Page 49 of Surviving Love

He chuffed. “Are you fishing for compliments or something?”

I widened my eyes. “What? God no.”

“Well, you’re not average. You’ve got that black hair and blue eyes thing going for you. You look like a model.”

“You’re insane. Did a coconut drop on your head?”

He laughed. “I’m not kidding. You even have a good body. A model-type body. You know, tall and thin.”

Shocked at the words coming out of his mouth, I gaped at him. He couldn’t see me, but he must have sensed my surprise because he laughed again.

“I’m dead serious,” he said.

“But you picked on me from the minute you met me, telling me how wimpy you thought I was.”

“That was just part of the game.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. I had you pegged as my competition the minute we met. That was why I sabotaged you on the boat.” He smiled. “Not everybody always likes me, but you have an easygoing way about you. I think a lot of people would feel bad voting you off.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Are you yanking my chain?”

“Not even a little.”

“I have a terrible social game.”

“That’s not true. Everyone on our tribe likes you. Well, maybe not Rob, but everyone else does.”

“They don’t know anything about me.”

“That’s certainly true because you never talk about yourself.” He leaned toward me. “But you come off as verynice.”

“Nice?” I scowled. “And by that, you mean boring?

“No.”

Yeah, right.

We fell silent, but I could feel his gaze on me. The rain pounded the shelter, and the sound of rolling thunder surrounded us. We’d certainly ventured off into personal territory. I wasn’t crazy about that fact, but I got the feeling Jack was fine with it.

“You never told me why you came on the show.” His husky voice split the silence.

He’d been very open with me, but did that mean I had to return the favor? Why did he care why I’d come on the show?

When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Did you come on because you need the money?”

“No. I mean, I’d love to win the million dollars, but I don’tneedthe money.”

“I see. So then why come torture yourself for thirty days?”

Shrugging, I said, “I’ve always loved the show.”

“And that’s why you signed up?”

I hesitated. “Partly.”

He gave a grunt of frustration. “I’m not going to share what you tell me. We’re not playing the game right now. There are no cameras. We’re just two friends talking.”