Jack pointedly ignored Holly, turning to Maeve instead. ‘What about you, jetsetter? Run out of foreign dignitaries to get entangled with? Or are they all wanted for human rights violations?’
‘Not all of them,’ Maeve said casually.
Jack persisted. ‘What’s your reason for coming here, then?’
She took a long sip of tea. ‘My mates signed me up. They think having a boyfriend in the UK will mean I’m in-country more often.’
Declan scanned the group, trying to figure out who would be the easiest to crack next. Niall and Stella were completely oblivious to the conversation, huddled in their own little world on the other side of the counter, while Zoë, Lara and Holly lamented the horrors of modern dating. Oliver was the only one who seemed uncomfortable with the line of questioning.
‘What about you?’ Declan asked, unable to help himself.
Oliver’s eyebrows drew together. ‘Dating would involve getting out of my flat every now and then, and that’s a non-starter. I’m a bit of a hermit,’ he said, hands tight around his mug. His tone was wry, and Declan couldn’t tell if he’d imagined the strain in it.
‘Just what a girl wants to hear,’ Declan said, with a mean laugh.
‘Call me a romantic.’ Oliver pushed his glasses up from the tip of his nose. Green eyes met Declan’s, and he swallowed.
‘Zo?’ Declan said, turning away.
Zoë shook her head noncommittally. ‘I guess I’ve been a bit lonely. I’m so focused on my work, I haven’t had time to meet a nice bloke.’
The way she delivered the line made Declan sure she’d rehearsed it. She was going for the workaholic angle, and that was something he could use.
‘I know exactly what you mean,’ he said. ‘I feel like I spend all my time in the ring. It’s been impossible to meet the right girl.’ It was a line he used with the press often. He and Zoë locked eyes, and she gave him a tentative smile.
‘Well, I’ve been on nearly a hundred dates this year with no luck,’ Lara said, laughing at herself. ‘I’m hoping being locked in a villa with someone will improve my chances significantly.’ The look she threw Declan made him uncomfortable.
‘Same here,’ Holly said. ‘I’ve got to beat them off with a stick at work, but as soon as it’s time to actually make a go of it, it’s crickets.’
Niall and Stella finally emerged from their bubble, seeming to notice the others for the first time.
‘I thought it was a sign from the universe when they asked me to come on,’ Stella said, glancing at Niall. ‘I was perfectly happy with my life as it was.’
Niall, the absolute buffoon, was blushing. ‘I thought I was too, but now…’
The two were staring at each other again. Jack made a retching noise and walked away, effectively ending the conversation.
Declan spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon working through what he’d learned. He was surprised by how genuine most of the contestants had seemed. Perhaps he’d been too quick to assume everyone had ulterior motives – he hoped their lack of strategising would make winning that much easier for him.
‘Chime!’ Jack yelled out from his perch on a nearby daybed, where he was lounging with Maeve and Holly.
‘Yes, thank you. We can all hear it,’ Callum drawled, leaning over the railing of the second-floor balcony.
Darcy’s voice came through the loudspeaker. ‘Jack and Callum: tonight, Poppy is entering the villa, and she’s hungry for love. Do you have what it takes to satisfy her? Go and get ready for your dates; new meat is on the menu. Ta!’
There were some hoots and hollers as the two made their way inside. Moments later, a woman with a blonde pixie cut walked out onto the patio.
After introductions had been made, Paige ushered everyone except for Poppy and Callum upstairs. Apparently, the dates would take place on the patio, with other contestants watching from the balcony, light heckling encouraged. Jack took liberties with the definition of ‘light’, shouting increasingly distracting commentary at Callum.
The others gave up after a few minutes and took to murmuring amongst themselves. Declan glanced at Oliver, who was laughing at something Niall had said.
He had managed to stay away from Oliver all week, but that hadn’t stopped him from looking – try as he might, his gaze always drifted back. Ignoring him almost made it worse, with Declan’s body seemingly calibrated to know exactly where Oliver was at all times.
Jack slapped him on the shoulder, and he remembered to yell over the railing again, wrenching his eyes back to the patio. ‘Callum, do try to smile. It’s a date, not a dentist appointment.’
Callum turned his head to retort, but stopped himself. Poppy, to her credit, was ignoring them in a spectacular display of self-control.
Paige walked out onto the balcony, signalling to Jack. ‘Your turn.’
