It’s rude if you ask me.
Andrea is taken aback momentarily by my tone, and now she’s looking between the two of us, assessing as if she’s missed something. “You two should get to know each other because you will be working closely?—”
“Oh, we’ve met,” I interrupt, my tone sharp and a fake smile plastered on my face.
Tucker grins. “Briefly. She made quite the first impression.”
“And he made none.”
He takes a step closer to me, and my body tenses as he eyes me up and down. The smell of cedar and fresh soap hit me almost instantly, which is wildly unfair because he should not be smelling like temptation wrapped in denim when I’m this mad.
“I see you’ve traded the blazer that looks like you’ve been attacked by a highlighter for something else.”
He’s one to talk, wearing a white T-shirt hugging his sun tanned skin and a tool belt hung low on his hips. The smirk on his lips makes me wish I had a boiling cup of coffee in my hand to throw at his head.
I shrug, unbothered. “I didn’t want to be responsible for distracting the crew on my first day with my good taste.”
Avoiding seeing whatever look he has on his face after that, I look to Andrea, who has her hand covering her mouth and whispers something in Jade’s ear. Jade is silent as she talks, looking from me to Tucker and back to me before nodding in approval for whatever she’s telling her.
“So,” Andrea says, clasping her hands together in front of her. “In past seasons, we’ve had a couple doing this together. It usually helps with B-roll content in filming.”
“B-roll?” Tucker asks.
“That’s the stuff that isn’t related to actually fixing up the house. A little insight into who the people are outside of the project. It helps the viewers fall in love with them. And when viewers fall in love with the couple, they cheer them on from the other side of the TV and hope the project ends up being a win.”
“Sometimes it adds a touch of drama,” Jade chimes in. “Even the happiest couples argue over paint colors or the placement of a wall when the deadline is so tight. And we get to watch them overcome it together on screen.”
“The viewers eat it up,” Andrea emphasizes.
“Well, we knew going into this I’m doing this on my own,” I say.
Andrea and Jade exchange a look before both of them smile widely, and my stomach flips.
No.
“We’re thinking…a little on-screen romance subplot,” Andrea says.
“I think the viewers will love it,” Jade adds to encourage the idea. “You two have some weird chemistry happening here, so it works. And,” she continues, voice higher to really sell it, “you already know each other. It’s perfect.”
My brows practically shoot up to my hairline and I scoff. “Me and him?” I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you suggesting I fake date him? No, thank you. He has the personality of a rusty nail.”
“Rust adds character. You should appreciate that, no?” Tucker grins.
With my hands on my hips, I turn to face him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“So much,” he says, drawing out the words while his smile only widens. “It’s the only time I’ve been accused of being irresistible while standing in a field of weeds and sweat dripping down my back.”
“No one said you’re irresistible.” I face Andrea again, hand out toward Tucker. “See? He’s impossible.”
Jade bounces where she stands, clapping her hands together. “This is so perfect.”
“Listen,” Andrea starts, stepping between Tucker and me, resting a hand on each of our shoulders. “You don’t need to decide right now. We start filming in a few days, so you can sleep on it, talk through it, whatever you need.” She removes her hand from Tucker’s shoulder and faces me completely. “But from the few minutes we’ve been standing here and listening to you two together, I already know this is precisely what this show needs.”
I swallow, my anger subsiding and nerves setting in again. “I’ll think about it,” I decide on.
I can’t fake date Tucker for the cameras.
Not when my body still remembers how easy it was to let him in.
