Lost Without You (2 page)

The contestants scattered off to the restrooms inside the park office but Zoe stood her ground. What had Chip just said? Host?

She turned. He smiled as if he'd just told her how to stay young and beautiful for eternity. But he hadn't. She was pretty sure he'd just said she'd be on national television as a host. She wasn't a host. Hosts were usually charming and charismatic and friendly with everyone. She was none of those things.

“Care to explain to me what the hell is going on?”

“I promised you a payday and the only way I can do that is to pay you a salary. Isn't that what you want?”

“No. When you guaranteed me a payday I thought you had a way to rig the show so I'd actually win this time and finally redeem myself. I didn't know you'd brought me on the show to be some lame host.”

“I can't rig my shows for the outcome I want. It doesn't work that way. Hosting is the perfect way for you to redeem yourself and walk away with an easy one hundred grand.”

Oh.
That was money worth considering. That was enough money to pay off not only the bills already piled on her kitchen counter, but also the ones that would come in the mail for the next several months. That was enough money to finally pay off the last of her hospital bills that had been accruing interest since her stepfather had left her mother two years after her accident and had taken his money with him, leaving them broke and in debt.

“Sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I didn't think you would come if I did. I figured you'd be too nervous to agree to come on camera as the host, but if you do it, I know you'll be the best host I've ever had.” Chip took a step toward her, closing the small distance between them. Since when was Chip so cozy with everyone? He took her hand in his. It felt warm and strong … and comforting, almost as if she could let down her guard with him. Almost.

“Just go along with the show and being the host. I know it's not what you expected but I really think by the time filming wraps up, you'll be happy you were here. This is going to be an amazing experience for all of us.”

She nodded. It wasn't like she could leave Chip without a host now. And the money was too good to pass up. She would do it. Be the host of the show. Maybe Chip was right. Maybe America would see her differently after this. It couldn't hurt to try, could it?

“Okay,” she said. “What do I have to say? I don't really know anything about the show so how can I start us off?”

Chip squeezed her hand. “I knew you wouldn't disappoint me.” He let her hand go and pointed over to another production person who held giant pieces of white poster board. “I've made up cue cards so all you have to do is read them. We'll do it this way for as long as you need to, then when you're comfortable hosting, you can wing it without the extra help.”

That didn't sound so terrible. At least she wouldn't have to worry about sounding like a moron. She swallowed her nerves while the contestants gathered back in front of her, the person with the cue cards standing right in the middle behind them where the camera couldn't see.

“Welcome to
Wild Expedition
,” she started, her voice a little shakier than she wanted. “A show that will take our contestants out of their comfort zones and into the wild.”

She paused, her gaze darting to Chip quickly. How wild exactly?

She cleared her throat and focused on reading the cue cards again. “During the month long expedition, each team of four people will have to complete specific challenges designed to test their teamwork skills, survival skills, problem solving, and personal strengths. This is not an easy game to play, but our five teams are up to the challenge, aren't you?”

The contestants let out a loud cheer. A hell of a lot louder than she would have. She probably owed Chip a huge thank you for not having her as a contestant since this wasn't her kind of thing at all. A whole month of roughing it? No thanks.

“Along the way, we'll have to say goodbye to four of our teams so that in the end, only one team remains to win the shared million-dollar prize.”

Wow. A million dollars split between four was still a ton of money for each person. Maybe she should have negotiated with Chip for more salary since she could have made a lot more money as a contestant. Of course, she could play and walk away empty handed too. Again. At least with the salary she walked away with something for her time and effort.

“Each team should have a map in their possession.”

They should?

“Your first task is to find your site, set up camp with the gear provided, and survive your first night out in the wild. Tonight I'll check in with each team to see how you're doing. Teams, it's time to get wild! The game officially begins now.”

Zoe watched quietly as the teams scrounged in their bags to find the maps that would lead them to their camps. A wave of relief came over her that this time she didn't have to worry about strategy or getting along with the other contestants or any of the other things she'd had to worry about on the previous shows. This time, finally, she wouldn't have to fear water challenges that threatened to remove her makeup in one splash. Sure, she'd always worn waterproof, but there was only so much it could withstand. She might have come across as calm and uncaring at the thought of going out on a canoe to grab a cache with Paige, Miles, and Ben, but on the inside, she'd been a quivering mess. At least this time all she had to do was show up, look pretty, smile, and read a few cue cards. No big deal.

“Ready to go?” Chip asked, motioning toward the trail all of the teams had now started down.

“Go where?”

“To the production camp.”

Zoe glanced around at the production trailers that looked pretty permanent by the park office. “Are the trailers going to meet us at the camp or are there some already waiting there?”

Just then a production person handed her a large backpack. The one she'd been told to pack. The one she thought she'd be unpacking soon into a nice chest of drawers in a cozy room somewhere.

Chip shook his head and looked worried for the first time ever in her memory. “Zoe, your job is to be near the contestants to host the show. The show takes place in the wilderness. The trees are too dense for the trailers and there are no nearby roads. I'm afraid the best you're going to get for the next few weeks is a porta-potty and a private tent.”

Fear gripped Zoe. This couldn't possibly be any worse. No bathroom with running water. No electricity. No cozy bed to curl up in each night.

“Let me guess,” she said through clenched teeth. It didn't matter how cute Chip was, he could really be an annoying little shit when he wanted to be. “You're staying here, right?” No way was Mr. Hot Shot Producer roughing it like she was being forced to.

