Love Connection

by Crimson Romance

  Steve cleared his throat, and Michael snapped to attention and whirled around to face him. “Sorry, man. I guess I was a little distracted.” He nodded toward Carly and shrugged.

  To his relief, the brewmaster laughed rather than taking insult. “She’s a looker, bro. Guess I can’t compete. Is that your girlfriend?”

  No, she wasn’t his girlfriend and she never would be, but for the duration of the trip, Michael could pretend that he belonged at Carly’s side. “Yep. She’s all mine.”

  “Lucky man. So these are my custom-fitted copper tanks ... ” Steve continued the tour as Michael smiled and nodded, replaying the salsa dance in his mind on a loop. Full-bodied brews in copper tanks couldn’t compare to the full-of-life beauty with copper hair who felt like heaven in his arms. He could still smell her, could hear her voice if he closed his eyes.

  Steve paused and nodded behind Michael. “Looks like you’re not the only guy with eyes for her.”

  Michael glanced over his shoulder and saw Eric Macintosh practically caging Carly in between a wall and his body. Everything he’d heard about Eric’s treatment of female Sugar Shock contestants flashed through his mind, and he could only imagine what he was saying. Without a word to the brewmaster, Michael stomped across the facility. Carly was pressed hard against the brick wall, scrunched as far away from Eric as possible. Her eyes darted around the room until they settled on Michael, and she visibly relaxed. For a second, he felt like he’d found his home in her eyes, and it looked like she felt the same way.

  Eric touched Carly’s arm, and her relief disappeared as she stiffened. His voice was low, but Michael was close enough to hear. “I’ve got an inside track on a pilot the network is developing for the new season. We could talk about it, see about getting you an audition.” He ran a fingertip down the length of her arm. “What do you say? Want to get out of here for a while?”

  Michael’s instinct was to grab Eric by the arm and fling him off of her, but he wanted to stay with Carly, not spend the night in jail. Eric was behaving like a creep, but he wasn’t threatening her, so physical violence was out of the question. With a huge effort, Michael stuffed his anger away and approached them. “Hey, cupcake, sorry I got caught up with that guy. He really knows his stuff. You ready to get something to drink?” He took her hand and nudged his arm into the space between Eric and Carly, brushing against Eric’s smooth silk shirt, holding his breath to avoid the cloud of body spray.

  She slipped out of Eric’s grasp and practically flung herself at Michael, gluing herself to his side. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and she gazed up at him, giant blue eyes grateful for the reprieve. For once, the adoring look was likely genuine. No matter what she thought of Michael, at that moment, he was her hero. “I can’t wait, baby. See you later, Eric.”

  They left the brewery and pushed through the doors to the restaurant, arm in arm, Carly clung to him so tightly that Michael wished he could rescue her every day.

  He dipped his head until his lips were almost touching her ear. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded as she slid onto a barstool. “Yeah, he was gross but not scary.”

  So she didn’t want Eric’s attention, but maybe Michael had been a bit abrupt, a little too protective. “Cool. I saw the way he was blocking you in and thought you might need help getting away.”

  “He definitely doesn’t take a hint, that’s for sure. The more I made it clear I didn’t want to have anything to do with him, the closer he got. I can’t tell if he’s a jerk or just doesn’t know when to stop. Either way, I’ve never been happier to see you coming my way.” She grinned, and he found himself grinning back.

  “Well, then it looks like I should buy Eric Macintosh a drink.”

  “Definitely.” Carly shifted on the barstool and picked up a menu after the bartender pushed two frosty glasses of beer across the bar.

  Michael watched Carly sip the lager, her lashes fluttering closed as she savored the cold drink. “It’s good to finally sit down.”

  “Yep. I’ll probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.”

  He cleared his throat and studied the menu, uncomfortably reminded of the bed they’d be sharing later that evening. The more time they spent together, the harder it was to respect Carly’s boundaries and keep his distance. They ordered dinner and chatted about the brewery, a welcome distraction from the tension he felt.

