Page 29 of The Autumn We Fell in Love

“I didn’t,” he says. “I know that’s what it looked like, but that’s not how it was.”

I can’t hold back a second laugh. “You know what my mom taught me?”

Colby shakes his head. “What?”

“If it looks like bullshit and smells like bullshit, it’s bullshit, no matter what anybody tries to tell you. And that excuse?” I raise a single eyebrow at him. “That sure smells like bullshit.”

His forehead furrows. “You won’t even hear me out?”

I consider his words for a moment. “I might’ve, under other circumstances,” I say at last. “But now the guy who sure looks like he ditched me without a second thought is competing against me in the contest I’m counting on winning so I can pay for my mom’s surgery. I’ve got to win this, for her, and I can’t have anything distracting me.”Like your stupidly beautiful eyes and how badly I want you to kiss me, I add silently.

Even though Colby betrayed me, and even though we’re now kind of arch-enemies, my clit is humming from being so close to him.

He’s silent, emotions I can’t name tumbling through his eyes. When he speaks, he’s gentle, quiet. “I’m so sorry, Brie. You deserve better than how I made you feel, even accidentally.’

I raise my chin to mask my surprise. “You’re right. I do.”

“Let me make it up to you? Later?”

None of this is what I expected him to say. I open my mouth, not sure what words are about to fall out of it.

We never get the chance to find out. One of the producers hurries up. “You can’t be over here,” she says to Colby. “No fraternizing between competitors before filming.”

Her eyes run down his long torso, hungry and appraising, and when she finds his face again, she’s wearing a little smirk.I’d like to fraternize with you, is what she’s saying without words.

A bolt of anger crashes through me, shocking and violent. I’m on my feet before I know what I’m doing, like I’m about to throw myself between the producer and Colby and claim him as mine, all mine.

But I don’t.

I can’t.

It might get me disqualified, considering the producer’s warning.

I can’t afford that.Momcan’t afford that.

So instead, very aware of Colby’s shocked gaze boring into my back, I turn on my heel and walk behind my cook station. I pretend to fiddle with my ingredients but I’m really just trying to distract myself from whatever the hell is going on inside me right now.

Colby starts backing away. The producer shoots me a grumpy look before taking off, and I wonder if my unspoken message was as clear as hers. I’ve never experienced that before.

Also new to me is the gaze Colby’s got trained on me as he settles back on the stool at his station. I sense tension and conflict there, but also a heat makes me practically start salivating.

I want to know everything he’s thinking and feeling.

I want him to wrap his arms around me and promise me that yesterday reallywasa big misunderstanding and I’m the only woman in the world for him.

Even though I shouldn’t. Even though I’m probably just setting my stupid self up for more rejection.

God, I want Colby so damn badly.

But I can’t think about that right now.

Not if I want to help Mom. Not if I want to win.

And I need to win. For the mother that’s always given everything for me. It’s my turn to take care of her.

So, as the producers and CCI judges step to the front of the room and start explaining the rules of the competition to the gathered audience, I shove all thoughts of Colby out of my mind.

Or try to.

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