Page 3

Up in Flames

Holland

“ W hat?” Mallory and I speak the word at the same time—me in shock, her with disdain.

I have most definitely not been briefed on that not-so-minor detail. It complicates the heck out of my plan to use the show to get over my misplaced feelings for my coach.

The rest of the room is quiet. The lawyers and Noah are glancing between Vivian and Mallory and me. Caroline is tapping furiously on her tablet.

Vivian simply looks across the table at Mallory, who, for her part, wears a horrified expression. Her mouth hangs agape, and her already porcelain cheeks are even paler.

She snaps her jaw shut, swallows visibly, and clears her throat. “I’m afraid I misheard you. You want to offer me a spot? On Most Eligible Mister ?”

“Yes.” Vivian nods.

“Dating…Holland Bradley?”

“That’s how this whole thing works.” Vivian chuckles.

Mallory barks out a laugh, which she covers quickly by clamping her hand over her mouth, but it’s a losing effort. Her peals of laughter quickly fill the room. I glance to Steve, who is trying to hide his smile. He offers me a shrug. The lawyers don’t seem affected at all. Stoic little buggers.

While Mallory continues to try to cover up her snorts of laughter next to me, Vivian cuts a glance to Caroline. “What do you think?”

“We could definitely work with their dynamic. ”

“A workplace romance.”

“Exactly.”

“Plus forbidden love.”

“The forced proximity of it all will be delicious.”

“Viewers will eat them up.”

“Enemies to lovers is a favorite.”

“Hey now,” I interject. “Not sure what Chuckles McGee over here is thinking, but the two of us are not enemies.

“We’re sure as heck not lovers either.” Mallory collects herself, but her cheeks are now red, and her eyes are glistening with unshed tears.

I nod, even though I wish we could be. It dings my pride to have her react to the thought of dating me as so outrageous that she can’t do anything but cackle over it.

“So you’re saying no?” Vivian clarifies.

“Yeah, that’s going to be a hard no from me.” Mallory turns to Noah and my lawyer. “Even spending six weeks in Cashmere Cove is going to be a stretch. I have a family situation that requires me to be on call and flexible.”

“We’ll make it worth your while,” Noah assures her. “Pay will be double your usual salary.” He turns to me. “Right, Holland?”

“Yep.” I keep my tone carefree, even as my hackles are raised like little barbed wires poking at the back of my throat. I couldn’t care less if Mallory wants to be on MEM as a contestant, but if she says no to coaching me, I’m not sure what I’ll do.

Mallory nibbles her lip. “I’m still not sure that would make enough of a difference…”

“There would also be compensation involved for going on the show as a contestant,” Vivian offers casually. She takes a slip of paper from one of the network lawyers, peeks at it, and slides it across the table to Mallory.

She opens it, and I don’t see the actual total, but I do see a lot of zeros, and I hear the slight gasp that escapes Mallory’s lips—those perfectly shaped, dusty-pink lips. I mentally slap myself on the cheeks a couple times for thinking about how much I’d like to taste them.

“You’d give me all this money for going on the show?” Mallory’s voice is higher than usual and strained with disbelief.

Vivian flicks her gaze to Caroline, who nods, before she looks back to Mallory. “We have a good feeling about you.”

“What’s the catch?” Mallory is incredulous.

“Just that you participate as a usual contestant. All the rules will apply to you, so—“

“I’ll need slight modifications to the rules,” Mallory interjects.

I cock my head in her direction. Is she actually considering Vivian’s offer?

“What kind of modifications?”

“The family situation I mentioned. I’ll need to have access to my phone to communicate with my parents and aunt. That’s non-negotiable.”

Mallory stares Vivian down, two powerhouse women squaring off. The only sign of Mallory’s nerves is the way her leg bounces ever so slightly beneath the table. I clench my fists, warding off the urge to reach over and place my palm on her knee.

“Seems reasonable,” Noah pipes up.

Vivian shifts her jaw. “Fine. I can agree to that. But otherwise, you’re to live in the house with the women. You’ll go on dates with Holland like the rest of the contestants.”

Mallory snorts again next to me, but covers it with a cough.

She’s going to give me a complex, I swear it.

“Right. Okay. I can do that. But what happens when this guy sends me home?” She hooks her thumb in my direction. “He’ll probably send me packing night one. Is my money contingent on staying on the show for X number of days?”

“Not at all.” Vivian flicks her wrist. “I mean, this is our base offer. You’ll get more money for each episode, or day of filming, you stick around for.

