Page 94 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

“I’ll pick it up,” I say hastily, even though the bag absolutely did not drop and I’m absolutely not going to be picking up anything.

He gives a relieved nod, before he kisses me again. Heat pulses through me, pulses through him. He pins me to the wall, and my universe consists of a large muscular body pressing against me.

I want to kiss him forever.

But I have to listen to him explain the wonders of the women on the dating show I host, so instead I halt my kiss.

“Ah, looks like you are almost finished setting up the cameras,” Luke says loudly to the wall.

I grin. The man is adorable. Not a good actor. But adorable. Definitely adorable.

“Yes, just about,” I say equally loudly, also to the wall.

Luke relaxes, while I quickly set up the cameras and tripods and lighting.

I’m glad the editors atSeeking Mr. Rightare so excellent, because the places I’ve recorded Luke have rarely achieved studio level quality.

“How are you feeling about your choice of romantic partners?” I ask Luke.

“It’s difficult.”

I scrunch my lips, willing him to go on. Finally he talks about the wonders of both women, and I smile at him encouragingly, and pretend my heart is not cracking with every compliment he gives them.

He’s saying these things so we can have a night together.

He likes me.

But I know how much Falcon Productions encourages the season’s Mr. Right to propose, and I know in a week I might be watching Luke declare his heart to someone.

After Luke goes into more detail than necessary about the hockey injuries he’s had, the hockey injuries his friends have had, the hockey injuries people he knows have had, the hockey injuries of people he doesn’t know but has read about have had, he finishes.

“I guess I will still need to think about it,” he says.

“I guess so,” I say faintly, then turn the video off and send it to Ella.

Maybe she can cut it into something intriguing. No doubt she can. Ella is amazing.

“Well...” Luke gestures to the bed. “I guess you will have to pack up now. It is unfortunate it takes so long to pack up your things. Lots of zippers and compartments and...buttons.”

He speaks in a booming voice to the wall again, and I try not to imagine Troy’s expression.

“That’s right,” I say instead. “It takes a long time.”

Luke pulls me against him, and we are once again kissing. I try not to act sad. Kissing is great. But at any moment it’s going to end and I’m not ready to return to my actual bed, away from Luke, away from everything I’ve grown to like. In an acquaintance way. Nothing more. Not me. No way.

I still in his arms, and he senses at once.

“What’s wrong?” He mouths.

I give him a smile and head for the door. He swoops me into his arms and drops me onto the bed. Then he leans down and whispers, “I have a plan.”

I blink up at him.

Luke is grinning like a madman as he pulls the cover over me, then he stomps loudly and exits the room. He hollers. “Bye Sebastian!”

I hear murmurings in the hallway.

“Sebastian leave already?”