You have to fight for her, Daddy. She’s the one.Dropping my arm to my side, I face her.
“You should have led with that information,” I mumble.
Chapter 38
Two Alpha Men and a Player
JESSICA
The team set up the first two introductions of the day in the gazebo. They decorated the structure beautifully. I can see the tea plantation from here as well as the garden. I scan the area, appreciating the view. Hanging from a low-lying branch of a jacaranda tree is a swing. Everyone is busy. I’m sure they won’t miss me for a few minutes.
I race across the garden. The luxury of meeting the men during the day means I wear a light sundress and simple sandals.
Feeling giddy, like a little girl who discovered treasure for the first time, I run up and admire it for a few seconds. It’s new. Someone just put it here. Dusting off the seat, I perch on it. When I’m confident that it will hold, I push myself off, swinging my legs back and forth. I fly higher and higher toward the clouds. I close my eyes and enjoy the breeze through my hair. For just a moment, I pretend that I’m free, without a care in the world. Nothing else exists.
“Now that is a beautiful sight.”
My eyes snap open. I propel out of the swing and land on the man in front of me. We tumble to the ground in a tangled mess of arms and legs. With the momentum of my air attack, the strange man lands on top of me. I can’t see anything but my hair—no, not my hair. His hair blocks my vision.
I lift my right arm to remove the obstruction, but he pins it to the ground. His lips pucker and loom closer to my face. Cocking my left arm back, I punch him in the eye. Catching him off guard, I lift my knee, nailing him straight in the groin, and push him off me.
“What the hell is wrong with you!” I yell, shuffling to my feet. A throat clears a few feet off to my side. Turning my head toward the sound, Christian stands there with his camera hoisted on his shoulder. The sound guy holds the boom mic with a look of surprise. Holden’s mouth hangs open, his cue cards dangling from his hands.
Raucous laughter rings through the still air from the opposite side of me. Slowly, I turn toward the twins. Jeremy is bent at the waist, slapping his knee. Justin turns red, one arm across his stomach and the other on Jeremy’s back.
I frown. “What the hell is so funny?” I look back at Holden, who regains his composure. He gestures to the man on the ground, who is holding his eye with one hand and his balls with the other.
“Meet contestant number seventeen, Terrell Beck of the Emerald Pack.” Holden stares at his cards, flipping them over to verify the name. “No title. Just Terrell Beck.”
My gaze falls back to the man, howling and moaning in pain. Color drains from my face. Shit! I just assaulted one of the contestants.
“Will you two knock it off!” I hiss at the twins. I crouch down near Terrell, resting my hand on his arm. “Hey,” I say gently. Wow, this guy is big. Either he’s acting overly dramatic for thecamera, or he’s a big pansy. Seriously, I can take more hits than this guy. Rubbing his shoulder, I add, “I’m so sorry. I thought I was alone, and you really scared me,” I tell him in the most soft and soothing tone I can muster.
He doesn’t acknowledge me, continuing to roll from side to side and groan. Oh, Goddess, who the hell is this guy? I glare at Justin and Jeremy to stop laughing and help me.
Stifling his laughter, Jeremy explains, “Terrell Beck plays professional football in the Northern A territory. He used to work on the dairy during school breaks and while he was waiting for his draft call.”
I shrug. A professional football player, really? I coo and make what I think are soothing noises. He finally sits up, propping himself up with his arm.
Justin adds, “We almost kicked his ass for telling everyone in the territory that he made out with you in the stables.” Slapping my free hand over my mouth in horror, I remember exactly who he is. Well, I know hisname. I never met the guy face-to-face, until now.
“Hey. Hi,” I offer, wincing when I look at his right eye, which is swollen shut and starting to bruise. I run my hand down the side of his face. “I’m so sorry,” I repeat.
He grimaces. “Not use to… getting hit without padding. Can’t imagine what you must think of me.”
“Awww, no. I just hit you in the sweet spot,” I counter, with chagrin. We sit there for a while, and I continue to rub his back and give false reassurances that I am excited to finally meet him. His pouting and carrying on eventually grate on my nerves, but I maintain my composure for the cameras.
Shortly after, some of the production team arrive in a four-seat gator. Sodie is among them, and he bounds out of the vehicle and bends over Terrell to check on him. Sodie flexes hisjaw to keep from laughing and winks at me, while helping the big guy into the gator.
Carmen holds a walkie-talkie to her face. Rolling her eyes, she bites, “This is going to be a long day.”
When we move back to the gazebo, I see my parents. Walking up to my father, I say, “I thought it was supposed to be all Alphas.”
Shrugging, he replies, “We didn’t choose him. From what I hear, his agent insisted that he wanted an opportunity to be in the lineup for a second chance at love.”
Second chance? There wasn’t a first one. I keep that part to myself.
“It couldn’t hurt. If you do choose him, well, you are already a part of the Emerald Pack.”
