Kiss and Confess (Love Unscripted Book 1)

by Jane Lynne Daniels

Message received. She stopped and turned to him. “Thank you. I appreciate you clarifying that.” She walked away more quickly now, taking her place in front of Marc as they waited to be introduced.

  Charley looked so beautiful tonight, she robbed Luke’s breath. He’d missed her so much during the three months they’d spent apart; it had terrified him. He didn’t like missing someone that much. It’d fucked with his head and his life. For three months he hadn’t dated anyone. Booze and his right hand had become his best friends. Aside from Ethel. Who was wonderful, but she couldn’t help. Dutifully, she’d lie at his feet, cocking her head from side to side when he asked rhetorical questions.

  Worse still, he replayed every minute of his time with Charley in college, how he’d left without a word and what he’d gone through afterward. He’d told himself then that it only showed he’d made the right decision. Now he wasn’t so sure.

  And that fucking paralyzed him. He was not the guy for her, could never be the guy for her. He’d only hurt her again. When he’d been a teenager, his father had told him, “Dean men can’t be tied down, by anyone or anything. Remember that.”

  He’d remembered. And acted on it.

  The contestants had been introduced and were sitting onstage. Waiting. Marc had taken Charley’s hand, which sent a jolt of jealousy riding through Luke’s blood.

  She’d said she and Marc had spent time together. Good. She should fall for him, have well-behaved accountant babies and a mortgage on a house in Bellevue. Another surge of jealousy made him fold his arms across his midsection, pressing hard.

  Trevor and Jason sat next to each other, but the wall of tension between them was so thick, it had its own force field. Brittany and Michael sat stiff and straight in their chairs, Michael flexing and admiring his biceps.

  The clips of each couple played on the big screen, showing the ups and downs of the relationships. After each, Rob came back to the couple and asked a few questions, which they all handled reasonably well. So far, the experts had been mentioned only a few times, which was a good thing.

  Tasha appeared at Luke’s side. “Cake emergency resolved.”

  “Good.” He jerked his head.

  “How do you think it’s going to go?” She sounded as if she had a pretty good idea, but wanted him to tell her differently.

  He couldn’t. “It’s live TV.”

  “Right.”

  Rob had managed to get Brittany to admit she was attracted to Jason far more than she was to Michael. Jason stared at her, apparently wondering what key part of his story she had missed, and Michael stopped flexing long enough to scowl at her before he started laughing. “She only wants what she can’t have,” he said. Brittany whirled on him, fist clenched, and Rob wisely introduced a commercial break.

  Once they had the all-clear signal, Jen hurried across the stage to attempt to calm things between Brittany and Michael, while Tasha attended to Jason, who waved her off but thanked Brittany for the compliment.

  Marc and Charley watched in silence. Smart move, as their microphones were on.

  They got the countdown, and Tasha and Jen rushed off the stage to join Luke in the wings while Rob welcomed the viewing audience back. “This is the big moment,” he said, taking a card from the pocket of his suit. “We will now learn the winners of $150,000 each. They are the couple our viewers believe have what it takes to go the distance. Will they use it to pay for a house? Their future kids’ college tuition? Or,” he glanced at Brittany and Michael, “their own personal boxing ring?”

  Rob grimaced, which made Luke want to throttle him. Rob knew the answer, and he wasn’t supposed to do anything that might give it away before he announced it. But then Rob was human—or Luke was pretty sure he was, anyway—and maybe he’d also had enough of this whole charade.

  “Before I reveal the results, though, I do want to let you know that we learned, after the shows were taped and the voting concluded, that one element of our matching process, the computer program called MATE, did not work exactly as planned.” Rob shook his head with a smile. “Doesn’t that just figure? A computer glitch. When does that ever happen?”

  Luke held his breath. So far, so good. Not a huge reaction from the theater audience.

  “But as I said,” Rob went on, “that was one small part of a detailed process.”

  True enough. It just hadn’t mattered much in the end. Luke scanned the faces of those in the audience. Some confusion, maybe, but nothing else. He exhaled. The attorneys would be satisfied.