  The ever-present microphones were a welcome addition during their meal. At least while they were on, he could treat Carly like his girlfriend, could say anything he liked and she wouldn’t balk. He dipped a French fry in ketchup and fed her, watching her lips as she accepted it. Aware that the camera was trained on them, he took advantage of the moment and kissed her, softly, her jaw cupped in his palm.

  Leaning close enough to smell her shampoo, he paused and watched the pulse jump at the base of her neck before whispering in her ear. “This is much more fun than our first time on the show together.”

  She laughed, the tension broken, and nodded her agreement. “Definitely.”

  They finished dinner as the crew got their final shots of the brewery, and then left for the car, trailed by a camera man. In the low light of the setting sun, Carly was luminous. Bolstered by their comfortable evening together and frankly unwilling to resist, Michael cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Her eyes stayed closed for a moment after he pulled away, and the longing that pulled at his heart was nearly unbearable. She was perfect, but she wasn’t his, and this wasn’t real.

  Chapter Five

  A sliver of soft early morning sunlight peeked around the edges of the hotel room’s blackout curtains at the perfect spot to hit Carly’s face. She squeezed her eyes shut against the light and groaned as she snuggled closer to Michael. Tucked in where she fit perfectly, with her forehead skimming his jaw and her chin resting on his collarbone, her lips were close enough to his neck to kiss. She breathed in, letting his scent fill her senses, and snaked her arm around him. Spending the day wrapped in his arms would be perfect. He mumbled in his sleep as he turned his head, his stubble catching in her hair, and her eyes flew open.

  Why was she in Michael’s arms? He’d saved her from that creepy encounter last night, so now he was her savior? As quickly as she could without waking him, she scooted to her side of the bed and smoothed the blankets over her, creating a firm barrier. A quick glance beneath the sheets told her that she was fully dressed, and a brief scan of her memory reassured her that the only thing they’d done in bed last night was sleep.

  It was a wonder she’d even been able to fall asleep lying beside him. As she listened to his breathing become heavier, steadier, and still, she practically vibrated with tension. Exhaustion won out eventually, giving her a few hours of precious rest.

  She must have found her way to him subconsciously as she slept, her body acknowledging what she’d worked so hard to ignore. Had he woken to find her pressed against him? Did he feel the same sweet perfection in the way she fit in his arms? With any luck, he wouldn’t realize that they’d spent the night wrapped up in each other. He stretched in his sleep, flinging one muscled arm over his head and the other over her stomach, and her heart sank. There was no denying how beautifully they fit together, how natural it was to be at his side. If she didn’t clear her head soon, didn’t remind herself in no uncertain terms that they were here on a job and these feelings weren’t reciprocated, she’d end up getting hurt.

  Today, they’d return to the Sugar Shock stage to complete their interview, and she was sure to screw it up somehow if she didn’t get her head straight. With a gentle touch, she moved Michael’s arm off her stomach and slid out from underneath the blankets. As quietly as she could, she padded around the bed and across the room, hoping to get showered and dressed without waking him. She sent one last glance toward the bed before closing the bathroom door, where he lay bare from the waist up, eyes closed but with the hint of a smile on his lips.

  • • •

&n
bsp; Back on set, Carly stood still as a production assistant snaked her microphone wire through her clothes and hooked her up for the interview.

  Across the room, Michael was laughing with another production assistant, clearly comfortable and in his element. His broad shoulders were relaxed; his face held no hint of uncertainty. Lord, he was handsome. He had a lot more experience in front of the camera than her, but her nerves weren’t about being filmed. After yesterday’s date at the restaurant, she was certain she could handle anything they threw her way. But the microphone she wore meant that the Sugar Shock staff would hear everything she said once it was turned on, and she’d have to be more cautious than ever if she didn’t want to spill their secret. Most of the material they shot would be culled and tossed, but there was a chance she’d slip up and say something to Michael that would give their deception away. Being alone with him was nerve-wracking enough.

