“Go ahead. You can laugh.” He tightened his grip to keep her in place.
Belle dropped her hand from her face and she shook her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just weird hearing that from you.”
“Why? You don’t think I can be romantic?” He’d never tried to be and from her reaction, he wasn’t very good at it. The problem was, these weren’t his words. They were someone else’s. Which only reminded him that he was here to do a job. “Wait, don’t answer that.”
Brow arched, she offered him a challenge stare. “I think you can do anything you set your mind to.”
“That’s very politically correct of you.”
“It’s the truth. You have to believe the best in people. If you don’t, you’ll live a miserable existence.” Despite the upbeat nature of her voice, there was a sad tone to it. “And I’m your agent. You pay me to suck up to you.”
“Good answer.” He brought her close enough to see the widening of her pupils, using her wrist as leverage. The supple feel of her skin under his palm burned a path into his gut and lower. “Sometimes in life you meet someone and you just know.” Liquid eyes remained locked with his, her features softening. He brushed his thumb over the pulse of her wrist, the steady rhythm of her heart discernable. “It’s not something I can put a name to.” It was easy to forget that there was nothing between them. He was acting. Wasn’t he? He cleared his throat and put his attention once more on the task. She wanted romance; he’d give her romance. “It’s a feeling and I hope that someday, you’ll feel it too. If you give me a chance.” He leaned in and whispered, “Will you?”
She sucked in a noticeable breath. “I—"
“Belle, Erik,” Darius called out, his voice cutting through the sensual haze surrounding them.
Annoyed, he released her wrist and stepped back. “Hey, Darius. Belle was just helping me run my lines.”
“I caught it on the monitor.” He beamed at Erik, a spark of excitement in his eyes. “The chemistry between you two was off the charts.”
“Erik is a good actor,” Belle said.
While Erik appreciated her compliment to his acting chops, he had to agree with Darius. They had chemistry. And that was the problem. At least for him.
“You aren’t so bad yourself.” Darius glanced from Erik to Belle. “I have news, and I’m afraid it’s not good. One of the contestants dropped out.”
“Oh no,” he said, “I hope she’s okay.”
“She’s pregnant and showing, so yeah. I was scrambling to find a replacement but after seeing you and Belle on camera, I think she’s the one.”
Belle placed a hand on her chest, face paling. “The one, as in me?”
“Exactly. You can be on the show,” Darius said, looking beyond pleased with himself.
“Belle?” Belle be on the show? That would never work. Or would it? She had turned him down for two years. This would be the perfect opportunity to date her without really dating her.
Pathetic, yes. But he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
And now he could add delusional to the mix.
Chapter Nine
“Me? No, I can’t be on the show.” Belle raised a staying hand, a chill coursing down her back. She was uncomfortable enough with her newly acquired knowledge of the inner workings of the show. As a viewer, there was a certain degree of suspended disbelief that a true romance could happen between the lead and the contestants. “These women are all beautiful, I’m—"
Darius clasped her fingers in his and brought her hand to his chest. She could feel the heat of his body through the crisp white button-down shirt. “You’re beautiful and accomplished.”
“I’m also Erik’s agent.” She looked over at Erik to gauge his response. “How’s that going to look when it comes out?”
Arms crossed over his broad chest, his black t-shirt hugged his biceps, he remained impassive.
“It will fit right into the show. Remember Season 5 when we brought the bachelor’s ex-Fiancé onto the show?” Darius asked.
It had resulted in a tie, with the bachelor walking away from both women.
“I’m his agent,” she repeated, heart skipping a beat. Her earlier excitement was turning into a lump in her throat. “That was his ex-girlfriend. There’s a big difference.”
Undaunted, Darius shook his head. His hand was warm against hers, his brown eyes entreating. “We can say that he’s had a crush on you for a long time. I know I’d believe it,” he said in a lowered voice that sent a thrill down her spine. If anyone had told her she’d be holding hands with Darius, she’d have laughed out loud.
