by Cat Johnson
Nick shot Dani a glance. He knew she wasn’t getting paid an insane amount of money to work eighteen-hour days for a month. It didn’t seem fair this woman was getting paid to just walk on set six times.
But he’d have to worry about that later. Things were happening on the pool deck. Things he needed to pay attention to. He turned his attention back to the group of cast members as Katia stood on one side of Allana and Carl on the other.
“Carl. Katia has requested you leave the beach house. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will now vote and decide which one of you stays and which one goes.”
The cameramen were front and center, right in Katia and Carl’s faces to capture their grave expressions and their nod as Allana explained what was happening. Meanwhile, the third camera swept the faces of the would-be bridal party.
Allana turned to them now. “You will each go into the confessional, vote who you think should be banished from the beach house, explain why you made that choice and put your vote into the sealed ballot box. After you’ve all voted, we’ll count the votes.”
The cast nodded and though Nick would rather take shrapnel than admit it, the suspense was riveting.
Time in the two confessionals could drag on for a while usually. Not today. The cast funneled in and out fast, and soon, Allana stood in front of a table with the two ballet boxes containing the sixteen votes placed by Katia and Carl’s wedding party.
Allana took her time, plucking the first out of one box. She unfolded it and stared at the paper for a good ten seconds before she looked up.
This woman knew how to hold an audience’s attention.
Finally, she said, “One vote for Carl to leave.”
Katia nodded. Carl shifted his feet on the deck.
Allana took out the next, then paused to sweep her gaze over the crowd held rapt by her words. “One vote for Katia to leave and Carl to stay.”
Gasps followed that as a few of the girls glanced around as if to see who the guilty party might be.
Katia had revealed what Carl had in his bag to the group before the vote, and Carl had tried to defend what was in his possession.
Nick had thought it was a slam dunk and Carl would be the clear, unanimous villain in this story. He’d been wrong.
He swept the cast and saw Brittany B smile in Carl’s direction. The girl with the supposed crush on Carl, according to the gathering of guys on the beach the other night. He had a strong suspicion that had been her ballet.
One more voted for Carl to stay. A fist bump from one of the guys proved it was male solidarity responsible.
If all the guys voted for Carl, and even just one of Katia’s own bridesmaids had voted against her, this vote could go in a completely different direction than he’d expected.
This whole elimination might be more interesting than he anticipated.
The reading of the votes went on for what seemed like forever. Two more voted for Carl to stay, causing a ripple of hissed angry whispers from a few of Katia’s closest girlfriends.
But finally, the tide turned her way. In the end, it was four votes for Carl to stay, and twelve for him to go.
Allana clasped her hands in front of the group and said, “Carl. Your housemates say you’re out. Please pack your bags and leave the beach house. You have thirty minutes.”
Carl hadn’t needed her to tell him. He could count and his jaw had been set with angry determination for the past half a dozen votes against him.
Nick took a step closer but stayed out of camera range as the guys gathered around Carl in a show of back-slapping manly support.
Most of the girls stayed on the other side of the pool, looking at Carl like he was Jack the Ripper. Except for Brittany B, who ran up to him, tears in her eyes.
When the goodbyes were over, Carl glanced at Katia, then crossed over to her. Nick sprang into action, covering the distance between them like secret service in the presence of a gun. Nick stopped next to Katia, poised on the balls of his feet just in case.
All Carl did was tip his head to her and say, “Katia, I wish you luck.”
“Thank you,” she said, but she didn’t move to hug him goodbye. That was probably a smart move.
Allana waited for Carl to walk into the house, then said, “Katia. The rules say you can choose which of the groomsmen you want to step into the role of groom. Take today to think about it. Later tonight we’ll gather here again and you’ll tell us who—”
Nick didn’t hear what, if anything else, was said. He wasn’t paying attention. He was already on his way to follow Carl into the house.
He caught a glimpse of Dani but didn’t have time to stop and talk or even make eye contact. He figured it was best if Carl wasn’t alone in the multimillion-dollar beach house after he’d just been kicked off the show and ordered off the property.
This bullshit guard job was giving him a workout as he jogged to catch up with Carl. He found him in his room, packing his things.
“Hey. You doing okay?” he asked, playing nice. Acting the buddy, not a guard.
“Yeah. It’s fine. I’ll be okay. Brittany B slipped me her number.” He laughed.
Nick snorted. “Not a surprise.”
Carl paused in the middle of tossing an entire drawer of shirts into the open suitcase on the floor and said, “I’m really not a creep.”
“I know.” Nick nodded. “But you might want to rethink which recreational drugs you partake in. Maybe choose something a little more mainstream.” A little less rapey . . .
“Yeah.” Carl moved to the adjoining bathroom and came back zipping his shaving bag. He tossed it into the suitcase, flipped the lid and zipped it closed. “I guess that’s about it.”
“Looks like it,” Nick agreed.
Carl surprised him by extending his hand. “It was good meeting you, Nick.”
“Uh, thanks. You too.” Nick accepted the handshake.