  As his own battery pack was secured at his back, Michael’s shirt rode up, and she caught a glimpse of skin. When had she become this wanton woman, drooling at the merest sliver of male skin? When she finally tore her eyes away from his midsection, she was mortified to see that he was watching her, a mischievous glint in his green eyes. He grinned at her, shooting longing straight to her gut, and her mouth dried up. This was going to be a long day. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, can I have some water, please?”

  The assistant nodded and left, and Michael crossed the room to join her. Even his walk was sexy today. This was truly ridiculous. “You ready to do this?”

  She swallowed and nodded. He ran his hands down the length of her arms and gently took her hands in his, making it difficult to find her voice. “Sure, no problem.”

  “You seem a lot more nervous today than you did yesterday.” His eyes reflected the concern in his voice. “This should be nothing compared to the cooking demonstration.”

  “I guess I’m a little nervous about saying the wrong thing, and I thought we’d prepare more. At least yesterday, if I messed up, it wouldn’t mean that our whole story could crumble. It would just mean that I don’t know how to cook. What if we contradict each other and the whole thing unravels?” She bit her lower lip and let her gaze wander around the crowded studio. She could get lost in Michael’s eyes, and it was time to keep her wits sharp.

  “It will be fine. Just remember that we’re here so they can capture a love story. They just want to boost ratings. They’re not looking to catch us in a lie or anything. Nobody’s on trial here. All you’ve got to do is relax and pretend that you like me. Follow my lead if you get nervous. I won’t let anything go wrong.” There it was. She could count on him to guide them through the day’s interview, and his confidence would carry her through. It was a relief to know that she could depend on him.

  “I know you’re right. It’ll be fine.” She nodded, summoning her confidence and wishing she had an ounce of his. He was, unbelievably, enough of a gentleman not to mention how she’d curled up against him and practically nuzzled him that morning, but she couldn’t push her luck. The cocky, obnoxious Michael she’d come to know could resurface, ready to make fun of her.

  “I think they’ll have us sit together for the interview. I’ll try to answer first if they ask anything too specific, and you can go with whatever story I throw out there.” He grinned. “If I touch you or steal a kiss, do me a favor and don’t flinch. You’ve got to act like you like it.”

  She laughed, sounding nervous to her ears. He certainly didn’t flinch when she touched him. “I think I can handle it.”

  His gaze grew heated. “That practice kiss in the elevator was a good idea, huh?”

  She swallowed, hard, and nodded. Again, where was her voice? “Yep, that helped.” she squeaked out.

  He glanced around, then lowered his lips to her ear. “You’re so wound up this morning. Too bad we don’t have time for another one. I think it would loosen you up.” His breath was hot against her skin and smelled like cinnamon. She flashed back to her own breath against his skin, her face pressed against the dip where his neck met his shoulder. The sheer perfection of their fit, the peace she felt waking up in his arms, was intoxicating. And dangerous.

  She stepped back, putting distance between them before she swooned. As much as she wanted another one of his soul-shaking, earth-moving kisses, that was the last thing she needed. She remembered the kiss they’d shared the last time they were on Sugar Shock. The kiss they never mentioned. She’d always let her emotions run rampant, foolishly, and needed to keep her expectations firmly grounded in reality. Another kiss would likely do nothing but set her imagination on a wild ride, and she’d only be hurt in the end.

  Clearing her throat, she straightened her spine and smoothed her hands over her dress. “I’m going to be fine. They want a happy couple? Let’s give them a happy couple.”

  She smiled brightly at an assistant who brought her a bottle of chilled water and accepted it gratefully. The PA flipped the switch on her microphone and then on Michael’s as she drank from the bottle. It was show time. “All right, you’re all set. Don’t try to take your mics off without me or another staff member. I’ll catch you after the show and get you undone. I think they’re ready for you.”

