“Great,” Elise said. She pointed toward the far edge of the main deck, where a spiral staircase wound down to a terrace below. “You’ll be stationed over there. The contestants will walk up the stairs, greet you, and then once you’ve asked them a question or two, they’ll cross the deck to where Sienna is standing beneath the shade of the acacia tree.”
The acacia tree grew straight out of the deck. Its branches tangled with tiny fairy lights that had to compete with the sunset pouring through the leaves. Beneath the tree, where Sienna was expected to stand, flame lily petals in orange and red were scattered like confetti.
“Perfect,” Vivian said. She wanted to ask how Sienna was doing, if she really had to get stitches, but any more time spent with Elise than absolutely necessary would just unravel her sanity, and her shrink didn’t do international calls.
Elise gave one quick nod before she walked off shouting, “Okay, everyone! Let’s get ready. Where’s Sienna? Can someone please get me Sienna?”
“I’m here!” a voice called, and Vivian’s gaze snapped automatically to the open doorway. Sienna stepped onto the deck. This time she didn’t fall, which was frankly a miracle considering the dress she was wearing. She had on a long, backless slip of silk that moved when she did. The soft rose gold picked up every freckle on her sun-kissed skin, and Vivian found herself wondering how many there were and if she would ever get close enough to count them. And then she saw three parallel Steri-Strips on her forehead. Wait, were there stitches underneath them? She couldn’t see from where she was standing, and suddenly she had a great big urge to walk over to her and check for herself.
But that urge was gratefully split in half when the director, Sara Evans, who acted more like Elise’s shadow than anything else, called, “Vivian, you’re up.”
Right. Showtime.
Vivian stepped to her mark. Cicadas droned lazily in the brush beyond the glass railing. The sun dipped even further, so the sky glowed orange. And not just orange, but copper and honey and every shade of fire in between. She caught a quick glimpse of herself in the lens, but frankly, the only thing she could see reflecting back was the sunset, staining her skin gold.
She inhaled, straightened her shoulders, and smiled for the camera. This was it. This was why they paid her the big money. “Welcome to Season Seven ofThe Sapphic Match,” she said, her voice all silky and smooth. “This year we’ve traded the vineyards for the untamed beauty of South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve.” She paused just long enough for the faint breeze to carry her words. “Ten incredible women are stepping into the wild, literally, to see if love can survive the heat. Over the next three weeks, they’ll face challenges, share laughs, and yes, even shed a few tears. Some will win a private overnight date under the stars. Others will ride in safari jeeps across the bush, hoping for a glimpse of the Big Five, but only one will leave here with that final rose.”
“Cut!” Sara called.
Vivian exhaled and pressed the heel of her palm against her forehead. She wondered if her makeup was still in place or if the sun had melted it off her face.
“Let’s get the first contestant in,” Elise called just as Sara was about to speak. Last season, Sara had taken a leave of absence to navigate the newborn trenches with her wife, and Elise had stepped in to fill her shoes. Clearly, she wasn’t ready to give back those shoes.
“Vivian, are you ready?”
“Born ready,” she said. And she was. Earlier, she had memorized the lineup and knew the first contestant was Holly. She had studied each bio and committed each face to memory.She liked to think of her brain as a huge vault with a million different safety deposit boxes, each designated to the various contestants, television personalities, and celebrities she’d met over the years.
Holly ascended the stairs. She was lean, athletic, with a tumble of dark curls that bounced on her shoulders. She wore a pink floral print bodycon dress and silver strappy heels. In her hand was an envelope, but not just any envelope, a jumbo one the size of a small dog.
“Hi,” Vivian said, flashing a smile. “It looks like you’ve got a very important letter to mail.” She tilted her head to the envelope as she internally grimaced at her comment. But what the hell, the viewers loved a bit of cheese.
Holly froze for half a beat, and her dark eyes widened ever so slightly at the unexpected presence of the nearly six-foot Vivian. The contestant glanced down at the envelope and lifted it up slightly, which made Vivian even more curious as to what it was. A love letter? A check for some charity that Holly supported? A life-size photo of her, which had been done before? “Oh, hi. It’s a surprise,” the contestant said.
“I’m sure our bachelorette loves surprises,” Vivian said, a little disappointed. Not that she showed it in her voice. Or her smile. “I know you’re excited to meet her, but before you do, tell me one thing no one knows about you.”
“Umm…” Holly muttered, and Vivian could see the mental cogs spinning like a tiny hamster wheel on overdrive. She reminded herself that not everyone was quick on their feet, and that was fine. Production would cut the seconds wasted anyway. “I once ate two-day-old chicken I left out on the counter and ended up in the hospital for a week. No one knows I nearly died.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” Vivian said with just the right amount of sympathy. “We’re happy to have you here.” She gestured for Holly to make her way across the deck to the acaciatree, where the bachelorette was standing. She then turned her attention back to the stairwell, ready for the next contestant.
Which meant Vivian didn’t get to see Holly walk up to Sienna. Or how Sienna reacted when she did.
So, the small, inexplicable pang that struck somewhere beneath her ribs didn’t make sense. Unless, of course, it was just disappointment over not getting to see what was in that envelope. Yes. That was it. Definitely that. Not the fact that she was desperate to know if Sienna was impressed by Holly or if there was an instant connection.
She yanked that thought out of her head before it could fully form, just as the next contestant walked up the stairs. “Well, hello there, Lucille,” she said. “I love your dress.”
Chapter Four
Sienna’s mother had taught her the word association trick back in fifth grade when she couldn’t remember the order of the planets for a science quiz. Make a sentence out of it, her mom had said. If it’s a ridiculous sentence, even better. It had worked for the planets—My Very Eccentric Mother Just Served Us Nachos—and later for every college exam, brand reps at working events, and the names of her hair stylists in Los Angeles.
By the end of the evening’s introductions, Sienna had come up with the sentence: Heart Laughed Dangerously Making Cliff Notes with Intuitive Brushes of Trust and Lines.
Holly (Heart) ran a flower shop that specialized in Valentine’s Day bouquets. Lucille (laughter) had been a stand-up comic before switching to youth work. Dani (Danger) was a wildlife photographer with a scar on her chin. Marie (Making money) was a wealth manager and a single mom of two who thrived on energy drinks. Carla (Cliff) was a divorce attorney who base-jumped in her spare time. Nisha (Notes) was a music therapist who brought a ukulele along. Imani (Intuition) was a yoga instructor who offered yoga sessions with puppies. Brooke (Brush) was an artist whose latest painting was chosen to be displayed in a famous art gallery in Paris. Trina (Trust) was a veterinarian and country girl with a Texan accent. And finally, Lara (Lines) was a romance novelist who had fourteen books out on Kindle.
“And we’re done with the introductions!” Sara called. She waved her hand in the air, which was apparently some kind of signal, because suddenly a woman with a headset materialized at Sienna’s elbow.
“This way,” the woman said, gesturing toward a setup on the far side of the deck where Vivian was waiting with a mic in her hand. The sun had set completely now, leaving thin streaks of coral and violet lining the darkness behind the trees. But even with the sun gone, the heat lingered, and somehow that made the cicadas’ buzzing seem even louder.
“How’s the head?” Vivian asked her when Sienna reached her.
