Page 57 of Surviving Love

He nodded and said softly, “Yeah.”

“I’m certainly not going to complain if you want to keep me around. No one else is inviting me into their alliance.”

“We’ll need numbers when we merge.”

“True.” I still wasn’t convinced the show would continue. For all I knew, the network had already pulled the plug.

“I was serious about taking you and Harold to the final three. Are you still on board with that plan?” He held out his hand.

Jack would be a good man to have on my side. Being his ally would definitely get me further in the game. Smiling, I took hold of his hand. “Damn straight.”

He rubbed his thumb over my skin, and I shivered. “The other tribe won’t know what hit them when we merge.”

“I hope that’s true.” I slowly pulled my hand away, embarrassingly aware that my pulse was racing. I did my best to look unaffected by him. “There’s a guy on the other tribe I’d like to work with if possible.”

He drew his brows together. “Really? Who?”

“His name is Larry.”

He laughed. “You mean that tall ginger guy?”

“Yeah.”

“Why would you want to work with him?”

I lifted one shoulder. “He seemed nice. Intelligent.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is that all?”

“What else could there be?”

A line appeared on his forehead. “I’ll think about it.”

“Great.” I forced a smile. There wasn’t much I could do if Jack didn’t want to work with Larry. I wasn’t a power player yet. Right now, Jack and Harold were calling the shots on our tribe.

“You do realize Larry has probably already formed ties with people on the Karangalan tribe, right?”

“It’s possible. When we merge, I’ll feel him out.”

His mouth thinned. “Right.”

I laughed at his sour expression. “What’s wrong?”

“I offered you final three, and you seem more excited about bringing Larry into our alliance.”

“I do?” I frowned.

“Maybe I should offer final three to Sherry instead.”

I blinked at him, confused about why he seemed annoyed with me. “Go ahead if you think she’ll be a better fit for you.”

He looked surprised at my response. “You don’t care?”

“I have no power. Who cares if I care?”

He didn’t speak right away, but when he did, he said, “I don’t want Sherry. I want you.” He cleared his throat. “In the final three.”

My stomach tensed as I held his gaze. Embarrassed as I was about our earlier jerking-off session, the sexual tension was still there between us. Maybe it was something I could use to my advantage in the game. Jack didn’t strike me as someone who could be easily twisted around anyone’s finger, but if he liked me enough, maybe I could be in his ear about certain decisions.