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“Ha ha, very funny.” Rob adjusted his headset and fiddled with the volume.
“I notice you aren’t bothering to deny it.”
“I’m being paid to host, produce, and direct this show. Of course, I’m watching Jane.”
“Maybe keeping your tongue from lolling out the side of your mouth when you look at the star should have been listed in your contract.”
Rob turned to his long-time friend. “That’s enough. If you have something you want to say, spit it out.”
“Don’t worry. If you act out of line where Jane’s concerned, I’ll be doing more than spitting. I saw how she looked at you when she came downstairs last night. What’s worse, I saw how you looked at her.” JP sighed. “I know you have a way with the ladies, always have, and I’ve been damned proud of you for it, but this is one little gal you’re going to have to leave alone. She’s got twelve men to choose from. Thirteen is bad luck, and don’t you forget it.”
Rob watched as Jane blew a stray piece of hair from her eyes and faced her next opponent, Bachelor #6. The man who’d taken his place last night. A man who’d had a right to hold her in his arms and breathe in her sweet scent. A man who might be chosen to accompany her to a romantic paradise.
Jane’s face lit up in delight as she joked with the guy.
“Promise to go easy on me.” She swatted her towel at him. “You’re my fourth game today.”
GI Joe’s gaze raked over her from head-to-toe and Rob squelched the urge to punch the guy’s lights out. “Oh, I promise. I’ll be easy, and make sure you enjoy our game as much as I do.”
Jane’s eyes widened as she checked out the man’s wide shoulders and bulging biceps, then her mouth lifted in challenge. “Why do I get the feeling you’re no longer talking about basketball?”
“Because I’m not.” He winked at a grinning Jane.
Rob scowled at the screen. He hated reality shows. He really, really did.
# # #
Jill practically tiptoed down the stairs. Maybe she could make it to the exercise room without any of the bachelors spotting her. She’d had her dates with the bachelors that morning. First, she’d gone horseback riding with Bachelor #8, then she’d had a picnic lunch with Bachelor #12, and this evening she’d cooked dinner with Bachelor #3.
She discovered Bachelor #8 barely knew which end of a horse to avoid, Bachelor #12 had severe hay fever and Bachelor #3 should have the fire department on standby any time he stepped into the kitchen. The entire day had been a disaster. From start to end. But then, she had a feeling Rob and JP had meant for it to be.
She’d also played four more of the men, one at a time, in a game of K-I-S-S, two in the mid-morning and two in the afternoon. Twelve games of K-I-S-S and none had beaten her, although Bachelor #6, Steve, had come close on that first afternoon. But she was pretty sure that was
because he’d been fresh. She’d been playing ball for thirty minutes straight and had already played three games that day. Still, he had been good.
Of course, truth be told, none of them had really tried to beat her--not until she’d sunk the ball even when they hadn’t meant for her to. Then pride had taken over, and they’d tried but to no avail. Except for Steve and he’d remained playful, not stressing when she’d score or outmaneuver him. Easy, he’d said. She smiled at the memory.
Regardless of the constant attention and flirting from the bachelors, she remained kiss-less.
It bugged her that she wanted to be kissed. Not by any of the dirty dozen, as she now thought of the bachelors. Not even Steve or Bachelor #10, Jeff, although both were great guys. She wanted Rob’s kiss. Goosebumps pricked her flesh at the thought of his lips covering hers, demanding she respond to him. And his kiss would be demanding. Of that she had no doubt. Rob wouldn’t go easy on her. No way.
She sighed, shaking the image from her mind before she went into meltdown. Here she was in the middle of a castle full of gorgeous men wanting to woo her and all she could think about was the one man she shouldn’t want. The one man she needed to stay away from at all costs because she couldn’t have him and if he discovered the truth, she’d have to face the legal repercussions of her actions.
A door opened. Her breath caught. She hoped. Could it be? JP stepped into the room. In disappointment, she let the air whoosh from her lungs.
“Jane.” He looked around the grand foyer. “What are you doing here alone? I’m surprised one of the bachelors isn’t with you.”
Yeah, that made two of them. All day long, bachelors had shadowed her every move. At least one of the men had been with her from the time she’d left her room prior to breakfast.
“I snuck down after pretending to go to my suite for the evening. I’m headed to the exercise room to work out.” She was pretty sure she’d find Rob there. During the time before the bachelors had arrived, she’d gone to the exercise room several times and found him pumping iron. They’d worked out together, laughed, talked, worked up a sweat. Her stomach flip-flopped at the memory of how he’d looked in his gym shorts. Oh man!
JP’s brows lifted, probably because her face had flushed from her heated thoughts. “I figured you’d be tired after the day you’ve had. What time are you meeting the bachelors for drinks?”
So, she might be a bit sore in the morning? No biggie if it meant she got to see Rob without a crowd around them.
“At nine by the pool.” She rolled her eyes at the thought of more time with the bachelors. Three full days in and she’d already like to eliminate half of them. “Maybe I’ll drown a few.”
“Why on earth would you want to do that?” JP scolded.