But I’m not in the business of orchestrating fake relationships or meddling in my contestants’ or lead’s love lives.

All of that will be up to you…and Holland, of course. ”

That seems a little rich coming from the woman who has offered an exorbitant amount of money to my golf coach to get her to come on the show in the first place, but maybe I’m feeling ornery because Mallory obviously thinks I’m the last person on Earth who she could be prevailed upon to date.

“Just to be crystal clear, there isn’t going to be a love life between Holland and myself. I think we can both agree on that, right?” Mallory turns to me, eyes wide. “For starters, I’m his coach, and besides, just…no.”

“Uh, right. Obviously.” To try to convince myself, I go through the list I’ve made of reasons why I should not like Mallory. Her order barking. Her lack of emotion in public. Her tense, never-have-any-fun attitude.

Unfortunately, that list pales in comparison to the one I have of things I admire about her. Her self-confidence. Her drive and work ethic. How classy she is.

I clear my throat. “You’re not my type, Coach.”

That’s only true because she’s way too good for me.

“Ditto,” Mallory says without hesitation.

“Whatever you say.” Vivian presses her lips together, like she knows some sort of secret Mallory and I don’t.

I glance to my left to see Mal frowning, but then she nods her head once. “Okay. I’m in.”

Vivian smiles. “Excellent news. We’ll have our lawyers draw up a contract.”

“I’d be happy to look it over for you with Holland’s attorney,” Noah offers Mal.

“Sure. Okay, yeah. Thanks.”

“I think that’s everything.” Vivian rises from her seat.

“We’ll see you both for filming in Florida on Friday.

Prepare for a long night. Holland, you’ll have a stylist on our team.

Mallory, like the other women, you’ll be in charge of your own makeup and wardrobe.

Details are listed in your contract. And a friendly reminder…

there is a significant penalty for spoiling any aspect of the show, punishable by a fine of up to five million dollars. ”

“Are you kidding me?” Mallory gapes. “Five million dollars?”

Vivian nods. “This is the big leagues, honey. Our viewers want to watch Holland fall head over heels. Real love unfolding before their very eyes. That’s what the advertisers pay us to deliver.

If that gets spoiled, it’ll cost us, so it’ll cost you…

or whomever. All of those details will be spelled out in the fine print of your contract as well.

I only mention it since you’ll have to be extra careful since we’re giving you access to your cell phone. ”

Mallory gulps before nodding her understanding.

“Great.” Vivian claps her hands. “See you both soon.”

We all stand and shake hands, and the lawyers and Noah put their heads together, presumably to figure out details.

Mallory wanders out into the hallway, and I follow her. She’s reaching for her phone when she catches sight of me.

I grin at her. “You can’t resist spending time with me, can you? Had to crash my dating show?”

“Yeah, right,” she scoffs. “I’m in this for the money, and the money alone, Bradley, if that wasn’t completely clear in there.” Mallory fiddles with the corner of her cell phone.

She’s notoriously private when it comes to her personal life.

I know she’s not dating anyone…both because she agreed to come on the show and because she spends literally all her time at the golf course, coaching me or fine tuning her skills.

I don’t know much about her family, but her willingness to join Most Eligible Mister has me guessing there’s something serious going on—or serious enough that she’d practically sell her soul to make some extra cash.

“Is everything okay with your parents?”

Mallory’s gaze flies up to meet mine, and her eyes are saucers. I’m not sure if she’s shocked because I never pry her for personal details, or because, for once, the haughtiness is gone from my tone.

“It’ll be fine,” she says after a second. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

I study her, and she doesn’t break eye contact. Sometimes I wish she would act human. Or recognize I’m human. Give me a little credit for having a heart.

“Okay. But if there was something I could help with, or if you need time, or whatever, you could—“

“I’ve got it under control. It won’t affect our working relationship. And as for the show and our”—she twists her lips, searching for the right word—“ arrangement , I’ve got access to my phone, so everything will be fine.”

“Excellent. Good. Great.”

“Good. Just so we’re on the same page. Now, is there even a golf course in Cashmere Cove that can handle having us there every day?” Mallory crosses her arms. “Training and keeping your focus is paramount.”

“So you’ve said,” I say dryly. “There’s an excellent course in the Cove. I know the golf pro there. Noah has been in touch with him, and he’s willing to work with me however is best.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that everything always falls into place so easily for the golden boy, Holland Bradley.”