Page 53 of Cowboy Seeks Husband
“No.”
Yes? Maybe? Hell if he knew what he wanted with Ben. He liked the guy, but he didn’t send sparks flying through him just by smiling the way Roan did.
“No? Well, too bad. Kiss someone today, Walker. Even though Andy said not to kiss Ben, I’ll let it slide if you do. I think it’d be good TV. And if you can do it so that the other guys can see, let them all pretend to be jealous for the cameras, all the better.”
Then she walked away before Walker could say anything more. He turned to observe what was happening with the four horses he’d brought out for the men to play around with.
Victor, true to his word, could obviously be left to his own devices. He was helping Chad with the saddle. Ben was also good with the horse he’d been assigned. Apparently, his family had owned some land in Florida, along with horses and goats, when he was a kid. Walker folded his arms over his chest and watched as Ben taught Roan the basics.
Frowning, Walker noticed the way Ben kept touching Roan unnecessarily as he showed him what to do. The closeness and comfort between them made Walker’s gut knot up. But it was clear Ben knew everything there was to know about saddling up a horse, so Roan was in capable hands.
Peter had abandoned playing grab-ass and was paying a lot of attention to one of the camera men, which Molly wasn’t liking by the looks of things. Clark and Nick seemed fairly okay with the horses once Walker gave them a little instruction, but Davis and Jaden acted like they were dealing with wild tigers or something, what with the way they kept grabbing each other and squealing whenever the horse moved. So Walker spent quite some time reassuring those two.
When things started to wind down, and the pressure to get on with it and kiss some of the men was coming down hard, given the intense looks Molly kept sending his way, Walker decided to corner her again. By the shade canopy the crew had set up for the monitors, she was staring at her clipboard with a mighty deep frown for her little, freckled face. Leaving the men with the horses, he headed her way and took up a position by her side. He had to help her understand it from his point of view.
Rubbing the back of his sweaty neck, he gazed uncomfortably down at her from beneath the brim of his hat.
“Yes?” she prompted, rolling her hand to get him going, but not looking up from her clipboard.
“I don’t know how I feel about this whole ‘kissing a few different people’ thing,” he ventured. “Is it really necessary? I thought Andy wanted to promote this show without the usual LGBT stereotypes. Doesn’t that include avoiding the oversexed stereotype? Or promiscuity?”
Molly signed something and punctuated so hard she tore the paper a little, then waved the guy holding the clipboard away. Her bright eyes met his, and they were sharp. “If I recall correctly, Andy said he wanted this show to be treated just like any heterosexual version already out there. Am I right?”
Walker swallowed and nodded. He already knew where she was going with this.
“And you know what the straight shows have their contestants do? Kiss. Make out. Steal blow jobs. Fuck. I’d say we’re already well distanced from the stereotypical oversexed gay man trope. You’ve kissed one guy on the cheek. Another you’ve promised to kiss and not delivered—you giant tease—and a few others you’ve manfully clapped on the shoulder. We’re downright prudish to be asking you to lock lips with a couple of guys at this point, at least in comparison to the heterosexual shows.”
Walker shuffled his feet. It still didn’t mean he wanted to kiss anyone but Roan, and he balked at being forced to do it against his will. He opened his mouth to say just that, but Molly beat him to the punch.
“Hey, I can’t make you actually do anything at all, like I said before.” She glanced around, but the only person nearby was a lonely sound guy and Molly seemed to dismiss him. “You’re in this for the money, babe. This show is going to be a cash cow for you, if you work the drama the right way. I know what you need, Walker. I know your situation here and how much the storms from the last hurricane cost you and your ranch. Not to mention your father’s diabetes and the medical expen—”
“Don’t talk about him or that.” Who the hell did she think she was prying into his parents’ lives? How did she know that about Dad?
“Fine. But all that together means you need money. You’ll want to be able to score future magazine interviews that will shell out cash to speak with you, maybe you’ll want a book deal. Whatever. My point is, you want to milk this thing.”
“I really don’t.”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Then you’re not the right person for this show, which I actually told Andy at the start. But it’s your choice.” She shook her head, frowning. “You want to know why else you aren’t right for this show? You want people to like you too much.”
“What? I never gave a shit what anyone thought of me.” Walker bristled. His ego chafed at the idea that he couldn’t carry this show, that he wasn’t enough.
“But you do care, though. Yes, you want to be charming. It’s the southern way.” She punctuated that with another eyeroll. “But you know what’s more important than being liked? Making the viewing audience come back to watch the next episode. You want to make them feel torn up about who they want you to be with. You want to make some viewers root for Ben, some for Roan, and some for Victor or Chad. You want them tofeelthings, Walker. You don’t want to be known as the queer bachelor who was so determined not to be seen as stereotypical or promiscuous that he bored the public to death. We’re selling emotions here. Trust me, the media is ruthless.”
“You are the media.”
Molly grinned. “My point exactly.” She waved her hands in the direction of the contestants milling about the stables. “Look, we’re not asking you to do anything wrong. You realize people everywhere in this country—straight, gay, bi—date different people at the same time, don’t you? They even kiss them, and—gasp—sometimes have sex with them.”
“Yes,” Walker said. “But generally not on TV.”
Molly waggled her eyebrows. “Depends on what you’re watching. Okay, so let’s get real. What’s the problem here? You like one of the guys too much already? You only want to kiss Roan’s pretty lips?” Molly smirked. “Fine. At least it’s one of my boys.”
Walker frowned.
Molly went on, “I produce Roan. So obviously, I’m happy if he wins. But, look, I get it. Hearts can’t be reined in and all that shit.” She put her hands on her hips. “But you still kiss your mama, don’t you?”
“I guess.”
“You don’t have to slip anyone tongue. Just make the kisseslookgood. Fake a little passion for it. Sell some emotions, Walker.” Her grin turned feral. Louisiana sunshine highlighted the freckles on her young face. “I think you should kiss Ben soon. And Roan would probably be up for real smooch, too. Hell, theyallwould. That’s what they signed on for. It’s what they and the public expect. Why don’t you just ask them?” Her phone began to ring. Without a backward glance at him, she pressed it to her ear and walked away.