Carl slapped him on the shoulder with his free hand before releasing his hold.
“I’ll walk slow so you can keep up with that knee.” Carl tipped his chin toward to Nick’s brace.
He wasn’t fooling anyone acting like this guy’s buddy when he was really there to make sure he didn’t wreck the damn house. But Carl wasn’t angry about it. Maybe he really was an all right guy . . . to other guys, at least.
Nick smiled, intent on keeping things light until Carl was out the gate. “Thanks, man. I’d appreciate it.”
Phew. He was earning his money today. And the day had only just started.
THIRTY
“Hey.” Nick’s smile had Dani’s heart racing.
Damn, she hated that it did that.
Falling for Nick had to be the scariest thing she’d done. Ever.
Even parasailing in the Bahamas with her parents and Jessica that one family vacation hadn’t been so frightening . . . or thrilling.
“Hey,” she said back. “Hell of a day, huh?”
“For sure.” He blew out a breath and glanced around the area before bringing his full focus back to her.
She loved when he did that—concentrated completely on her even while doing his job.
And dammit, she was falling hard and fast for this guy. Like driving down a mountain in a car with crappy brakes. She hoped she didn’t live to regret it.
His lips bowed up. “You think we’ll get out early tonight?”
She laughed. “No. We’re probably going to have to work extra hours to get shots of Katia and whoever the new love of her life is going to be for the highlight reel.”
“Ah. Didn’t realize that. Sorry.” He cringed.
“Not your fault, although you did find those drugs . . .” She let the insinuation hang in the air.
“Hey. It was my job to find them.”
“I know.” She sighed. “At least, thank God, Maria and Joanne chose to write Katia kicking Carl out into the show so we can keep the first two weeks’ worth of tape.”
“And the roofies? Those going in the show too?” he asked.
“They’re consulting with the attorneys now to see. But I guarantee you, if legally they can, they will.”
“All righty then.” He hissed in air through his teeth. “Guess I’ll get used to this industry one day.”
Dani let out a huff. “Don’t count on it. I haven’t.”
“So, who do you think she’ll choose?” he asked.
“I have no idea.”
“I can’t believe when I first got here, I thought it was a show about a couple in love.”
“Nope. Sorry to break it to you, big guy. Carl and Katia weren’t a couple until Joanne made them one.”
Nick’s shook his head then let out a sigh, visibly moving on from his disillusionment with the industry. “So,” he began. “How about tonight after work—”
“Nick!”
Whatever he’d been about to say was interrupted by Dave.
“Yeah?” Nick asked.
“I need you down by the gate. The locksmith is here and has some questions about what we want for the additional security. I told him he should talk to you.”
“One hundred percent he should talk to me.” Nick glanced at Dani. “I gotta . . .”
“Go. We’ll talk later.”
His gaze dropped to her lips and he groaned. “Definitely.”
She smiled. Looking forward to private time with Nick every night almost made the long days on set bearable. Of course, nights with Nick only made her fall deeper for him.
“What were you and Nick talking about?” Katia had sauntered over when she wasn’t looking and now she was being nosey.
None of your business, was what Dani wanted to say, but she controlled herself and instead said, “He had to go to the gate to handle security stuff.”
“Oh.” Katia’s gaze continued to follow his retreating figure.
Dani bit her lip and tried to talk herself down. So, all the girls were in love with Nick, especially Katia. So what?
He only had eyes for Dani. He was hers. Even with Maria's manipulations throwing him at Katia at every turn.
“I suppose he’ll be moving into the beach house full time,” Katia said, finally turning to face Dani now that Nick was out of sight.
“Why would he do that?” she asked.
“Well, when he becomes the groom, he’ll move into Carl’s old room, of course.”
“Nick?” Dani asked. “That Nick?”
Her Nick?
Dani followed up the question by pointing toward the driveway where he’d just disappeared.
“Yeah. I’m choosing my new groom later today and I choose Nick. I mean, I have to run it by Maria and Joanne first, but I don’t think they’ll object. But I haven’t told Nick yet, so shhh. Don’t breathe a word. I want to see his face when I choose him. It should be priceless. Maria will probably want it on camera anyway.”
Of course, Maria would. She’d gotten him on camera as much as possible ever since he’d scooped up Katia into his arms.
They’d love this plot twist. Bride falls for the bodyguard who saved her. It was movie worthy.
Dani had to consciously hold herself upright to not double over and vomit on Katia’s high-heeled sandals.
Even if Katia and Nick’s relationship started out fake for the cameras, it would be real to everyone who watched it on TV.
Did Dani want to date a man the rest of the world thought had been in love with, and married to, Katia before settling for her?
And how long would the relationship remain fake? A man could only take so much flirting. And drinking. And manipulations. The bride and groom had to remain married for a certain amount of time to earn the money at the end of the show.
Katia shouldn’t get to be Nick’s fiancé, Nick's wife, on camera or off. He was Dani’s . . . but he might not be for long.
She had to end it with him before he fell for Katia and dumped her. That thought brought on another wave of nausea.
