Page 37 of Bargain with the Bachelor
His smile dimmed. “Of course. And we all appreciate you being here and helping out with the show. We should be filming most every day over the next few weeks, but don’t worry about the schedule—it’s supposed to emulate real life, so you just go to work when you need to, do your thing, and Hap can shoot your parts whenever you’re here.”
“I still only have part-time hours at the Cliffhouse, but I’ll be trying to do as much photography as I can too,” I said. “I’m trying to increase my output so maybe I can earn a little more that way.”
“I’ve seen some of your shots in that gallery at Brady’s Wharf. Beautiful stuff. You’re really talented.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest and migrated to my cheeks. Hearing that Hunter admired my work filled me with bubbles of iridescent happiness.
Down girl.He’s just a friend.
A friend who was helping me out with a place to stay. A friend who was now my roommate. So,no.
“Thank you. If only the judges at the International Photography Awards would agree with you, I wouldn’t be bumming a place to stay,” I said.
“Oh, you’re entering?”
“Yes.Again.I should probably give it up, but desperation makes for amazing motivation. If I were to win my category, it would really drive up the asking price for my photos and prints.”
“Well, good luck,” he said. “And I don’t want to belabor the point, but you’re welcome as long as you need a place to stay. I’m glad you’re here—we all are.”
Hunter paused, his eyes dropping to my mouth. My belly clenched, and my toes curled inside my heavy socks and boots.
“Listen… about that night at the Charity Relief Foundation Ball,” he said, “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable…”
I jumped in before he could let me downeasy. “I know—it meant nothing—absolutely nothing. I mean, it was a total accident. I’ve barely even given it a thought since then.”
Unless you count every day and almost every night.
“I’d nearly forgotten it happened until you mentioned it just then,” I lied.
Hunter’s lips flattened into a thin line. “Right. An accident. Same here. We’re friends, so you don’t have to worry about me trying to make any moves on you or accidentally-on-purpose running into you leaving the shower or anything.”
My mouth went suddenly dry at the mental image, and I felt a twinge of disappointment.
What wasthatabout? I was amess. I would have to watch myself around him over the next few weeks, so I didn’t embarrass either one of us.
We were friends. We were housemates. That was it.
“Right. Good. Good to know. Thank you for clearing that up. I’m so glad it won’t be awkward between us. Just really, really happy.” My words trailed off at the end, but at least they’d been the right ones.
Hunter’s mouth opened with a smack, and he began to move toward the door. “Okay then. I’ll leave you to get settled. I think Hap wants to shoot some kind of opening scene, let’s-meet-the-team kind of thing tonight, so whenever you’re ready, come on down and we’ll… pretend to be strangers.”
He left and shut the door behind him.
Staring at it, then looking around the unfamiliar room, I felt like we were.
Chapter Ten
Sheer Torture
Hunter
Well, at least I knew where I stood with her.
When Kristal had stepped into the house—my house—I’d felt a swell of hope and excitement that had nearly knocked me off my feet. I’d literally had to suppress a victory whoop.
After all the years of wishing and dreaming, Kristal Bianco waslivingundermyroof. I would get to see her every day.
But with a few words, she’d made it abundantly clear—she was not and had never been interested in me.
