Miles let out a loud cheer and fist pumped the air. “I knew there’d be something great in such a difficult cache.”
“Wow. Congratulations,” Paige said. Seeing how happy they both were, it was hard to be too disappointed that she’d missed out on the money. Sure, she could have used it like anyone else, but somehow, seeing a grown man fight back tears made her think that Ben needed the money more than she did.
“You’re congratulating them?” Zoe sneered. “They took our money and you pat them on the back for it.”
“Hey now. It’s our money. We won it fair and square.” Ben puffed his chest, defending himself. “You may be able to beat us in a foot race, but I’ll beat you in an intelligence test any day.”
His challenge was directed at Zoe for her harsh comments, and Paige couldn’t help but agree. After all the time she’d known Zoe, intellect wouldn’t be the first character trait that came to mind to describe her. Bitchy, yes. Materialistic, yes. Giant high-maintenance pain in the ass? Oh, you betcha.
As Ben and Zoe threw words at each other, Paige held her GPS unit out to Miles. “Can you take a picture of me with the cache card so I can get Zoe out of here?” she asked, sliding her lip balm quickly against her dry lips. A little glistening minty lip balm never hurt a photo op.
He quickly snapped a picture of her holding the number then she snapped one of him, although she wasn’t quite as speedy about it as he was. Seeing him standing there, smiling at her with the same dorky thumbs up she’d done at her first cache — which Zoe had made fun of — made her feel slightly less dorky. If a hunk like Miles could do it, why couldn’t she? Of course, a hunk like Miles could probably do whatever he wanted and still look amazing. That was the difference, wasn’t it?
She took one last glance at his picture on the screen before giving it back, and wished she’d thought to make the mistake of using her GPS instead of his so that she’d have the picture to look at whenever she wanted. Oh well. Maybe she could sneak a picture another time. It wasn’t like they’d been told not to take pictures of the scenery and such along the way. And Miles certainly was good scenery.
Pulling Zoe away from Ben as they continued to shoot insults at each other, they made their way back down the trail toward the car. The only thing that got Zoe to focus on the game again was to remind her there were still other caches to find and arguing with Ben on the trail wasn’t going to help them find them before the other teams.
As Zoe peeled out of the parking lot, Paige glanced back. She couldn’t help but remember the feeling she’d had with Miles standing so close. Or how the smell of him had made her head feel a little woozy.
Not that it mattered anyway. A guy like Miles would never go for a girl like Paige. No. He was more likely to go for a girl like Zoe. Minus the bitchy confrontational part, because really, who would want to put up with that for a lifetime of matrimony?
But no matter how annoyed Miles appeared to get with Zoe, surely not even he could resist her good looks for long — no guy could resist a body like hers, even it was home to a girl with attitude.
If only there was a way for Paige to be herself but have a fraction of Zoe’s feminine style and total confidence. Then maybe a guy like Miles — smart, self-assured, and totally sexy — would give her the chance to show him how awesome she was on the inside too.
Chapter Six
Miles and Ben stood by one of the window screens looking out at the lake as the moon glimmered across the calm surface. It would be truly romantic if he weren’t standing with a dude. Now, if he were here with Paige, then it might be a different story.
There was something about that girl that made him lose focus of everything else every time he was near her. It wasn’t just her looks, although they were distracting enough on their own merits. It was something else. Maybe it was the shy embarrassment she seemed so prone to that made her come off as dainty and demure, even though he knew there was a passionate fire burning inside her. Or maybe it was the way she seemed to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, even Zoe who didn’t deserve the benefit of anything from anyone.
Mostly, it was the way she looked at him, a twinkle in her eye that hinted at her innermost thoughts … the thoughts she kept to herself. He couldn’t help but feel that some of those thoughts were directed at him and he was curious to find out exactly what they were.
If only Zoe wasn’t standing in his way just by being Zoe. He had to figure out a way to deal with her so he had a hope of getting to know Paige better.
“You boys ready to start?” their cameraman, Bill, asked from behind them.
“Hell, yes,” Ben said with the same sentiment that Miles felt. The sooner they got the daily wrap-up over with, the better. Already these interviews were getting very tiresome to do at the end of each day when all he wanted to do was relax in the common room.
“Absolutely,” Miles agreed, as he and Ben took seats in front of the camera.
“How did you feel today when you were overtaken on a cache?” Bill asked.
“Wow. Just jumping right in there tonight, aren’t ya? No gentle lead in to the hot topic. That’s kinda cold, man.” The show’s producer came up with some of the most heated questions and they never failed to turn his stomach.
“It’s okay, Miles,” Ben said, not appearing bothered by the question at all. “It totally sucked to get beaten in a foot race against the girls, especially when we had such a big lead on them to begin with. But they’re faster than us. Nothing I can do about it.”
“Does it suck more being out raced by a team of women?”