  He left them alone, and Michael stepped closer. As his fingers entwined with hers, he pressed a kiss to her temple. She melted against him, turning her head to catch his lips with hers as though they’d kissed hundreds of times. Before she had a chance to question what had happened, he shot her a look and cut his eyes toward the show staff. The host was striding across the room towards them, and Michael was already in character. Carly stepped back and cleared her throat. It was time to get it together before she blew their story and ruined the whole thing.

  “Michael, Carly, so nice to see you again!” Shelley Peabody enveloped Carly’s hand in hers and squeezed, a warm, television-ready smile on her face. “Thank you so much for agreeing to do the show. We’re so glad to have you.”

  “It’s good to be here, back where it all began,” Michael answered smoothly. “Carly and I keep up with the show every season, and we’re really looking forward to meeting the contestants.”

  Carly hadn’t watched a single episode of Sugar Shock since her season, but she smiled and nodded, summoning her enthusiasm. Shelley continued. “So, we’re going to have the two of you over there.” She motioned to a set with a couch, soft lighting, and a decorated table. “I’ll be interviewing you, but I’ll be off camera for that. Try to give your answers in a way that includes the question, like with the individual confessional interviews from when you were on the show. We’ll splice everything together in edits and use what we can for the Valentine’s Day episode.”

  “Sounds good,” said Michael.

  “So, just relax and enjoy yourselves. We’re going to weave together the interview, footage from your time as contestants on Sugar Shock, and some scenes from yesterday’s date, which from what I saw was amazing. When it’s all said and done, your segment will be maybe fifteen or twenty minutes long. Nothing to stress about.”

  Michael slung an arm around Carly’s shoulder as they approached the set. The hot stage lights warmed the entire area around the faux living room, and production staff milled around the area as they settled on the couch. She shifted and struggled to keep her breathing even as Michael sank down next to her. She didn’t expect him to cling to the edge, but her mind had trouble functioning in such close proximity. Warmth from his body radiated toward her along with his delectable scent. This close, under the bright lights, she drank in every detail, from the faint stubble on his cheeks to the golden flecks she’d never noticed before in his green eyes. He flashed her a quick smile, revealing perfect white teeth and reminding her how that mouth felt on hers. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

  The cameraman rolled the camera to the center of the set, and Shelley seated herself on a canvas director’s chair opposite them. “We’ve reviewed a lot of past footage from your season. I’m sure it’s much
fresher in my mind than in yours, but anything you can answer will be helpful. Like I said, it’s going to be edited to death before it airs, so don’t worry if you don’t remember everything. Just try to relax, be natural, and have a good time.”

  Carly could only imagine what Shelley would bring up from their time on Sugar Shock. She and Michael had not only been competitors, they had practically been enemies, always sniping at one another or arguing. She was sure at least half of her confessional videos mentioned something annoying or obnoxious he’d done, and when she thought back, all she remembered was constantly being angry while he always laughed it off. Whenever the crew gave her an opportunity to air her feelings about Michael, Carly had taken it and run. They’d probably spin it during editing to make it look even worse. Contrasting their volatile past with their copacetic present would make for some great television.

  Shelley leaned forward and began. “America watched as the two of you competed for the Sugar Shock crown, and I’ve got to say, we were surprised to hear that you ended up becoming a couple after the show ended. Tell us how that happened.”

  Michael shifted next to Carly and put his hand on her knee. “I’m sure plenty of people wonder how we managed to get together after what they saw on the show. When Carly and I were on Sugar Shock, we didn’t get along.” He laughed and squeezed the knee, his hand large and warm on her. “We were always at each other’s throats, always fighting. It was like oil and water, man, and it was rough. You all saw it. That was then, though, and things have changed. The clashing,” he bumped his knuckles together, “changed to sparks, and we’ve been going strong ever since.”