Page 83 of Surviving Love

“Cocky to the end.”

“Hey, I just lost a chance at a million dollars. Give me a break.”

I frowned. “I highly doubt I’ll make it much further without you.”

“Sure you will.”

“No. That snake would have taken me out of the game today.” My breath hitched in my throat. “You risked your life for me.”

“I don’t think I’d have died, even if it bit me. It’s rare to die from a pit viper bite. We have a snake kit on set.”

I squinted at him. “Are you really this fearless, or are you still acting for the camera?”

He laughed. “I’m serious. I probably wouldn’t have died.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then I probably wouldn’t have either. Yet, you risked a snake bite for me.”

He looked away and gave a little shrug. “No biggie. I just wanted more camera time.”

It was possible that was true. Jack did tend to play things up for the camera, but…

I thought something deeper was happening between you and me.

Had he meant that, or had he just been playing an angle? James hadn’t been filming yet, so he couldn’t have been hamming it up for the camera yet. Maybe he’d just said all that stuff because he’d known it wasn’t going to be filmed. Jack was always two steps ahead.

I flicked my gaze to James and then to Jack. “You said some things…” I said softly. “Before the camera was near enough to record.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Did you mean what you said?”

I could see the wheels turning in his head. Maybe he thought if he said he did mean them, I’d save him at the Fire Council tonight. Or maybe he truly had meant what he’d said. It was possible he’d felt the connection I’d felt.

Jack’s eyes were steady on mine as he said, “I’ve had a wonderful time getting to know you, Mason. But you don’t owe me anything. You don’t have to fall on your sword for me.”

I wrinkled my brow. “I’m not following.”

“Stick with your plan. Vote me off. Stay on the good side of Harold. Of your alliance.”

“So, that means you didn’t mean any of what you said before? About us having something deeper than just the game?”

His gaze flickered. “We had fun. You live in LA, and I live in Colorado. It was never going anywhere anyway, right?”

It felt a little like I’d been sucker punched, but I did my best to hide it from him. What had I expected, a declaration of love or something? Once again, my naiveté had come out to play. I really didn’t have the chops for this game. I lacked a hard enough shell.

“I appreciate your honesty.”

“You’re welcome.” He stood, and he smiled down at me. “I’ll see you at the Fire Council.”

“Yep.” I frowned. “Who are you voting against?”

He laughed. “Does it matter?”

“I’m curious.”

“Rob. I still think he’s a snake.”

“Yeah, he is.”