Miles shook his head and forced his temper to stay at bay. “Should it matter that they’re women? I don’t really think so. Judging someone’s expected performance because of their gender is just about as low as judging them by whether or not they still have all their natural limbs or wear glasses or because of their hair color. Zoe and Paige beat us because they were faster runners. We won the cache prize because we were better thinkers today. Well, I wasn’t. But Ben certainly was. He’s the one who found the cache even though the other team got there first.”
“That’s right. I may be slower than the rest because of my leg, but I’m still a big threat to the other teams.”
“Speaking of the prize,” Bill said from behind his camera, “you each won ten thousand dollars today. What are you going to do with the money?”
Miles motioned for Ben to answer first.
“I’m going to stick it in the bank, pay off some stuff that still needs paying off. Nothing too special or fun, but the money is a welcome surprise.”
“And you, Miles? Trips? Down payment on a car, maybe? What do you have planned for your money?”
“I plan to write a check.” Miles cleared his throat, which suddenly felt tight. “I’m making it out to Ben and his wife to help cover their medical expenses from his injury.”
Ben turned to him, eyes bright with moisture that hopefully the camera would never notice. “You are not. You’re going to use that money on something for yourself. Something fun.”
“My mind was made up the second you agreed to come on this show with me, so nothing you say is going to change my mind. It’s my money and I’ll do what I want with it.”
“I don’t know what to say … ” Ben’s voice cracked.
“I think we’ll end the interview for today. Our time slot is up. See you guys tomorrow.” Bill packed up his stuff and wandered out of the room. Ben and Miles followed behind him, leaving the room for the next group.
“I can’t believe you’re really doing that for me, for us,” Ben said, shaking his head.
“It’s the least I can do. Now I don’t want another word about it, okay?”
Ben nodded. “I can’t wait to tell Tammy. This is going to make a big dent in our remaining bills.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Let�
�s see if we can win you the rest before the show is over.”
• • •
Miles took a swig of his third beer and scanned the room. The other teams were either mingling or huddled together, no doubt talking strategy. He and Ben probably should’ve been doing that too, but it was hard to think about the game after another long day driving, hiking, and searching. All he wanted to do was relax with a cold beer and some good food, and enjoy a night just hanging out with his best friend.
The game could wait until morning. Or at the very least, it could wait until they went back to their room for the night. He didn’t think the other teams were being especially smart talking game out in the open like that anyways. Not when their hotel rooms were private and camera free.
In the corner of the room, he spied Zoe, talking with one of the other teams. Cosmetic surgery doctors, if he remembered right.
Ben appeared to have started a game of chess with the father portion of Team Father Daughter. Sam, he thought he remembered the man saying on their first night here. Seemed like a nice guy. But chess was a two-person game and he didn’t feel like being a third wheel.
In the far corner he spotted Eve sitting alone. Normally Rayne was with her. Eve waved him over and smiled. He didn’t really have any desire to spend the night chatting with her since he didn’t find her the least bit entertaining. She did though, and enjoyed laughing at her own jokes. With a laugh that got on his nerves. But he didn’t want to be rude.
Walking over to where she sat, he tried to think of a way to get out of joining her. Luckily, before he got there, her sister came out of the kitchen and sat in the free chair. Perfect. Now he wouldn’t be able to stay long. If he wasn’t mistaken, Eve glared at her sister.
“How’s it going, ladies?” he asked, trying to sound friendly. He wasn’t here to make enemies.
“Better now that you’re here,” Eve said. “Care to pull over a chair and join us?”
He scanned the room looking for his escape. His gaze landed on the one person sitting alone, staring into the fireplace as if the world around her didn’t exist. “Actually, I was on my way to talk to Paige, but I thought I’d say a hello since you were so sweet to wave me over. But it looks like you two are ready to do some strategizing. I’d hate to interrupt.”
“Thanks, Miles,” said Rayne. “Not all of the other teams seem to get this is a game, not a vacation. And we definitely need to plan our next move.”
“Rayne,” Eve said with annoyance clear in her voice. “Don’t be so rude to Miles. We can talk about the game later. If he wants to join us now, I think we should be more gracious, don’t you?”
“I — ” Rayne started.
“No worries. Really, I was on my way to talk to Paige. I’ll catch up with you some other time. Have a good night.”
Without waiting for Eve to put up another fight, he wandered over and took a seat on the couch beside Paige even though both armchairs were empty. For whatever reason, he wanted to be near her.
She glanced over to him and smiled as he settled himself in beside her. The sight of her in the glowing firelight with a smile on her face for him, made an indescribable warmth pass through him. And it had nothing to do with the heat coming from the giant fireplace.
“All alone tonight, Paige?” He twisted in his seat so he could lay his arm along the back of the couch and have a better view of her. She looked tired. And in need of a shower. And absolutely gorgeous.
She nodded. “Seems that way. Not that I mind a break from Zoe. It’s nice to get a little peace and quiet for a change.”
He took a swig of his beer. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“No, that’s not how I meant it.” She put her hand on his leg, just above the knee, then quickly removed it as if she was embarrassed. “You’re welcome to stay.”
“Good,” he said simply. He focused on the fireplace, trying his best not to concentrate on the heat that radiated through his leg from where she’d just touched him.
