Page 70 of Fire and Icing

“Irresistible?” I ask him seriously, as if his answer were for something other than show.

He smiles this smile that makes me nearly woozy, looking straight into my eyes and repeating the word in a much quieter voice. “Irresistible.”

I can’t help smiling back at him. I feel a blush rise into my cheeks.

“How about you, Emberleigh?” Branson asks.

“Predictable,” I say, not breaking eye contact with Dustin. I smirk at him lightly.

“Predictable?” He leans backward slightly.

“I’m joking.” I smile at Dustin and he smiles back. “Honestly?” I size him up. How do you encapsulate this man in one word? He’s playful, easy to be with, compassionate, and secretly deeper than he appears at first blush. He’s funny, but knows how to be serious. He’s warm, and he’s safe. And yet he’s so very dangerous. My heart is definitely in peril where he’s concerned.

Finally, I say, “Adorable.”

Dustin beams as if we just won the contest. He gives my hand a private squeeze and winks at me. He knows. That word cost me a few bricks in my carefully constructed wall.

Branson laughs into the camera and says, “They’re cute. Am I right?” Focusing back on us, he says, “I’m guessing the two of you are going to quickly become fan favorites on the show. We’re so glad you joined us.”

He wraps up the filming with a few more words to the camera and then Cathy escorts us to our rooms … or, I should say, room.

“Here we are,” she says as she stops short of one door. “Your room.”

“Our … uh … room?” I sputter out.

“Did you want one of the bungalows on the property?We figured you’d want to be in the main house. The cabins are booked. Actually all the rooms are full between the contestants and the film crew and network staff staying on site.”

“No. No. We’ll be fine,” I assure Cathy.

I step into the room, figuring it will be a little awkward sharing a room with Dustin, but we can take turns changing in the bathroom. We’ll have our separate beds …

Or … bed.

“How many rooms are in the bungalows?” I ask Cathy.

“Well, there are one and two bedroom options, but the two bedrooms are being renovated this month, so …”

Right. One bedroom everywhere and only this room for us. Okay.

Well, I’ve slept on floors before. It won’t be my first rodeo. Granted, that was during sleepovers in high school, but it can’t be that much different now.

“Okay, I’ll leave you two to it. Dinner is at six. You won’t want to miss it. We’ve brought in top chefs here to cook for us all weekend.”

“Sounds good!” Dustin says with more enthusiasm than fits the situation.

“He’s always hungry,” I explain to Cathy.

“I can see why,” she smiles, looking him over.

It’s not an inappropriate perusal, necessarily—not like Vanessa’s blatant ogling. But, still.

I step in closer to Dustin and place a possessive hand on his bicep. One perilous word flashes through my mind.

Mine.

Dustin looks down at me, a pleased, possibly even smug, expression on his face.

“See you two at dinner. Let us know if you need anything else.”

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