Meg (Beach Brides Book 1)

by Julie Jarnagin

  “My parents—not so much,” A.J. said, his eyes hidden by his reflective aviators. “But Granna is my hero. I’d take a bullet for her.”

  Sweet. A.J. loved his grandma. Maybe she should try to overlook his weird obsession with his own muscles.

  Peter blinked as if he were mustering the courage to speak without throwing up. “I live down the street from my parents. I see them at least once a week.”

  “That’s great.” She turned to Gabe. “What about you?”

  He cleared his throat. “My relationship with my family is…complicated.”

  She tensed, feeling guilty for bringing up a sensitive topic. But Elliot had told her to ask about it. Surely after all the interviews they did asking about their lives, his family would have come up.

  The line on A.J.’s reel began screaming. “A.J., I think you caught something.”

  His brow wrinkled above his sunglasses. “Huh?”

  “A fish,” she said, pointing. “I think you caught a fish.”

  He glanced at his rod.

  The guide pushed through them and started reeling.

  “Oh, a fish,” A.J. said.

  “No,” the guide yelled. “A shark.”

  “What?” Meg asked. “Seriously?”

  A.J. let out a high-pitched scream and shoved Meg out of the way, almost throwing her overboard.

  Gabe threw his head back and laughed. “Come on, dude. It’s not Jaws.”

  A.J. cowered on the other side of the boat, and Meg gave him a sympathetic smile.

  “It’s just a little shark,” the guide said. “We’ll release it.”

  She turned to Peter to see how he was coping. Even the green had drained from his face now.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  Before he could answer, he lunged for the edge of the boat and vomited into the water.

  She sighed. One of these men was supposed to be her one true love. How would she ever choose?

  When Meg and the guys finally reached the dock and stepped off the boat, Carla and Elliot were there waiting for them. Carla wore a broad smile. “Welcome back.”

  Elliot stood beside her wearing a white button up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. “We heard that was quite a fishing trip,” he said. “One of the cameramen called us on the way in.”

  Meg glared at him. “Are you joking? That was a disaster.”

  He grimaced. “I know things didn’t go perfectly, but it’s all part of getting to know each other.”

  Carla patted Peter on the back. “Come on, guys. I think we should get Peter here to the medic to make sure he isn’t dehydrated or something.” He’d thrown up three more times on the ride back to shore. Carla and the guys walked toward the resort.

  Feeling her irritation rise, she turned back to Elliot. “Don’t act like you didn’t orchestrate all of that.”

  He frowned. “Orchestrate it? What are you talking about? Do you think I have the power to make A.J. catch a shark? To make Peter puke?”

  Nice. “Did you know Peter got motion sickness?”

  “How would I know that? It wasn’t like that was on his questionnaire for the contestants. I didn’t want the poor guy to throw up.”

  She chewed on her lip. Was he telling the truth? How could she know? “Why did you tell me to ask about their families when it was obviously a sensitive subject for Gabe? Did you know about that?”

  Streaks of red crept up his neck. “I did, but that isn’t why I told you to bring it up.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “Then why did you?”

  He lifted his hands into the air. “Because that’s something you talk about when you’re dating someone, and because he agreed to come on the show and reveal things about himself.”

  Her stomach sank. She’d been giving Elliot the benefit of the doubt when it was clear he was the one pulling all the strings. At least the men were in the same weird situation she was in. Elliot was the man who’d put them there. “This isn’t easy, Elliot. The show, the cameras, it’s a lot to take. It’s not a game. We’re real people with real lives.”

  He stilled, looking hurt. “Of course I know that. You don’t think I realize that?”

  She took a deep breath, trying to relax. Just like Gabe, she’d also agreed to come on this reality show. She’d known what she was getting into. Her real mistake had been trusting Elliot. No more of that. “Fine. You do what you do, but don’t expect me to keep confiding in you.”

  “Meg…it’s not like that. You can trust me.”

