Page 47 of The Wrong Bachelor

"Yeah," Zoe continued. "I'm doing an internship there, and I've heard a few of the reporters talking about the show this week. The charity, the drama, the romance—people are taking notice."

I laughed nervously. I couldn't believe the show was spreading so far beyond the school.

“I'm not sure if I want my secrets printed in the local paper," I said. "Remind me to keep all conversations with you as bland as possible.”

“Careful,” she replied. “If they’re too bland, I’ll be reporting that our bachelor is boring.”

I shook my head at her. “There’s no winning with you is there?”

She grinned, appearing to take that as a compliment.

A loud bout of laughter pulled my attention and I looked over to see Madi, Teagan and Evan all piled on the ice together. Their arms and legs were all intertwined, and they were laughing with such carefree ease as they attempted to right themselves that I felt a twinge of jealousy.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of Angus signaling me from where he was standing behind one of the cameras. He was making a strange, winding motion with his hands and I got the impression he was annoyed I’d spent so long with Zoe. When he saw he had my attention, he pointed at Zoe and made a cutting motion against his throat. Subtle.

“I should probably see how everyone else is getting on,” I said, easing Zoe’s hand from my grasp.

She nodded, looking toward Madi and her friends. Zoe’s eyes were calculating as she watched them, and I wondered what she was thinking. If I’d gleaned anything from Zoe during our chat, she was probably thinking about a story.

“I’ll be watching,” Zoe said, focusing on me once more.

I got the feeling she was only partially joking, but still she made me smile. “Let me know if journo Zoe ever goes on holiday. I think I could like the Zoe she left behind.”

“And I think we both know that even if journo Zoe went on holiday, there would still be a certain girl consuming your attention,” she replied, her eyes moving pointedly in Madi’s direction.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, skating backward as I started to part ways with her.

She lifted one eyebrow at me and smiled. “I think you do, Cole Kingston,” she called after me. I shrugged playfully and turned to keep skating. Zoe was far more perceptive than I’d thought, and the last thing I wanted to do was admit she was right.

Madi was up on her feet once more and helping her friends to stand as I started skating toward them. She was smiling brightly and seemed so happy to be out on the ice. It warmed me inside to know I’d helped put that smile on her face.

I had almost reached Madi when a body slammed into me. I fell backward, landing hard on the ice with Laurie tumbling on top of me. The air rushed from my lungs and I groaned as I started to feel the impact of the fall pounding in my chest.

Laurie was looking down at me, her eyes big and filled with worry. “I’m so sorry, Cole, I was completely out of control,” she said, lifting a hand and running it down my cheek. “Are you okay?”

I eased her off me so I could breathe. Pain ripped through my chest and back, and I wanted to let out a series of curses, but I knew the cameras were watching us. “‘I’ll be fine. Are you hurt?”

Even though Laurie was no longer pressed down on my chest, she still leaned over my face, fluttering her eyelashes at me. “I think I’m okay,” she said. “But I’m more worried about you. Can I do anything to make you feel better?” Her voice was thick with innuendo, and it made me feel very awkward considering I could see a camera hovering nearby.

“Just give me a moment to catch my breath,” I said. “You go on ahead and get up. Make sure you’re not hurt.”

She huffed out an irritated breath but did as I asked. I’d clearly messed up somehow, but I wasn’t sure what I’d done wrong. Perhaps she’d wanted more time together lying on the ice. It wasn’t exactly romantic when I was in so much pain.

My whole body ached as I pushed myself up. Pretty much everyone on the rink was looking at me with concern in their eyes. Everyone but Madi it seemed.

She was standing not far from me, grinning from ear to ear as she watched me struggle to stand. Did she really derive so much satisfaction from seeing me hurt? I found it hard to believe. Once I was up on my feet again, she skated toward me.

“I thought you could skate, Kingston,” she said, still grinning as she glided across the ice in a circle around me.

Laurie had already skated off and I was glad for a few seconds alone with Madi.

I shrugged at her comment. “I was taken by surprise.”

“You were just sacked by a girl who’s half your body weight,” she replied. “What will all the boys on your football team think of that?”

“That Laurie’s far stronger than she looks,” I replied.

Madi laughed. “Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly what they’ll think.” She started skating backward as we talked. Her movements were so smooth and fluid. I’d forgotten what a beautiful skater Madi was.

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