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I shot Rose a dirty look, and she gave me an apologetic smile. “I know, I know. Hunter has some weird thing with her.”
Hunter huffed. “I don’t have a weird thing with her.”
“She was the only date you kissed,” I added.
“Only because she keeps kissing me first! I didn’t want to make her feel bad, and it didn’t mean anything.”
Jack started to pace. “No, I think you’re right. We keep Kimber because there was a spark between you two. Then the audience will believe at least two women are in the running for your affection.”
Hunter’s eyes went wide. “Are you trying to ruin my relationship with Kipton before it starts?”
“Of course not,” Jack said. “But we won’t have a show at all if you get rid of everyone.”
“Why Kimber, though?” Hunter argued.
A strange feeling washed over me, and I took a step away from Hunter. “Are you worried about keeping her? About your feelings for her?” Everyone saw that kiss. The one they shared after he removed Kimber’s blindfold on their first date.
He looked at me, seemingly horrified. “No!”
“Then why do you want to get rid of her? Are you worried you might develop feelings for her?”
Hunter’s eyes went wide. “Of course I’m not.”
“I will say, this would truly be a test of your relationship,” Rose mused with her arms folded across her chest as she glared at Hunter. She was clearly thinking the same thing I was.
Hunter shook his head and threw up his arms. “Fine. If you want Kimber to stay, I won’t swipe left.”
“I am so damn glad I’m not in your shoes right now,” Bradly muttered as everyone fell silent.
Hunter sighed and pushed a hand through his hair yet again…before he turned and walked out of the room.
Lincoln approached and gave me a soft hug. “Go after him, sweetheart. He’s scared, is all.”
“Of what?”
She brushed a piece of loose hair from my face and gave me such a loving smile. “Of hurting you.”
Without another thought, I rushed out of the room after Hunter.
It didn’t take me long to find him in his room. The door was open, and when I stepped in, I saw him staring out the window. Gently shutting the door, I leaned against it.
Drawing in a breath, I slowly exhaled and said, “I’m sorry.”
He turned and leaned against the window frame, keeping his head down, his eyes on the floor. “It’s not going to work between us if you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
“Really? Because what I heard down there was you thinking I have feelings for Kimber, and I don’t.”
“I’m sorry I let my jealousy rear its ugly head.”
“The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you, Kip. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and maybe it is going fast, but I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”
He lifted his head, and when our gazes met, I sucked in a breath. Were those tears in his eyes?
“I don’t know why I’ve always been afraid to open my heart to someone. Maybe it’s just because I’ve never met someone like you. Every girl I’ve ever dated wanted something from me…but not just me. And the first time we met, you looked at me in a way nobody else ever has. You saw me, and only me, and if I’m being honest with myself, I think I fell in love with you right then. You’ve been yourself with me since the beginning. I cannot—and will not—lose you, Kip.”
He wiped away a tear that had slid free, and my entire world felt like it stopped right then. I quickly crossed the room and threw my body into his. He wrapped his arms around me and held me so tight, I thought I might not be able to breathe.