  But Meg had learned that when people kept telling her to trust them, it was time to run the other way.

  ****

  Standing in the dimly lit hallway of the hotel, Elliot watched Peter leave the room where the sound guy fit him for a tiny ear piece. Elliot suspected Meg had chosen Peter for the date out of sympathy after he’d gotten sick.

  When Elliot and Carla were alone, she fidgeted with the lid of her paper coffee cup. “Are you sure about this? I’m usually the one coming up with these crazy ideas. You’re supposed to be the reasonable one.”

  Maybe putting a hidden speaker in Peter’s ear was a little extreme, but Elliot had to do something drastic to make this season work. The guys were proving they needed some help making Meg fall for them. Elliot couldn’t go on the date, but this way he would have a way to coach Peter along when he needed it. For the most part, Elliot would stay out of it, but he’d step in when absolutely necessary. “It’s brilliant. If these guys don’t amp it up, Meg isn’t going to fall for any of them.” In the interviews, Peter had come across as intelligent and confident, but when Meg showed up and the cameras surrounded him, he came across more like a nerdy teenager at a school dance.

  “Brilliant? I don’t know about that,” Carla said. “And are you sure it’s a good idea to help him? Seeing a few of the men crash and burn is part of the appeal of the show. It’s like a train wreck that people can’t stand to turn away from.”

  Sure. A train wreck that he’d positioned Meg right in the middle of. He did feel a little guilty about this, especially considering Meg already thought he was manipulating them, but this was for her own good. He was looking out for her. “These guys need guidance.” Not a single one of them asked her how many siblings she had or about her dad. They were too busy trying to one-up each other. Watching the playback from the fishing outing, he’d been frustrated for Meg. He blamed himself for approving them for casting. He just wanted Meg to have a good date, so that she could relax and give the whole experience a chance. “No one even asked Meg if she was okay when A.J. practically knocked her over the side of the boat.”

  Carla laughed. “Yeah, but that was classic television right there. We should win an Emmy after that airs.” She took a sip of coffee. “Maybe you’re right about this. We would have so much more control this way. We can definitely up the drama.”

  “That’s not why I’m doing it. I’m trying to help Meg. Don’t forget that we need her to actually choose someone this time. We can’t have another contestant run out on us.” Or his career would be over.

  Carla rolled her eyes. “Help her by secretly bugging her date.”

  Unease wound up his spine. “It’s not like we’re spying on her. She’s surrounded by cameras most of the time.”

  “Good point,” Carla said. “All’s fair in love and television. It’s ultimately about the ratings, right?”

  He flinched. Carla’s words made him sound heartless. Maybe this was a bad idea. “Carla, did you know Peter would get sea sick?” From the interviews, he had known that Gabe had some issues with his family, but who doesn’t? He hadn’t even been thinking about that when he’d suggested Meg ask about their families.

  She shrugged. “I noticed he had one of those motion sickness bracelets on when we picked him up from the airport. I asked him about it. He said he gets nauseous during takeoff and landing.”

  “Okay, but we had the deep-sea fishing excursion planned before that, right?”

  “Tha
t’s been planned for months,” she said.

  He let out a sigh. They weren’t taking advantage of anyone’s pain. They were just putting together a show. It was his job, and most people loved it.

  She lifted a brow. “However, I didn’t tell Peter where they were going until it was too late to bring one of those bracelets.”

  Elliot’s mouth went dry. Before he could speak, the director approached. “I think we’re ready to roll.”

  Elliot and Carla followed him into the dark hotel suite where several monitors glowed. Why did he have this knot in his stomach? He shouldn’t let Meg get to him like this. He hadn’t lied to Meg. He couldn’t control what Carla did.

  He took a seat, and the sound man handed him a headset with a microphone.

  They watched the screen in silence as Peter walked up to the door of Meg’s villa just as they had arranged and knocked on the door. He fidgeted with the bouquet of tropical flowers that Elliot had chosen himself for Meg. With the headphones on, Elliot could hear his own pulse in his ears.

