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“Speaking of getting what’s coming to her, we have one last guest,” Jemma announced.
Lexie tried to recall which cast member wasn’t on the set today. Rhonda, the girl who was kicked off on the first episode, maybe. But she was fairly certain she’d never done anything to Rhonda.
Jemma looked offstage to her left. “Come on out, Sean, and tell us what you think of all this drama.”
Right. Lexie hadn’t spoken with Sean since the last text. Even then he’d made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with the reunion show.
A smattering of applause started toward the front and grew louder as a knot of production crew members moved from the left wing. In the middle, Sean’s dark hair and face towered above them. Lexie’s heart felt like a five-point star and got stuck in her windpipe. He wore the blue dress shirt and gray trousers the Chinooks always wore on the road. He’d loosened the striped tie around his neck and unbuttoned his collar like he’d been about to undress when he’d been interrupted.
Applause and a few whoops broke out as Lexie stood and straightened her dress. A strange sob clogged her throat just above her stuck heart. He looked so good, she wasn’t positive he was real. Maybe she was suffering from some sort of stress-induced delusion. A delusion of dark scruffy beard and big shoulders that made her feel a little light-headed. Then he stood before her and wrapped her up in his arms. It was all for show, but she didn’t care. He was warm and solid and she felt protected. “You’re here.”
“I just got in.” He pulled back far enough to look into her face.
“You’re here,” she repeated herself.
“What my baby wants, my baby gets.” Then he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her several seconds past a simple hello. For all the world, and especially the television audience, they looked like two young lovers, their lips clinging in anticipation of more. Lexie’s sore stomach got hot and squishy, and the sob clogging her throat came out as a breathy sigh.
Sean pulled back and softly pinched her chin. “You look beautiful.”
She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a weird garbled sound.
He bent forward and whispered in her ear, “You’re supposed to say, ‘You make me feel beautiful,’ or ‘I want to feel our beautiful love forever.’” She recognized the sayings she’d sent him but she was too shocked to respond at all. “And my personal favorite, ‘I want to be filled with your beautiful love lance forever.’”
Lexie’s neck and face caught fire and her throat closed. She’d never added that last one to the list. Ever! “Love lance?” she managed.
He pulled back and laughed.
“Ahh . . .” Jemma said, “I think we caught some of that on Lexie’s hidden mic.”
“Sorry.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips but he didn’t look sorry at all.
“Why don’t you take a seat with Lexie,” Jemma suggested. “We only have about five minutes, and I’m sure viewers would love to hear your thoughts and what’s been going on.”
Clearly, she and Sean couldn’t fit comfortably in the tub, and a stagehand brought back the two rawhide chairs. Silence fell over the hay bale section, and Pete went from looking smug to looking very uncomfortable.
“We know that you’ve been on the road, but we’re glad you could join us at the last minute.”
“Anything for Lexie.” He took her hand as they sat next to each other.
Lexie looked up into his face. “I appreciate you coming.”
Amusement creased the corners of his green eyes as his gaze met hers. “Sorry I didn’t shave first.” A lock of his hair fell over his forehead like a big comma and touched his dark brow. “But I couldn’t let you face the wrath of those other girls all by yourself.”
Her poor heart grew bigger, the points sharper, her breathing impossible. This was bad. Really really bad. He’d rescued her again, and she hadn’t even had to blackmail him this time.
“Have you watched the show?” Jemma asked.
“Bits and pieces here and there. Watching my woman compete to be another man’s wife wasn’t high on my TV viewing list.” He looked down at her hand and played with her fingers. It was the day. The whole emotional day was playing tricks on her. “It’s over now and we’ve moved on.”
“Pete, do you have anything you’d like to say to Sean? Now’s your chance.”
That had to be it, because, God help her, falling in love with Sean Knox was impossible.
“No,” Pete answered. “Not really.”
Jemma looked at Sean. “Anything you want to say to Pete?”
“No. I think he’s suffered enough without my opinion.”
