Page 12

twelve

Dalton

Dalton: How did you know Trin was the one?

I’m on a lounger by the pool, waiting for my brother-in-law and best friend, Linc, to text me back. I’ve got a break from filming this afternoon, so I swam laps to burn off some nervous energy.

Alice is out with Farrah. I’m eager for them to get back because I haven’t even seen Alice today. I heard Farrah’s voice in her bedroom when I was bringing breakfast this morning, so I just left the tray.

Not seeing her is making me crazy. Even though I can’t say what I want to say to her when other people are around--which is always because there are like thirty people in the beach house at any given moment--at least I usually get to see her. Checking her out without getting busted for it is my new pastime.

Lincoln: You really want to know?

I cock my head as I read the message, narrowing my eyes at my phone screen.

Dalton: Spare me the intimate details, and for fuck’s sake don’t tell me the only way you knew my sister was the one is because of the sex.

Lincoln: I knew I loved her before we left the cabin. But when I got back home, that’s when I knew. Home didn’t feel like home anymore. She did.

A splashing sound makes me glance up, and I see June getting into the pool. She bites her lip, trying to look seductive, I think? I give my phone my full attention.

Dalton: I know this sounds crazy. I met someone here and I can’t think about anything but her. Haven’t even kissed her yet.

Lincoln: Why not? Never alone with her?

Dalton: The producers and league people have this show scripted. They tell me who to fake chemistry with. It’s not what I expected.

Lincoln: Really? You thought a reality show would be something other than manufactured drama?

Dalton: Good talk, man. Helped a lot.

I set my phone on the table beside me, put my sunglasses on and lie back in the chair. Just like every time I close my eyes at night, I imagine Alice’s face when she pulled away from me on the beach. There was so much vulnerability and gratitude swirling in her eyes.

She’s so used to being the listener. The planner. The doer. I want to be those things for her. I want to make her smile and laugh and...other things, too.

What do her eyes look like when she’s turned on? How does she sound when she moans? Does she ever completely let go and give in to what she really wants?

And more importantly, could that be me? It would be fucking brutal to finally feel this way about a woman who doesn’t feel the same way in return. I’ve definitely felt something from her, but I don’t know if it’s just surprise or her indulging me with kindness.

I have to find out. I need to know if this thing is one-sided. That’s why I gave her that note this morning.

A kitchen attendant comes out with a tray of drinks, offering me a lemonade. I drink half of it, dehydrated from the sun, and then check my phone.

Lincoln: Sorry. I’m happy for you, that you found someone you’re into. You think she could be the one?

Dalton: I don’t know. It feels as crazy as it sounds. But I can’t stop thinking about her. I hate having to fake interest in other women here.

Lincoln: That sounds dicey. Does she have to fake interest in other guys?

Dalton: No, because she’s not a contestant.

Lincoln: The plot thickens...

Dalton: She works for one of the contestants.

Lincoln: Are you able to talk to her? Or would it put you in an awkward spot?

Dalton: Awkward spot, but doing it anyway.

Lincoln: Good for you. Gotta shoot your shot.

Dalton: How’s the fam?

Lincoln: Good. Trin convinced me to take in a litter of 5 puppies someone dumped by the side of the road. So just when Micah starts sleeping through the night, we’re bottle feeding puppies.

Dalton: You can’t say no to dogs, though.

Lincoln: Nope. That’s how we ended up with eleven of them, plus 5 puppies.

Dalton: Good luck with that.

Lincoln: Good luck with your thing, too. Lemme know how it goes.

Dalton. I will.

“Come on in, the water’s perfect,” June purrs.

I glance up from my screen. She’s wearing a tiny white bikini, her nipples and areolas visible through the scraps of fabric on top.

“I have to go make a call,” I say, getting up.

“You’re no fun!”

June and I have different definitions of fun. But I just wave and don’t look back. My only concern today is making sure I get some time alone with Alice.

It’s almost ten thirty that night when Alice comes walking down the hallway to her room, stopping when she sees me sitting on the floor next to her door, my back against the wall.

“Dalton. What are you doing?”

I nod toward my phone screen. “Watching the last game of the playoffs. I choked so hard it was almost impressive.”

She lowers her brows, glancing over her shoulder at the door she just closed behind her, which leads from the kitchen to this staff quarters hallway.

I stand up, my legs tingly from spending the past hour and a half sitting here.

“You know what I meant,” she says in a hushed tone, walking toward me.

“I told you we’d be talking today.”

She stuck like glue to Farrah today, deliberately not giving me a chance to get her alone. I don’t know if she’s playing hard to get or if she just doesn’t want to talk to me. Either way, it’s making me insane.

