Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“You don’t think this is a little much?” I lifted up the heavy sequined taffeta skirt of my dress. It must have weighed at least fifteen pounds.
Emma and Brady glanced at each other, headsets firmly in place, clutching the tablets where all their production notes were housed.
“You look radiant,” Emma said.
Brady nodded. “Like a princess. Seriously, these men will be drooling over you.”
The sequins dug into the sensitive skin around my upper arm as I shifted.
The dress made me feel sillier than I already did.
They’d added clip-in extensions to my hair so now it practically cascaded down my back, tugging on my scalp.
A dress that wasn’t mine and hair that wasn’t mine, both weighing me down.
It was like they were working together to try and fight me to the ground.
“Here’s your mark, right here.” Brady took me by the elbow and ushered me toward a small piece of tape on the stone pathway. We were back in the yard of the mansion and the sun had just dipped behind the horizon. Thank God for that, or I might have melted.
A few cameras were positioned in a semi-circle around me, ready to capture my every reaction.
Play it cool. Don’t let them see you sweat.
I was no stranger to forcing a polished demeanor. Signing autographs, meet and greets, stepping out onto a stage, I always had to be at my best. This was no different.
I sucked in a breath and shook out my hands at my sides, rolling my shoulders back until I hit what I knew to be perfect posture.
“That’a girl, shake those nerves off.” Brady gave me a thumbs up.
Emma’s face stiffened a little at Brady’s cheesiness. I got the feeling she was fighting the urge to roll her eyes. “You’ve got this, alright? All these guys are dying to meet you.” Her words were slightly more encouraging.
“You ready?” Brady asked, already turning to signal something to a camera operator.
I answered Emma instead. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
She did one last flip of my hair and dabbed off my glistening forehead with a napkin before stepping back behind the cameras. I half-wanted to ask her to stand right next to me for support.
“Okay, we’ve got the guys out front,” Brady said into a walkie. “Bring number one down. I repeat, bring number one down.”
When I’d seen shows like this on TV, I hadn’t realized just how quiet the background would be.
If I’d been here alone it might not be so bad, but with half a dozen people just off to the side, staring at me while just the slight humming sound of electronics buzzed in the background, the silence was eerie.
Then I heard them loud and clear—footsteps approaching from the side of the house.
I forced my hands to remain casual at my side as I waited for the first guy to round the corner.
A boy—or, man I guess—appeared in a gray suit. He looked young, but maybe that was just his boyish good looks. He had one hand pressed to his stomach and the other hung by his side as he took hurried strides toward me.
“You look absolutely stunning,” he said. Now that he was closer, I could see faint lines crinkling around his eyes. He flashed me a perfectly symmetrical smile.
Are his teeth real?
Crap, don’t think about that.
You should be smiling back.
I smiled, and he took my hand. “Thank you.”
“I’m Freddy.”
“Hi Freddy, I’m Trace.”
“I’m a big fan of your music.” He was still holding my hand, which was sure to be clammy by now. Would it be impolite to tug it away?
“You’re too sweet,” I said, forcing my hand to remain in place.
“I’m a videographer out in LA, and I’m just looking for the right one to settle down with.”
“Amazing,” I faltered, because what are you supposed to say to that? I’d probably have to think of something more creative. I had to get through eleven more of these introductions, and I was bound to hear those words again.
“I’ll see you inside.” Freddy gave my hand a squeeze and then I was alone again as he left for the entrance to the house.
“How are you doing?” Brady called from the sidelines.
“Oh, I’m fine,” I said as Emma rushed to me with a bottle of water and a straw. I took a sip, even though I was a little worried it would make me have to pee. Not normally a big deal, but I wasn’t actually sure it was possible to go to the bathroom in this dress.
“Maybe just a little chattier with the next one. And don’t forget to smile.” Brady smiled and poked his index finger into his cheek and turned it.
“Got it.” Chattier? What did he want me to say?
“Send number two,” he called.
A redhead with a face full of freckles stepped around the corner. His outfit instantly brought a genuine smile to my face. He wore a bright green suit with a floral-patterned button-down underneath, and a bowtie.
“Well, well, well. Fancy meeting you here.” He said it like we were already acquainted, and I laughed, grateful for the release.