  “Now, let’s get to what’s important. The results.” The envelope, too close to Rob’s microphone, made a crackling noise when he opened it. “Our viewers voted,” he said, “for…Jason and Trevor.”

  The audience in the theater broke into applause and sent up whistles of approval. Jason and Trevor looked stunned.

  Luke’s gaze darted to Charley, who had dropped her chin and was staring at her lap. Marc put his arm around her shoulders. Luke wanted to slap it off.

  With a broad smile, Rob strode toward the two men.

  Trevor flung his arms around Jason. “See? I told you. America believes in us. I believe in us.” He looked into the camera with a tremulous smile.

  Jason stared straight ahead, his jaw set, not moving a single large muscle of his body.

  “How does it feel, Trevor, to win it all, to be voted the couple America thinks will make it through life together?” Rob asked.

  “I can’t even describe the feeling, Rob. Jason is the love of my life. I was stupid, yes, and made one terrible mistake, but when he finds it in his heart to forgive me, we will be so good together.” Trevor released his hold on Jason and reached for his hand. “This means so much to us. That many people cannot be wrong. They all saw what we have together.”

  “Jason?” Rob asked. “What do you think?”

  Jason pulled his hand from Trevor’s grasp then shook his head. “I care about Trevor. I think he needs more time to decide what he wants, but I know he’ll find happiness. Someday.”

  Trevor’s gasp was audible. As was the combined groan of Luke, Tasha, and Jen. They’d suspected this might happen. Jason was one of the good guys.

  Rob blinked. “It sounds as though you’re saying that happiness will not be with you?”

  Trevor made a choking sound.

  Jason directed his answer to Trevor, his voice low and gentle. “Your happiness will be with someone else, and you will find that person. When you do, I’ll be on the sidelines, cheering for both of you.”

  The murmurs of the theater audience grew louder. A few people clapped uncertainly.

  Trevor recovered his composure long enough to lean toward Rob and ask, “What about the money?”

  “We can’t take it,” Jason said.

  “Are you kidding me?” Trevor huffed. “If I don’t get my happily-ever-after, at least I get the money. We’re the couple they voted for. That’s what the rules said.” His voice rose. “Isn’t that right, Rob?”

  “We can’t take it,” Jason repeated, this time more firmly. “We’re not together and we won’t be.”

  “Are you serious?” Trevor hissed. “We’re talking one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Each.”

  The audience’s buzz took on a hostile note.

  Rob lifted his hand in a call for quiet. “Don’t worry, Trevor. You’ll get your money.”

  Trevor nodded, looking relieved.

  “And if you don’t want to accept the money, Jason, we will be glad to donate it to the charities of your choice, on your behalf.”

  Jason hesitated, then said, “Okay. I would like that.”

  Trevor looked at him in disbelief. “You’re right. We were not meant for each other.”

  From the wings, Jonathan gestured urgently at Rob. Get on with it.

  The host’s barely perceptible nod acknowledged the instruction. He turned to the camera. “While it may not have worked out for Jason and Trevor, that’s not the end of our story. We have a surprise in store for you. A d
ramatic finish to this season finale that even our contestants know nothing about.”

  Luke’s stomach dropped.

  “Before I tell you what that is, though,” Rob said, “we’re going to take a quick commercial break. Stay with us. You won’t want to miss this.”

  The director signaled they were clear. Tasha rushed onstage to hustle Jason and Trevor out of there. No one wanted a reminder of what hadn’t worked out. A production assistant swiftly moved in to remove the couple’s chairs and Tasha returned to join her colleagues.

  The four remaining contestants looked at each other and then toward the producers. Brittany raised her shoulders and palms in a question. Marc mouthed, “What’s going on?”

  Luke, Tasha, and Jen remained where they were, as they had agreed to before the show. It was the longest four minutes of Luke’s life, but this was what he had signed up for.

  At last, Rob got the signal and they were back on the air. Cameras locked in close-ups on each of the contestants’ faces.

