No kissing yet.Just some cute selfies of you two cosying up together will do for now.
Don’t leave it too long.Gotta keep the momentum going.
I dropped my cell on my lap and groaned.There was no way I was gonna convince Halle to take photos ‘cosying up’ with me.
And the ‘no kissing yet’ comment Wilma made was freaking hilarious.Forget licking a pig’s butt.Halle would rather make out with a poisonous snake than lock lips with me.
Once upon a time, I could’ve had my pick of women.Some of them would go to crazy lengths to just be in the same room as me.I’d lost count of the number who’d tried to sneak into my hotel room, break into my home or make up stories to get backstage.
But Halle acted like even breathing the same air as me was a chore.
I knew I shouldn’t give a shit.My presence here was strictly professional.Whether she liked me or not shouldn’t matter.Yet for some weird reason it did.
I guessed it was like whenever I used to do shows.When I looked out in the crowd from the stage if I saw 59,999 people loving my performance, but one person looked bored, I’d worry about why they weren’t vibing with my music instead of appreciating the majority who were.
It was dumb, but I couldn’t help it.
If I knew what Halle’s problem with me was, maybe I could fix it.But until then, I’d just have to do what I always did: put on a brave face, crack some jokes and act like it didn’t bother me.
‘If I could have your attention, please, folks!’ Sammie called out.‘It was a tough decision, but I’m delighted to announce that the winner of today’s competition is Stuart and Mandy with their performance ofTitanic! Give them a round of applause!’
I clapped politely.Their performance was okay, but Halle’s was way better.
‘We were robbed,’ I whispered in Halle’s ear, trying to ignore her sweet scent.I’d noticed it last night and again when I’d first sat next to her earlier.It smelt like strawberries and coconut.And as much as I hated to admit it, I fucking loved it.
‘Yeah,’ Halle replied.
‘Thanks so much!’ Mandy said as she opened the envelope.‘We’ve won a couple’s massage!’
Everyone cheered.Except me and Halle.
‘Maybe it was a good thing that we didn’t win.’ I turned to face her, trying to ignore her long, toned legs, which were spread out in front of her.Halle’s skin looked so smooth and for a second, I wondered how it would feel to run my hands over it.
What the hell?
It was a good thing I was wearing my shades so she couldn’t see where my damn eyes had roamed.
‘Yeah.’ She swallowed hard.‘Definitely for the best.’
12
HALLE
‘Sorry I haven’t called sooner,’ Vanessa said as I got comfortable on my bed.It was now the start of my second full day at the hotel and I wanted to speak to her before I went to breakfast.‘It’s been crazy busy with this case at work and then with the time difference…’
‘No worries!’ I said, propping a pillow behind my back.
‘I still can’t believe they matched you with Jake Myers!’
‘Tell me about it!’
‘I mean, the man’s fit as fuck, but he’sshagmaterial, notboyfriendorhusbandmaterial.’
‘Exactly!’
‘If it helps you feel better, he’s smitten with you.’
‘Yeah, right!’ I scoffed.‘The only person Jake Myers is smitten with is Jake Myers.’