“Pat,” he said.
I shook his hand. “Trace. It’s nice to meet you. This is quite the outfit.”
His grin widened. “They told me to dress to impress.”
I giggled. “I’m definitely impressed.”
“I’m from Dallas. I’m a data analyst by day, but believe it or not, I work part time as a magician for birthday parties, events, and whatnot.”
“Oh, I believe it.” He definitely had the charisma for a birthday-party-magician.
At that moment, he reached up behind my ear and pulled out a penny. He placed it in my palm. “Maybe this will be lucky for us.”
After a bit more small talk, he stepped away.
I felt lighter than I had since I’d arrived.
While I seriously doubted Pat, the part-time magician, would be the love of my life, at least he seemed nice.
Maybe I’d just meet some interesting guys, get some exposure, and get out of this show relatively unscathed.
Unlike the last time.
The next few guys flew by in a blur. There was Victor who owned a car dealership near Detroit and was maybe the tiniest bit sleazy.
Isaac, who was between things right now, but whose perfectly manicured appearance and strong jawline said he was definitely trying to get into acting.
Joey from Boston, whose accent I could barely understand, but I think he said he worked at his family’s deli.
Jeremy, a dentist who was older than me and made me wonder if I was into silver foxes.
Then a series of Chrises—Chris H. Chris M.
Christian. I was so tired that they were all starting to blur together at this point.
I’d have to remember to ask Emma to help me differentiate them in the future.
Only a few guys left. I should be grateful, but after this I had to actually go inside and talk to everyone, despite being basically asleep on my feet.
“Almost done.” Emma came sprinting toward me with another water bottle. “Here, eat this.” She thrust a protein bar in my face. I took a bite, feeling more like a zoo animal than an actual person.
She gave me a mint and then retreated back behind the cameras. “Enter guy number ten.” Brady said into his walkie.
A tall man in a perfectly tailored gray suit rounded the corner.
His light eyes and dark hair immediately captured my attention.
He was hot. I mean, every guy so far had been good looking in some way or another, but this guy was on another level.
When he reached me, his smile grew and he reached out for my hand. I let him take it.
“I’m Austin.”
“Trace.” I didn’t feel anything when our hands touched, except maybe a new firework of nerves. Something about his smile and eyes didn’t sit right with me. He looked like a wolf sizing up their next meal.
“I own my own real estate firm out in Charlotte.” He cocked his head to the side when he revealed his career. Like he was expecting me to be impressed by that tidbit.
“Oh, I love Charlotte. It was one of my favorite stops on my tour,” I said.
“Do you? Well, I’d love to take you back some time. I’ve got a condo downtown with the most amazing views of the city.” His predatory grin widened.
I kept my smile securely in place. I could smell a guy like this from a mile away.
Just because I was cute and blonde and bubbly, a lot of people—a lot of men, more specifically—assumed I’d be easy to take advantage of.
But I always had my receptors up. I needed to look out for myself, since no one else ever would.
I forced myself to ask a few more questions, before finally giving his hand a squeeze and then dropping it. “I’ll see you in there.”
He nodded and turned toward the house, making it a point to look back at me.
Ugh. He gave me the creeps. Of course, the best-looking guy would also be the most likely to be a douche. Maybe I was being too quick to judge him, but there was a glint in his eyes that didn’t sit right with me.
“Send in number eleven.”
Two more guys. Just two more guys.
This one rounded the corner with what could only be described as a cocky stride, his torso slightly leaned back, hands in his pockets. He was taller than a lot of the guys, and his hair was slightly mussed. Then I focused on his face.
Are you freaking kidding me?
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, the polite facade I’d had all evening fading at the sight of him.
“Hello, beautiful.” Grant, of all people, waltzed up to me and bent down to plant a kiss right on my cheek.
I swiped it away, but after this constant sea of strangers, it was almost comforting to see a familiar face. Even if it was Grant.
“I repeat, what are you doing here?” I couldn’t control my facial expression into something that wasn’t complete shock.
Grant shrugged and smirked down at me. “We never got to know each other on our show. When I saw you at the reunion, I thought there might be some unfinished business between us.”
His sly wink told me everything I needed to know.