  “We’ve decided to change the rules up, just a little,” Rob said, stretching out dramatic pauses for all he was worth. “And we’re going to offer additional prize money—$150,000 each—to the couple who will take that leap of faith our viewers are looking for and…” He nodded at the contestants and everyone in the audience. “…get married right now, on this stage.”

  Dead silence. Then squeals of anticipation from the audience.

  “Sometimes you have to take a bold step to make things work,” Rob said. “Arranged marriages were successful for a long time in some cultures, but they took time, and commitment, to reach their potential. Maybe our remaining two couples haven’t given their relationships the same attention and they need an incentive to do that.”

  Luke held his breath. If somebody didn’t go for this, they would have to fill the time with a prepared clip of outtakes from the season. He was betting on Michael and Brittany. Michael wanted to open a gym of his own, and as for Brittany, she just liked money.

  Both were shallow enough to do this on live TV and figure they’d then get it annulled. One thing they didn’t know—they’d have to sign a contract binding them to an actual ceremony, with licenses, next week. And they’d have to stay married for at least a year or return the money.

  As for Marc and Charley…not a possibility he wanted to think about. He’d already warned her not to believe in anything this show had to offer. None of it mattered in real life.

  “It’s true, folks,” Rob went on. He swept his hand toward the chairs behind him. “As you can see, this isn’t something our contestants saw coming. But they can still win this prize. We’ll take the first couple that agrees. And in case you’re wondering, yes, we are prepared for a wedding. A wedding that everyone in this audience is invited to. Contestants,” he said to the four, “if you will kindly move your chairs to the right side of the stage?”

  It took them a minute, but they did as he asked and then again took their seats, each looking shell-shocked.

  A second curtain parted to reveal an altar elaborately decorated with white flowers and flanked by urns of green shrubs; a minister dressed in black and holding a bible; and two rows of white chairs facing the altar for the remaining contestants and any family members of the nearly-happy couple who might be in the audience.

  On cue, a production assistant stepped to the altar and rolled out a white runner. A second assistant dropped red rose petals along it and lit tall white candles that had been set up on the table.

  “It’s so pretty,” Brittany said, her eyes wide with wonder. She looked at Michael as though seeing him for the first time.

  “Backstage,” Rob continued, “we have a wedding dress and a tux in each contestant’s size.”

  Ooooohhh, the audience murmured appreciatively.

  “And of course, what would a wedding be without a cake and toasts?”

  One PA rolled out a giant, six-tiered wedding cake while two more trailed him with a bucket of champagne and gold-rimmed glasses.

  The audience clapped.

  It’s working, Luke thought. The deflection’s working. We have our audience back.

  “Now we only need to know who it is who will stand up there. Oh. I forgot to mention one thing. The winning couple will also receive a two-week, all-expenses-paid honeymoon at a five-star resort in Bali.”

  A collective gasp from the audience.

  “Right?” Rob asked them. “We may need a photo finish to see who volunteers first. Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back.”

  An all-clear signal and Jonathan strode out onstage. He addressed himself to the four contestants. “Like he said, the first couple to agree gets the prize money. At this point, I don’t care if it’s the couples you’re in now or you mix it up. We have papers to sign for you backstage, but that won’t take long. Talk amongst yourselves, you have two minutes to decide. Two minutes, people. Take your mics off. The whole world doesn’t need to hear what you’re saying.”

  Luke watched as the contestants ripped off their mics. Brittany and Michael began frantically whispering in each other’s ear. Marc was talking to Charley. Charley was listening. Shit.

  This was a stupid idea. Luke never should have agreed to it. The promise of money caused people to make crazy decisions. If he rooted for them to do the right thing, though, this show would be a failure. And cancelled. He’d have trouble getting another job.

  If he rooted for them to go for it, he’d be disgusted, but the ratings would soar. They’d likely get renewed for another season. He’d have a job.

  Some days, the world sucked.

  Jen plucked at his sleeve. “What do you think? Will either of them do it?”

  “Don’t know.”

  Jonathan walked back onstage. “Time’s up. Who’s doing this?”