  Meg opened the door, and even through the monitor, she took Elliot’s breath away. Her skin was tanned from the day on the boat, and her dark hair was swept up with a purple flower in it. She wore a yellow dress and sandals.

  After Meg had thanked him for the flowers and put them in her room, Peter asked, “You ready?”

  Meg nodded and pulled the door closed behind her.

  Seriously. For being such a smart guy, Peter was clueless. Elliot moved the microphone on his headset to his face. “Tell her she looks beautiful tonight.”

  “You look beautiful tonight,” Peter said stiffly.

  Meg smiled up at him. “Thank you. You look great too. How are you feeling?”

  He groaned. “Humiliated.”

  At least he was honest.

  She gave a gentle laugh as she and Peter walked down the path to the gazebo where they’d be having a private dinner. Well, private with three cameras on them. She wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Peter said.

  Elliot knew what Meg must be thinking. She blamed Elliot for putting Peter on that boat. He clenched his teeth. It shouldn’t matter what Meg thought of him as long as she liked one of the contestants enough to choose him as her One True Love. As much as he tried not to care, he couldn’t get rid of the knot in his stomach, and he couldn’t stop imagining himself on the date with Meg instead of Peter.

  Meg and Peter approached the table for two set under the gazebo with a view of the sunset. She gasped. “Wow. Look at this. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”

  Elliot had. He’d seen Meg, and he would have told her as much if it had been him with her instead of Peter.

  Peter didn’t respond. He walked around the table that had been set with a bright orange cloth and candles and plopped into the chair.

  Elliot hit the button on his microphone. “Pull her seat out,” he said, unable to keep the irritation out of his voice.

  Peter’s mouth opened, but by the time he stood and got around to her side of the table, she was already sitting.

  Elliot leaned back toward where Carla stood behind him. “Next season we’re requiring these guys to go through etiquette training.”

  She shrugged. “Who cares if she pulls her own chair out? She’s not helpless.”

  He understood strong, independent women, but was chivalry really dead?

  The rest of the date was uneventful—boring even. How would they make an episode from Peter droning on about his job? When they finished eating their shrimp and scallops and their three-layer coconut cake, Elliot hit the microphone button. “Invite her to take a walk on the beach.”

  Carla glanced at him. “In the dark? We don’t have cameras and lighting set up for that. We’d planned on them going to the bar at the resort. We have a private corner roped off for them. It’s part of our contract to highlight some of their amenities.”

  But it was too late. Peter had already asked her, and Meg had smiled and agreed, looking relieved about the change in plans.

  Elliot didn’t take his eyes off the monitor. “The camera and lighting guys can adapt. She’s not in the mood for dancing. I can see it in her eyes.”

  Carla didn’t speak, and when he finally glanced back at her, her arms were crossed.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You can see it in her eyes?” she asked.

  “You know on the monitor…her expression,” he said, keeping is tone casual. Maybe he’d said too much. Maybe Carla could see right through him. She usually could.

  Peter didn’t reach out to help Meg keep her balance as she slipped off her sandals, but this time, Elliot didn’t say anything.

  She picked up her shoes and they walked down the beach near the water. The shaky camera shot proved Carla had been right.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get over how beautiful it is here,” Meg said, looking up at Peter. “Did you know I was on the island recently?”

  He nodded, looking bored. “Yes. I think I heard that.”

  “That’s right because of the whole message-in-a-bottle thing,” she said, looking down at her sandy feet.

  He was silent.

  Seriously? This guy had the personality of a clam.

  Elliot leaned toward his microphone. “Ask her about her trip. Who was she with? What made her throw the bottle?”

  Carla sighed behind him.

  Peter looked up toward the sky like God was talking to him. “Um…who were you with on the trip?”

  Meg grinned. “My online book club. They’re so wonderful. I never realized I could make real, lasting friendships online.”