“I didn’t mean any of that in the hot tub with Farrah the other night.”

Her eyes widen and she puts a finger over her lips. “Someone might hear.”

“You want to talk in your room?”

She considers for a second, then opens the door and steps inside. I follow, and she closes the door behind us.

“Dalton, I--”

“Let me go first. I really like you, Alice.” She shushes me again, and I can’t help smiling. “I don’t care who knows.”

“You can’t blow Farrah off,” she whispers, her eyes pleading with me. “She wants you.”

“I don’t want her, though.”

She closes her eyes, then opens them and sighs heavily. “Look, I know she seems like a lot. But she--”

I eat up the distance between us with two steps, cupping her cheek. “You’re not hearing me. I like you . I want you .”

Her lips part as she looks up at me, silent for a moment. “But you don’t even know me.”

“I know enough to know I want to know a lot more.”

“But Farrah--”

I put a finger over her lips, silencing her. “There’s only one name I want to hear you say, and it’s mine . So say it for me.”

She inhales sharply, just looking at me. I stroke my thumb over her cheek, putting my other hand on her hip.

“Dalton.” She breathes my name, and it lights a fire inside me.

“Do you want me to kiss you as much as I want to kiss you?”

Her single nod is all the encouragement I need. I bend slightly and slant my lips over hers, sliding my hand around to the small of her back. She moans softly, her lips warm against mine.

There’s a pounding sledgehammer in place of my heart, my entire body relieved she wants me back and simultaneously so turned on I don’t know how I’ll stand it. She opens to me, our tongues meeting for the first time.

I deepen the kiss and she puts her arms around my neck, pressing her body against mine.

Fuck. I can’t take as much as I want. Not tonight. But damn, do I want to. My erection is molded against her stomach, and she seems anything but shy about it. Her fingers rake through my hairline at my neck and she tugs.

I move my hand down, cupping her ass and making her gasp into my mouth. She breathes against my lips for a couple of seconds and then I capture her lips with mine again, not ready for our first kiss to be over.

She matches my passion, both of us breathless when she pulls away. I kiss the line of her jaw and she sighs, her breath warm on my throat.

“I can’t stop thinking about you, Alice.”

“I...think about you, too.”

“I didn’t kiss her the other night. She kissed me. I shouldn’t have let her, though. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. If you can’t kiss anyone else, neither can I.”

She hums with amusement. “Why can’t I kiss anyone else?”

“Because I said so. Unless you don’t mind me knocking their teeth out.”

She laughs lightly. “Dalton.”

“God, I love the sound of you saying my name.”

She puts a palm on my chest, leaning back slightly. Regret is etched into her face and reflected in her eyes. “I can’t lose my job. If I could--”

“So we’ll keep it a secret, then.”

“If she finds out--”

“She won’t.” I take her hand and put her palm over my heart. “I’m having some strong feelings for you, and if you want to see if there’s something there for you, too, I’ll stay. But if not--if you don’t want to give me a shot--then I’m leaving the show. I’ll let the producers come up with some bullshit reason for it, but I don’t want to be here just to pretend I’m having feelings for someone else.”

“No,” she whispers. “Don’t go.”

I lean my forehead against hers, relief washing through me. “I’m here for as long as you want me to be.”

Our hands brush, and I lace our fingers together. She smiles, her expression turning shy.

“Get some sleep.” I kiss her forehead. “Sunrise yoga starts early.”

“Mmm...I think I prefer sleeping in and having a hot guy deliver me breakfast.”

I give her a soft, slow kiss. “I prefer getting to look at your ass in yoga pants.”

She laughs lightly. “ My ass? When there’s a choice between mine and Farrah’s?”

“Hell yes, your ass. It’s hot.”

“You’re sweet.”

I shake my head. “I’m not, though. I’m hard as hell, and it’s because of you . You’re the one who does this to me, Alice.”

I put her hand over my erection. She inhales sharply and moves her hand, making me groan.

It takes all my willpower to step back. I hold her gaze and say, “See you at sunrise?”

She nods. I open the door and look at her over my shoulder. “I want you to know I’m serious. I’m not just trying to get you in bed.”

The corners of her lips curl up slightly. “Okay, Dalton.”

I shake my head, forcing myself to turn the handle, open the door and step into the hallway. The sound of her saying my name is going to be the death of me.

“Good night,” I whisper.

“Night.”

I close the door, adjusting myself on the walk down the hallway. Our secret won’t last an hour if someone sees me walking out of this hallway with a raging boner.