  Brittany’s hand jabbed upward, but before she could say anything, Marc swooped in to shout, “We are!”

  Luke’s feet became lead weights. His legs wouldn’t move. His mouth wouldn’t open. He could process only one thought—no, Charley, no—and that was in slow motion.

  He waited for her to correct Marc, to say there was no way she would marry him. But she only smiled. It was a tiny smile, wobbling at the corners, but the important part was that she didn’t correct Marc.

  She was doing this.

  Luke watched his hopes of redeeming himself, irrational as they were, circle a virtual drain.

  “Good,” Jonathan said, giving no indication of what had to be his massive relief. He signaled to Rob. “Charley and Marc. We’re doing this.”

  A few seconds, or a few minutes later, Rob announced what was to happen. Or Luke was pretty sure he did. All of a sudden, Rob’s voice sounded like the wah-wah in the old Charlie Brown cartoons.

  Charley’s feet, legs, arms, and heart felt numb as she followed Tasha backstage. It should have been Luke taking her backstage; why wasn’t it Luke? She tried to ask Tasha. The words must have come out somewhat intelligible as Tasha said Luke was busy with something else.

  Something else. He was going to let this happen?

  Charley was shown into a dressing room and immediately sank into a chair along the wall. She couldn’t get married.

  But this had been at least half her idea. When Marc had leaned over to her during the two-minute decision time, he’d said that he was sorry, so very sorry, but he wanted to give Mila another chance. He didn’t want to hurt Charley’s feelings, but Mila was in the theater audience. That had to be a sign.

  Her feelings had breathed a huge sigh of relief.

  It would take something drastic, though, Marc had admitted, for Mila to ignore her best friend’s lie. He wasn’t absolutely sure Mila would want another chance with him.

  What happened next was still foggy. Some demonic part of her made its inaugural appearance to suggest to Marc that, if he got up there to say his vows to her, Mila would be moved to stop him. Any girl who sobbed in a hallway after secretly watching his parents meet another woman’s pare
nts cared. A lot. And then the show could let that wedding take place. On the stage.

  It was a crazy idea that had to work.

  Except, now as she sat here thinking about it, she saw the flaws in the plan they’d made in two minutes. Marc had gone along with it, thinking Mila would be sure to intervene. Charley didn’t know Mila well enough to know. After all, the woman had hidden her misery in a hallway.

  Charley’s plans, whether well-intentioned or demonic, almost never worked, come to think of it. Look at how well things had gone with Luke. She buried her head in her hands.

  Tasha came barreling through the door, holding a white wedding dress high above her head. “Don’t mess up your makeup. We don’t have time to fix it.”

  “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  Tasha lowered the dress and carefully spread it flat across chairs on the other side of the room. She set a stack of papers on a table and then came over to Charley and grasped her hands, holding on tight as she knelt before her. “It’s a big deal, I know. But trust me, the less you think about it, the better.”

  “What?” Charley shook her head, not sure she’d heard right.

  “You said yes to Marc. On live TV. Think how horrible that would be for him if you were to back out now. You’re not a person who backs out of your promises, are you? Because I don’t think you are, but I don’t know. Maybe you are.”

  “No.” Her voice sounded distant, far away.

  “We need this.” Tasha squeezed Charley’s fingers tighter. “If we say there’s going to be a wedding and there isn’t one, none of us are going to see a job in this business again. Not me, Jen, Jonathan or,” she paused, “Luke.”

  Charley looked up at her, her eyes filling.

  “He isn’t going to be there for you, Charley. I’ve known Luke for a few years now. He dates a lot of girls. He doesn’t stay with any of them.”

  “But—”

  “It isn’t in his DNA. If you really think you’re going to end up with him, then you’re only going to get hurt.” She released her hold on Charley and stood. “Marc’s a great guy. You could have a really nice life.” She picked up the papers she’d left on the table and turned back to Charley. “If, after a wonderful, and free, trip to Bali, you decide differently, you’ll still have the prize money. No harm, no foul.”