“No, myself and a handful of other production people will be staying with you in a production base camp. We have tents and a little kitchen and even a couple of camping showers. Don't worry, Zoe, you won't be alone.”

“Oh, good, so there will be someone to hear me scream when I get eaten by a bear.”

He laughed.

She didn't.

Chip Cormack laughed at Zoe's comment. He hadn't expected anything less from her. A sarcastic sense of humor wasn't for everyone, and truth be told, he didn't love hearing it from most people. But coming from Zoe, it always made him laugh. It was her feisty personality and her “take no shit from anyone” attitude that had originally made him want her on his shows.

Of course, her headshots hadn't hurt either.

She was damn hot, even if she had built an indestructible wall around herself. Or at least she thought it was indestructible. He was pretty certain that given enough time and determination, he'd be able to break through.

It had only been a couple of years since his first introduction to Zoe, but it felt like a million. His feelings for her had been simmering too long already. He was ready to take things further than friendship or being colleagues with her. He just had to find a way for her to see that she had feelings for him too.

Easier said than done.

Every time she looked at him, he sensed her interest. When they spoke, the chemistry flowed easily. And when he touched her hands or her back … well, it was as if the entire rest of the world stopped existing outside of the two of them. There was something indescribable between them. Except he knew from his own personal experience with her, and from watching her with everyone else, that she had big walls protecting her from letting anyone get too close. If only her damn walls would give just a little then maybe he could find a way to knock them down all together.

As it was, she walked beside him now, her head high, her heels even higher. On the last show she'd worn her heels hiking every day until she'd twisted her ankle and had been forced to wear sneakers. And she never failed to show up in full hair and makeup.

All part of her defense system.

Well, roughing it in the woods for a month ought to fix that.

“We're almost there,” he said. “Just a few minutes longer and we'll be at the production camp.”

“And where have all the teams gone? I haven't seen any of them since a while back when the trail split in three.”

“They're all relatively close to our camp but far enough away that we won't interfere with their survival skills or camp life. And each of the teams is far enough away from each other, or in some cases separated by some natural obstacle, that they can't interact together very easily. I'm not saying it couldn't happen if the teams worked for it, but I've made it pretty hard for them.”

“This is a really different show for you,” she said, glancing his way and almost stumbling. He reached out to steady her but she righted herself. “Well,
Treasure Trekkers
was pretty outdoorsy, but at least it still had indoor accommodations and common areas.”

“It is different. But I wanted something that would really put people to the test in all kinds of ways. I think this show will do that.”

“No offense, but won't it get sort of boring for all the teams to be separate all the time?”

Just like Zoe to speak her mind. Another thing he liked about her. He was sick of being surrounded by production people who always said what they thought he wanted to hear. Zoe spoke her mind and it was a relief.

“It might, but I have plans to keep it interesting.”

“You always do. I glad I'm not on the receiving end of your surprises this time. Well, except for the whole hosting gig. And the camping twist. Thanks for that, by the way.”

He laughed. “You're welcome. Now enough about the show. How have things been with you? I haven't seen you in the tabloids lately.”

“Thank God for small miracles. I've had enough of those trashy magazines tracking my every move. Who would have ever thought they'd care so much about a stupid reality TV show?”

“Hey now. One of those stupid reality shows is paying you a nice sum to be here.”

“True. You know I used to read those magazines all the time. Now I can't stand to see them in the grocery checkout.”

“They aren't so terrible. It's usually good publicity for the shows.”

“Only because you're not the one on the cover,” she snapped.

“You may have a point there. I've only graced the inner pages, never the front. I don't think anyone would like seeing this mug shot on the cover.”

Her lips curled almost into a smile. “I don't think most girls would mind too much.”

“Is that a compliment from Zoe Oliver?” he teased. “You really must be feeling out of your element.”

They came around a bend in the trail and the pathway suddenly opened into a wider area. Tents of all sizes were set up around the perimeter with three central fire pits surrounded by logs for chairs.

Zoe stopped and took in the site. He pulled on her arm, tugging her gently to one of the two tents set off to the side a little more than the others. His was the outer most tent while hers was right next door, just as he'd planned. He hadn't wanted her to feel alone in the woods by making their tents too secluded, but he also didn't want the entire crew hearing their every move. Strategically placing a film supply tent on the other side of hers meant there would be enough foot traffic to make her comfortable, but also enough privacy that they would have some time alone. Well, if he could finagle a reason to score alone time with her. If not, then at least no one would be around to witness his attempted and failed seduction.

He walked to her tent and unzipped the door, holding it open to the side so she could slip through with her backpack still on her back. As she passed by, he caught the scent of her flowery perfume.

Damn he'd missed that smell.

He'd only had the opportunity to catch a hint of her perfume a couple of times over the course of filming the other shows. But every time he had, the scent made him long to wrap his arms around her and bury his face in her hair. Her scent was delicious, intoxicating … arousing.

“You get settled and I'll come back in a bit to show you around the rest of camp.”

“Okay.” She nodded, looking around as if unsure of what to do next. “You know where to find me.”

He zipped the door closed again to give her privacy. He knew exactly where he hoped to find her someday soon — in his arms.

• • •

Zoe surveyed her room … tent. Hell on earth might be the most accurate description.

Okay, so maybe hell on earth was exaggerating a bit.

Her tent was larger than she'd expected. Feared. Whatever.

She had imagined Chip giving her a tiny popup tent she'd have to crawl into with no room to move around. Thankfully, her tent was not like that at all. It looked to be about a twelve feet by twelve feet, military styled tent. One that could have easily housed a few people instead of just her.