  “Why’d you write a message in a bottle?” he asked, robotically.

  “It was a silly dare among the girls,” she shrugged. “I certainly didn’t think it would land me here.”

  Elliot smiled. Who would have known? “Stop walking,” he said into the microphone.

  Like a robot, Peter stopped.

  Not noticing, Meg kept walking until she stopped and spun around. “Everything okay?”

  Her silhouette against the ocean backdrop was breathtaking. Meg deserved everything she wanted in life, and she deserved to be told exactly how extraordinary she was. If Peter wasn’t going to tell her, Elliot would. He leaned forward. “Tell her, ‘I never thought I’d meet someone, especially like this…’”

  Peter repeated his words exactly, and Meg pushed her hair away from her face.

  “But now that I met you, everything is different.” Elliot meant every word. Because of Meg, he was beginning to look at the show—and his life—differently. Her deep compassion for people had made him re-evaluate everything he’d been working for.

  Peter cleared his throat and said the words.

  “You make me see everything differently,” Elliot said, keeping his gaze locked on the screen. “Your smile and the way you approach life is amazing.”

  When Peter was done. Meg cocked her head. “That’s really nice, Peter. I’m glad we had this date tonight. I feel like I’m just now starting to see the real you.”

  Peter tilted his chin, and slowly leaned toward Meg.

  No! This couldn’t be happening. Was Peter about to kiss her? Elliot’s stomach roiled. No! No! No!

  Elliot watched, his heart wrenching, as Peter pressed his lips to Meg’s. Shock flashed across her expression, and then Meg closed her eyes, looking painfully beautiful.

  Elliot wanted to scream, but he sat frozen, his heart pounding. She wasn’t supposed to be kissing Peter. Peter hadn’t earned that kiss. Those had been Elliot’s words, Elliot’s feelings, but now she would never know.

  “You did it!” Carla said, grabbing his shoulder and shaking it.

  Everyone in the room cheered, while his stomach burned with anguish.

  “You are brilliant,” Carla said. “This season is going to be great!”

  But Elliot didn’t feel brilliant. He felt sick.

  Chapter Seven

&nbs
p; Meg closed the door on the little villa that had become her home. Leaning on the door, she let out a frustrated breath. She couldn’t believe Peter had kissed her, and out of the blue like that. What was he thinking? Her brother would watch the show. Her dad might even see it. Her cheeks warmed. Maybe he would refuse to watch, which would probably be for the best.

  She gathered the energy to walk across the room and tossed her wrap and room key on the sofa, a gaudy thing upholstered in yellow-and-green palm-tree fabric. She removed the heavy hoop earrings the wardrobe department had given her and kicked off her heels.

  After everything Peter had said on the beach, she should probably give him a chance, but most of the date had felt forced. She hadn’t imagined she could feel a connection to him, yet somehow, he’d known exactly what she’d needed to hear in that moment.

  Despite the kind things he’d said, she still sensed he’d kissed her so that he could beat the other two guys to it.

  Who knew? Maybe Elliot had told him to kiss her. The thought made her breath catch in her lungs. Would Elliot stoop that low? She wanted to trust him, but she’d learned firsthand how the entertainment industry worked. It was all about money, ego, and success.

  Thankfully, the interview after the date had been short. Carla made her stand outside in the moonlight and recount every moment of the awkward encounter. When they showed the kiss on television, they would probably add some slow music and edit it to look romantic. But even after his kind words, the moment was far from romantic. It was strange being kissed unexpectedly while people filmed her every move.

  Someone knocked at the door, and she froze. Surely it wasn’t Peter? Maybe he’d come back without the camera. If that were the case, he was coming on way too strong. Sending him away would be uncomfortable but necessary.

  She opened the door, and instead of Peter, she found Elliot standing in front of her.

  She peered behind him for Carla or a cameraman. “Are you by yourself?” It seemed that every time she turned around, a camera appeared.