“You okay?” Katia asked.
Dani shook her head and turned away from Katia just as her coffee came back up her throat and splashed all over the patio, and almost onto a pair of sneakers. She glanced up and saw those sneakers belonged to the camera one operator, who was now focused in on her.
“I, uh, have to go home.” She ran for her car, not even telling Maria she was leaving.
There was no doubt in her mind the news of her puking on the cameraman would get around and be all the explanation needed. They would assume she was sick. Not the truth. Thank God for that.
And thank God that Nick was bent over some equipment in the locksmith’s van when she drove by.
She almost made it out, but he took a step toward her car as she slowed to get past him by the gate.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I, uh, have to grab something for Maria at the store.”
“Oh. Okay. See you later.”
“Sure thing.” She floored it and drove until she was out of sight of the house.
She drove until she found a decent-sized shoulder to pull over on. Then she got out, dry heaved and then sat in the parked car and cried her eyes out.
It was pretty much exactly what she figured would happen if she allowed herself to fall in love with, and inevitably lose, Nick Nelson.
THIRTY-ONE
One look at the faces of the cast members told Nick something had happened in the short time he’d been busy with the locksmith.
They were huddled on the cushioned outdoor furniture by the pool. Katia sat with her hand over her mouth. Tiffany had one hand pressed to her chest. A couple of the other girls hid their eyes.
He moved to Dave and said, “What’s going on?”
Dave spun to face him. “Do not go over there behind the potted plant.”
“Um, okay. Why not?” he asked.
“Dani just puked over there. We’re waiting for the maids to get here. Maria put a hold on the groom ceremony until it’s cleaned up.” Dave looked a little green as he delivered that news before he pressed the tips of his fingers over his mouth.
“Dani? Is she all right?” He’d just seen her in her car. Now that he thought about it, she had looked a little off.
“I guess so. She ran out of here.”
And no one bothered to check on her? Jeez. What the hell was wrong with people? Nick whipped out his cell and punched in a text.
NICK: You okay? They said you got sick.
DANI: I’ll be ok but I think you probably shouldn’t come over tonight.
The poor thing. His first instinct was to drive over to her place with ginger ale and crackers and take care of her. But it was probably best to leave her alone so she could get some rest.
NICK: Try to take it easy and I’ll see you tomorrow. Text if you need me to pick up anything for you.
DANI: Thanks.
With a sigh, Nick pocketed his phone. Dani was going to be on his mind for the rest of the day. He should probably get used to that. He had a feeling it wasn’t going to change.
It definitely wouldn’t get better when he was back on duty and halfway around the world. He was going to have to deal with that challenge when the time came.
Compartmentalization—a skill every SEAL had to master.
A strong stomach was also something Nick had developed over the years. He strode to the kitchen to grab a roll of paper towels and the garbage pail.
Armed with the necessary supplies, Nick drew in a deep breath and headed to the potted plant. Ground zero for this supposed disastrous vomit that had halted the show’s schedule.
He frowned when he saw what looked more like a coffee spill.
Freaking overreacting diva babies . . .
Shaking his head, he knelt and started to clean up the mess. When it was clean, he stood—and saw the camera zoomed in on him.
His brows knit above his eyes. “Don’t you have something better to focus on than me?”
He probably wasn’t supposed to be talking to the cameraman. But he also wasn’t supposed to be on camera, so . .
.
“Nick, can you come over here?” Maria said over the walkie talkie he’d been given.
And here it comes . . . his dressing down for talking to the cameraman.
He dropped the garbage pail and paper towels in the kitchen, rolling his eyes that one of Uncle Sam’s most highly trained special operators had been reduced to this.
All for the love of a woman.
He worked here to be closer to Dani. There was no doubt in his mind he’d do anything for her.
When he reached Maria, he said, “The vomit’s all gone. You don’t have to wait on the cleaning crew.”
“I saw. Thank you for that.”
He nodded his acceptance and stood at parade rest, waiting for the lecture.
“I have a proposal for you.”
Dave chuckled. “Proposal. That’s funny. Because, you know, it’s a wedding show.”
Maria shot Dave a glare from beneath lowered brows before continuing, “We want you to step into Carl’s role of groom on the show.”
“Uh, excuse me?” He must have looked as shocked as he felt, because Maria laughed.
“Don’t look so surprised. You and Katia have had great rapport from the beginning. It’s no surprise she chose you to replace Carl.”
“Katia chose me?” He knew he sounded like an idiot, parroting Maria, but it was taking some time to wrap his head around what she was saying.
She nodded. “The rules of the show say the bride can choose anyone she wants to replace a groom who’s been voted off.”
Nick had a feeling that Maria, or at least Joanne, had the power to change the rules. Or just plain make them up along the way to suit their purposes.
“I thought she could choose anyone from the cast,” he clarified.
Maria lifted a shoulder. “That’s a slight distinction. You’re employed by the show. And you’ve been on camera as much as any one of the cast.”
After the shock subsided, Nick shook his head. "No."