Say something.
He wasn’t used to being at a loss for words around women, but something about Paige made him forget all his best one-liners. Maybe because he wasn’t trying to pick her up on a lonely night in a hotel bar while he killed time until sunrise when he could go climbing again. Not that he’d mind spending that kind of time with her.
“Sorry about Zoe today. She was very mean to both of you, but Ben especially.”
Miles glanced down at Paige’s hand now sitting in her lap while he silently wished she’d touch his leg again. And leave it there this time.
“You don’t have to apologize for her. You’re not her keeper.”
“I know. But with Ben … I guess I felt bad about how it all went down. That’s all.”
“Ben can take care of himself.” His beer empty, he set the bottle on the coffee table in front of the couch.
“Of course he can. I didn’t mean to imply he couldn’t.” Paige twisted her hands in her lap.
“I know it’s easy to think he might be more fragile than the other people here, but I assure you, he’s one of the strongest people I know, and he’s more than capable of taking on Zoe.”
Paige met his gaze. “You seem like a really good friend to him. He’s lucky to have you as a partner.”
“Thanks.” It was nice to hear even if he didn’t fully believe it himself.
She stared at him, her hair falling forward to frame her face now that it wasn’t pulled back into a ponytail like it had been earlier. He fought the overwhelming urge to run his fingers through her hair, tangle his hand at the nape of her neck. She was just as sweet as she was beautiful. A distracting combination if he wasn’t more careful. And yet he couldn’t move away. “Zoe’s lucky to have you too, she just doesn’t know it.”
“I’m pretty sure she’d disagree with you. But it’s nice of you to say so.”
“Zoe can have a one track mind when she sets her mind on a goal.” Zoe might not be the nicest person or the most intelligent person Miles had ever met, but she was definitely the most determined. When she set her goal, no one and nothing would cause her to deviate from it.
Paige tilted her head to the side slightly. It was the motion he could imagine her doing if they were about to kiss. That feeling of wanting to run his fingers through her hair returned even stronger than it had been a few moments ago.
If he leaned forward and tilted his head a bit to the other side, he could capture her mouth with his. He could kiss those sweet lips of hers that had just parted slightly. Would she prefer soft kisses or firm? Would he even have enough sense to experiment with his kisses like he usually did to see what she responded to most? Or would his mind become completely undone when his lips pressed to hers, his body taking what he wanted, how he wanted?
“Miles?” Paige’s voice filtered into his thoughts. Yes, he’d like to hear her say his name again and again.
Say it again.
“Miles, are you okay?” she asked again, her mouth forming the words with the cutest little pucker of her lips as she waited for his response.
He was better than okay. In one more second he’d be perfect. In one more second, his mouth would be on hers and all would be right in his world.
The feel of her breath caressing his lips caused him to blink. Why could he feel her breath on his lips? He pulled his gaze from her gorgeous inviting mouth to stare her in the eyes. Eyes which were all together closer to his than they should have been, and a mouth that was only a fraction of an inch away from touching his.
Holy shit.
His heart pounded in his chest as he realized how close his little fantasy had taken him to almost kissing Paige. Not good.
He sat back against the couch, putting much needed distance between them. “I’m sorry. My mind wandered away for a second. Did you ask me something?” That sounded
casual enough.
“I was asking why you seem to know so much about Zoe, but maybe you have other things on your mind you’d rather discuss.”
Like how I almost kissed you.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned, buying a minute to think. “Doesn’t everyone know Zoe after how much she’s been in the tabloids since that show?”
“Sure. I guess that makes sense.”
He rested his head back against the couch and looked at Paige, hoping she bought his story more than her voice led him to believe. He really didn’t feel like explaining tonight, or any night. Ever. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t know Zoe any better than anyone else and he wanted to keep it that way.
And he couldn’t ignore the simple truth that Paige and Zoe were not friends. Enemies was more accurate. If his past with Zoe became public knowledge, Paige might look at him like an enemy too. That was the last thing he wanted.
Paige shrugged, clearly suspicious of his answer but appearing to let it go at least for now. “Seems like there’s maybe something else on your mind tonight too,” she said, leaning toward him. She licked her lips. “Anything else you want to … discuss?”
It was an invitation if he’d ever seen one but he couldn’t RSVP to that party. Far too distracting when he needed to focus on the competition.
No. As tempting as Paige was, he couldn’t risk it. He might not want Paige to become his enemy if she learned about his past with Zoe, but he also didn’t want Paige to become a distraction and end up getting in the way of his goals for Ben.
Another time, another place, and he’d have given in to that kiss a moment ago. But not here, not during the game he desperately needed to prove to Ben they could win.
“I’m tired. I’ll see you around, Paige.” He couldn’t miss the disappointed expression on her face as he climbed up from the couch. Somehow seeing the expression of hurt and disappointment on her face made the climb off the couch harder than the one to the summit of K2.
Unscripted Love: The Complete Reality TV Romance Collection Page 29