I sighed, content. ‘Great choice, Beau.’

‘Why, thank you, ma’am,’ he said. His perfect white teeth shone against his tanned skin. ‘At home, I’d never spend more than a day out of the saddle. I’m mighty glad you could share this with me.’

‘Me too. What’s your home like?’

‘I own a ranch. Nothing too special, just a couple hundred acres. Most days, it’s me and the cattle and my dog, Blue. I love it.’ He looked across at me, embarrassed. ‘That probably sounds boring.’

‘Not at all. It sounds peaceful.’

‘It is. A fellow can breathe out there. It’s been me and my papa, out there, working our land together for as long as I could lift a hay bale.’

His face clouded over, darkness flooding his features. ‘When my papa died last year, the bank told me he was behind in payments, a long way. The million dollars I win here will let me save my home. Then the only thing I have to worry about is finding the right lady to share my life with me.’

He winked at me, and although I know I’m not girl, I couldn’t help but think that she’d be a lucky lady. ‘Hey, did you go and check out the fantasy cabin yet?’ I asked suddenly.

‘Now, that would be telling,’ he said, a lilt in his voice. ‘If I say yes, and you’ve been in too, you’ll know your partner isn’t me. It wouldn’t be a very smart move to use the cabins until there’s at least two other keys out there, to lessen the odds of being guessed.’

‘Oh … I didn’t think of that. I’ve been trying not to think of it at all, actually.’

‘Well, Miss Tara, I will say, if you were waiting for me inside my cabin, I’d be a very happy man.’

Blushing, I said, ‘Thanks, Beau. I’d be the same. Not a man, though. You know what I mean.’ I don’t feel romantically towards Beau, but he’s totally gorgeous. If you have to sleep with someone for a huge pile of cash, it might as well be a delicious cowboy.

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